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2023-12-31-accounts

The Parish of St John the Baptist Leamington South

The Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 together with Legal and Administrative information.

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Contents

Report Page
Organisational structure 3
Membership of PCC 4
Aims and Organisation 5
Structure Management 6
Objectives and Activities 7
Worship and Prayer 8
Vicar’s Report 7-9
Secretary’s Report 10
Churchwardens’ Report 10-11
Safeguarding Report 12-14
Electoral Roll Report 14
Deanery Synod Report 14-5
Celebrate Recovery 15
Food Kitchen 16
Music Report 16-17
Youth Work Report 17-19
Church Brigade Report 19-20
Little Lambs Report 20-21
Brownies Report 21-22
Rainbows Report 22
Treasurer’s Report 23-25
Independent Examiner’s Report 26
Annual accounts 27-31

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Dedication and Address:

St John the Baptist, Tachbrook Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 3BN

Independent Examiner:

Stewardship 1 Lamb’s Passage London EC1Y 8AB

Bankers:

Unity Trust Bank PO Box 7193 Planetary Road Willenhall WV1 9DG

Consultant Architects:

Oliver Architecture The Coffin Works 13 - 15 Fleet Street Birmingham B3 1JH

Insurance: Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JZ

Membership of the PCC

Members of the PCC are either ex-officio (Churchwardens, Lay Reader, and Deanery Synod Representatives) or they are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.

The 2023 composition of the PCC following was as follows: Fr Stephen Parker (Chair)

Mr Paul Hamilton (Treasurer/Vice Chair)

Mr Terance Gardner (Church Warden)

Mr Joab Lawlor (Church Warden)

Mr Thomas Raynor (Secretary)

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Miss Claire Russell (Parish Safeguarding Officer, Electoral Roll Officer)

Dr Daniel Vickerstaff (curate: co-opted)

Mr George Lawlor

Mrs Sue McIntyre-Walker

Ms Marianne Rohan Mr Ben Kelsey

The Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance acted as Custodian Trustee for the inalienable property of the church.

Standing Committee

This is the only committee required by law. It comprises the ex officio members, Churchwardens, Lay Reader, Secretary, and Treasurer. Its duty is to transact the business of the PCC between meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council. During 2023 the Standing Committee met in person six times, and maintained regular communication online.

Child Protection and Safeguarding Government legislation requires that all statutory and voluntary organisations working with children address the issues of Child Protection. The PCC regularly discusses Safeguarding and has adopted the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy.

Aims and Organisation:

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St John the Baptist, South Leamington, has the responsibility of cooperating with the Vicar, the Reverend Stephen Parker, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The primary object of the PCC is the promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The PCC (Powers) Measure 1956 states that the PCC 'is to cooperate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical'.

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The mission of the Church of St. John the Baptist is:

Structure Management and Governance

St John the Baptist Church PCC is a body corporate established by the Church of England and operates under the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956 and the Church Representation Rules. The PCC is a registered charity.

The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules (2020). All eligible church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC operates one subcommittee - the Standing Committee.

Training has been provided for all PCC members on Safeguarding, and all PCC members must complete basic and foundation level online safeguarding courses provided by the Church of England.

Individual members receive external training as and when deemed appropriate by the PCC. Training may include basic

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health and safety, risk assessment and management, further safeguarding training, including safer recruitment and/or domestic abuse awareness.

The number of members on the Electoral Roll for the year ended 31 December 2023 was 67. Usual Sunday attendance averaged 70.

Public benefit

The PCC has had regard to the Charity Commission public benefit guidance and the rest of this report highlights how we are meeting our Public Benefit requirements.

Objectives and activities

The aim of St John’s is to grow a family out of strangers by sharing the love of Jesus with the men, women and children of the parish that we serve.

The PCC’s role is to cooperate with the Vicar in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

The primary object of the PCC is the promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England.

Worship and prayer

St John’s is keen to offer a range of services during the week and over the course of the year that our community finds both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. The Sunday morning Mass, the Afternoon Service, and Evensong provide good quality liturgical experiences that offer authentic, spirit-filled encounters with the Divine.

The midweek celebration of Mass, offering of the holy rosary, and Bible study provide points of spiritual nourishment throughout the week.

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As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life; in marriage, public vows are exchanged with God's blessing; through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life that is now complete in this world and commend the person into God's keeping.

A large proportion of the costs that our missional activities incur are funded through grants. The full breakdown of the costs of our programmes and activities are shown in the accounts.

As a church we rely hugely on the contribution of volunteers. We are grateful for all of these. They include people welcoming worshippers to each of the services; the choir; servers; readers of the lessons; people preparing prayers; the youth group leaders; our pastorate leaders; children’s work leaders; worship team members; those counting the collection; PCC members; the treasurer; the Church Wardens; the PCC Secretary; Safeguarding Officer; all those who lead missional outreach projects such as The Space, and all those who help to clean and maintain St John’s throughout the year.

Vicar’s Report

2023 was another year in which we saw God bless the parish and increase both our missional energy, and our numbers. Praise God!

It was a joy to travel with so many to Canterbury Cathedral for the consecration of Bishop Paul Thomas as the new Bishop of Oswestry. Bishop Paul has taken on the sacramental care of the parish, and we saw this expressed most fully in the Summer of 2023 when Bishop Paul came to the parish to ordain our Curate Father Daniel to the Sacred Priesthood, and again in the Autumn

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when Bishop Paul conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation upon four of our members.

We introduced a new 3.30pm service on Easter Day 2023: a contemporary service lead by a worship band, which offers something new to our liturgical repertoire helping us progress to the vision of St John’s offering something for everyone: a ‘liturgical one stop shop’. This new service has grown and developed its own distinct congregation which has helped lead to the overall growth of the congregation.

Our commitment to the wider parish continued throughout 2023, with us committing to 2 monthly services at Queensway Court, and entering into conversations with Jubilee House about a new monthly service there. We also appointed Paula to the role of Parish Nurse – though her start date was not until January 2024.

Youth work continued a-pace in 2023. We took 6 children to the Walsingham Children’s Pilgrimage (the first time we have taken part in this event), and a whooping 26 teenagers to the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage. One of our teenagers wrote an application to the Archbishops Youth Evangelism Council and successfully procured a grant that allowed us to take two minibuses of teenagers to Chessington world of adventures, with many inviting friends who had little or no connection with any aspect of church life. All this work is undergirded with conversations about faith, Jesus, and what it means to be a Christian. Several of our youth group attended Youth Alpha during 2023 and expressed an interest in Baptism and Confirmation.

You cannot talk of 2023 and not mention the Garden Project! What a transformation! The front of St John’s has been completely overhauled, and I have lost count of how many times I have been stopped by passersby who have commented on how

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good the new garden looks. The new lighting has particularly had a dramatic impact on how we project ourselves as a church that is open and active.

I continue to be immensely proud of our work through the Wednesday Food Kitchen and I remain grateful to all who make that a success week by week. It is a very tangible means of extending the love of Jesus to the people of Leamington.

Building on this social outreach work, the Celebrate Recovery Team has grown, and we are seeing a growing core of people attending this service, with the increasing conviction that faith in Jesus has the power to set them free from their habits, hangups, and hurts.

Reporting on tremendous year for us as a parish it is hard to encapsulate everything thing that we have done and achieved. I am as ever humbled and inordinately proud to be the parish priest of such an amazing parish. Further highlights would be:

To say that I am pleased with how things have progressed at St John’s during the course of 2023 would be an understatement. There is much to commend to you – the other reports in this document are testimony to the hard work, diligence and faithfulness of our volunteers and office holders. I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in 2023: it is hugely appreciated.

Father Stephen Parker SSC

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Secretary’s Report

The PCC have met in person on the following dates:

29 January 2023

11 June 2023

30 July 2023 24 September 2023 12 November 2023

At each meeting the PCC have received reports and discussed standing items covering financial reporting, health and safety, safeguarding and fabric. The PCC have also during the course of the year discussed the launch of the Pastorate Scheme, the sale of School House, the introduction of the Parish Nursing Scheme, the Community Garden Project, and wider mission within the local community.

Mr Thomas Raynor, Secretary

Churchwardens Report

The Wardens would like to bring attention to developments and initiatives relating to the Church Estate during the year 2023.

Church Hall

The Church Hall continues to be a valuable asset to Church life, however due to its age, things are beginning to fail and as such require maintenance. As mentioned in previous Wardens’ reports the internal decoration is again becoming a little tired due to its continual use, it soon will be time for a team to be recruited to re-decorate the main room.

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Church

There still remains a list of outstanding repairs from the report prepared by the Architects following the 2020’s Quinquennial report.

As everyone will be aware, the front grassed area of the Church has undergone a complete re-design and is now possibly the finest Church frontage in the town.

There are still projects which require attention which will occupy the Wardens during this coming year.

Looking forward the Wardens remain committed to assisting Father Stephen in realising his plans for the improvement and growth of St John’s in the coming years.

Mr Joab Lawlor and Mr Terry Gardner

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Safeguarding Report

As a church we believe that effective safeguarding of both children and adults is of paramount importance, and we strive to model best practice across our church policies and practices. Our safeguarding policy, code of conduct, safer working guidance, and expectations are made clear to all potential volunteers and details of those responsible for safeguarding are clearly displayed in both church and hall, as well as on the church website.

2023 has again been a busy year with continued growth in the children’s and youth work ministries, as well as more volunteers joining in serving in different areas of church life. All new volunteers have completed the necessary induction, training and checks (as appropriate to the role being undertaken). The diocesan transition from a five year cycle of renewing DBS checks to a three year cycle is now complete, and nearly all volunteers have been checked in line with the three year cycle as appropriate to their role (there are a few people who are yet to complete their paperwork and so are unable to undertake eligible roles until the safer recruitment process has been completed.

We have continued to co-ordinate with the Warwickshire multiagency team and Diocesan Safeguarding Team to help support and safeguard all members of our Children’s and Youth ministries, and those vulnerable adults we work with and have contact with. We continue to use the Diocesan Parish Dashboards online safeguarding portal to manage our safeguarding and recruitment of volunteers and we continue to work through Level 3 of the Dashboard as new areas come online and updates are made.

Safer Recruitment & Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (DBS)

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The Church of England updated its Safer Recruitment Guidance in July 2021 and we follow this for all eligible roles. Over the course of this year, all necessary DBS checks, and safer recruitment of PCC, Warden’s and eligible volunteers have been carried out, apart from a new instances where some paperwork is outstanding and this is being managed through the rotas until all checks are complete. There have been some chances in the way in which DBS eligibility for roles is worked out, and this is being worked through with advice from the diocesan safeguarding team where required. The biggest challenge in undertaking this process still continues to be sourcing written references, with named referees often needing chasing several times to produce references. The form has been adjusted to ask for a third (backup) referee contact to try to smooth this process, and the requirements in terms of who can provide a reference have been made more explicitly clear on the forms used.

Safeguarding Training

All those currently volunteering with children’s/youth have activities have completed at least Basic level training, as relevant to their role, and those responsible for leading groups and activities have completed at least Foundation level. Clergy, Readers and Safeguarding Officers are required to have completed the Leadership training, and all are fully up to date with this. We are in the process of ensuring everyone in a relevant role has completed the Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse course in addition to the core training, and relevant persons have either recently completed, or are imminently due to complete/renew the Safer Recruitment & People Management training.

Logging & Reporting

In line with diocesan and church safeguarding policy, all safeguarding records and logs are securely stored and kept up-

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dated. Any reports/disclosures are logged and shared with the DSA (diocesan safeguarding advisor) in line with guidance.

Reportable Instances

There have been no instances reportable to the Charity Commission during the last 12 months.

Claire Russell

Parish Safeguarding Officer

Electoral Roll Report

The electoral roll currently stands at 72. There have been 3 removals from the roll this year, and 8 additions.

Miss C. Russell, Electoral Roll Officer

Deanery Synod Report

Our representatives in the House of Clergy are Father Stephen Parker and Father Daniel Vickerstaff, our elected representatives in the House of Laity are Claire Russell (also Deanery Lay Chair) and Paul Hamilton. Marianne Rohan and Thomas Raynor are also members of Deanery Synod by virtue of their election to Diocesan Synod.

The synod met three times in 2023. Each time beginning with a simple act of worship followed by committee business and news from around the parishes, often including a guest speaker.

  1. 20th March 2023, St Paul's, Leamington. Graham Pringle presented on the Diocesan Strategic Framework and Tim Wagg on Christian Foundations. Jonathan Jee and Gill Frigerio gave a report on General Synod and updates were received on Parish Share and the work of the Mission Hub.

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  1. 23rd May 2023, St Paul's, Leamington. David Brown presented on the Warwick Team Ministry Bus project, the work enabled by the Henry VIII[th] Trust, and the Message Bus visited so that synod members could see it in person. Diocesan guidance around deanery synods was discussed in preparation for the new synod elections in the summer.

  2. 23rd October 2023, St Margaret's, Whitnash. This was the first meeting of the new Synod following elections and included elections to the Deanery Standing Committee: Claire Russell was elected lay Chair, and Rachel Duff and Chris Foy elected as lay reps. Rob Harrison gave a presentation on lay training and development across the diocese.

Celebrate Recovery Report

Celebrate Recovery meets weekly on a Thursday, and during the past year has grown a dedicated team of volunteers who helped run the programme. We have also seen the start of a small core of regular attendance emerging – this is excellent news, and we are seeing the power of Jesus Christ working in and through people’s lives to set them free from their habits, hangups, and hurts.

Whilst the core remains small, there is a much larger group who attend semi-regularly. One of the challenges of working with people in active addiction is that life is often chaotic, and regular patterns are challenging to maintain. The fact that we have been a regular point in the week of contact (even if people have not attended) can be nothing if not a positive impact upon their lives.

Father Stephen Parker

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Food Kitchen

The Wednesday Food Kitchen continues to be a practical expression of our Christian faith lived out in service of those in need. We are giving out on average 30 meals a week to a wide cross section of individuals who live in the parish and town.

The work of the Food Kitchen relies wholly upon the generosity of volunteers who give of their time, talent, and resources, which allows this important missional work to continue. I am very grateful to all who are involved in this project. Thank you.

Father Stephen Parker

Music Report

Music has continued to play an important role in the life of St. John’s church, both in the context of worship and in concerts during 2023.

Though small in number, the choir has sung at most of the Sunday Masses and Evensongs throughout the year, providing a communion motet in the morning and an anthem in the evening, along with leading the singing of psalms, Mass settings and hymns.

There were special services such as Fr. Daniel’s Ordination in July and the Advent and Christmas carol services to which the choir contributed, the choir being joined by guest singers to swell our numbers and enable us to do pieces we would otherwise have been unable to perform.

Friday lunchtime concerts ran from April to October and included music for organ, piano, harpsichord, voice, piano trio, Baroque viola and recorder, and Baroque trio sonatas. These were generally well-attended and were also, thanks to preconcert refreshments, an enjoyable social event too. In May St.

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John’s was gifted a second grand piano which was used in several of the concerts and will be made good use of in the future.

Many thanks to Sue, Kate, Claire, Terry and Michael for their much appreciated contributions to the musical life of St. John’s

Mr Adrian Moore

Youth Work

Friday Night Youth

2023 has again seen significant growth and development in our youth work here at St John’s. Attendance at our Friday evening open-access youth group has steadily increased again, with numbers averaging 30-40 per session by the end of the year. Particular thanks to Paul Hamilton who has steadfastly maintained the kitchen side of operations on a Friday night; providing a constant stream of pizza and squash to hungry teenagers; and to Tom Raynor who has provided cover on a number of occasions where we have needed an extra leader due to increasing numbers.

Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage

Highlights this year have included a very busy week at the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage with a group of 24 young people and 7 leaders (a big thank you to Lisa, Joab, Tom, Jake and seminarian Ben for supporting this adventure – it is such a significant experience for so many of our young people, and they really do appreciate all the hard work that goes into it, even whilst trying to beg a fourth pop-tart of a foggy morning on camp! The young people had a great time, including daily mass, walking the holy mile, opportunities for confession, laying on of hands, and anointing, bungee swings, parkour, swimming, time at the seaside, a disco and a BBQ. A huge thank you also to

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everyone who supported this work through our God-parents scheme; without you we wouldn’t be able to fund going at a price the young people could afford, your generosity is a real blessing. This year we hope to take an even bigger group and are already looking at grants to help us achieve this!

Trips and Activities

Aside from our weekly Friday nights, this year’s youth programme has also featured more Life skills work, including much baking and cooking; a fishing trip; young people volunteering to help paint the church garden fencing; and a fantastic trip to Chessington World of Adventures funded through one of our young people – Libbi, applying to the Archbishop’s Youth Evangelism Scheme for a grant so that they could undertake the trip and invite friends along who were new to church – we have already seen some new faces at youth as a result of this!

Family Fun-Events

2023 was a busy year with the Coronation providing us with some additional events all of which were well attended. Our Easter Family Fun Day with crafts, bouncy castle, and easter egg hunt was a real hit, with over 120 people attending and some new relationships forged with members of the parish, some of whom have started to attend Church Brigade. This was followed up in May by the Coronation, where we again enjoyed a plethora of crafts, games and bouncy castle, alongside a community BBQ. Our regular summer BBQs were well attended also, and then the autumn brought with it our Light and Bright Party and we rounded of the year with Carols for All (crafts and informal carols) and Christingle.

Summer Club

As well as taking our older teenagers camping again this summer, we also ran our very successful weeks Summer Club, using the Scripture Union ‘Wonderzone’ resource. A fantastic backroom/kitchen team enabled a smooth and well provisioned

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week of fun, prayer, bible stories and games. The week was well attended with many new faces, as well as lots who have returned for a second, third or fourth year! They were ready to hear and explore the stories of God’s love in action in the bible and had some really good questions during the week. The Summer Club was again rounded off with an invitation for the children who took part, and their families, to join us for the parish BBQ the very next day – it was great to see a number of them choose to attend and we continue to see some who have again started to attend church brigade!

Father Stephen, Miss Claire Russell & Team

Church Brigade

St John’s Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade Company launched to members in May 2022, and has continued to see good growth and attendance over the last 18 months. We currently run two sections – Martins (ages 5-7) and Y-Team (ages 7-10).

The Church Lads’ and Church Girl’s Brigade is the Anglican Church’s own uniformed youth organisation: welcoming children and young people of all faiths and none. This organisation has a lot of history and, for over 125 years, The Brigade has been fulfilling its object to extend the kingdom of Christ among lads and girls'. Brigade aims to provide opportunities for children and young people to enjoy fun, faith, fellowship and, through The Brigade, are learning to be better equipped to cope with the demands that society places upon them. The Brigade creates a caring and safe environment in which friendships between young people and children and adults can be established and helps young people and children to grow in confidence, develop their skills and abilities enabling them to work together and show care and concern for others. We

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encourage young people and children to explore their spirituality and respond to the Christian faith.

Our own company has spent time this year completing our cooking badge, continuing to explore what it means to be a members of a church, and how the different stories in the bible can help us to shape our own lives and relationships (with others, with God, and with our world); alongside opportunities to explore nature and the environment, make crafts, cook together and play a wide range of games. We are looking to how we can grow a JTC Section (ages 10-13 years) in the near future as we know there is an interest from families with children in this age bracket, and some of our Y-Team will soon ‘age-out’. If God is calling you to volunteer as a leader or helper for brigade, please speak to Fr Stephen.

During 2023 Father Stephen has commissioned as officer responsible for the CLCGB West Midlands Battalion, with the rank of Major, and we look forward to growing our links with other companies as a result.

Father Stephen Parker, Officer in Command

Little Lambs Report

Little Lambs is our baby, toddler and parent group that runs on Thursday mornings, offering free play, craft, story/singing time, and refreshments.

Over the year 2023 we had a fluctuating number of families attending, we have had new attendees, but several of our core group have aged out and are now attending nursery. Our Mums have comment on how supportive the group is, and there are strong internal dynamics, and although this has produced spiritually beneficial dialogues, we have not seen the growth I would like to see.

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Many of our families attend our church social events, and have some cross over with older siblings into Church Brigade and Summer Club.

Discussion after the last year’s report with the congregation has not yet led to a rota for supporting the group, which might be feasible but has still not come to life. So much of our potential pool of members is contingent on word of mouth, and most of the members we inherited, who were ‘recruited’ by the previous runners of the group were known personally to them, many of those members have finished having children.

There are questions to be discussed about whether I as a man I am the most appropriate person to run the group, given the changing demographic nature, to more traditional cultural groups within the parish, and succession planning after I leave.

Father Daniel Vickerstaff

1[st] Leamington (St John’s) Brownies Report

1st Leamington Brownies runs on a Thursday evening. We have been full (our number is restricted by the available space in the hall), for the year and we have a waiting list.

We follow the national programme and have been able to offer a wide variety of activities.

We have offered a number of trips in the last 12 months, including a trip to Twycross Zoo for our sixers and seconders for the County Brownie Day, a sleepover with three other packs at Jump In, Warwick and a visit to the Warwick Castle light trail at Christmas.

We attended Church Parades that we were invited to, although Brownie attendance was poor, we continue to encourage our families to show their gratitude to St John’s support by attending.

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We, together with the Rainbow unit, funded and ran the children’s corner at the Christmas fair where we raised a healthy sum of money in lieu of rent payments. Our Brownies enjoyed helping to run the stall and we’d be more than happy to continue this tradition, and support a summer fair if one is planned.

We thank St John’s PCC for allowing us use of the hall, and St John’s congregation for their support of members of our pack through the St Agnes fund. This year we applied to cover the subs of two sisters for a term to support the family who were struggling financially, this enabled both girls to continue their Brownie journey and has meant that we are still able to pay capitation fees for everyone.

Mrs Gemma Arthurson

1[st] Leamington (St John’s) Rainbows 2022

1[st] Leamington Rainbows runs on a Thursday evening. We currently have 12 girls. We are building our numbers back up slowly, we have a new helper and one hopefully starting soon. We follow the national programme and have been able to offer a wide variety of activities. We are looking to do some outings in the local area this year.

As a unit we are looking forward to fundraising for a local charity this term as part of one of our badges.

We are in need of more practical storage but sadly as a unit we are unable to cover this cost so we are also currently trying to raise funds for this.

We are grateful for the free use of the hall.

Miss Stephanie Jarrett

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Treasurer’s Report

The general position

Income and expenditure, including grants, continue to enable in addition to regular Sunday and weekday services, an increasing number of missional activities as other sections of this report show.

Parish Share

Our chief asset and resource is our Parish Priest, whose stipend is paid from funds collected across the Warwick and Leamington deanery. The PCC contributed £12,000 towards our Parish Share in 2023.

School House

The Vicar and Churchwardens as trustees of the School House Trust have sold the property. They plan to refund the PCC the lost rental income while the property was vacant, Council Tax and the expenses incurred in the sale that were covered by the PCC. An offer has been made and accepted on a new property for rent with sitting tenants. The bulk of the income will be remitted to the PCC with a separate fund to be built up to cover any expenses in the future, for example, boiler maintenance and repairs.

Church Hall

The hall is in good condition. The roof is sound. Some superficial damage to internal doors, fixtures and fittings continues to occur due to the nature of the people we minister to.

Planned giving

Giving through standing orders and the envelope scheme continue to support the church’s work. Open plate giving, which many treat as planned giving – and which we claim Gift Aid on - is also generous, especially given the dramatically

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altered demographics of the current congregation: some still at school; few in full-time employment; a number who have chronic medical conditions; or are retired.

Fundraising

Dramatic performances, including a pantomime, have been a key source of fundraising. Lunchtime concerts, monthly coffee mornings and a Christmas Fair are another source of income. These activities continue to have the benefit of bringing new people into the church’s buildings and strengthening relationships between church members.

Grants

Some successful grant applications to support our work with, for example, youth have relieved pressure on the general funds which were previously supporting this work, along with generous donations from individual congregation members. This includes the designated St Agnes Fund which supports the work of our various uniformed organisations. A significant grant of £25,000 has allowed the development of a community garden on the north side of the church building.

Electronic payments and giving

The introduction of technology, including SumUp, QR codes and Online Giving, has added to our income in 2022. It has made payment for dramatic performance tickets and one-off donations easier. Donors can either make a Gift Aid declaration, or small donations can be treated under the Small Donations Scheme increasing their value to the PCC by 25%. The PCC has registered with the Parish Giving Scheme to facilitate planned and one-off giving.

Investment policy

There are restricted funds invested by the Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance in CCLA shares. These give a better rate of return now that interest rates generally have increased.

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Reserves policy

Our policy shall be that when we receive the refund from the School House Trustees we shall return the loan made to pay the architect’s interim invoice for work yet to be executed to the Savings Account enabling a reserve of £10,000 to be held there. In addition, we shall hold a reserve of £10,000 in the Current Account.

Banking arrangements

Our online banking arrangements with Unity Trust Bank continue to work well.

Gift Aid

The Gift Aid and Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme continue to provide significant income to the church.

Independent examiner

Our first year with the Stewardship organisation went well and the PCC decided to use their services again for the preparation of the 2023 accounts and examination.

Paul Hamilton, Treasurer

The report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Stephen Parker

Rev Stephen Parker

Date: 8th May 2024

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH LEAMINGTON PRIORS

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St John the Baptist Church Leamington Priors ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023 on pages 27-31 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Stephen Mathews

Stephen Mathews FCA

Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: 15 May 2024

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Fundraising expenses Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers

The notes on pages 29-31 form part of these accounts.

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31 December 2023

Stephen Parker

8[th] May 2024

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The notes on pages 29-31 form part of these accounts.

PARQfHINL CMURGH GQUNCIL QF THE E￿LE¥lA￿lIGAL PARISH QF ¥TJQHN THE BAPm¥T GHUIKH LE4MINfjTQN P￿9R¥ NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DEc￿BER 20ZJ 1 A￿OUn1J￿g p￿1¢1￿$ The actounls ha been pr￿￿d ￿ a ￿telp1S and payments basis and c(mprise a statement that shovts the chariiy¥ reipts ￿ym￿lS. a staiemenl that surnmarises the charity's assets and Iiabililie5 related notes The acccwjnt￿cY profe5sDn ha detemined that only accounts prepared In accudance with ¥plicle accouniing S￿ndardS present a and fair, iiew and. a5 these receipts and payments accwnts ha¥e not land c￿nOt) be prewed In accordance with acccojnling 5tand¥ds. these acccoJn15 do not present laid are not Int￿￿ed lo Pres￿1) a Iwe and Pdirf of the charity's ffinancid aclMtie5 and stale of afAirs. Genera fvnds we unreslricled fvnd5 which are awlable for use al the di4eretion of the PCC In fijrtheraice (rflhe general objeclis of the charity. De51gnat>J nds tompnse unreslrieied ￿Trds that ha been set aside by the PCC for particular purposes. Reslricled ￿ndS are donations which are lo be used In accordance specffic reslriclion5 Imposed by dcfflor5,' they include donati￿$ reCeI￿d frDm br specik aclimlies or prciects. Unrestritled Funds Gener fiJnds Designated nds Re51ricled Funds Tot 2023 Tot 20 al Voluntary incom8 Planned giiing CCAlecti￿s at seNces Gr￿lS otherdonali￿s Gift aid 20,876 20.876 6.238 41,6M 41. 8,912 38,317 8,912 79,1 41,e44 .416 bl Futhdralng Intom& Fundraising 2.9 2.9 ch Church awivitios Fees fDrw&dings fvner45 Church E￿￿t5 Oiher Missi Sehod H￿Se renld inc(xne 1,479 2.1 3,312 183 14S 3.312 163 145 1.872 4,209 1,479 d) InvosThont inwmo Lettings br cwmunily use of the ChU￿b leresl cash dep05rts idends frDm CBF I￿￿t￿@￿t 2,678 2.678 116 25S 6.710 25S 29

Unrestncled Funds General fund$ Designated funds Reslrieled, Funds Total 2022 2023 al Clergy and affing cost5 Running costs br clergy accommodation Clergy expenses 1.060 1.060 1.060 1.060 381 381 Revstephen Parfter (who is a clergy member of the PCCI recei￿ a stipend frcTh the Diocese., the cost ofthis stipend is not mcluded In the abo￿ h(hvew it should be noted that some of the Parish share is used lo hdp pay the 51ipends Stephen PatKer was proiided with accoMM￿allOn (which is customary for elttgyl and the cost of this &eommodaliDn is disclosed In the abDKe note. Rev Stephen Parker incurred expenses whilst seThing as clttgy ar￿ these costs are also disclosed in the abo note. bl Church opgration co Maintenance of SeThryces Diocesan Fee5 Children and Youth Ministry E*nls. Outsngs and Pilgrim4es Maintenance of Church Fabric Maintenance of SchoDI House Insurance Independent ExaThiner'5 Fee Printing. Postage. Tdephone & Stationery Church Light and Heat Community Support Community Support IInter￿nd Loan) Mission other giiing Finance Charges 6,788 6,788 1,887 11,754 4.865 8.632 3.878 7,692 810 2,043 4,377 24.697 6.5L¥J 1.887 9.OZJ 2,731 4.865 6.351 3.878 7,692 810 2,043 4,377 9,618 2,413 6,547 TT6 6,￿1 2.282 S,403 2,870 24.697 6.5 Note A 3.011 719 1,227 719 95 45,449 43,357 44.389 87,746 tl Church Hall running togts Routine hdl rnantwance Major repairs lo hai 8.157 8.151 6,475 8,157 8,157 6,475 Fundraising expenses Ad￿rtising pu￿1t￿ 332 332 332 332 30

The notes on pages 29-31 form part of these accounts.

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