ST MARY’S CHURCH ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Overview of the financial position
The overall reported result for the year is a deficit of £4,664. This, however, does not include the full Parish Share due for the year as £31,393 relating to 2024 was paid in February 2025. The actual deficit for the year after adjusting for this timing difference is therefore £36,057.
This is significantly larger than in previous years (the prior year deficit, excluding legacies, was £3,559) predominantly due to an increase in maintenance costs relating to the church roof and clock (£16,864), reduced income from donations and fees for weddings and funerals (£9,989) and inflationary increases in costs of approximately £6,000.
The following balances, adjusted for the outstanding Parish Share, were held at the year end of the year:
-
Church current account – £87,047
-
Church Hall account - £22,821
-
CCLA Deposit account - £10,498
-
CCLA Investment account - £14,302
Total cash and investment balances therefore amounted to £134,668.
If the current level of deficit was to continue year on year, all other things being equal, St Mary’s would run out of funding within four years.
Unfortunately, we know that a large element of the running costs will increase over this period. Parish share has increased in 2025 to £77,704 from £75,344 in 2024, insurance costs have increased by £100 per month and utility charges are set to increase imminently.
Whilst we were fortunate to receive an exceptionally large legacy in 2023, we cannot rely on these one-off gifts to support the finances of the Church.
It is imperative therefore that regular donations are maximized to ensure the sustainability of St Mary’s into the next decade.
Church Hall
Whilst the Church Hall has its own bank account, its results are included within the consolidated accounts. The result for the year ended 31 December 2024 was a surplus of £8,526. Rental income amounted to £15,750 and operating expenses, £7,224.
Restricted Funds
Donations for repairs to the roof and windows have been treated as restricted funds as they were given specifically for that purpose. The surplus of £2,265 will be spent in Spring/Summer 2025 when weather conditions improve.
The restricted funds relating to the organ remain at £5,664.
Helen McCourt Treasurer
Full accounts are on a separate sheet.
| General Designated Restricted Endowment Total £ £ £ £ £ 27,989 - 3,008 - 30,997 23,087 - - - 23,087 4,074 - - - 4,074 11,713 - - - 11,713 66,863 - 3,008 - 69,871 2,044 - - - 2,044 68,907 - 3,008 - 71,915 10,169 - - - 10,169 1,970 - - - 1,970 552 - - - 552 17,822 - - - 17,822 99,420 - 3,008 - 102,428 97,376 - - - 97,376 43,951 - - - 43,951 7,548 - - - 7,548 10,712 - - - 10,712 5,671 - - - 5,671 7,902 - - - 7,902 6,692 - - - 6,692 3,210 - - - 3,210 4,037 - - - 4,037 2,400 - - - 2,400 6,419 - 743 - 7,162 14,312 - - - 14,312 2,021 - - - 2,021 114,875 - 743 - 115,618 (15,455) - 2,265 - (13,190) 8,526 - - - 8,526 (6,929) - 2,265 - (4,664) 162,669 - 6,832 - 169,501 (6,929) - 2,265 - (4,664) 1,224 - - - 1,224 156,964 - 9,097 - 166,061 Held in: Church current account 118,440 Church Hall current account 22,821 CCLA deposit account 10,498 CCLA investment account 14,302 166,061 Parochial Church of St Mary, Sandbach Year ended 31 December 2024 |
2023 £ 38,200 19,509 3,476 12,231 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Receipts Donations and legacies Other planned giving Loose plate collections Giving through Church boxes Tax recoverable on Gift Aid Legacies Income from Charitable Activities Fees for weddings and funerals Other trading activities Parish magazine Investments Dividends and bank interest Other income Teas, coffees, tiddlers, fundraising events Total receipts Excluding legacies Payments Parish share Staff costs Church running - insurance Church office expenses Church utilities Upkeep of services Council tax Working expenses Organist fees Church maintenance Major repairs Giving to societies Total payments Church net payments Church Hall net receipts Net (payments)/receipts Opening balance Deficit for the year Increase in value of investments Closing balance |
£ £ £ £ 27,989 - 3,008 - 23,087 - - - 4,074 - - - 11,713 - - - |
|
| 66,863 - 3,008 - 2,044 - - - |
73,416 130,543 |
|
| 68,907 - 3,008 - 10,169 - - - 1,970 - - - 552 - - - 17,822 - - - |
203,959 16,616 1,253 763 14,770 |
|
| 99,420 - 3,008 - |
237,361 | |
| 97,376 - - - 43,951 - - - 7,548 - - - 10,712 - - - 5,671 - - - 7,902 - - - 6,692 - - - 3,210 - - - 4,037 - - - 2,400 - - - 6,419 - 743 - 14,312 - - - 2,021 - - - |
106,818 74,275 2,850 9,964 5,030 7,469 4,284 2,975 2,648 2,400 3,233 1,377 705 |
|
| 114,875 - 743 - (15,455) - 2,265 - 8,526 - - - |
117,210 120,151 7,329 |
|
| (6,929) - 2,265 - |
127,480 | |
| 162,669 - 6,832 - (6,929) - 2,265 - 1,224 - - - |
||
| 156,964 - 9,097 - |
||
| Held in: Church current account Church Hall current account CCLA deposit account CCLA investment account |
St Mary's Church
Accounts Year Ended 31 December 2024
| INCOME Collections Gift aid Standing order collections Funerals, weddings, baptisms, PCC Donations CBF dividends & interest Investment value increase/(decrease) Church magazine Fundraising Teas, coffees, Tiddlers Legacies EXPENDITURE Parish share Clergy expenses Vicarage expenses Other Ministry expenses Organist Honorarium Heat & light Insurance Church maintenance & cleaning General administration Charity payments Church Hall (surplus)/deficit Home mission Visiting speakers Major repairs Opening net assets Surplus/(deficit) Closing net assets Church account Church Hall account CBF investment account CBF deposit account Difference |
2024 £ 20,770.79 11,712.87 30,996.61 10,169.00 6,414.55 548.01 1,223.45 1,970.21 6,499.39 11,322.55 2,044.00 103,671.43 43,950.90 4,037.38 5,305.62 3,518.06 2,400.00 5,805.54 10,712.25 9,870.95 13,217.04 984.05 (9,038.81) 1,037.28 999.37 14,312.03 107,111.66 169,501.02 (3,440.23) 166,060.79 118,440.26 22,821.08 14,301.62 10,497.83 166,060.79 - |
2023 £ 17,738.59 16,233.35 25,759.37 20,296.25 11,161.78 440.61 1,528.02 1,252.60 4,801.16 10,719.08 131,042.72 |
|---|---|---|
| 240,973.53 | ||
| 76,615.00 3,763.00 3,639.00 6,870.00 2,400.00 5,280.00 9,964.00 2,431.00 7,082.00 1,005.00 (5,226.75) - - - |
||
| 113,822.25 | ||
| 42,349.74 127,151.28 |
||
| 169,501.02 | ||
| 132,142.75 13,782.27 13,607.00 9,969.00 |
||
| 169,501.02 | ||
| - |
We have examined the books and records as provided by St Mary's Church and can confirm that the above accounts are in accordance therewith.
For and on behalf of The Rural Partnership Group
27 March 2025