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2025-12-31-accounts

ST PAUL'S STALYBRIDGE

Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council

For the year ended 31 December 2025 St Paul's Stalybridge is a UK registered charity number 1204186

2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

1. Legal and Administrative Information

Charity Name

ST PAUL’S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

Charity registration Number 1204186

Governing Documents Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, as amended: Church Representation Rules – contained in Schedule 1 to the Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No 1).

Independent Examiners Stewardship Services (UKET) Ltd, 1 Lamb’s Passage, London, EC1Y 8AB

Banks Virgin Money, Clydesdale Bank, Symington House, 7 North Avenue, Clydebank Park, Clydebank, G81 2NT Natwest Bank Plc. 250 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AA CCLA Investment Management Limited, One Angel Lane, London, EC4R 3AB

Correspondence Address St Paul's Vicarage Huddersfield Road Stalybridge SK15 2PT Telephone 0161 338 2966

Email emma.handley@stpauls-staley.org.uk

Website www.achurchnearyou.com/church/12838/

Context St Paul’s Church is situated to the east of Stalybridge town centre, and, as part of the Church of England, is within the Diocese of Chester.

Incumbent Rev Emma Handley

The Vicarage, Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire, SK15 5PT

Other Staff Member Paul Smith Centre Manager

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

Trustees / PCC Members serving during 2025

Role Name Note
Incumbent /
PCC Chair		 Rev Emma Handley
Churchwardens Kath Leigh From May2024 APCM
Helen Whitelegg From May2024 APCM
DeanerySynod Jacintha Manchester To 2026 APCM
Members Judith Davy To 2026 APCM
Viv Dawson To 2026 APCM
SallyFielding Elected 2023 APCM to 2026 APCM
Jacqui Barker Elected 2023 APCM to 2026 APCM
Stuart Hobday Elected 2023 APCM to 2026 APCM
Paul Manchester Elected 2024 APCM to 2027 APCM
Christine Dolan Elected 2024 APCM to 2027 APCM
Michael Allcock Elected 2024 APCM to 2027 APCM
Alison Smith Elected 2025 APCM to 2028 APCM
Co-opted
Members		 Paul Smith (Centre
Manager)		 To 2024 APCM - then co-opted May 2024 by
PCC to 2027 APCM
Jackie Yates(Treasurer) To 2024 APCM - then co-opted May 2024 by
PCC to 2027 APCM
Non-member
Appointee		 Stephen Parkin
(Secretary)		 Appointed 2023 by PCC

Responsibilities of Trustees

Responsibility for setting policy and for determining the parameters within which the charity should operate rests with the PCC, which meets regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. Responsibility for the day to day operations of the charity also rests with the PCC.

Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.

We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.

We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.

Statutory Duties

In pursuing the aims described in this report the Trustees can confirm that they have:

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF

It is our intention that no one starts a paid or voluntary role with children, youth, or adults at risk before they have been safely recruited and have received appropriate training and been taken through the DBS process. The Diocese has produced a Basic and Foundational e-learning safeguarding training tool, which we ask all volunteers and staff and PCC to do. They also need to complete the Domestic Abuse Awareness training too. A link to our safeguarding policy is on our website and a copy is held within the church vestry. Information about how to access safeguarding help is displayed in the Church Lounge.

2. Aims and Purposes

The charity is responsible for co-operating with the incumbent in promoting, to the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Through our love of Jesus we seek to be a church who: extends welcome and hospitality to everyone; loves God with all our heart and others as ourselves; and invites the transforming power of God’s Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives and community.

3. Objectives

Vision

Our Vision is to be ‘Welcoming; Loving; Transforming’ through the power of Jesus. This was launched in September 2024.

Welcoming

The welcome that we provide to our community is an expression of hospitality which is rooted in our love of Jesus. We believe that the way in which we treat our neighbours who come through our doors during the week or who we meet whilst working outside of the church building should express the love of Jesus. Therefore we aim to:

Loving

Our aim is to love others as Jesus loves us. This is what Jesus commanded his followers to do and demonstrated in his own life and death. Therefore we aim to break down barriers that exist between people by:

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

Transforming

We believe that demonstrating the love that Jesus has for us through our actions leads to transformation. Therefore we look to:

4. What we did in 2025

4.1 Ministry Review

In line with our Mission Action Plan, launched 2024, and having articulated our vision and mission statement, we continued to focus on the following areas:

  1. In order to develop our worship into something more accessible we have bought into SongSelect which gives us access for vocal music in 4 parts, enabling the choir and our all-age worship band to have access to a wider range of songs and styles of music. This makes it easier for our young musicians to play with us in the services – growing their confidence. Our 14 year old pianist was able to lead 450 people in worship at our Christingle in December.

  2. At the beginning of 2025 four new Discipleship Groups were launched, bringing the total up to 7, encompassing approx 47 church members. We have identified further groups and leaders for these groups and are planning to continue to encourage new groups to take off. We have a growing church with new people coming to faith who need to be nurtured so small groups will be an important part of this, along with the Alpha course which we continue to run.

In 2025 we encouraged discipleship and worship by :

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

We focussed on the discipleship of our children and young people by:

We encouraged our Mission and Outreach by :

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

5. Mission

Our mission partners are Stalybridge Street Pastors; Gap Kenya, and Siloam orphanage. We increased our giving by extending our support to The Message Trust and Tameside East Foodbank and also support/maintained connections with the Trussell Trust, Christian Aid, Open Doors, Samaritan's Purse, Ovarian Cancer Research, Children’s Society through fund raising events and donations.

6. Financial Review

During the year income decreased by £9,191 to £136,544, and expenditure decreased by £7,887 to £134,627. As a result, the cash held by the charity increased by £1,917 to £12,995. This comprised restricted cash of £23,548 and an overdrawn balance of £10,553 on unrestricted cash. As and when it becomes necessary, the PCC will be able to sell some of its unrestricted investments to cover the shortfall in unrestricted cash.

7. Reserves Policy

The PCC has determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash and investments of no less than £10,000 (which equates to about 3 months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash and investments of £178,717 (comprising unrestricted investments of £189,270 less a cash deficit of £10,553 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy. Most of the excess above £10,000 is being held to help meet the cost of future repairs to the church building.

8. Risk Statement

The charity is exposed to various risks – operational, financial or reputational. The PCC reviews its activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, it takes appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.

9. Quinquennial Inspection / Building Maintenance

A quinquennial inspection was carried out in June 2025 but at the time of writing, and despite chasing and being promised, it has still not been provided. A motion is currently in process to look at commissioning a new architect.

During the past year various projects were initiated or have been progressing within the church building.

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

10. Structure, Governance and Management

Each area of the church's life and ministry falls under the oversight of the vicar and the PCC. The PCC drew on the blessings of the skills of the many members of our church family beyond the PCC in order to help it meet its responsibilities.

10.1 Parochial Church Council (PCC)

The PCC is a body corporate established by the Church of England and operates under the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure and the Church Representation Rules. Members of the PCC are either ex-officio; elected representatives of Deanery Synod; elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM); or co-optees.

The ex-officio members of the PCC are:

10.2 PCC Review

The PCC met again six times during the year.

The APCM took place on 20[th] May 2025 and at this meeting we said goodbye to retiring PCC member Graham Handley. We welcomed to the PCC Alison Smith. We are extremely thankful for all their contributions, input and invaluable hard work during their terms in office.

PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern to the parish including deciding how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. All PCC members are trustees of the charity. Elected PCC members serve for a three-year term, with four elected

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

members standing down each year. All eligible church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and, if they wish, to stand for election to the PCC.

There were three vacancies for election to Mottram Deanery Synod available to St Paul's Church in 2025 – Judith Davy, Viv Dawson and Jacintha Manchester were elected at the 2025 ACPM but Judith Davy and Viv Dawson will need to stand down at the 2026 election as they will have served for 6 years. Elections take place every three years, and the next elections will be conducted at our 2026 annual meeting. Rev Emma Handley is also a member of Deanery Synod.

10.2 Standing Committee

This is the only committee required by statute. It has power to transact the business of the PCC between full Council meetings, subject to any directions given by the council. Its membership is determined by the PCC and currently comprises the vicar, PCC secretary, treasurer and two church wardens. The standing committee meets 6 times a year via Zoom.

10.3 Other PCC Teams/Sub-groups

In the course of 2025 the PCC gave delegated authority to a number of teams/sub-groups:

Buildings and Maintenance team

The Buildings Team is concerned with the care of the Church building and its grounds, their fitments and fittings, together with building cleaning and any care-taking services. Serving on this team are the Vicar; the Wardens; the Deputy Wardens (Mike Allcock and Paul Manchester); the Centre Manager Paul Smith, and our Project Manager Peter Leitch, along with PCC member Alison Smith.

Deanery Synod Team

The Deanery Synod team was established to form closer links between the Deanery Synod and PCC and to facilitate better channels of communication between the two groups. Currently serving on this team are Jacintha Manchester (Reader); Judith Davy (Electoral Roll Officer); Viv Dawson.

Leadership team

A preaching and leading team supports the Incumbent in her leadership of the church. They are involved in preaching and leading the services. Currently serving on this team are Jacintha Manchester (Reader); Helen Whitelegg (Reader and Warden); Rev Chris Viney (PT0), Kath Leigh (Warden) and Judith Willis who helps to lead the All Age Worship and is our Bubble Church Champion.

11. Priorities for 2025-2026

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2024 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

12. Approval

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: Rev Emma Handley

Emma Handley

Emma Handley (May 14, 2026 19:08:51 GMT+1)

on May 14, 2026

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of St Paul's Church, Stalybridge ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 12 to 15 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.

Sarah Crispin

Sarah Crispin (May 18, 2026 14:47:35 GMT+1)

Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: May 18, 2026

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ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Notes
Income receipts
Voluntary receipts
2(a)
Fundraising income
2(b)
Church activities
2(c)
Investment income
2(d)
Proceeds from insurance claim
Capital and similar receipts
Total receipts
Payments
Church activities
Parish share
Clergy and staffing costs
3(a)
3(b)
4
5
Total payments
Transfers between funds
6
Net movement in funds
Cash funds as at last year end
Cash funds at this year end
A
Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers
Mission giving and donations
Purchase of fixed assets
Church running expenses
Fundraising expenses
Loan repayments		 General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
82,674
-
13,197
-
13,864
-
6,006
-
-
-
115,741
-
5,500
-
5,500
-
121,241
-
-
-
10,622
-
33,552
-
44,174
-
1,475
-
3,230
-
48,879
-
1,565
-
50,444
-
70,797
-
(78,679)
(558)
(7,882)
(558)
(2,671)
558
(10,553)
-
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
13,908
-
1,188
207
-
15,303
-
-
15,303
77,605
-
4,625
82,230
-
1,953
84,183
-
84,183
(68,880)
79,237
10,357
13,191
23,548		 Total
2025
£
96,582
13,197
15,052
6,213
-
131,044
5,500
5,500
136,544
77,605
10,622
38,177
126,404
1,475
5,183
133,062
1,565
134,627
1,917
-
1,917
11,078
12,995		 Total
2024
£
85,962
13,709
15,635
6,041
19,088
140,435
5,300
5,300
145,735
75,344
9,743
52,153
137,240
2,454
1,200
140,894
1,620
142,514
3,221
-
3,221
7,857
11,078

The notes on pages 14 to 15 form part of these accounts.

12

ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Unrestricted Funds
General Designated Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £
A Cash funds
Cash at bank with immediate access (10,753) - 23,548 12,795 10,878
Petty cash 200 - - 200 200
(10,553) - 23,548 12,995 11,078
B Other monetary assets
Gift aid due to charity 6,500 - 500 7,000 3,000
Debtors 1,993 - - 1,993 -
Loans repayable - - - - 5,000
8,493 - 500 8,993 8,000
C Liabilities
Fee for Independent Examination 1,320 - - 1,320 1,200
Other liabilities 3,119 - - 3,119 1,582
4,439 - - 4,439 2,782

D Assets retained for charity's own use

Computers and IT
Music and audio visual equipment
Furniture		 Fund to
which asset
belongs
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Unrestricted		 Current
value
£
1,407
21,000
2,778
25,185

Current values have been estimated by the trustees. Consecrated property, beneficed property and moveable church furnishings which require a special faculty for disposal are excluded from the above list of charity assets.

E Investment assets

Investments with CCLA held by the Diocese as custodian for the charity:
Held for general purposes
Held to help with paying Parish Share
Held for other restricted purposes		 Fund to
which asset
belongs
Unrestricted
Restricted
Restricted		 Current
value
£
189,270
16,235
324
205,829

The current values quoted in the above table are based on figures provided by the Diocese.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Emma Handley _____REV EMMA HANDLEYEmma Handley (May 14, 2026 19:08:51 GMT+1)

Date: __May 14, 2026

The notes on pages 14 to 15 form part of these accounts.

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ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the PCC in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the PCC for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects

2
a) Voluntary income
Planned giving
Collections at services
Legacies
Government grants
Other grants
Other donations
Gift aid recovered
b) Fundraising income
Property letting income
Other fundraising activities and events
c) Church activities
Fees for weddings and funerals
Church and community activities and
events
d)
Investment income
Interest from cash deposits
Dividends from CBF investment funds
3
a)
Clergy and staffing costs
Cost of payroll
Running costs for clergy accommodation		 General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
58,144
-
7,651
-
10,014
-
-
-
500
-
170
-
6,195
-
82,674
-
13,135
-
62
-
13,197
-
2,359
-
11,505
-
13,864
-
15
-
5,991
-
6,006
-
General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
7,139
-
3,483
-
10,622
-
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
6,608
82
-
773
5,200
1,017
228
13,908
-
-
-
269
919
1,188
-
207
207
Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-		 Total
2025
£
64,752
7,733
10,014
773
5,700
1,187
6,423
96,582
13,135
62
13,197
2,628
12,424
15,052
15
6,198
6,213
Total
2025
£
7,139
3,483
10,622		 Total
2024
£
58,945
3,271
-
1,005
2,122
6,669
13,950
85,962
13,178
531
13,709
2,434
13,201
15,635
71
5,970
6,041
Total
2024
£
General
funds
£
7,139
3,483
10,622
6,979
2,764
9,743

Revd Emma Handley (who is a clergy member of the PCC) receive a stipend from the Diocese; the cost of these stipends is not included in the above payroll cost however it should be noted that some of the Parish share is used to help pay the stipends. Revd Handley was provided with accommodation (which is customary for clergy) and the cost of this accommodation to the charity is disclosed in the above note.

In the above table, the cost of payroll represents employment benefits paid to Paul Smith, who is a member of the PCC. These payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

14

ST PAUL'S CHURCH, STALYBRIDGE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

3
b)
Church running costs
Organ and other music costs
Cost of services
Children and youth ministry (including Bubble Church)
Other ministry expenses
Insurance
Office expenses including printing and telephone
Independent examiner fee
Church light, heat and water
Church maintenance including cleaning
4
Fundraising expenses
Cost of fairs and other fundraising activities
5
Mission giving and donations
GAP Ministries
Stalybridge Street Pastors
Other grants
6
Movement on designated, restricted and endowment funds		 General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
2,942
-
454
-
-
-
1,637
-
10,078
-
836
-
1,800
-
10,775
-
5,030
-
33,552
-
1,475
-
1,475
-
1,100
-
1,050
-
1,080
-
3,230
-
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
470
507
822
310
-
-
-
866
1,650
4,625
-
-
-
-
1,953
1,953		 Total
2025
£
3,412
961
822
1,947
10,078
836
1,800
11,641
6,680
38,177
1,475
1,475
1,100
1,050
-
2,150		 Total
2024
£
General
funds
£
2,942
454
-
1,637
10,078
836
1,800
10,775
5,030
33,552
1,475
1,475
1,100
1,050
1,080
3,230
2,556
1,061
900
3,096
10,998
1,219
-
10,214
22,109
52,153
2,454
2,454
600
600
-
1,200
General funds
Designated funds
Lunch Club
Restricted funds
Charity collections
Bell tower
Children and Youth
Defibrillator
Flowers
Heritage restoration
Kitchen
Music
Nicola Worthington
Parish share
Restoration
Relief in need
Spring garden
Warm welcome
Total funds		 Opening
balance
£
(2,671)
558
558
2,382
(173)
-
514
(39)
6,482
1,380
(1,402)
120
-
135
500
1,913
1,379
13,191
11,078		 Receipts
£
121,241
-
-
732
2,505
1,949
-
486
9,184
-
240
-
-
-
207
-
-
15,303
136,544		 Payments
£
(50,444)
-
-
(1,333)
(270)
(822)
-
(507)
(280)
(1,380)
(470)
(120)
(77,605)
-
(500)
(30)
(866)
(84,183)
(134,627)		 Transfers
£
(78,679)
(558)
(558)
-
-
-
-
-
135
-
1,632
-
77,605
(135)
-
-
-
79,237
-		 Closing
balance
£
(10,553)
-
-
1,781
2,062
1,127
514
(60)
15,521
-
-
-
-
-
207
1,883
513
23,548
12,995

15