ANNUAL REPORT SEVEN TOWERS JOINT COUNCIL 2024
Seven Towers Joint Council Trustees’ Report 2024
Administra�ve informa�on
Following approval by The Diocese of Gloucester Bishop’s Council in September 2023, Seven Towers Joint Council became effec�ve on 1 January 2024. At that �me the PCCs of the parishes of St Mary’s Norton, St Mary & Corpus Chris�, Down Hatherley, St Lawrence, Sandhurst, St Catherine, Staverton with St Mary Magdalene Boddington and St Catherine The Leigh & Evington went into abeyance.
Gloucester within the Church of England. The correspondence address is c/o Sandhurst Church, Sandhurst, Gloucester, GL2 9NP. The Joint Council (JC) is a charity (number 1205403) registered with the Charity Commission.
JC members who have served from January 2024 un�l the 8[th] May 2025 are as below.
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Name Post Dates if part
year
Revd Joe Knight Priest in Charge
Benefice (& Norton) Church Warden, Lay Vice
Simon Trapnell Chairman
Benefice (& Sandhurst) Church Warden,
Carolyn Wright Secretary
Ellie Stevenson Down Hatherley Church Warden
Janine Smith SwB Church Warden
Jean Smith Norton Church Warden
The Leigh Church Warden & Deanery Synod
Phil Co�on Representa�ve
Adrian Hawkins Sandhurst Church Warden
Elected Member, Treasurer & Deanery Synod
Derek Wright Representa�ve
Hazel Co�on Elected Member
Tony Crawshaw Elected Member
Un�l September
Graeme Hunter Elected Member 2024
Andrew Wilkins Elected Member
Graham Limbrick Elected Member & Deanery Synod Rep.
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Note * also referred to as the Parish Representa�ve
In addi�on Lynda Chan (represen�ng the Prayer Team), Alison Moseley (represen�ng the Worship Team), Gareth Moseley (represen�ng the Pastoral Team) and, un�l June 2024, Jordan Murrison
(represen�ng the Children & Young People’s Team) a�end mee�ngs of the JC. Rev Philippa Donald also a�ends the JC as does the Safeguarding office – post currently vacant.
Structure, governance and management
The method of appointment of JC (PCC) members is set out in the Church Representa�on Rules. All Church a�endees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll of one of the former PCCS and stand for elec�on to the JC. Seven Towers Joint Council became responsible for governance and management on 1[st] January 2024, taking over from the PCCs. However, the parish electoral roll is s�ll required and will con�nue to be updated annually.
Each elected member is elected for a 3-year term and will then re�re by rota�on and is eligible to stand for re-elec�on. For the first 3 years it was agreed that two members (Derek Wright & Graeme Hunter) would re�re a�er 1 year, two members (Graham Limbrick & Tony Crawshaw) would re�re a�er 2 years and the other two members (Hazel Co�on & Andrew Wilkins) would re�re a�er 3 years.
Objec�ves and Ac�vi�es
The JC has the responsibility of co-opera�ng with the incumbent in promo�ng in the ecclesias�cal parishes the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelis�c, social and ecumenical. Each parish comprising the benefice has been encouraged to establish a team under the direc�on of the local parish representa�ve to maintain the local church and churchyard and organise local events.
Financial Review
£111,200 and are detailed in the Financial Statements. Total payments from the General Fund in the year were £112,417. The largest items of expenditure were Parish Share of £75,204, which is a payment to the Gloucester Diocesan Board of Finance to enable it to provide the benefice with clergy and support services.
forward at the beginning of the year, the balance of the general fund carried forward at year-end 2024 totaled £94,408.
Reserves policy
It is JC policy to maintain a balance on general funds (if possible), which equates to between 3 and 6 months’ general fund payments, to cover emergency situa�ons that may arise from �me to �me. At year-end, the figure was outside (greater than) the reserve’s guideline but is expected to fall back into the range during 2025.
It is our policy to invest our fund balances with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.
SEVEN TOWERS JOINT COUNCIL
Annual Accounts to 31 December 2024
| General | Designated | Restricted | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Fund | Funds | Funds | Total 2024 | Total 2023 | |
| Income | ||||||
| Collections | 4,921 | 2,532 | 670 | 8,123 | 7,962 | |
| Regular Giving | 45,796 | 3,048 | - | 48,844 | 52,479 | |
| Ad hoc Donations | 9,411 | 5,542 | 5,279 | 20,232 | 28,980 | |
| 4 | Charity collections | 6,230 | - | - | 6,230 | 3,600 |
| 5 | Grants | - | 50,819 | - | 50,819 | 846 |
| Legacies | - | 10,000 | - | 10,000 | 1,505 | |
| Gift Aid reclaim | 11,811 | 4,011 | - | 15,822 | 15,717 | |
| VAT reclaim | - | 16,384 | 136 | 16,520 | 533 | |
| Magazine - Subscriptions | 3,059 | - | - | 3,059 | 3,137 | |
| Magazine - Adverts | 1,268 | - | - | 1,268 | 1,598 | |
| 6 | Fund raising | 1,945 | 7,970 | 382 | 10,297 | 4,229 |
| Bank interest | 3,337 | 8,128 | - | 11,465 | 5,846 | |
| 7 | Investment Income | 1,996 | - | 3,227 | 5,223 | 4,693 |
| Fees - Funeral | 13,310 | 819 | - | 14,129 | 12,404 | |
| Fees - Monuments | 1,338 | - | - | 1,338 | 1,484 | |
| Fees - Weddings | 6,778 | - | - | 6,778 | 5,339 | |
| Book sales | - | 196 | - | 196 | 217 | |
| Total Income | 111,200 | 109,449 | 9,694 | 230,343 | 150,569 | |
| Expenditure | ||||||
| 8 | Parish Share | 75,204 | - | - | 75,204 | 71,700 |
| Water | 398 | - | - | 398 | 258 | |
| Electricity | 3,609 | 846 | - | 4,455 | 5,696 | |
| Oil | 409 | - | - | 409 | 437 | |
| Insurance | 7,762 | - | - | 7,762 | 7,448 | |
| 9 | Running Expenses | 360 | 811 | 992 | 2,163 | 2,309 |
| Gifts | - | 575 | - | 575 | - | |
| Magazine printing | 2,837 | - | - | 2,837 | 3,431 | |
| Statutory fees | 4,262 | - | - | 4,262 | 6,336 | |
| 10 | Organist fees | 2,296 | - | - | 2,296 | 480 |
| 11 | Building works | - | 7,937 | 475 | 8,412 | 12,467 |
| Clergy expenses | 3,000 | - | - | 3,000 | 3,307 | |
| 4 | Charity donations | 8,048 | - | - | 8,048 | 8,892 |
| 6 | Cost of fund raising | 383 | 1,200 | - | 1,583 | 927 |
| Worship Requisites | 304 | - | 304 | 466 | ||
| Friendly Friday costs | 324 | - | - | 324 | 315 | |
| 14 | Churchyard Maintenance | - | 3,426 | 400 | 3,826 | 3,318 |
| 13 | Mission Teams | 379 | - | - | 379 | 619 |
| 12 | Bell costs | 720 | 108,736 | - | 109,456 | - |
| Outreach | 868 | - | - | 868 | 735 | |
| Other | 1,254 | - | - | 1,254 | 6,628 | |
| Total outgoing | 112,417 | 123,531 | 1,867 | 237,815 | 135,769 | |
| Excess / (deficit) | (1,217) | (14,082) | 7,827 | (7,472) | 14,800 |
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Assets as at 31 December 2024
| 31-Dec-24 | 31-Dec-23 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current accounts | 15,945 | 121,867 | (105,922) |
| Deposit accounts | 46,813 | 67,931 | (21,118 ) |
| CCLA | 240,267 | 125,322 | 114,945 |
| SJP | 54,691 | 50,068 | 4,623. |
| Total | 357,716 | 365,188 | (7,472 ) |
| ssets by Funds | |||
| 31-Dec-24 | 31-Dec-23 | Change | |
| General | 94,408 | 95,625 | (1,217 ) |
| Restricted | |||
| Sandhurst Bells | 3,000 | 3,000 | 0 |
| Youth Mission | 2,430 | 2,430 | 0 |
| Mission | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 |
| The Leigh Fabric | 50,815 | 46,550 | 4,265 |
| Down Hatherley Roof | 1,562 | 0 | 1,562 |
| SwB Organ | 23,515 | 23,515 | 0 |
| Total Restricted | 83,322 | 75,495 | 7,8267 |
| Designated Funds | |||
| Sandhurst Fabric | 22,718 | 16,427 | 6,291 |
| Down Hatherley Fabric | 73,658 | 64,500 | 9,158 |
| SwB Fabric | 47,403 | 44,002 | 3,401 |
| Norton Fabric | 9,073 | 9,063 | 10 |
| Norton Bells | 1,690 | 37,026 | (35,336) |
| Norton Toilets | 12,556 | 10,870 | 1,686 |
| Hardship | 900 | 900 | 0 |
| Twigworth Churchyard | 11,988 | 11,280 | 708 |
| Total Designated | 179,986 | 194,068 | (14,082) |
| Total Funds | 357,716 | 365,188 | (7,472) |
Assets by Funds
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Notes to the Financial Statements for the year to 31 December 2024
1. Presentation of financial information
- These financial statements have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006. Seven Towers Joint Council (“JC”) only became effective on 1 January 2024 at which time the 5 original PCCs (Down Hatherley, Norton, Sandhurst, Staverton with Boddington and The Leigh & Evington) went into abeyance. The comparable 2023 figures have been prepared on a proforma basis combining the individual PCC and Benefice accounts for the 12 months to 31 December 2023.
2. Accounting Policies
These financial statements include monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the Benefice Council can be held responsible. They do not include the accounts, if any, of any other benefice-wide groups that owe an affiliation to any other body.
Receipts are included as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid.
3. Types of funds
In these accounts funds are described as General, Designated and Restricted. ‘Restricted funds’ are sums held on trust for particular purposes and can only be spent on those purposes. ‘Unrestricted funds’ (General Funds) are simply the ordinary property of the JC and can be spent on any of the JC’s general purposes. ‘ Designated funds’ are sums earmarked by the JC for specific purposes.
In these accounts Restricted Funds are the Staverton with Boddington (“SwB”) Organ Fund, Sandhurst Bell Fund, The Leigh Fabric Fund, the Down Hatherley Roof Fund, the Mission Fund and the Youth Mission fund. These funds were set up as a result of specific donations for that purpose only.
Designated Funds include the Fabric Funds of each of the previous PCCs, the Norton Bell Fund, the Norton Toilet Fund, the Hardship Fund, and the Twigworth Churchyard Fund
4. Charity Collections and Donations
Since April 2020, we have been collecting fortnightly for Gloucester Foodbank from church porches, Nature in Art and the Co-op at Twigworth Green. During 2024 we collected 1,119.4 kg of food which was the equivalent of providing 2,665 meals to local people. In addition to the cash amounts shown below CAF cheques from individuals were sent as part of the Benefice donations.
The money collected at the Ladies and Men’s breakfasts and at the monthly community lunches in excess of costs plus 50% of the collections at our Christmas Carol services were also sent to Gloucester Foodbank.
Apart from September, money donated at the monthly Friendly Friday less the cost of hall rental was sent to Sue Ryder in memory of Jane Jones. The September donations were sent to MacMillan.
Collections at funeral services were sent to the charities nominated by the families of the deceased.
Where appropriate gift aid is added to donations and passed on to the various charities. The Joint Council “funds” the gift aid until such time as it is claimed back from HMRC.
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Charitable gifts included £1,500 to Gloucester Foodbank, £510 to Macmillan Nurses from the September coffee morning and £4,446 to various charities in memory of those whose funerals were held in our churches.
5. Grants
Grants of £48,719 were made by various bodies towards the repair of Norton Bells (see note 12) and £2,100 was granted towards the cost of internal glazing at Sandhurst.
6. Fund raising
Various fund raising activities were held across the Benefice, some for the benefice general fund and others for local projects.
| Income | Costs | Net | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benefice | 1,946 | 383 | 1,563 |
| Norton Bells | 1,439 | 649 | 790 |
| Norton Toilets | 370 | - | 370 |
| Sandhurst | 2,957 | 551 | 2,406 |
| DH Roof appeal | 382 | - | 382 |
| SwB | 3,203 | - | 3,203 |
| Total | 10,297 | 1,583 | 8,714 |
7. Investment Income
Investment income includes £600 rental income from a piece of land in Boddington and gains on an investment with St James’s Place resulting from the sale of the village hall in The Leigh. In line with past practice, dividends and interest arising on the St James’s Place investment (£1,396 in 2024) are credited to the general fund and growth (£3,227 in 2024) to The Leigh Fabric Fund.
8. Parish Share
Parish Share is money requested from and paid to the Gloucester Diocesan Board of Finance to cover costs including those of the clergy remuneration and related costs including housing and central services incurred by the Diocese.
The 2024 allocation from Severn Vale Deanery to the Benefice was £75,204 (£71,700 in 2023).
- Running Expenses The running costs by parish were as follows:
| Down Hatherley | 239 |
|---|---|
| Norton | 256 |
| Sandhurst | 170 |
| SwB | 146 |
| The Leigh | 992 |
| Electrical (PAT) testing | 360 |
| Total | 2,163 |
“PAT” testing was paid for from the General Fund. Other costs charged to local fabric funds were the Fire Extinguisher testing for all church buildings except Norton, Organ service & repairs (Norton & The Leigh), cleaning materials (Sandhurst) and the cost of opening the safe (Staverton).
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10. Organist fees
£1,376 was paid to organists in respect of Funerals and Weddings and £920 for playing at various worship gatherings.
11. Building Works
Building works include minor repairs and comprise:
| Down Hatherley | 3,085 | includes bat survey and tile replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Norton | 350 | |
| Sandhurst | 1,761 | includes drawing for glazing project |
| SwB | 3,101 | architect fees |
| The Leigh | 115 | |
| Total | 8,412 |
12. Bell Costs
During the year a major project was undertaken to repair and replace the bells at Norton Church funded by reserves brought forward, grants received and various donations. The JC would like to thank all of those involved in the project which was successfully delivered on time in late summer / early autumn.
13. Mission Teams
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children & Young People | ||||
| Christmas party | 59 | 279 | ||
| Hall Rental | 135 | 150 | ||
| Materials | 25 | 190 | ||
| 219 | 619 | |||
| Prayer team | 160 | |||
| Total | 379 | 619 |
14. Churchyard
Churchyard costs by parish were as follows:
| Mower | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | servicing | Other | Total | |
| Down Hatherley | 15 | 102 | - | 117 |
| Norton | 67 | 534 | 55 | 656 |
| Sandhurst | 73 | 46 | 368 | 487 |
| SwB | - | 135 | 1,920 | 2,055 |
| The Leigh | 400 | - | - | 400 |
| Twigworth | - | - | 111 | 111 |
| Total | 555 | 817 | 2,454 | 3,826 |
Other costs primarily comprise tree maintenance and installation of the new shed in Sandhurst.
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Members of the Seven Towers Benefice Joint Council (“the Trust”)
I report on the accompanying accounts of the Seven Towers Benefice Joint Council for the year ended 31 December 2024, which have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis as the Trust’s gross income for the year was below £250,000.
The figures for the year ended 31 December 2023 have been prepared on a pro forma basis and for comparative purposes only; my report does not cover these figures.
Respective Responsibilities and Basis of Report
As charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the annual accounts of the Trust in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the relevant sections of the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting by Charities, and the appropriate Church of England Accounting Guidelines. My responsibility is to perform an independent examination of the accounts in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Trust 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.
In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
(i) accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011, or
-
(ii) the accounts do not accord with those records.
In addition I have come across no other matters to which in my opinion attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Steven Riddick FCA Woodview Pirton Lane Churchdown Gloucester
April 2025