_The Parish Church of St Peter & All Hallows, West Huntspill_ ## _Parochial Church Council: ANNUAL REPORT_ _**For the year ended 31st DECEMBER 2024**_ The Parish Church of St Peter & All Hallows West Huntspill is situated to the west of the village and main A38 in Church Road and is part of the Axbridge Deanery in the diocese of Bath & Wells within the Church of England. Correspondence address: Huntspill Rectory, Church Road, West Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset. TA9 3RN The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a registered charity with The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of West Huntspill No 1199055 ## **OFFICERS AND ADVISERS** Rector Revd. Christine Judson PCC CHAIR: Revd. Christine Judson BANKERS: NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC PO BOX 651, 88 HIGH STREET, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, NORTH SOMERSET, BS28 1HJ. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: JOHN LEDDY CGMA CPFC 5 CEDARN COURT MANOR GARDENS KEWSTOKE WESTON SUPER MARE BS22 9XU 1 ARCHITECT Mr MARCUS CHANTREY AABC SCA RIBA Chantrey Conservation Architects Ltd St Omer, The Street, Draycott, Somerset BS27 3TH __________________________________________________________________________________________ ## **ST PETER & ALL HALLOWS - WEST HUNTSPILL PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL** _REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCC) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2024_ ## **Administrative Information** During the year the following served as Members of the PCC Priest in Charge/Rector Revd. Christine Judson |Churchwardens|Vacant|| |---|---|---| ||Vacant|| |Assistant Churchwarden|Janet Hill|| |Assistant Churchwarden|Mark Saunders|| |Assistant Churchwarden|David Lemon|| |Deanery Synod||| |Representatives|Mrs Bronwen Wright|| ||Lynn Wiles|| |Elected Members|Mr David Lemon|Vice chair| ||Mrs Sylvia Sims|(Honorary)| ||Mr Nigel Maddocks|Churchyard| ||Mr Mark Saunders|Electoral Roll| ||Mrs Mel Wall|Treasurer, Data Protection and Safeguarding| ||Mrs Bronwen Wright|Deanery Synod| ||Mrs Lynn Wiles|Churches Together & Deanery Synod.| ||Mrs Lynne Blackmore|| ||Mrs Melissa Wall and Mrs Sylvia Lemon Joint Secretaries|| |Co-opted|Mr Richard Tiley|(Bell Tower Captain)| ||Mrs Margaret Roper|Social and Fund Raising| ||Mrs Bronwyn Fraley|Health and Safety| The PCC, wish to thank Mr Les Roper and Mrs Margaret Roper for managing Flower arranging. 2 ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the church representation Rules (Church Parochial Council (Powers) Measure 1956. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. ## **s Objectives and Activitie** St Peter & All Hallows Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating in promoting within the Ecclesiastical Parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. ## **Achievement & Performance** For the year 2024 there were 35 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll, of whom 8 were non-residents within the parish. In connection with the Parish survey to establish the ‘Parish Share’, the Assistant Churchwardens counted those who attended during October 2024 The agreed adult Church Membership figure was 33 as compared with 32 in 2023. ## CHURCH MEMBERSHIP FIGURES 33 in 2009 31 in 2012 32 in 2015 30 in 2018 31 in 2010 33 in 2013 34 in 2016 28 in 2019 31 in 2011 32 in 2014 33 in 2017 21 in 2020 26 in 2021 31 in 2022 32 in 2023 33 in 2024 ## **REVIEW OF THE YEAR** The full PCC met seven times during the year with an average attendance of 10. Sub-committees met between meetings and items raised reported and discussed as necessary with the full PCC. ## **WORSHIP** In 2024 we have continued throughout the year with regular services. ## SUNDAY 1st Sunday 3pm @3 Service in the Church[nd] “ 11.15am Morning Worship,[rd] “ 11.15am Friends and Family Communion,[th] “ 11.15am Holy Communion,[th] “ Benefice Holy Communion Service (alternates between the parishes of the benefice) Services were held as per the liturgical calendar, The Harvest Festival was celebrated on the 22nd September, with 31 attending. Our normally well supported Christingle Service in aid of the Children’s Society was held on the 1st December, with 74 adults and 24 children. ## **BAPTISM & CONFIRMATION** ## There were 3 Baptisms and no Confirmations during 2024. 3 ## **REPORTS** ## **CHURCHYARD REPORT 2024** The Churchyard committee has not met during the past year. The reason being was that no committee was formed. The running and maintenance of the Churchyard has been undertaken by those who have carried out the work. This appears to be working as the Churchyard has been kept clean and tidy for the past year. The work has been overseen by myself and reported to the PCC. The work this year has been carried out by myself, Mr Colin Bird and Mr Graham Warnik, with Mr John Inder doing the strimming. The grass was cut and the churchyard was kept neat and tidy. The adverse weather at the beginning of this year, damaged a number of trees. The main ones at the front of the church lawns. These have been removed the area cleared and is being landscaped to form a rock garden and flower and grass area. The millennium yew trees have been replanted in this area. The Garden of Rest has been enlarged to give burial space for the future, around three hundred grave plots. The Churchyard records are now all on computer and work to get them onto the church information board is being completed by Mr Dave Paul. A ‘war graves’ sign was applied for and is in place by the main gate. We have seven war graves and have been the subject of research by the Scouts. Work will continue in the coming year and anyone who wishes to help is welcome. Nigel Maddocks ## ELECTORAL ROLL The Church Electoral Roll now stands at 35, 8 of which are non-residents. Mark Saunders stepped down as Electoral Roll Officer at the end of 2024 and handed over to Lynne Blackmore. The Electoral Roll will be renewed in 2025. 4 **Finance report to end of 2024.** I am pleased to report the Parish Share was paid in full in 2024. Thank you to all for generous donations made during the year and for the fundraising which is so important to the finances of the church. We saw a slight improvement in the amounts we raised at our various fundraising activities through the year and the Tea & Talks are proving very popular. The Honesty Café and Talking Cafe continue to be very popular with donations being made in cash and via the contactless payment station. As in previous years a claim was made on all eligible donations via the Gift Aid and Gift Aid Small Donation schemes. Envelopes for regular giving are available from the Treasurer, or donations can be made by standing order, form available from the Treasurer. If you are a tax payer Gift Aid can be reclaimed on any donation you make at no extra cost to yourself, please sign a Gift Aid declaration or place donations in a completed Gift Aid envelope. Envelopes are available in church. As a benefice we continue to employ an Admin assistant with the cost split between the 3 parishes. Proceeds from the Café have allowed us to employ a cleaner once a week. We continue to employ an Activity coordinator for the Huntspill Hub, the cost being met through the Restoration Project budget, this paid role will cease in 2025. Reserve amounts held in CBF accounts have been maintained. The PCC holds General Funds and also Reserved Funds which have been donated for a specific purpose. As we continue to try and meet our financial challenges we have also continued to manage the finances for the Restoration Project. The capital works have been mostly completed and we continue to promote the Hub and the community aspect of the project. We look forward to the project being completed and signed off this year. The PCC reviewed the Reserves Policy which will be maintained at a minimum of £4500 being held in the current account at all times. Once again this year our Audited accounts have been prepared using the accruals system by John Leddy. The accounts will be lodged with the Charity Commission in due course. 5 **Safeguarding Annual report 2024.** The PCC have adopted the House of Bishops guidelines for “Promoting a safer church” and have reviewed our Safeguarding Policy. The PCC has a rolling program to review practice, policies and training. The safeguarding contact details for the church are displayed in the church building. Any concerns should immediately be reported to the Parish Safeguarding Officer, the Rector or via the Diocesan Safeguarding team – details of which are on the diocese website. The PCC is now using the Parish Dashboard and Safeguarding Hub available to us via the Church of England. We have worked through levels 1 & 2 and have reached level 3 ( the highest level) on both. This enables us to generate an action plan to help monitor policies, practice, training and DBS checks. All DBS checks are up to date. As Parish Safeguarding Officer I have completed all the necessary training required for the role. PCC members have continued to review and complete their required training, which varies according to role. Domestic Abuse Awareness training has been competed online and also in person, in conjunction with a neighbouring parish. Thank you to everyone who has completed training this year, online or in person. Our parish continues to work closely with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team regarding ongoing safeguarding issues. SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO RAISE ANY CONCERNS AS DETAILED ABOVE. Melissa Wall. Parish Safeguarding Officer. 6 **Deanery Synod 2024** We began the year with a meeting at Flourish House, Wells on Saturday 27[th] January, it was well attended and the theme was Proclamation – mission connecting to others. We are all called to be disciples and get alongside other people. God opens doors, so take the opportunities. In February I joined with Sylvia and David Lemon and went to a deanery meeting at St Peter’s Milton, Weston-Super-Mare, which is in the Bath Deanery. Later that month Janet Hill and I went to a Deanery meeting at St John’s Taunton. At both these meetings concerns were raised about the cut backs in priest numbers throughout the diocese and the new method for calculating the parish share. Only 20% of benefices pay their full amount and this situation is untenable. There was great concern about what would happen if a parish was unable to find the full amount. The Synod on May 29[th] was at St Andrew’s, Cheddar and I was away on holiday but Lynn Wiles and Janet Hill went. I gather that Richard Neill spent a long time talking to Yolanda and Karen from Mark about their move in 2025 to be with Wedmore benefice and how this was going to work. The Deanery Synod meeting on October 16[th] was at St Peter and All Hallows. We had a lot of PCC members in the Axbridge Deanery attend. The following people from diocesan central services attended – Matthew Pinnock (Finance and Common Fund), Mark Lister (Buildings), Natalie Wainwright (Fundraising and Giving), Julia Hill and Caroline Bruce (General Parish Development) and some members of the Communication Team. There were a lot of questions and discussion especially about the Faculty System and the common fund. It was the first time that a Deanery Synod had convened this type of event and I thought it was a tremendous success. Bronwen Wright 7 ## **Social report 2024** We have had several tea and talks on many different topics and averaging 30 people at these events. Our first spring FAYRE with craft tables and ploughman’s lunches went well. We also had a flower demonstration in June from Angie Blackwell from Ilminster using an alternative to oasis, this was attended by many people from across the area. We held two bingo’s in September and December, one successful and the other a little disappointing. Other events included the summer fete, cream tea, car show, harvest lunch and Christmas fayre. Let’s hope this years events are as successful and supported. We would like to thank all our volunteers for their help. ## **Bell Report 2024** At present we have 7 members of the Bridgwater Branch of Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers. Not all these ring on a regular basis and we are helped by ringers from Mark and East Huntspill. We are struggling with numbers for ringing and are in need of more ringers. If anyone is interested in learning to ring they can contact myself. The chiming mechanism still requires some attention if we wish to use them. Richard Tiley Bell Captain 8 **Activity Report 2024** 2024 marked the sixth year of St. Peter & All Hallows National Lottery Heritage Funded project and the second full year of my tenure as Activities Coordinator. It has been an extremely busy year with many events taking place throughout the year. I was told to keep this brief but so much has taken place – here is a quick canter through the year! This year we became an official part of the Somerset Coastal Path passport with our own souvenir stamp. We also produced stickers for visitors that have been available alongside the walks leaflets that are a popular source of activity for walkers. This year we are finalising a circular walk leaflet starting and finishing at the Church including a QR code – thank you to everyone involved in proofreading! In April we had a tea celebration for National Tea day and also launched the Huntspill Heritage Centre, an interactive touchscreen, wall hangings depicting the history of the Church and the Huntspills, a heritage booklet and other heritage products for purchase and a Big Map mat created by children and the donated Victoria County History of Somerset from an archive in the NorthWest of England that is available for research in the Church and is also available on Heritage Open Days and during other Church events. In June the Project Team were proud to announce the publication of a booklet that documents not only the history of St. Peter and All Hallows Church, but also features the history of the Huntspill’s, covering topics such as social life in the village and the history behind the Balliol Hall. Many local folk were involved in its creation, and it has proved to be very popular. July saw us celebrate our Huntspill Heroes for National Thank You Day when we had a fantastic celebration of our local heroes, awarding them with certificates, trophies and of course Heroes chocolates! This really brought all the community together. For the first time we also took centre stage at Burnham-on-Sea public library for two months promoting the Community Café, our local author and all the other activities that take place in the Hub. Alongside the 2024 car show we became, for the first time, a destination for the national Heritage Open Days and we had the Church open for everyone to come and explore the interactive screen, see the restored painting that survived the fire of 1878 and the historical fragments we found during the restoration of the Church. In the Autumn of 2024 we welcomed the Scouts who created an amazing Remembrance Sunday collage to add to the spectacular displays produced by Les and Margaret Roper. They have since been back for a trip up to the Tower and have asked for a Christmas tree for 2025. The Christmas Tree festival was a huge success this year with no less than 14 trees (in our first year we had 8!) produced by various local businesses and community groups on the theme of the ’12 Days of Christmas’. We are already building momentum for Christmas 2025 with requests from 3 new organisations to add to those 14! 9 The Community Café continues to go from strength to strength with many regulars (50/60 people on average). Thank you to all the volunteers who give up their time to make cakes, act as hosts and hostesses on the Mondays and who organise the occasional raffle! We continue to have the Village Agent present at the Community Café on Monday mornings once a month, and also the services of Dave Paul with his knowledge and expertise with IT for which we are very grateful. We also get occasional visits from the police (social visits!). It should be noted that as a Project Team we are required to fulfil the activities that are stated (and a contractual requirement under which funding was given) in the Activity Plan which covers the period of project funding; this will end with the conclusion of the project in June 2025. However, this means that beyond this date St. Peter All Hallows will be in a position to explore other exciting events and opportunities as it seeks to become a sustainable and viable community resource. There is lots more to come in 2025 and beyond! We are currently having a Churchyard survey conducted by the Somerset Botany Group (part of the Wilder Churches initiative) to investigate the flora and fauna in the area and we are finalising interpretation panels for the Churchyard that will feature the findings, alongside historical and natural history for everyone to enjoy. There are other potential ideas currently being discussed including future musical concerts, a community cinema, further Farmers Lunches, etc. There are exciting times ahead. For those of you who are not aware, owing to my ongoing health issues I am to take early retirement from my full-time job at the University, and consequently Rob and I have sold our house in West Huntspill and will be moving to Axbridge in the very near future. This means that, unfortunately, once my tenure as Activities Co-ordinator finishes in June I will no longer be in the village. However, I will not be very far away to come and support events as they happen, and we will still be in the same Deanery! Thank you to all of you who have supported me in the role of Activities Co-ordinator and I wish you all well for the future. Date for your diaries: Saturday 19th July 2025 – Project Celebration Ginny Power Activity Co-ordinator **10** ## **Report on the Tower and Reordering Project 2024** As much of the building and reordering work on the Church is now complete the emphises turns to using the newly created Hub space for Activities which you will find well described in the Activity Report. During 2024 wall hangings and information panels were installed in the Hub. From these we produced a Heritage Booklet which gives background history of both the Church and the village. The wall hangings have created interest for visitors, and the booklet has proved popular, and has sold steadily to both locals and visitors. A leaflet to promote the Hub has also been created, and circulated to the tourist information centre, library, super-markets and holiday camps. The Heritage Open Day was held on the 14[th] September in conjunction with the Annual Car Show and celebrated the wonderful Church building and its long history, A new Sound System and a permanent projector with retractable screen has been installed to enhance both Church services and talks, with the possibility of a Silver Screen club. Looking forward to 2025, we are going to purchase a video camera to allow us to record, and even live-stream services, talks, demonstrations and so much more. To allow the projection of videos etc. in the Hub or in fact anywhere we are purchasing a portable projector all paid for by the project. We are to complete the restoration of stonework on the South lower stage of the tower, which had originally been shelved due to fiancial constraints. The notice board to the left of the main gate was destroyed in the gales of December so is to be replaced, and the other notice board updated. As almost the last part of the Interpretation in the Project, we are to have three interpretation panels in the churchyard describing the local wild life and nature, a circular walk and the Church. It is so nice to see the Church building looking good and being used much more. 11 ## **Assistant Churchwardens’ Report 2024** Looking back over the calendar for 2024 I realise that we became increasingly busy and we have benefited from a much improved website. We appreciate that there are many friends and members of the community who make themselves available, when asked to help, which enables us to run many of the events during the year. It has been good that the Monday morning café was able to keep open, due to the help of all the volunteers, throughout the year. The Community appreciate the regular visit of the Village Agent, IT help and the police. It is encouraging to hear many comments of appreciation of the facilities we offer each day in our church and there are lovely comments in the Visitors book. Christian Aid week was especially busy with delivering and collecting envelopes to every house in the parish especially that we now have new residents in the Brue Place area. The Friends of St Peter and All Hallows church continued successfully to sell “steps” in the Church Tower to fund the installation of a Hand rail and the Faculty was approved and a contractor appointed to carry out the work according to the specification. This work is due to start soon. A great benefit to our services is the purchase of new hymn books entitled ‘Hymns Ancient and Modern - Hymns and Songs for refreshing worship’. They were bought with money raised in the past and a legacy. It is good to see people are enjoying handling the books and it is an eco-friendly way of saving the paper and ink wastage each week. During the year after much discussion it was decided, to aid the Finances of the Diocese, that our Deanary should reduce the number of clergy from nine to seven. To achieve this Rev. Chris has agreed to be part time Rector for All Saints Church in East Huntspill and St Peter and All Hallows Church, West Huntspill from the end of 2025 when Holy Cross Church, Mark will be linked to their neighbouring Benefice. Obviously it will be challenging for everyone concerned with running the churches but with trusting in our Lord’s guidance and by working together our Christian witness will continue to thrive. 12 ## **RECTOR’s ANNUAL REPORT 2024** 2024 was a leap year that was marked by historic elections and global unrest. People in more than 60 countries, representing almost 50 percent of the world’s population, went to the polls in 2024. Voters in Mexico and the United Kingdom chose new leaders, with Keir Starmer’s Labour Party winning a landslide victory, while a former U.S. president was elected to a second term in the White House. In the UK, King Charles and Princess Kate both needed time away from their Royal duties while they underwent cancer treatment. Military conflicts continued as the Russia-Ukraine War entered its third year and the fighting surrounding the Israel-Hamas War spread. A number of natural disasters also made headlines, most notably Hurricane Helene and flooding in Spain and in many parts of Britain. Prominent deaths in 2024 included the Russian Opposition Leader, Aleksey Navalny, and American record producer Quincy Jones. Pop star, Taylor Swift wrapped up her record-setting world tour, and the film ‘Oppenheimer’ was the big winner at the Oscars. Developments in Space Exploration continued, as they did in Artificial Intelligence – bringing both amazement and concern. Climate change also continued, with another ‘hottest year on record’, and the average global temperature proved to be 1.5° C hotter than during pre-industrial times. Truly a year of transformation, global engagement and apprehension, despite the world coming together for the Olympic and Paralympic games in Paris. From a national church perspective, ‘safeguarding’ has been key, with challenging reports and the resignation of Justin Welby as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Living in Love & Faith, and the opt-in Prayers of Love and Faith have also met with much division across the church. Within our Diocese, Deanery, Benefice and Parishes, this year has been one of clarification, development, consolidation and adjustment to changes brought forward from 2023. Bishop Michael has continued to develop the Diocesan Vision of ‘Living and telling the story of Jesus’ by identifying four building blocks: 1. Valuing and cherishing the people we already have, 2. Growing new worshipping communities, 3. Developing shared local ministry and 4. Encouraging everyone to keep growing in faith. He then extended this to challenge everyone to grow their church and to transform their community. Financial challenges have continued, with a New Benefice Share system being developed through 2024, and put in place for 2025. The ramifications of this new system are significant in terms of Parish share increases – for Mark and East Huntspill as of 2025, and for West Huntspill from 2026. Further development of The Axbridge Deanery Plan, in response to the need to decrease our clergy numbers from 9 to 7, has been challenging but some progress has been made and some clarity found. 13 For our own Benefice, 31[st] December 2025 has now been set as the date for Mark Parish to join with the Isle of Wedmore Team and The Huntspills to continue together, with my role as their Rector being reduced to a half-time post. Having a date to work toward has made this seem more real and has enabled us to start to plan for a smooth transition. In addition to my own hours being reduced, this change will also necessarily reduce the hours of our Benefice Administrator, Sara Puddy. I would like to acknowledge Sara’s faithful commitment to the Benefice vision for ‘The Huntspills & Mark’. Through continually seeking to increase communication, using the shared website calendar as a means to co-ordinate activities, producing and maintaining a worship calendar for the year and many more actions Sara has worked tirelessly to enable our three parishes to function as one entity, whilst maintaining their own diversity. As Rector, I am deeply grateful for all that she has done and continues to do in this arena, and I am in no doubt that her commitment to this will make it possible for us to translate into the new arrangement as smoothly as possible. Once this has been done, the financial challenges for Mark parish will, I hope, be reduced, however for The Huntspills they will be significantly increased, due to the additional penalties being applied to part-time posts. Particularly when this situation has been brought about by a Deanery Plan, it seems seriously unjust that they should be left to shoulder this burden alone and I hope and pray that both the Deanery and the Diocese will recognise this. On a more positive note, I would like to pay tribute to our financial teams in all three parishes for the hard work and determination that they have shown through 2024, as we have sought to make our financial situations more easily understandable and our financial decisions more securely made. I have particularly appreciated the work done on budget forecasting and monitoring and believe that this has enabled all three parishes to have a firmer grasp of their financial affairs. This has involved our PCC Treasurers and several other key personnel in support of them and I am deeply grateful to them all, and indeed to our kind and generous auditor, John Leddy. Through 2024, a thriving aspect of ministry in all three parishes of our benefice has been the community coffee mornings/cafes and social and fund-raising events. These, along with the Festival Services at Easter, Harvest, Remembrance and Christmas are at the fuzzy-edges of our churches where so many important conversations happen, fellowship is encountered, loneliness is attended to and people so often feel able to engage – all this in addition to raising much needed funds. Our three parishes each do this in their own ways and I am very grateful to the ‘movers and shakers’ that drive us forward – especially the bakers of the cakes, who somehow find time to produce the most wonderful delights that are appreciated by all. An important change in 2024 concerned our three websites. For many years these had been hosted by Rev Simon Bale, Curate in Highbridge in 20132016. This arrangement was very generous of Simon, but did result in significant difficulties. In 2024, thanks to the incredible hard work of Sabina Brooks, we moved to a more efficient arrangement of one basic website, with each parish having their own access point, hosted locally. The new site is looking good, though is always a work in progress – so please do continue to feed back any thoughts you have. Huge thanks to Sabina for her tireless commitment to this project. Some of our highlights this last year have been: Mark First School’s Nativity at Holy Cross – where they made good use of the enormous Christmas Tree – donated by a villager – for their presentation of Christmas wreaths, each illustrating a different aspect of Christmas. Kelton Black starring in a promotional 14 video encouraging others to engage with the New Pathway to Ministry being pioneered by our Diocese. Sharing the historic ‘Huntspill Bible’ with pupils at East & West Huntspill School during a session considering how ‘The Bible’ was formed, as part of their Religious Education. Participating in Interfaith Studies in Mark, East Brent and Lympsham Primary Schools as they considered different faith approaches to ‘Light’. Provision of Safeguarding Training in-person in our Benefice, made possible thanks to Sabina Brooks. Engagement with the Diocesan Rural Ministry Focus Group and Magnificat Parishes Group, providing support, aiding communication and raising awareness. The total surprise of discovering a complete set of Nativity costumes produced over-night by a member of the craft group that meet in Huntspill Hub – they transformed the Nativities and were a blessing beyond measure! Outreach through the pastoral offices remains a hugely important aspect of our being. Across the three villages we baptised 10 children and 2 adults, held 8 weddings and conducted 31 funerals (plus 7 interment of ashes only). Generally, when people attend these events there is a great deal of good will toward the church, and a feeling of belonging is felt. We have sought to maintain our contacts with one aspect of this through Annual Baptism Celebration Services – to which we invite all those who have been baptised recently. These went well this year – the attendance level remains quite low, but any who do come seem to enjoy the service. Our vergers play a key role in all of these services and I am hugely grateful to them for this. Ministering among people at such important times of their lives is always a privilege. Management of our churchyards supports the life of our churches and our villages and mostly happens unseen. Mark’s closed churchyard is now maintained by Somerset County Council Maintenance Programme, and although the first cut of the grass was very late in happening this year, this has since improved. East Huntspill Parish Council have continued to support their churchyard with a much-appreciated donation, making it possible for us to provide care for the village’s only burial ground – this year Nick and Heather Baker took this on and have done a magnificent job. West Huntspill Parish Council made again a donation toward the upkeep of the machinery used by the team in that place – a small team that does a marvellous job caring for the huge and varied churchyard. In addition to this, all of our churchyards benefit hugely from every hour of care that is provided by other volunteers. You know who you are – and on behalf of all of our villagers, past and present, ‘THANK YOU!’. Ministry and outreach to young people in our parishes remains a priority. Karen Moncrieff and Yolanda Patten run a small but very positive monthly Youth Group, which is valued by those who attend, and a welcoming gateway to further church involvement. All three of our churches seek to engage with the families and children in their parishes and have developed their children’s areas to express their welcome. Attendance at our all-age services varies, according to their timing, but they seem to be making progress. Use of technology, particularly data-projector and screen, is often helpful with this. Involvement in schools has continued to be valued and developed. In January, Mark First and Pre-School received a very positive SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) report and in October many pupils from Mark School attended the Harvest Festival in Church, together with their Head Teacher. This was in addition to the regular Christmas visits, and clergy assemblies, involvement in lessons etc. that happen for all the schools across the Benefice. Sadly, since then, their Head Teacher has not been well – our thoughts and prayers remain with her, and with all at the school as they undergo a change of Head Teacher. 15 It was with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Rev Ian Girling in April 2024, after a comparatively short illness. He was a delightful priest, very supportive of our Benefice, and provided both cover and encouragement - he is deeply missed, but we know that he is now with the Lord. Through 2024 our Lay Worship Assistant Team grew, as Kelton and Sharon Black were commended for this ministry and joined Jon Glauert, Pat Morgan, Yolanda Patten and Mark Saunders. As a Ministry Team we meet bi-monthly to support each other, to learn together and to discern God’s guidance. I am very grateful to each one of them for all that they do to serve God across our Benefice. Thanks to the generosity of his incumbent, Rev Martin Little in Highbridge, by the end of 2024 we were pleased to welcome Canon Richard Eyre (retired from Lincolnshire) as an occasional priest, providing cover and extra duties. Although his primary commitment is to Highbridge parish, we are delighted to have him also minister amongst us. Rev Joy Hawes has also stepped in to help with holiday cover when needed, despite her main commitment being to The Isle of Wedmore Benefice. Rev Christine Nelmes continues to regularly read the gospel at Mark Church, which is much appreciated by us all, as is her constant encouragement. As 2024 came to a close we were looking forward to welcoming an associate priest, Rev Margaret Hayward, coming to join us in January 2025, offering 1 or 2 days ministry a week. We were also looking forward to Kelton Black being commended as a Local Preacher and Louise Trott pursuing the Lay Pastoral Assistant training. Musically, our organists continue to do a sterling job – Sue Elsworth at East Huntspill, David Hill at West Huntspill and Nigel Parkin at Mark – and we are very grateful to them all. Likewise, our Bell Ringers – those who are part of the regular crew, and those who step in from elsewhere to enable the bells to be rung – it is always such a joy to hear the bells at Mark and West Huntspill and the chimes at East Huntspill...THANK YOU! Following on from the building works conducted at Mark and West Huntspill churches last year, these churches have sought to develop their activities to make full use of the facilities now available. For East Huntspill, 2024 saw the church being decorated, and some repairs made, along with a replacement of one of the heat pumps in the church hall. Heat pumps had been placed in the hall over twenty years ago, which sounds quite ahead of the time. The West Huntspill project: ‘Saving the heritage, sustaining the community’ has continued to progress, moving into a time of evaluation, as the project nears its final stage. The small team heading this up have given of their best for a very long period of time, and as the project draws to a close next year we have much to be grateful to them for. Thankfully Dave Paul stepped in as Chair of the Classic & Vintage Vehicle Show at West Huntspill, and I have been working with him this year to tackle the difficulty of venue for this show, as the tenant farmers who so generously supporting both this show and West Huntspill’s Horticultural Show each year with the provision of the field decided to lay down their tenancy. By the end of 2024 we were hopeful that this had been resolved, and we are now confident of this. This report may seem rather long, but in many ways I have only just started! There are so many other contributions to the life and being of our churches and communities in The Huntspills & Mark that I have not yet mentioned, and I hope you will forgive this. That it is difficult to select the things to include is surely a sign of a vibrant fellowship – one that I am honoured to serve. Thank you for all that you are doing and being within our life together. May God continue to lead us onward, through the changes that lie ahead, and empower us all to become everything that we have been created to be! With love and gratitude in Christ, Rev’d. Christine Judson. Signed on behalf of the Parochial Church Council 16 Parochial Church Council of St Peters & All Hallows, West Huntspill Detailed Statement of Affairs Year Ended 31 December 2024 Intentionally Left Blank ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PETER’S & ALL HALLOWS, WEST HUNTSPILL** I report on the accounts of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Peter’s & All Hallows for the 12 months ended 31[st] December 2024, which are set out on the following pages. ## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Independent Examiner** As trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The members of the PCC consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an Independent Examination (IE) is needed. The Charity is preparing Accrual based Accounts and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit and is eligible for IE, it is my responsibility to: - Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Charities Act; - To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the CC under section - 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Charities Act; and - State whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the CC. An examination includes a review of 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 in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **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: - a. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or b. 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. John Leddy FCMA CGMA CPFA 5 Cedarn Court Manor Gardens Kewstoke Weston super Mare BS22 9XU _John Leddy_ John Leddy 10[th] March 2025 Intentiorlally Left Blank ## **Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** |**Income**
**Note**
Voluntary Receipts
2a
Activities for Generating Funds
2b
Investment Income/Interest
2c
Church Activities
2d
Other Receipts
2e
**Total Income**
**Payments**
Church Activities
3a
Cost of generating funds
3b
Church Expenses
3c
Other Expenditure
3d
Major Capital Expenditure
3e
**Total Payments**
**`**
**Net Income/(Expenditure)Before**
**Investment Gains**
Net Gain/(Loss) on Investments
5b
**Net Income/(Expenditure)**
Transfers between funds
4a
**Net Movement of Funds**
**Total Funds Brought Forward**
**Total Funds Carried Forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
38,552
39,944
**78,496**
11,128
-
**11,128**
3,527
986
**4,513**
13,157
-
**13,157**
6,877
5,414
**12,291**|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
175,147
8,860
2,837
10,900
22,400| |---|---|---| ||**73,241**
**46,344**
**119,585**|220,144| ||31,639
2,653
**34,292**
684
93
**777**
15,303
4,543
**19,846**
2,274
538
**2,812**
-
64,896
**64,896**|29,841
2,889
24,285
10,088
190,113| ||**49,900**
**72,723**
**122,623**
**23,341**
**(26,378)**
**(3,037)**
**-**
124
**124**
23,341
(26,254)
**(2,913)**
(20,000)
20,000
**-**|257,216
(37,072)
446
(36,626)
-| ||3,341
(6,254)
**(2,913)**
39,353
109,346
**148,699**|(36,625)
185,324| ||**42,694**
**103,092**
**145,786**|148,699| ## **Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024** |**Note**
**NON-CURRENT ASSETS**
Investments
5b
Tangible
5a
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stock
Debtors
6a
Prepayments
6b
Bank Accounts
6c
Cash in hand
6c
**LIABILITIES**
Creditors – Falling due within one year
7a
**NET CURRENT**
**ASSETS/(LIABILITIES)**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**PARISH FUNDS**
Unrestricted
8
Restricted
8|**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
5,621
5,497
15,246
19,318| |---|---| ||**20,867**
24,815
-
-
-
396
1,468
1,447
123,492
122,132
109
109| ||**125,069**
124,084
150
200| ||124,919
123,884| ||**145,786**
148,699| ||42,694
39,353
103,092
109,346| ||**145,786**
148,699| ## **Cash Flow Statement as at 31 December 2024** |||**2024**|| |---|---|---|---| ||**£**||**£**| |**Net Cash from operating activities**|||**(3,154)**| |**Cashflows from investing activities**|||| |Dividends, interest and rent from investments||4,514|| |Interest paid||-|| |Proceeds from the sale of;||-|| |Tangible fixed assets||-|| |Tangible fixed investments||-|| |Purchase of||-|| |Tangible fixed assets for the use of the PCC||-|| |Fixed assets investments||**-**|| |**Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities**|||**4,514**| |Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period|||**1,360**| |**Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January**|||**122,241**| |**Cash & cash equivalents at 31 December**|||**123,601**| |**Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure)before investment**|||| |**gains**|||| |**Net income before investment gains 31 December**|||**(3,037)**| |**Adjustments for;**|||| |Depreciation|||4,072| |Loss on the disposal of Fixed Assets|||-| |Dividends, Interest and rent from investments|||(4,514)| |Decrease/(increase)in debtors|||375| |(Decrease)/Increase in creditors|||(50)| |**Net cash provided/(used in) operating activities**|||**(3,154)**| |**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**|||| |Cash in hand|||109| |Notice deposits|||123,492| ||||**123,601**| ## **Notes** ## **1. Accounting Policies** The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCC’s, and with the Regulations’ “true and fair view” provisions, it is also the first year that they have been prepared under FRS102 (2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP(FRS102)). ## **Assets** ## **Consecrated and benefice property** . In so far as consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from the statutory definition of charity by section 10(2) (a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011, such assets are not capitalised in the financial statements. ## **Moveable church furnishings** These are capitalised at cost and depreciated over their useful economic life other than where insufficient cost information is available. In this case the item is not capitalised, but all items are included in the Church’s inventory in any case. ## **Tangible fixed assets for use by charity** These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and at least £1,000. They are valued at Cost or else, for gifts – in kind, at a reasonable estimate of their open market value on receipt. Depreciation is calculated to write off the capitalised cost of fixed assets less their currently anticipated residual fair value over the estimated useful lives as follows. |•|Solar Panels|Straight Line|15 years| |---|---|---|---| |•|IT Equipment|Straight Line|4 years| |•|Tables & Chairs|Straight Line|10 years| |•|Kitchen Equipment|Straight Line|5 years & 10 years| No depreciation is provided on buildings as the currently estimated residual value of the properties is not less than their carrying value and the remaining useful life of these assets currently exceeds 50 years, so that any depreciation charges would be immaterial. ## **Investments** Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange or those value derives from them are valued at market value at the year end. Other investment assets are included at PCC’s best estimate of market value. ## **Short Term Deposits** These are the cash held on deposit either with the CCLA or at the Bank, ## **Funds** ## **Unrestricted Funds** These represent the remaining funds of the PCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC, including amounts designated by the PCC for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and which are therefore not included in its “free reserves” as disclosed in the Trustee’s Report. ## **Restricted Funds** These are income funds that must be spent on restricted purposes and detail of the funds held and restrictions provided are shown in the notes to the accounts. ## 2. **Income** |.
**Income**|| |---|---| |a.
**Voluntary Receipts**
Envelopes Gift Aided
Bankers Orders – Gift Aided
Envelopes Non-Gift Aided
Bankers Orders – Non-Gift Aided
Collections at Services
One Off Donations – Gift Aided
One Off Donations – Non-Gift Aided
Donations / Appeals Gift Aided
Donations / Appeals Non-Gift Aided
Individual Donations
Grants
Legacies
HMRC Gift Aid
b.
**Activities for Generating Funds**
Christmas Fayre
Spring Fayre
Christmas Tree Festival
Harvest Lunch
Car Rally
Cream Teas
Fete
Easy Fundraising
Concert
Flower Arranging
Bingo
Raffles
Hymnathon
Jumble Sale
Café
c.
**Investment Income/Bank Interest**
Dividends
Bank Interest
d.
**Church Activities**
Weddings/Funerals/Baptisms
Retired Clergy/Vacancy Fees
**e.**
**Other Receipts**
Mark – Administration
East Huntspill-Administration
Expenses Contributions
Balliol Hall Oil Contribution
Feed In Tariff
Slimming World Hub Hire
Bath & Wells DBF
Giving Envelopes
Heras Fenning Sale
Utility Warehouse Refund
VAT Reclaim
Licence Contribution|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
2,170
-
**2,170**
1,806
4,155
-
**4,155**
3,965
669
-
**669**
364
324
-
**324**
300
1,468
-
**1,468**
1,996
350
-
**350**
341
3,531
-
**3,531**
1,964
-
-
**-**
-
1,800
-
**1,800**
2,854
-
-
**-**
-
265
39,944
**40,209**
159,266
21,000
-
**21,000**
-
2,821
-
**2,821**
2,291| ||**38,553**
**39,944**
**78,497**
175,147| ||897
-
**897**
710
470
-
**470**
-
160
-
**160**
80
414
-
**414**
480
5,718
-
**5,718**
5,267
470
-
**470**
327
1,242
-
**1,242**
1,162
22
-
**22**
79
-
-
**-**
47
24
-
**24**
-
197
-
**197**
-
104
-
**104**
-
225
-
**225**
-
-
-
**-**
220
1,185
-
**1,185**
488| ||**11,128**
-
**11,128**
8,860| ||151
191
**342**
113
3,376
795
**4,171**
2,724| ||**3,527**
**986**
**4,513**
2,837| ||13,157
-
**13,157**
10,900
-
-
**-**
-| ||**13,157**
**-**
**13,157**
10,900| ||1,832
-
**1,832**
1,441
782
-
**782**
727
1,620
-
**1,620**
1,726
1,039
-
**1,039**
868
289
-
**289**
184
-
-
**-**
30
-
-
**-**
47
-
-
**-**
25
-
-
**-**
152
-
-
**-**
295
-
5,414
**5,414**
13,731
-
-
**-**
7| |Ecclesiastical Incentive Payment
Part NHLF Electric Refund
Christmas Cards
Organ Covers
Easy Fund Raising
Payment Correction
Childrens Society
Balliol College Annuity
**3.**
**Expenditure**
**a.**
**Church Activities**
**Parish Share**
**Salaries, Wages & Honoraria**
Administration Assistant
Activities Co-ordinator
Cleaner
Organist
**Clergy Expenses**
Rector’s Expenses
Other Clergy Expenses
**Mission: Giving & Donation**
Somerset Churches Trust
Childrens Society
Christian Mission Society
Christian Aid
Thomas Leach
Freda Carey Christian Mission
Friends Donation
National Church’s Trust
Gratuities & Honoraria
RBL Poppy Appeal
**Diocesan Assignment Fees**
**Total Church Activities**
**b.**
**Fundraising Activities**
Event Activity Costs
Balliol Car Share
Thomas Leach Cards
Car Rally
c.
**Church Running Expenses**
Maintenance
Insurance
Licence
Upkeep of Services
Wedding/Funeral Fees
Subscriptions
Administration
IT Expenses||130
-
**130**
-
-
-
**-**
2,196
196
-
**196**
124
647
-
**647**
-
-
-
**-**
122
-
-
**-**
425
42
-
**42**
-
300
-
**300**
300
**6,877**
**5,414**
**12,291 **
22,400
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**| |---|---|---| |||| |||| |||17,958
-
**17,958**
15,763| |||3,855
-
**3,855**
3,354
-
2,653
**2,653**
2,333
780
-
**780**
330
1,350
-
**1,350**
1,280| |||**5,985**
**2,653**
**8,638**
7,297| |||2,281
-
**2,281**
2,364
-
-
**-**
-| |||**2,281**
**-**
**2,281**
2,364| |||30
-
**30**
12
507
-
**507**
734
-
-
**-**
50
840
-
**840**
-
333
-
**333**
-
50
-
**50**
-
246
**246**
50
-
**50**
25
42
-
**42**
-
-
**-**
-| |||**2,098**
**2,098**
821| |||| |||3,317
-
**3,317**
3,596| |||| |||**31,639**
**2,653**
**34,292**
29,841| |||127
93
**220**
774
-
-
**-**
1,193
-
-
**-**
326
557
-
**557**
596| |||**684**
**93**
**777**
2,889| |||866
1,481
**2,347**
5,917
2,504
-
**2,504**
3,117
208
90
**298**
163
1,327
-
**1,327**
368
2,183
-
**2,183**
1,493
27
54
**81**
84
309
-
**309**
528
225
490
**715**
583| ||Cleaning|Cleaning|54|-|**54**|86| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Depreciation||1,644|2,428|**4072**|4,072| ||Loss on the Disposal of Assets||-|-|**-**|-| ||Organ Repairs||820|-|**820**|546| ||Audit Fee||80|-|**80**|175| ||||**10,247**|**4,543**|**14,790**|17,183| ||**Church Utility Bills**|||||| ||Electricity||1,070|**-**|**1,070**|3,693| ||Oil||3,793|-|**3,793**|3,185| ||Water||193|-|**193**|224| ||||**5,056**||**5,056**|7,102| |||||||| ||**Total Church Running Costs**||**15,303**|**4,543**|**19,846**|24,285| |**d.**|**Other**|**Expenditure**||||| ||Christmas Tree||60|78|**138**|213| ||Other|Expenditure|35|44|**79**|-| ||Café Supplies||35|114|**149**|-| ||Priory|Learning Trust Coach|-|180|**180**|-| ||Hub Supplies||33|122|**154**|-| ||Balliol|Hall share Car Show profits|1,548|-|**1,548**|-| ||Overpayment/Refunds||413|-|**413**|725| ||Freeline Graphics||-|-|**-**|9,000| ||Balloil|Hall Annuity Contribution EH|150|-|**150**|150| ||||**2,274**|**538**|**2,812**|10,088| |e.|**Major**|**Capital Expenditure**||||| ||Major|repairs to church buildings|**-**|64,896|**64,895**|190,113| ||||**-**|**64,896**|**64,895**|190,113| |4.|**Analysis of Fund Movements**|||||| ||||||**2024**|**2023**| ||||||**£**|**£**| ||a.|**Nat West & CCLA CBF General Deposit General Fund**||||| |||**Balance at 1 January**|||93,085|143,636| |||**Income**|||118,995|307,798| |||Transfers from Other Funds||||45| ||||||212,080|451,479| |||**Expenditure**|||(118,621)|(358,395)| |||Transfers to Other Funds|||(20,000)|-| |||**Balance at 31 December**|||73,458|93,084| ||b.|**CCLA CBF Late Miss GM Porter**||||| |||**Balance at 1 January**|||975|877| |||**Income**||||| |||Interest Received|||93|30| |||Investment Income|||155|113| ||||||248|143| |||**Expenditure**||||| |||Transfer to Nat West General Fund|||-|(45)| |||**Balance at 31 December**|||1,223|975| |c.
**CCLA CBF Bell Fund**
**Balance at 1 January-CBF**
**Balance at 1 January-Cash**
**Total**
**Income**
Interest Received
Donation
**Expenditure**
**Balance at 31 December-CBF**
**Balance at 31 December-Cash**
**Total**
d.
**CCLA CBF Roof Fund**
**Balance at 1 January**
**Income**
Transfers from Nat West General Fund
Interest Received
**Expenditure**
Transfer to Nat West General Fund
**Balance at 31 December**
e.
**CCLA CBF General Deposit - Church Path**
**Balance at 1 January**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Balance at 31 December**
f.
**CCLA CBF General Deposit – Mrs Palmer**
**Balance at 1 January**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfer to Other Funds**
**Balance at 31 December**
g.
**CCLA CBF General Deposit – Restoration Fund**
**Balance at 1 January**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Balance at 31 December**|11,777
11,411
80
80| |---|---| ||11,857
11,491
625
366
-| ||625
366
-
-| ||12,402
11,777
80
80| ||12,482
11,857| ||8
8
-
20,000
-
113
-| ||20,113
8
-
-| ||20,121
8| ||2,298
2,298
-
-| ||2,298
2,298
-
-| ||2,298
2,298| ||14,018
14,018
-
-| ||14,018
14,018
-
-
-
-| ||14,018
14,018| ||1
1
-
-| ||1
1
-
-| ||1
1| ## **5. Fixed Assets** ## 5a – Tangible |**Cost of valuation**
As at 31 Jan 24
Disposals
Additions at Cost
As at 31 Dec 24
**Depreciation**
As at 31 Jan 24
Withdrawn on Disposal
Charge for the year
As at 31 Dec 24
**Net Book Value**
At 1 Jan 24
At 31 Dec 24|Solar
Panels
IT
Equipment
Tables &
Chairs
Kitchen
Equipment
Total
£
8,221
3,076
14,156
1,653
**27,106**
-
-
-
-
**-**
-
-
-
-
**-**| |---|---| ||8,221
3,076
14,156
1,653
**27,106**
3,288
1,182
2,830
488
**7,788**
-
-
-
-
**-**
1,644
769
1,415
244
**4,072**| ||4,932
1,951
4,245
732
**11,860**
4,933
1,894
11,326
1,165
**19,318**
3,289
1,125
9,911
921
**15,246**| ## 5b – Investments |Market Value at 1 Jan 24
Disposal
Purchases
Net Gain/(Loss)
Market Value at 31 Dec 24|£
5,497
-
-
124| |---|---| ||5,621| The investment is made up of 276.98 Income Units in the COIF Charities Investment Fund. ## 6. **Current Assets** ## 6a. Debtors |Rectors Expenses
SumUp Receipt
Grant Receipt
VAT Reclaim
Oher Debtors
b.
Prepayments
Licences
IT Expenses
Utilities
Maintenance
Subscriptions|2024
Unrestricted
£
2024
Restricted
£
Total
£
2023
£
-
-
-
**-**
100
-
-
**-**
-
-
-
**-**
-
-
-
**-**
296| |---|---| ||**-**
**-**
**-**
396| ||2024
Unrestricted
£
2024
Restricted
£
Total
£
2023
£
-
-
**-**
37
-
60
**60**
-
1,114
-
**1,114**
1,262
258
-
**258**
105
36
-
**36**
43| ||**1,408**
**60**
**1,468**
1,447| ## 6b. Prepayments ## 6c. Bank & Cash |**Bank Accounts**
Nat West General Fund
CBF Account – Bells
CBF Account – Miss GM Porter
CBF Account – Roof Fund
CBF Account – General Fund
**Cash**
Church
Bell Fund|Unrestricted
Restricted
2024
2023
£
£
24,014
35,310
**59,324**
86,169
-
12,402
**12,402**
11,777
-
1,223
**1,223**
975
-
20,121
**20,121**
8
14,105
16,317
**30,422**
23,203| |---|---| ||**38,119**
**85,373**
**123,492**
122,132
29
-
**29**
29
-
80
**80**
80| ||**38,148**
**85,453**
**123,601**
122,241| ## 7. **Liabilities** - 7a. Creditors – Amounts falling due within 12 months. |Construction Payment
Balliol Hall Grant
Christian Mission Society
Fees
b.
Accruals
Organist Fees
.
**Summary of Assets by Fund**
Tangible Fixed Assets
Investments
Current Assets
Liabilities|2024
Unrestricted
£
2024
Restricted
£
Total
£
2023
£
-
-
**-**
-
-
-
**-**
150
-
-
**-**
50
-
-
**-**
-|2024
Unrestricted
£
2024
Restricted
£
Total
£
2023
£
-
-
**-**
-
-
-
**-**
150
-
-
**-**
50
-
-
**-**
-| |---|---|---| ||**-**
**-**
**-**
200|| ||2024
Unrestricted
£
2024
Restricted
£
Total
£
2023
£
150
-
**150**
-|| |||150
-
**150**
-| |||Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
3,289
11,957
**15,246**
-
5,621
**5,621**
39,556
85,513
**125.069**
(150)
-
**(150)**| |||**42,695**
**103,091**
**145,786**| ## 7b. Accruals ## 8. **Summary of Assets by Fund** Signed: Date: PCC Treasurer Signed: Date: Priest in Charge/Church Warden Independent Examination of the Parochial Church Council of St Peters & All Hallows, West Huntspill 2024 Annual Accounts 10[th] March 2025 Prepared by John Leddy ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PETER’S & ALL HALLOWS, WEST HUNTSPILL 2024 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS** ## **DOCUMENT INFORMATION** |Document Title:|Independent Examination of the Parochial Church Council of
St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill 2024 Annual
Accounts| |---|---| |Report Version No:|1| |Reference:|Leddy/IE/WestHuntspill| |Produced by:|John Leddy
5 Cedarn Court
Manor Gardens
Kewstoke
Weston super Mare
North Somerset
BS22 9XU| |Telephone:|07863554902| |Email:|john_leddy@btinternet.com| |Distribution Action:|Treasurer,PCC of St Peters & All Hallows,West Huntspill| ||| ## **DOCUMENT AUTHORISATION** |Document Authoriser:|John Leddy|| |---|---|---| |Date Authorised:|10thMarch 2025|| |Document Author:|John Leddy|Independent Examiner| |Report Quality Review
Panel:||| ii ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PETER’S & ALL HALLOWS, WEST HUNTSPILL 2024 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS** ## **Table of Contents** |**Subject**|**Page**|**Paragraph**| |---|---|---| |Introduction|1|1| |Background|1|2 – 5| |Aim|1|6| |Approach|1 - 2|7 – 10| |Findings|2|11 – 16| |Recommendations|3|17| |Conclusion|3|18| iii ## _Intentionally Blank_ iv ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PETER’S & ALL HALLOWS, WEST HUNTSPILL 2024 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS** ## **Introduction** 1. This report has been prepared by John Leddy on behalf of the Members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill who are the sponsor, and to whom any queries should be addressed. ## **Background** 2. Huntspill is a village on the Huntspill Level in Somerset, England. The village falls within the district of Sedgemoor, which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It lies on the A38 road,1.5 miles South of Highbridge. The village is the principal settlement in the civil parish of West Huntspill, which also contains the hamlet of Alstone. The ancient parish of Huntspill also included the villages of East Huntspill, Hackness and Bason Bridge, east of the village of Huntspill. The western boundary of the parish was the tidal River Parrett, but changes in the course of the river left some parts of the parish on the west side of the river until 1933, when they were transferred to the civil parish of Otterhampton. In 1949 the Civil Parish of Huntspill was abolished and divided into Huntspill All Saints and West Huntspill. The Parish of Huntspill All Saints was re-named East Huntspill in 1972. 3. The Parish Church of St Peter’s & All Hallows is situated in the centre of the village in Church Road. Established by 1208, it was rebuilt around 1400, and extended in the early to mid-15[th] Century. It was gutted by fire in 1878 and restored over the next two years. It has been designated as a Grade 1 listed building. 4. The PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows oversees the Parish Church of St Peter’s & All Hallows which presently has 26 people on the electoral role, and the parish is rated Category E for the purposes of the Parish Share of the Common Fund. 5. The PCC of St Peters & All Hallows, West Huntspill is currently one of three Anglican Church’s in the United Benefice of The Huntspill and Mark and includes All Saints East Huntspill, Holy Cross Church Mark and the Church of St Peter & All Hallows, West Huntspill. The benefice was formed in 2013 when the Rev Tonya arrived. On her arrival East Huntspill and West Huntspill joined with Mark to form the current Benefice. The Benefice comes under the Axbridge Deanery and the Diocese of Bath and Wells. ## **Aim** 6. John Leddy is to conduct the Independent Examination (IE) of the PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill accounts for the year ending 31 December 2024. ## **Approach** 7. Using the Cashbook and records provided by the Treasurer, a set of Accrual Annual Accounts for 2024 was prepared and submitted for approval. 8. Eligibility to examine the accounts and conduct an IE was confirmed from the Accounts prepared. 9. The PCC of St Peters & All Hallows, West Huntspill Annual Accounts for the period 1[st] January to 31[st ] December 2024 were examined in accordance with Charity Commission (CC) 1 guidance, details are at Annex A[1] . Additional investigations were conducted where necessary and supporting documentation for the operation of the funds requested if required. 10. As part of the examination discussions were held with the PCC Treasurer to ascertain answers to the CC Directions. ## **Findings** 11. Examination of the annual report confirmed that the gross income of the PCC of St Peters & All Hallows, West Huntspill did not exceed £1 million[2] and the aggregate value of assets (before deduction of liabilities) did not exceed £3.26 million. Based on the information at Table 1 an Audit was not required. In addition to the upper threshold for an IE, the Gross Income is above the £25,000[3] lower threshold set by the CC for an IE. The Church Accounting Regulations do require an external scrutiny of PCC Accounts, so in this case an IE was carried out. Fund Balances are: ## **Table 1 – PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill Balances for 2024** |**Serial**|**Fund**|**Gross Income (£)**|**Gross Assets (£)**| |---|---|---|---| |**(a)**|**(b)**|**(c)**|**(d)**| |1|PCC ofStPeter’s &All Hallows|119,585|145,786| 12. The Gross Income of the Charity has dropped below the £250,000 threshold required for the accounts to be prepared on an Accruals basis. On inspection of the Charity accounts, the PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill have elected to prepare their Accounts on an Accruals basis. 13. The Gross Income for 2024 is above the £100,000 limit set by the Charity Commission for registration with them as a Charity. Its Charity registration number is 1199055. 14. **Points from Last Year’s Review** . Last year’s IE Report produced by John Leddy was reviewed. On inspection of that Report no material observations were documented; therefore, no points remain outstanding. 15. Whilst the PCC Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, the examiner may also prepare the statutory accounts on behalf of the Trustees. In line with CC Direction 2 this did not compromise the examiners independence as he ensured that the following requirements of the Direction were met: - a. The accounting records had been maintained by the PCC Treasurer. - b. The examiner has no direct involvement in the day-to-day management or administration of the charity. - c. The trustees reviewed and approved the accounts prepared[4] . 16. **Additional Observations.** The Independent Examiners report is a statement to confirm that the Charity is operating within the accounting and governance tolerances set by the CC. After conducting the IE I have the following observations to report. - a. As required by CC Direction 13, the Trustees are to prepare a Trustee’s Annual Report & Accounts which must be presented to the Church Membership at the Annual Parochial > 1 Section E of the guidance explains the role, duties and 13 specific directions of an independent examiner in examining the accounts of a charity. > 2 Charities Act 2011 Chapter 3 Section 144(1). > 3 Charities Act 2011 Chapter 3 Section 145(1). > 4M Wall email dated 10th March 2025. 2 Church Meeting. CC Direction 13 says that the Independent Examiner must see this document and compare it back to the Accounting Information provided. No Trustee’s Annual Report was provided. ## **Recommendations** 17. It is recommended that; a. After the APCM, a copy of the Trustee’s Annual Report is sent to the Independent Examiner for his records. ## **Conclusion** 18. The PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill has received an unqualified report which can be found at Enclosure 1. Annex: - A. The Charity Commission’s Directions on the IE of Charity Accounts. ## Enclosure: 1. IE Report for 1 Jan to 31 Dec 24 – The PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill. 3 **Annex A to Leddy/IE/WestHuntspill Dated 10 March 2025** ## **THE CHARITY COMMISSIONS DIRECTIONS ON INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION OF CHARITY ACCOUNTS** 1. The CC produce an examiners’ guide to IE of Charity Accounts. It is specifically written for Independent Examiners and explains their role and duties in examining the accounts of a charity. In accordance with Section E of the guidance the 13 specific directions and how they were addressed are as follows: a. **Examination and accounting thresholds** . The annual report for the period 1 Jan – 31 Dec 24 was examined to confirm IE thresholds[5] had not been breached. The Income information was below the Audit requirements, but above the CC guidelines for an IE to be carried out. Therefore, an IE was required for 2024. b. **Conflicts of Interest** . The examiner was not influenced or perceived to be influenced in any way as he did not have any close personal relationships with the PCC Members, was not a major donor to the PCC, did not have any control of funds and was not involved in the day to day running of the PCC. c. **Documentation** . Working papers were examined and evident. All procedures carried out and any matters arising to support conclusions reached or statements provided in the report have been documented. d. **Understanding the charity** . Detailed briefs and free access to all charity documentation ensured a full understanding of the charity’s constitution, organisation, accounting systems, activities and nature of its assets, liabilities, incoming resources and application of resources. e. **Accounting records** . The charity accounting records have been subject to a review and appear complete and consistent with statutory requirements. f. **Comparison with accounting records** . A comparison of the charity’s accounts with the accounting records in sufficient detail was carried out which provides a reasonable basis to decide that the accounts are consistent. g. **Accruals Basis Checks** . The accounts were checked for related party transactions, and if any were found these were disclosed in the notes to the accounts. h. **Accounting policies estimates and judgements** . Reviewed the accounting policies adopted and consider their consistency with the SORP and their appropriateness to the activities of the charity. i. **Financial circumstances and Going Concern** . The examiner checked whether the Trustees have considered the financial circumstances of the Charity at the end of the reporting period and have made an assessment of the Charities position as a going concern when approving the Accounts. j. **Form and Content of the Accounts** . The examiner carried out procedures as considered necessary to provide a reasonable basis on which to conclude whether or not the accounts have been properly prepared. The examiner checked that they can lawfully > 5 Gross income greater than £0.025 and not to exceed £0.25M for receipts and payments, gross income not to exceed £1.0M and the aggregate value of assets should not exceed £3.26M otherwise a full audit is required. A-1 prepare Receipts and Payments Accounts, that all accounting statements are present, and the funds of the Charity can be correctly identified. k. **Analytical Review** . The examiner carried out an analytical review of the current accounts to identify if any entries required further explanation or evidence. The 2024 Accounts were compared with the 2023 Accounts to see if any material changes could be identified. - l. **Compare the Trustees Annual Report with the Accounts** . No Trustee’s Annual Report for 2024 was provided for inspection. - m. **Examiner’s report** . The IE report can be found at Enclosures 1. A-2 Intentionally Blank **Enclosure 1 to Leddy/IE/WestHuntspill Dated 10 March 2025** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PCC OF ST PETER’S & ALL HALLOWS, WEST HUNTSPILL** I report on the accounts of the PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill for the 12 months ended 31[st] December 2024, which are set on pages 1 to 3. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner** As trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The members of the PCC consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an IE is needed. The Charity is preparing Receipts and Payments Accounts and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit and is eligible for IE, it is my responsibility to: - Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Charities Act; - To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the CC under section - 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Charities Act; and - State whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the CC. An examination includes a review of 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 in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent Examiner’s unqualified 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: - a. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the PCC of St Peter’s & All Hallows, West Huntspill as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or b. 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. John Leddy FCMA CGMA CPFA 5 Cedarn Court Manor Gardens Kewstoke Weston super Mare BS22 9XU _John Leddy_ John Leddy 10[th] March 2025