PCC Annual Report 2025 The Parish of St. George’s Chesterton
This is the annual report of the St. George’s Chesterton Parochial Church Council (PCC), covering activities during 2025 at St. George’s Church and Hope Church. This report allows us to hear and celebrate what God has been doing among us. It is also a formal requirement in which the PCC members, as charity trustees, set out what has been achieved for church members and for the community, and how we use money and buildings.
Aim and Purposes
As a Church of England PCC our aim is to cooperate with the vicar, Andy Atkins, in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St. George’s church building, the church hall and the house at 39 St. Kilda Avenue.
Public Benefit Statement
The PCC have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
The mission of the Church includes sharing the gospel, discipling people for growth, serving people in need and fostering community in our local area - we want to be people who are eager to do what is good (Titus 2:14). We work to make our services, events and groups accessible and welcoming to as many people as possible. Our activities during 2025 and their outcomes are outlined in the next sections of this report.
Worship and Prayer
Church Services
Weekly communion services with children’s church were held on Sundays at St. George’s at 10am, with around 28 people attending. Special services were held on Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday, as a Harvest Festival in October, on the night of Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Occasional all-age services were appreciated by both children and adults. Morning prayer was said on Wednesdays at 8am. St. George’s held two bring-and-share lunches during 2025, with services at 11am those weeks and the congregation enjoying food and fellowship together afterwards over lunch.
Hope Church met on Sundays at Shirley Primary School, from 11am for brunch before an 11:30am all-age service, with creche for pre-schoolers when needed. Around 60 people attended, including around 20 under-16s. The themes during 2025 were Titus, Ecclesiastes and the Lord’s Prayer .
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Once a month the service included communion, and once a month there was a bring-andshare lunch after the service. Arbury Community Church joined us for an Easter Sunday service.
Small Groups and Prayer Meetings
St. George’s cell group met on Monday mornings to look together at the Bible passage from the Sunday service. People in the group continue to be encouraged by growing confidence in reading and discussing together.
Three Hope Church home groups met on weekday evenings, one morning group met on Thursday mornings, and discipleship groups for young people met on Sunday evenings. The home groups follow a rhythm of Bible study, small group discipleship, and monthly meals together.
Every six weeks or so one of the Hope Church home groups led Prayer Central, praying for each other, upcoming church events, the local community and global mission. Most Sundays before the service people gathered to pray for these themes and for the service.
Mission, Evangelism and Pastoral Care
Alongside encouraging members to work and witness in all areas of the parish, St. George’s Church and Hope Church have engaged in mission, evangelism and pastoral care in the following ways.
Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals
During 2025 there were three baptisms and one wedding at St George’s. There were also five funerals, including those for Karen McGuire, the Fairbite Manager, and Mick Green, a longstanding member of the St George’s congregation and a former PCC member.
Alpha Courses
Two Alpha courses were run on Sunday evenings in 2025, for people to meet each week, share a meal together and explore faith in Jesus.
A Youth Alpha course was run in partnership with two other local churches.
Love Kings Hedges
St. George’s and Hope facilitated a mission from 9th to 17th August 2025 in the Kings Hedges area of the parish, with a team including Christians from Hope Church, Arbury Community Church and City Church. Community events included a holiday club, family breakfast, E- sports night, talks from the charity ‘Tough Talk’, football tournament, two community barbecues and a fun day with bouncy castles and games. There was a Holiday Club for 5-10 year-old local children, with 19 children attending and over 40 parents and children gathering for a lunch at the end of the week. Hundreds of local people came to the events, and the team were able to meet and get to know several young people and adults. The mission was generously supported by a grant from the Howard Foundation.
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Children’s Work
Children’s church continued at St. George’s, exploring a story creatively together on a Sunday morning, then joining the service at communion.
Hope Kids ran on Wednesdays after school, for children in school years 3 to 6. From September 2025 Hope Kids followed a new format with Bible stories and crafts. Between eight and fourteen children joined each week.
Victoria Goodman visited many Cambridgeshire primary schools as part of her work for the Church Schools Trust, including Shirley Primary School and Chesterton Primary School which are in St. George’s parish. Victoria mentored children, took assemblies and led creative storytelling in classes.
People from Hope Church visited Chesterton Primary School, Shirley Primary School and Grove Primary School for several assemblies during 2025, including some puppet performances, which were popular with the children. Chesterton and Shirley Schools visited St. George’s church for Christmas carol services. Andy Atkins is a governor at both Chesterton and Shirley Primary Schools.
Youth Work
Hope Youth Hub continued on Monday evenings in St. George’s hall, with around 26 local young people (averaging about 10-12 each session) from school years 7 to 11 joining for games, snacks and a Bible thought. Consistently, most of the young people are not otherwise connected with the church.
Around 7 young people from church joined Sunday Xplore at leaders’ houses for a Bible study with games; marshmallows around the firepit were especially popular. Sunday discipleship for the older girls was a chance to gather around God’s word in fellowship.
Summer ventures were a great opportunity for fun and discipleship, and Hope Church sent groups of young people to ventures Woolhampton 1 and Orwell 1, which are part of the ministry of the charity CPAS. Several adults and families also joined Woolhampton 1 as leaders, assistant leaders and cooks.
Chloe Walker and Connor Kennedy ran a Christian Union on Friday lunchtimes at North Cambridge Academy (NCA), creating a space for young people to be together at lunchtime, with a Christian influence. Chloe continued mentoring at NCA until she left Cambridge in summer 2025.
In February, Hope Youth were invited to be part of Fort Rocky, hosted by Youth for Christ, at which Connor and Chloe helped as leaders. In April and October Hope Youth joined with other local church youth groups and their friends for ‘Something Bigger’ youth services, including worship and games. Similarly in April, youth leaders were involved in running a Youth Alpha course in partnership with other local churches, which involved up to 20 youth.
The youth Christmas party saw the hall turned into an arcade with a guest-friendly talk. There were 20+ attendees.
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We are thankful to God for the efforts of numerous leaders who are involved in serving the youth of Hope and locally and all those who pitched in at various times too!
Lunch Club
Volunteers ran a monthly Lunch Club, providing a two course meal with tea and coffee, and a special Christmas dinner for over 40 people. People from the church and the community enjoyed sharing these lunches and meeting friends.
Harvest Festival
St George’s held a Harvest Festival service in October, which ended with an afternoon tea. This was geared towards the monthly lunch club regulars, and about 45 people came.
Baby Club
Baby Club continued on Thursday afternoons in St. George’s hall, with a small number of carers and babies coming and enjoying the space, toys and welcome.
Woodlands Care Home Services
St George’s has continued to organise some services at Woodlands care home. John-David Yule now takes these once every three months.
Hope Fairbite
Hope Fairbite is a community shop run in partnership with Cambridge City Foodbank, where members can choose items from a range of food and household products for a small fee.
Karen McGuire was employed as Hope Fairbite Manager until she passed away in September 2025, and is greatly missed as a friend, member of the church, volunteer, and by all at Fairbite. Tiffany Atkins was welcomed as the new Hope Fairbite Manager in December 2025.
During 2025 there were around 75 members, with around 50-60 attending each week across two sessions, Mondays and Tuesdays. Occasional pop-ups were held where charities, businesses and the local council came to help Fairbite members access their services and advice. At Christmas there were parties on the Monday and Tuesday sessions, and hampers were given out with Christmas treats.
There is a strong community at Fairbite as well as the shop itself, with people looking out for each other, especially for those where Fairbite is the only place they will see people that week. People sometimes bring second-hand clothing and toys to pass on, and often make cakes to share which are much appreciated! Tea, coffee and snacks are served before the shop opens, and Farbite members often come early.
Members describe Hope Fairbite as a privilege to be part of, remembering Karen helping them sign up when times were tough. They enjoy the range of people and “an unrivalled sense of community”; “to me this whole thing is a godsend”.
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Mission Partners
Hope Church continued a partnership with missionaries who are sharing the gospel in the Middle East, and in June 2025 a group of six people from Hope Church travelled to visit these missionaries and sites of Biblical history in the area.
In September Sophie Bickerstaffe started a gap year with Crossroads Foundation in Hong Kong, supporting shipments across the world to help people in need.
The mission group at Hope Church coordinate updates, prayers and financial giving to support Sophie and the missionaries in the Middle East.
Christians Against Poverty Partnership
Hope Church partner with the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP), and during 2025 Hope Church provided one-to-one debt advice and offered practical support for local individuals and families. The church gave five Christmas hampers to people CAP were supporting.
Hope into Action Partnership
Hope into Action own a house locally, as a safe home for homeless people for up to two years, until they move somewhere more permanent. During 2025 a family lived in the house. Hope Church provided practical support, and a befriending team. Befrienders did not manage to meet the family regularly, and are considering how to improve support in 2026.
Hope Weekend Away
Around 65 people from Hope Church went away Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th October to a Rock UK site in Northamptonshire, spending time together in worship, games, crafts and gathering round a bonfire in the evening. Andrew Bond, the leader of St. Francis Church in Mackworth, Derby, joined us with his family and spoke about being salt, light and a city on a hill. Volunteers from Christ Church, Cambridge came to run children’s groups.
Phab Club Visits
Phab is a national charity inspiring and supporting disabled and non-disabled people to make more of life together. Andy Atkins hosted a summer barbecue for the Cambridge Phab club, where around 70 people came. He also visited the club at Easter and Christmas.
Community Events and Facilities
Easter Trail
On Easter Saturday Hope Church and St. George’s created an Easter Trail in Green End Road park, with volunteer actors telling the Easter story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and giving people following the trail answers to a set of questions. There were Easter crafts, face painting and refreshments to enjoy, and 114 Easter eggs were given out to families.
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Chesterton Festival
Hope Church ran two stalls at the Chesterton Festival in June. At one stall we sold burgers, allowing us to make a donation to the Festival. At the other stall we asked people about prayer and offered to pray with and for people, gave out gospels and New Testaments, and offered face painting and a bookmark craft.
Summer BBQ
In August we invited the local community to Green End Road park for a barbecue and fun afternoon, with crafts, face painting and a basketball challenge. We served over 300 people free burgers and sausages, and cakes made by members of the church.
Holiday Club
In the October half term, adult and youth volunteers from Hope Church hosted a gardenthemed Holiday Club for 27 primary school children in St. George’s hall and church. Over three days the children enjoyed games and crafts, and heard from actors, puppets, storytellers and talks about sayings and miracles of Jesus, and how seeds of his kingdom grow.
Carols in the Park
Over 300 people gathered in Green End Road park for Christmas carol singing led by musicians from St. George’s and Hope. We shared a short talk about Christmas, and mince pies and hot chocolate.
Christmas Wreath Making
A wreath making event run by church volunteers in St. George’s church was very popular with local people, with several people bringing children and making a wreath as a family Christmas activity. Over 90 wreaths were made, for £10 each.
Church and Hall Hire
Our premises were used by many local community organisations. Throughout the year, Cambridge Community Circus had a specialist rig in the church that was used five times a week. Each week the hall was used for Playlanders pre-school, two table tennis groups, Brownies, a martial arts group, a boxing group, and an exercise class. The church was also used for several recordings by college choirs and other musical groups. The PCC are grateful to Linda King for volunteering as buildings manager.
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Financial Report
Accounts
The 2025 accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis, and are presented on the standard Charity Commission CC16a template. The restricted funds shown in the accounts relate to the Hope Church ministry and the Hope Fairbite community shop.
Volunteers
Much of the mission of the church is not visible in the accounts because the work is unpaid, and the PCC are grateful for many volunteers who serve the church in formal and informal roles, including in youth and children’s work, Sunday services, meals and events. Volunteers serve on St. George’s Forum and Hope Church Council, and as churchwardens, safeguarding officer, safeguarding administrator, treasurer and bookkeeper. We are also grateful for the support church members offer to each other and to their neighbours in many different ways.
Financial Review
Overall in 2025 the PCC received £145,675 and paid out £115,021. The PCC cash funds at the end of 2025 were £172,590.
The payments relate to:
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Administration — General office running costs
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Buildings — Maintenance and utilities for the various buildings for which the PCC is responsible, plus insurance which covers both buildings and activities
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Diocese — Payment of ministry share to Ely Diocese, who provide stipends and housing for clergy in the Diocese, including Andy Atkins
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Ministry — Provision of services and events
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Staff — Employing Karen McGuire followed by Tiffany Atkins as Hope Fairbite Manager
Hope Fairbite receipts increased in 2025 as members now pay £5 per visit. This offsets the city council no longer providing substantial grants as they have in previous years.
The church hall and the house on St. Kilda Avenue provide steady sources of income.
Reserves Policy
Our reserves policy is that we will maintain a cash balance covering at least three months operating costs.
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Safeguarding
The PCC complies with its duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. We do everything we can to ensure that our policies and practice conform to Diocesan and National Church guidelines and policies, and have adopted the latest Safeguarding Policy from the Diocese of Ely. Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Sophie Ng, and Celia Gitterman is our Parish Safeguarding Administrator.
St. George’s Church and Hope Church take the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults extremely seriously and have robust safeguarding procedures in place. If anyone has any information or concerns relating to the safety of children, young people or vulnerable adults within the church environment or the wider community they should please share them without delay with the relevant Church or Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, the Police or the relevant Local Authority Social Care Department. Further details on these organisations can be found on the Diocesan Safeguarding pages here:
https://www.elydiocese.org/safeguarding/helplines-and-contact-numbers/
Structure, Governance and Management
St. George’s Church is part of the Diocese of Ely within the Church of England. PCC members are appointed as set out the in Church Representation Rules, and are ordained clergy, churchwardens and members elected by the people on the electoral roll of the parish.
PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.
Hope Church Council and St. George’s Forum are groups from each congregation who meet regularly to pray, discuss and plan, structured as committees of the PCC with delegated pastoral and missional oversight of the respective congregations.
The PCC met eight times during 2025. We had regular reports from Hope Council and St. George’s Forum, and on the Church’s finances, and we considered safeguarding in the Church at every meeting. We received reports on the activities described above in this report and in the annual church fabric report. Among other things we considered:
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Creating new policies, as requested from all parishes by the Archdeacon
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Church of England matters, including Prayers of Love and Faith
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A potential Hope Church leadership team
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Administrative Information
Name: The Parochial Church Council of the parish of St George’s, Chesterton
Address: St. George’s Church, 8 Chesterfield Road, Cambridge CB4 1LN
Charity Status: The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2020) and a registered charity number 1206241.
Trustees: PCC members, as listed below. The PCC also appoint members to St. George’s Forum and Hope Council to serve the respective congregations.
Parochial Church Council members
| PCC Ex-oficio members | PCC Elected members |
|---|---|
| Andy Atkins Vicar David Andrew Associate Minister, Chair Celia Gitterman Churchwarden Jeremy Dickens from APCM 2025, Churchwarden Rosie Weston to APCM 2025, Churchwarden Anna Bickerstafe to Oct 2025, Deanery Synod rep Victoria Goodman Deanery Synod rep |
Tish Berkley to APCM 2025 Jeremy Bickerstafe Treasurer Joyce Coupe to APCM 2025 Joy Deane |
| Jeremy Dickens | |
| Mark Jackson from APCM 2025 Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong |
St. George’s Forum members during 2025
Andy Atkins
Tish Berkley
Celia Gitterman
Victoria Goodman
Mick Green
Karen McGuire
Hope Council members during 2025
Andy Atkins
Anna Bickerstaffe
Jeremy Bickerstaffe
Debbie Dickens
Ant Ng
Rosie Weston
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CHARITY COMMISSIO FOR ENGLAND AND WALE Cliarity Natne st e'S Chesterton PC o lif anyl 1206241 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th• perlod from Perio(1613rt dal 01101125 Peiivd end (lale 31112125 To Section A Receipts and payments Untèstrlcted funds tr the nèar681 Restricted funds Endowment funds Totsl funds Last year tolhg nearest£ to tho neare8t £ to thè nè8re•t£ to th nearest£ A1 Recelpts Donari(kis & GrÈntS 17,331 63,487 4.252 45.208 62,537 83h87 19,650 52,735 d5,774 4,291 Rental Incomts other I(%6 15298 Roundin9 Stsb total(Gmss inoome forAR) A2 AsÈ•t and Imiostment sales. (see tablel. IS,070 144675 112,801 Sub total 85,070 60,606 t45,675 112.801 A3Pa ments AdmiDistrabon 2.253 30,B16 17,127 4.044 1N42 276 17,127 29,122 t2,812 3,695 Y1.094 34,254 33,166 12,812 4,964 33,381 21.986 23,926 13,952 8uildir¥Js Minis staff RowLdiry Sub total 64,240 60.781 116,021 118,209 A4 A8SOt and Investment urchases, (sett tsble Sub tota Totalpayments 64,240 60,781 11&O21 118.209 Net of receipls/(paymentsJ A5 Transfers betwaèrt funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds thls year end 30.830 176 30,664 6,408 100.714 13t,S44 41,222 41,046 141,936 172.590 147,344 141.936
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted fund$ to nearest£ Re81ri¢t&d funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to n•wt £ Categories" Details B1 Cash funds CoQp C¢LAarAJLNtt$ 131,544 41.046 Total ¢a$h funds 131.544 41,046 c)1 OK Unrèstrlcted funds to neare$t£ OK UK Re$trl¢ted fund$ to ne8r8St£ Endowmènt funds to nearÈ$t £ Details Fvnd to whl¢h ass&t belongs Current value loptlon$ll Details Cost Iopiion811 Fund towhlch a¥set bglongs Detslls Gost (optioaTrI Currèntvalutr loptloTrall 84 Assets retsinad for the charlty'.8 own use Fund towhi¢h Ilabllity rnlatss Aft)OUni du8 lopuonall Wh9n due loptlonal} Detalls BS Llabilities Svjned by one oi two t¥uslees on behawof all the trustees Signature Print Nam& Date of approval z?.'¥'. *oZ
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST GEORGE'S, CHESTERTON. CAMBRIDGE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST GEORGE'S. CHESTERTON, CAMBRIDGE I report lo the PCC on my examination of the &counts of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2025. RESPONSIBILITES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the members of the PCC you are responsible for Ihe pparatiOn of the a¢counls In a¢cord8nce with the requiremenls of the Charities Act 2011 ('the ACYI. I report in respect of my examlnalion of tho Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable DirectN)ns gfven by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Act. INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS. STATEMENT I have completed my examlnalion. I confimi that no material matters have come lo my attention In connection with the examinatbn givlng me any Cause lo b81ieve that in any material respect. - accounting records were not kept in respect of the Church as QUIred by secllon 130 of the Act., or the accounts do not accord with those records; or I have no concerns and have come asS other matters in connection wlh the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Geoff Mann Geoff Mann Limited Dee House Highworth Avenue C84 2BQ