11 11 church on the ma ual Highli ,A a MagdaibKe.forles 202aS beel a year o ope at St Mary Magdaleoe. th. compnity. and eRn lives éhanged. new peo komed. - artner ips formed. and esh opportunit•s nth ,name of Jesus. newhoh rved, pn layed•' ourneyed with u OS9 Tha vol thi you to ev nteere 4,500 1,714 89 people attended ummer on the Mag food parcels distributed volunteers serving 159 11 people in our ippirs comMY baptisms celebrated confirmations in 2025 www.stmmgorleston.org.uk I f @magdalenechurchgorleston I n @stmmgorleston
Growing in Faith Together Children and Young People Young people continued to be at the heart of church life through Mini Mags, Micro Mags, Hot Choc Elders, Mags Outreach Youth Club, Magpies baby and toddler group and our partnership with Identity Youth Project. Highlights included NightLife, youth worship nights, a visit to New Day festival, school partnerships, and summer clubs. Worship and Prayer Life Together Sunday worship continued to flourish through communion services, all-age worship, and Sunday Soul Time café church. MagLife groups, pastoral visiting, church family meals, Forever Young, Minus One, and Open House all helped build deeper community and support across the church family and wider community. Open House regulary welcomed between 50 and 60 visitors. Midweek worship also continued through our Wednesday communion service followed by the Open House gathering. We were delighted to celebrate 11 baptisms and 9 confirmations during the year. We continue to believe that life is better together. Electoral Roll 77 79zV 90 attended NightLife "A community being transformed byi and transforming our neighbourhood with, the extraordinary love of Jesus." 30 Worshipping Community under 16s in our worshipping community 159 people 19 volunteers
Bringing Hope to our Community Gorleston Foodbank 6QFoodbank In September, Gorleston Foodbank became independent within the Trussell network, enabling a stronger local focus for the NR31 community. Alongside emergency food support, the foodbank continued its emphasis on advice, signposting, and helping people move toward long-term stability and hope. 1,714 food parcels distributed The Bridge Hope into Action Around 55 adults each week found friendship, support, hot meals, advice, and community through The Bridge. We continued partnering with Hope into Action to offer people who have experienced homelessness, a home, community and support. During 2025 three tenants moved on positively into new accommodation and opportunities, and the house transitioned to supporting women and children. The community supports people experiencing isolation, homelessness, addictions, poor mental health, and other life challenges. Community Events Hundreds of local people connected with church life through events including Summer on the Mag, Easter Egg Trail, Christmas on the Mag, Pancake Party, Quiz Nights, wellbeing events, and family activities. Workshop and Bee Project The community workshop, gardening team, and bee project continued creating spaces for friendship, learning, wellbeing, and practical support. Over 30,000 bees arrived during the summer to fill our apiary, with volunteers from the wider community receiving beekeeping training. 500atC ristmus on t emag 300 at Easter Eg Trail 300 at Pancake 95 at Quiz, Chips and
Financial Highlights & Thank You £279k £230k +12% 89 Total incoming resources invested in Mission and Ministry increase in planned giving volunteers serving acr055 ministries A Note on the Accounts 2025 was the first year the accounts were prepared using accrual accounting rather than receipts and payments accounting. This reflects the continued growth and increasing scale of the church's artivities and community work. Thank You! 11 We are deeply grateful to our staff team, volunteers, team leaders, partner organisations, funders, and church family whose generosity, prayer, and service make this work possible. Everything represented in these pages reflects countless acts of faithfulness, kindness, generosity, and service across our church and community. HOPE£ ACtIoN THE ComnKJnity MERCERS, CONIPANY St Mary Magdalene Church, Magdalen Square, Gorleston NR317BZ 11 Registered Charity Number: 1207772 | www.stmmgorleston.org.uk THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND Diocese of Norwich 11
The PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Gorleston St Mary Magdalene (Registered Charity No: 1207772)
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 December 2025
St Mary Magdalene Church Magdalen Square Gorleston NR31 7BZ
www.stmmgorleston.org.uk
e: admin@stmmgorleston.org.uk
@stmmgorleston
@magdalenechurchgorleston @churchonthemag
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2025 Report and Accounts for the
PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Gorleston St Mary Magdalene
Aims and Purposes
The Parochial Church Council (the “PCC”) of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Gorleston St Mary Magdalene has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend Matthew Price, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the parish church and church hall of St Mary Magdalene, Magdalen Square, Gorleston, NR31 7BZ.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at St Mary Magdalene. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
Throughout 2025, the PCC has continued to work towards implementing its mission and vision which it adopted in the course of 2022, guided at all times by the values it adopted at the same time. These are as follows:
“…seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you…” Jeremiah 29:7
Our Mission is to be:
A community being transformed by, and transforming our neighbourhood with, the extraordinary love of Jesus.
Our Vision is to be:
A spiritually vibrant, thriving church which is growing in number and depth, where every member is being empowered to share the good news of Jesus in their life, in words and actions bringing transforming hope to the parish of St Mary Magdalene.
Our Values are:
Life is better together: we want to be a community where all are welcomed with generosity and love and mobilised to serve together.
Bible-believing and gospel proclaiming: the Bible is our supreme authority in matters of faith and conduct and will be at the heart of our life together.
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Authenticity : we are seeking to build an unpretentious, non-judgmental community where everyone can be honest about the joys and struggles they encounter in life, and supported in them, and where differences are acknowledged and respected.
Partnership: we seek to work with other like-minded organisations and individuals, wherever possible, in working out our mission and vision.
To facilitate the work of implementing our vision and mission it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and the attached meeting room and church hall.
Achievements and Performance
Worship and Prayer
Sunday worship has continued in the same pattern as in 2024. Communion services are held at 10.30am on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, with an all age service on the first Sunday of the month and a cafe-style service, Sunday Soul Time, on the third Sunday of the month. During the communion services we also make provision for children and young people, with Micro Mags for pre-schoolers, Mini Mags for those children at primary school up to and including year 5 and Hot Choc Elders for those young people in school year 6 and above. Special provision is also made for children and young people during Sunday Soul Time. In addition to Sunday worship, there is a weekly said communion service at 9.30am on Wednesdays attracting an average of 15 people.
In addition to this regular pattern, special seasonal services were held at Christmas and at Easter, including daily reflections during Holy Week. We were also delighted to host 11 baptisms and nine confirmations in the course of the year.
In addition to our Sunday worship, Jesus Time, the fresh expression of worship which was pioneered at the Bridge community Friday gathering, has continued. This comprises a short time of worship, including songs, prayer, a re-telling of a bible story and a short talk. On average between 10 and 15 people attend this each week.
Congregation growth
The congregation has grown during 2025 to a usual Sunday attendance of 75 adults and 12 under 16s. Our electoral roll now stands at 90, from 79 last year. The total worshipping community has also grown to 159 people, including 30 under 18s.
Pastoral Care
During 2025, the pastoral care team has continued, under the leadership of the incumbent, The Rev’d Matthew Price. There are now 9 members, including the vicar and our commissioned Anna Chaplain , Sue Loades. The team have been active in caring for the needs of the church family and in home visiting. Home Communions have also been offered and support continues to be offered by the Wednesday Communion service followed by Open House.
Three MagLife groups met for much of the year for mutual fellowship, Bible study and prayer. Two groups meets during the day time and one in the evening. MagLife groups are an important part of the life of the church and our individual walk with Jesus. Theologian, J.I. Packer, writes in his book, Knowing God, that small groups help us see God more clearly through the
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discussions. It is from this basis that we have MagLife groups and use a discussion based approach in small groups rather than a lecture/listen approach.
During 2025 these groups have studied a variety of books from the Bible, often looking at the passage from the previous Sunday in greater depth. Groups have also looked at Discipleship Explored and the Bible Course.
In addition to this formal pastoral care, we also arranged some more informal social events in 2025 to seek to build community. This included a number of Church Family Meals, as follows: Post Confirmation Service Lunch (65 attendees)
- November Bring and Share Lunch
Christmas family meal: (45 attendees)
Youth and children’s work -
Mags Outreach Youth Club (for school years 6-11) met fortnightly on Friday nights and flourished with a strong team of seven volunteers and an average of 30 regularly attending from the local area. The evenings include a craft, game and a short talk. Last year we managed to cover many of the parables that Jesus taught us and had a great time acting them out together.
Hot Choc Elders (for 11-17s) , has provided a discipleship opportunity for young people attending our Sunday congregation twice a month usually with 3-10 attending. They have followed the sermon series in their studies.
Mini -Mags (for 4-11s) and Micro-Mags (for 0-3s) join up to provide creative learning opportunities on Sunday morning. They have started a brand new curriculum this year called the Biggest Story with high quality videos and resources which has been well received by volunteers and children. Often 3-8 attended.
Identity Youth Project, led by youth minister, Gabi Groenewald-Simmons, has delivered a number of groups benefiting young people from St Mary Magdalene, as well as supporting Hot Choc Elders and Mags Youth Group. The Identity delivered groups have been as follows:
Central: A twice monthly group for Christian young people on Sunday afternoons at St Mary Magdalene. Central aims to be a safe space where young believers from the various churches in Gorleston can have fun together and talk about their faith. This group had 8 regular attendees with 10 registered, and represented 4 different churches. In November a few young people went on the annual Soul Shaper weekend at Horstead run by the Diocese of Norwich.
Zip: Our weekly Bible study group. We had a committed group of four girls, all of whom were confirmed together at St Mary Magdalene in 2024. It is wonderful to see them all grow in their knowledge of God and scripture through our meetings together. Over the year Identity ran a series on The Chosen and looked at most of the women in the Old Testament. Please pray for the girls that come.
Engage: This group is for students at East Norfolk Sixth Form College and meets during lunchtimes once a week. The numbers have been a bit up and down but we have had roughly
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four regular attendees and others who come when they can. We started Youth Alpha in the new school year and the young people engaged so well with the questions that we ended up splitting each session over two weeks!
Engage Staff: Requested by the college, this group is to support the Christian staff at East Norfolk Sixth Form College. This has been valuable for the staff as we have been able to pray together and pray for the young people in the college. It has also resulted in one of the attendees inviting her students to join us for youth alpha.
Resound: This was formalised in 2026 however we began meeting towards the end of 2025 to prepare to lead worship for a youth worship night we hosted in November 2025 at St Mary Magdalene. The young people who have attended really enjoyed it and we are looking to grow this group this year.
Prayer for young people: a meeting takes place once a month from 7:30-8:30am to pray for the young people in our local area and to pray into any needs that may arise. This is open to anyone who would like to join us so please feel welcome to come and pray with us once a month.
Special activities in partnership with Identity:
Night Life 2025: (77 attended).
Encounter: Identity organised for some of our Central young people to attend a few crosschurch youth worship nights and then hosted our own event in November, supported by London Road Baptist Church, Eastpoint Vineyard in Lowestoft, Lowestoft Community Church, and Kingsgate Community Church.
A Day at New Day: Through our growing relationship with Kingsgate Community Church we were able to attend a day at New Day with them. We took three young people for them to have a taste of the camp and see if it is something they’d like to attend in 2026. They all had so much fun and most importantly learnt something that they took away with them from the day. We will be attending New Day in 2026!
Work experience: we hosted 2 young people from Lynn Grove at St Mary Magdalene as a work experience placement and found they really benefited from the insight into church and community faith and service.
Summer Clubs: We ran a sports club on a Tuesday afternoon and a craft club on a Thursday morning at St Mary Magdalene. These were a great opportunity to continue meeting with young people over the holidays. Each club including a time of teaching and reflection on faith. #Summer Volunteer Days: 6 young people took part in this new summer volunteer programme. This involved young people in serving the community and offered an opportunity for more intentional discipleship. They got to experience the Foodbank, Bee Keeping, the Workshop and serving at Open House. We ran Hope Explored with them in the afternoons which they all engaged with which was fantastic.
Link with local schools
Our Vicar has continued to have close links with both Primary schools in the parish, conducting assemblies in both. In addition, he has continued to serve as the chair of the Local Governing Board of the Ark Federation, a federation of two schools - Peterhouse Church of England Primary Academy (in the St Mary Magdalene Parish) and Moorlands Church of England Primary Academy (in the Parish of Belton). Congregation member, Gabby Saunders, has also served as governor for the Ark Federation.
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Our Vicar has also continued to serve as the chair of the Academy Council for Lynn Grove Academy.
Evangelistic and Missional Endeavours
During 2025, the church continued to host regular Hope Explored Course. These have generally continued beyond the end of Hope Explored with groups continuing onto Christianity Explored or Alpha. At the Bridge, ‘Jesus Time’, a fresh expression of worship, has continued at 11am-11.20am on Fridays with 10 to 15 people attending.
Annual community events have continued and been developed, especially in terms of Christian content, but also with three one off additions for 2025.
Community Pancake Party (300 attendees) Charlotte’s Prize Bingo fundraiser (60 attendees, over £1000 raised) [new in 2025] Nightlife youth event (77 attendees) Easter egg Trail (300 attendees) Quiz, Chips and Chat (95 attendees) Telling the Story - Caroline Cobb concert (81 attendees) [new in 2025] Summer on the Mag (4500 attendees) Volunteer Thank you Tea Party (55 attendees) Womens’ Wellbeing Event (55 attendees) [new in 2025] Light on a Dark Night (400 attendees) Wreath Making Afternoon (30 attendees) Journey of the Magi (25 attendees) [new for 2025] Community Christmas Choir (20 attendees) Christmas on the Mag (500 attendees) Christmas Day Lunch (55 attendees)
Open House
Open House drop-in coffee morning on a Wednesday morning is open to all from the community. During 2025, attendance grew from an average of 50 to 70 and the provision and variety of activities was also developed. On average 5 volunteers have formed the team that have maintained this buoyant and flourishing, warm environment. Some of our activities have been needle felting, drawing competition, ginger bread house competition, old music hall sing along, line dancing, bingo. Oh what fun we have! The pastoral care support has enabled remarkable social cohesion within a disparate groups and a warm welcoming atmosphere.
Magpies
Our parent/carer and baby/toddler group had numbers of those attending rose steadily over the year from 15-20 families to around 20–30 children every week attend with their carers The parents were cared for pastorally and the families receive introductions to the Bible and faith through their story times, songs and crafts / tactile activities which link to the Bible theme. This year the team used resources from Faith in Kids in preparing for the sessions. After the Bible time there was also an opportunity for the families to write prayer requests on a leaf and hang it on the prayer tree. The little ones get excited when the prayer tree comes out and enjoy ‘writing’ their own prayers. The team pray through the prayer requests following the session. We are grateful for the tremendous faithful service of Jan Gwyn who
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stepped down in leadership in September having been involved since the group began and are grateful to Helen, Vicky and the team for sustaining the ministry through this transition.
Forever Young
Forever Young, a group for over 60s has continued to meet every month during 2025, led by Sue Loades (our Anna Chaplain), Sarah Simmons and a small team of volunteers. Around 20 attended each session. Activities for the group have included games, carpet bowls, bingo, chair exercises and sing-alongs. Special activities have included a trip to Gressenhall, and a Christmas buffet which 48 people attended as well as an opportunity to be part of a ‘human library’ which enabled pupils from Lynn Grove Academy to find out about the fascinating lives the participants had led.
Community Workshop, Gardening Team and Bee-Keeping
In 2025 the Community Workshop has established a leadership team, created their own decking in front of the workshop enabling work to spill outside and creating a new community space there. And over the year the workshop has maintained a steady stream people engaging in their carpentry activities on a Wednesday morning. A lot of good conversations have taken place over coffee and cake but activities have included making bird boxes, bug hotels and wooden planters, along with supporting individuals with home projects and doing some small jobs around the church. Many have been included, for example, the team have helped a disabled man engage in the last months of his life and a man with dementia feel valued and achieve something useful. The volunteer team also helped out at Christmas on the Mag for the first time, dressing up in costume and making a manger for children to put together on the day.
The small Gardening Team of two, has enabled the grounds to develop with a new compost area and a special wildlife area created. The arrival of 30,000 bees in June has been a great source of joy to the whole community. Pupils from Peterhouse school decorated the hives and 11 volunteers from the wider community received specific bee keeping training. Regularly 10-11 volunteers then attended on Wednesday lunchtimes to maintain and keep the bees over the summer months. We are grateful for the partnership with Project Apis CIC in this life-giving work. The gardening work including bee keeping was awarded funds from Norfolk Community Foundation in September.
Women’s Group
Following attendance by a group of women at the Norfolk Gospel Partnership Women’s Conference in Norwich, a number of women requested that we begin a women’s ministry. The ethos was discussed and the group launched as an authentic, open, non-judgemental, low key, relational group for women by women, where women can feel comfortable to be themselves and with one another. The group has been meeting monthly, usually over bring and share food. Special times have been had with numbers ranging from 4- 55, depending on the gathering, and along the way, funds have been raised for Charlotte to go to Kenya, for Cancer charities, as well as for the church.
Minus One Group
In partnership with Cliff Park Community Church, Ruth Pillar (Parish Nurse) and Sue Loades (Anna Chaplain) have started this monthly group for widows on the back of us running successful a Bereavement course. 10-15 have been attending this new group and there have been activities, tears and laughter as sorrows are shared and community founded.
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The Bridge
Each Tuesday on average 55 adults have been welcomed who are experiencing isolation, unemployment, housing problems, mental health challenges, addictions, disabilities and other life challenges. Served a nutritious three course hot meal in tables of eight, each facilitated by a dedicated pastoral care volunteer, we have formed friendships, found mutual support in small groups, found a listening ear and practical help/advice through our Community Link, Dial worker, wellbeing specialist and counsellor and the visiting presence of the GYBC Rise Team (addressing homelessness, addictions and mental health). We were grieved to lose Dorcas Cogger, who had provided stability and dedicated mentoring to our cook and kitchen team. We are grateful for her life and massive service to this community. Around 15 people have volunteered weekly to bring that community together.
Cooking courses have also been provided by Alison Mobbs and have been well attended. East Coast College have also provided basic maths and English classes. Between 5-15 have regularly attended the Jesus Time slot within the Friday Drop-in which has introduced many to the teachings and stories of Jesus (from the gospel of Luke).
Hope into Action
We continue to partner with the charity Hope into Action to provide a house not far from the church to support people who have been experiencing homelessness. Each tenant is supported by an Empowerment Worker from Hope into Action, and during this year the Empowerment Worker linked to our house changed from Charlotte Remblance to Rach Hartley.
This year we have had a number of encouragements about how God is at work, with our three tenants who started the year in the house moving on in positive ways to new accommodation and opportunities. A fourth tenant also moved into the house briefly during the year, before also moving on to a new opportunity. Another of our previous tenants was also baptised at another church at the beginning of the year, supported by two members of our church friendship and support group.
Following the move on of these men into their new places, some work needed doing on the house, and during this time the decision was made to change from being a male house to a female house. As a result into 2026 we have now welcomed two female tenants into the house, one who also has her child living with her. We are delighted to have these two women with us and to see how they are beginning to get to know people within the church community.
A special thanks to our friendship and support group who pray for the tenants and support them.
Foodbank
During the period from January-August 2025, 589 parcels went out from Magdalen Foodbank centre and 927 from Yarmouth foodbank centre of what was Yarmouth and Magdalen Foodbank, under the charity of GY Pathway. These supported 555 unique households.
In September the two foodbanks became independent of one another in an effort to stay closer to their distinct communities, both remaining part of the Trussell network. This means we took
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on Trussell franchise responsibilities for the first time. The Yarmouth centre still operates out of the warehouse at the back of Tescos and distributes from Great YarmouthPathway on Thursdays covering NR30 postcodes. The Magdalen Centre became Gorleston Foodbank, continuing to operate out of St Mary Magdalene on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays covering NR31 postcodes. Gorleston Foodbank went on to distribute 1125 parcels between September and December 2025.
Since the transition, our Gorleston Foodbank has focussed on re-energising local donations of food from the community and have managed to reduce food costs from approx £1,500 a month to £150 a month. This makes the foodbank provision more sustainable with the local community taking the burden of responsibility for the food. We are grateful to all church members who donate food, finances or time to our foodbank and are grateful to the 20+ foodbank volunteers who drive, sort, pack and maintain high levels of food safety.
The biggest causes of those needing just one parcel was benefit delay or sanctions but for those needing three or more parcels it was caused by debt, homelessness, long term health conditions and long term unemployment. Long term health conditions seem to be the largest cause of impoverishment.
We feed a higher number of children than the national average for Trussell foodbanks and distribute far less parcels per person, averaging 1.7 parcels. The low number of parcels per person is a reflection both of the unmanageable scale of need but also on our deliberate strategic focus on signposting and referral casework.
We serve those in crisis and to receive ongoing food support, our recipients are required to engage with advice services such as our full time signposting caseworker and our Dial debt, benefits and budgeting advisor. Some do not take up this advice but many do and find this lifts them out of crisis and puts them onto a much more hopeful trajectory for life and independence. For many we find taking the courage (often last resort) step of coming to the foodbank, leads them onto a new unexpected path of hope. It can be quite an emotional realisation that life can pick up, debts can be managed and there is a future to look to.
Volunteering
The Volunteer Team continues to support various ministries and services at St Mary Magdalene in the community and is a wonderful mix of church and wider community members. Volunteers in the church community provide vital leadership to the church and to the groups and ministries provided. We have had 74 volunteers over the year, including a considerable number who have benefited from a highly supportive, nurturing and accessible volunteering environment.
Staff Team
This has been stable during 2025, with the continued employment as follows: Matthew Price, Vicar
Karl Ross, Assistant Curate Anna Price, Community Lead Gosia Rockall, Operations Coordinator Sue Loades, Community Link Sarah Simmons, Volunteer Coordinator Charlotte Eaton, Cook
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With the additions of:
Chris Lynch, Wellbeing Specialist and Counsellor (Jan.-Dec) Anna Heydon, Deputy Community Lead (from Sept.) Hannah Hammond, Community Assistant (July-Nov.)
Partner staff:
We transitioned the service provision from Norfolk and Waveney MIND to an in house service of Wellbeing and Counselling with Chris Lynch and have continued to have a service level agreement with Great Yarmouth Dial for their practitioner (Teresa Tennant) to be working with our clients for 12 hours a week. We continue to have a close relationship with Identity Youth Project and are very much enjoying the benefits of Gabi Groenewald-Simmons as our Gorleston Youth Minister.
Parish Church and Church Hall
During 2025 we have continued to work towards the completion of items identified in the last Quinquennial inspection of our building. In addition, we have completed the replacement of all lighting with low energy LED lighting. In addition, following the Fire Risk Assessment report provided to the PCC we have replaced and renewed emergency lighting in the church, hall, meeting room and hallways. We have also further improved the provision of sound in the church with the replacement of the analogue mixer with a digital mixer. This has improved the ease of set up and use of the mixer.. We have continued to work toward the silver Eco Church Award from A Rocha. Grateful thanks go to Mark Stanley for his continued oversight of these and other more minor maintenance and improvements to our buildings.
Towards the end of 2025, the PCC secured a grant of £20,858 from the Church of England Housing Project to conduct a feasibility study to re-develop the church hall and include 5 or 6 social housing homes in the project. Broadland Housing are a partner in this project and provided invaluable support in securing this grant.
Financial Information
Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £56,237 of which £35,043 was unrestricted voluntary donations, and a further £6,595 from unrestricted grants and £4,5995 was from Gift Aid. Restricted donations of £47,913 and grants for restricted purposes totalling £160,820 were also received and are detailed in the Financial Statements.
After increases in each of the previous four years (including and increase of 38% in 2024), planned giving increased by a further 12% in 2025. The overall increase in giving in 2025 was 7% compared with 2024. This was helped by a continued increasing use of the Parish Giving Scheme, which we introduced in late 2022. Total unrestricted income, including tax recovered and grants, reduced by just under 36% compared with last year, because of an increase in unrestricted grants.
£50,609 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the Christian ministry from St Mary Magdalene Church, including the contribution to the diocesan parish share which increased significantly to £17,350 in 2025 and continues to provide for the stipends and housing for the clergy, along with a contribution to the central costs of the Diocese. This is subsidised
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significantly by Low-income Communities Funding which his received by the Diocese from the central church and has been allocated to our parish.
The net result for the year was a surplus of receipts compared to payments of £17,949 on unrestricted funds. This was reduced by a transfer of funds from unrestricted funds to restricted funds of £12,900. Therefore at the end of 2025 unrestricted funds had risen by £5,049 to £83,413. In addition to this the PCC have designated a reserves fund; see further below.
Reserves Policy
It is PCC policy to maintain a designated reserves funds which equates to at least three months unrestricted payments. This is equivalent to approximately £5,000. In addition to this, the PCC has resolved to maintain an additional reserves fund which amounts to the costs to make staff members redundant at any given point. Both funds are shown as designated funds in our accounts.
Donors
We are thankful for our faithful congregation members, some external individual donors, and to the following trusts for supporting our community work in 2025:
The Lady Hind Trust Jarrold’s Mercers Charitable Trust Great Yarmouth Borough Council R.C. Snelling Trussell Haven Rotary Carters Trust Geoffrey Watling GYBC Local Counsellors (ward budgets) Sainsburys Good Food for All of Us GYBC Cultural Connections The Ranworth Trust The Geoffrey Watling Charity Community of All Hallows Charitable Trust Norfolk Community Foundation:
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Dept of Culture, Media and Sport - Know Your Neighbourhood
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Surviving Winter
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Love Norfolk
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PreP
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Smoke-Free
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Greening our Communities
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Preventing Hardship
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Great Yarmouth Investment Fund
Volunteers
We would like to thank all the volunteers, within the congregation, who work so hard to make our church the lively and vibrant community it is. In particular we want to mention our
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churchwardens during 2025, Janet Upton, Jan Gwyn and Bev Brown who have given excellent oversight and wisdom to the leadership of the church, and our treasurer, Brian Philpot for his tireless work in maintaining the church finances during continued financial growth and developing complexities.
Thanks also go to the team of community volunteers who, whilst not being members of the church, give significant time to support the operation of the foodbank, the bridge, the workshop, cooking courses, community groups and care for the church buildings and gardens, along with our community events.
Structure, governance and management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St. Mary Magdalene the membership of the PCC consists of the licensed clergy in our parish (during 2025 our incumbent and assistant curate), churchwardens, representatives elected to the Deanery Synod and PCC members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church.
All those who attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. 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. New members receive initial training into the workings of the PCC.
The full PCC met five times during the year with an average level of attendance of more than 90%. In addition, the PCC met on a Saturday morning in November 2025 to consider vision and strategy. A standing committee, made up of the incumbent, the two church wardens, the treasurer and two other elected members from among the PCC, meets in between PCC meetings to deal with any urgent business, and other matters delegated to it by the full PCC.
The PCC appoints a designated Parish Safeguarding Officer. During 2025, Janet Upton served in this role until the end of August 2025. Anna Heydon, Deputy Community Lead took on this role as part of responsibilities from 1st September 2025. Beverly Brown was also appointed the Trustee with Safeguarding oversight.
Safeguarding is a standing item on the PCC agenda and the PCC is monitoring compliance via the Church of England provided dashboard. In addition to the Diocesan supported DBS checks and training, additional safeguarding training has been sought, particularly for volunteers who are working with vulnerable adults from the wider community.
Administrative Information
St. Mary Magdalene Church is situated on Magdalen Square, Gorleston. It is part of the Diocese of Norwich within the Church of England. The correspondence address is St Mary Magdalene Church, Magdalen Square, Gorleston NR31 7BZ. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2020). We are registered with the Charity Commission, with the number: 1207772.
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PCC members who have served at any time from 1st January - 31st December 2025 are:
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Incumbent: The Reverend Matthew Price (Chair)
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Assistant Curate: The Reverend Karl Ross
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Church Wardens: Mrs Janet Upton (also the Parish Safeguarding Officer) (until 13th May 2025)/Mrs Beverly Brown (from 13th May 2025) and Mrs Janice Gwyn (resigned 10th November 2025)
Elected members:
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Mr Christopher Upton (resigned 13th May 2025)
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Ms Victoria Moyse (resigned 13th May 2025)
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Mrs Gabrielle Saunders
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Mr David Yaxley, Deanery Synod representative
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Mr Connor Hall, Deanery Synod representative
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Mr Stuart Hanks, Deanery Synod representative (resigned 31st August 2025)
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Mrs Helen Stanley
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Mrs Beverly Brown (until 13th May 2025)
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Mrs Rachel Hewitt
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Mrs Julie Hanks
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Mrs Melanie Everitt (elected 13th May 2025)
-
Mr Brian Philpot, PCC Treasurer (elected 13th May 2025)
-
Mrs Patricia Sayers (elected 13th May 2025)
Approved by the PCC on 5 July 2026 and signed on their behalf by
Reverend Matthew Price (PCC chair)
15
-3
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Gorleston St Mary Magdalene Registered Charity No. 1207772
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
Statement of financial activities
| Notes Incoming resources 3 Income from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments Other Total Resources expended Expenditure on: Raising Funds Charitable activities 4 Total Net income / (expenditure) before transfers Transfers Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ 56,237 209,241 265,478 195,625 1,907 - 1,907 429 7,969 1,121 9,090 9,930 2,445 - 2,445 2,235 - - - - |
|---|---|
| 68,558 210,362 278,920 208,219 |
|
| - (1,042) (1,042) - (50,609) (178,601) (229,210) (219,957) |
|
| (50,609) (179,643) (230,252) (219,957) |
|
| 17,949 30,719 48,668 (11,738) (12,900) 12,900 - - |
|
| 5,049 43,619 48,668 (11,738) 78,364 45,004 123,368 135,106 |
|
| 83,413 88,623 172,036 123,368 |
The notes on pages 17 to 27 form part of these financial statements.
16
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Balance sheet
| Notes Fixed tangible assets 2.3, 5 Current assets Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand 8 Total current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 7 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Provisions for liabilities Total net assets Funds of the Charity 2.4,11, 12 Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Total funds |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ 17,078 - 17,078 15,802 |
|---|---|
| 1,710 309 2,019 1,077 66,768 89,412 155,880 107,599 |
|
| 68,478 89,421 157,899 108,676 |
|
| (2,143) (798) (2,941) (1,110) |
|
| 66,335 88,623 154,958 107,566 |
|
| 83,413 88,623 172,036 123,368 - - - - |
|
| 83,413 88,623 172,036 123,368 |
|
| - 88,623 88,623 79,364 83,413 - 83,413 45,004 |
|
| 83,413 88,623 172,036 123,368 |
Approved by the PCC on 5 July 2026 and signed on their behalf by
Reverend Matthew Price (PCC chair)
The notes on pages 17 to 27 form part of these financial statements.
17
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 1 Basis of preparation
1.1 Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items initially recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts, and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue to operate.
This is the first year that the accounts have been prepared using the accruals accounting method. In previous years accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis. Comparative figures have been restated accordingly. The impact of the change in basis on the income statement for 2024 and the balance sheet as at 31 December 2024 is summarised in note 15.
Note 2 Accounting policies
The following accounting policies have been applied by the charity.
2.1 Income
Recognition of income
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
-
the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
-
it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources; and
-
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Offsetting
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.
Legacies
Legacies are included in the SoFA when receipt is probable, that is, when there has been grant of probate, the executors have established that there are sufficient assets in the estate and any conditions attached to the legacy are either within the control of the charity or have been met.
Tax reclaims on donations and gifts
Gift Aid tax recoverable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
18
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Volunteer help
The church relies heavily upon the work undertaken by volunteers, in all of its activities. Whilst the value of these contributions is significant, it is not practical for it to be measured in financial terms and so this is not reflected in these accounts.
2.2 Expenditure and liabilities
Liability recognition
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Provisions for liabilities
Liabilities are measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation(s) at the reporting date.
2.3 Assets
Fixed tangible assets
The general purpose in accounting for certain items as fixed tangible assets is to spread their costs over the years in which the items are expected to be useful. The church’s fixed tangible assets fall into one or more of the following categories:
-
Consecrated and benefice property, which is excluded from the accounts by s.10(2)(a)&(c) of the Charities Act 2011.
-
Improvements and renewals to the church building which are inseparable from the building and which are not recognised in these financial statements.
-
Moveable church furnishings held by the Vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal. These are inalienable property and are listed in the church’s inventory, which can be inspected at any reasonable time.
-
Fixed tangible assets for which, because of the passage of time, there is insufficient cost information available. Such assets are not recognised in these financial statements.
-
Fixed tangible assets with an original cost less than £500 which have been written off in the year of acquisition.
-
Significant assets (with an original cost of £500 or more) which have been acquired since 2020. Relevant assets acquired prior to 2020 were introduced at their fair value at 1 January 2014 as deemed cost.
Fixed tangible assets are depreciated over their expected useful lives.
Debtors
Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity.
19
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
2.4 Fund Accounting
PCC funds are analysed under specific headings, as follows.
General funds represent the ‘free’ funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restriction regarding their use and are available for application for the general purposes of the PCC. Designated funds are earmarked by the PCC for particular purposes but are nevertheless still unrestricted as the PCC can redesignate the funds if it wishes.
Restricted funds are funds collected or donated for a particular purpose and cannot be used by the PCC for any other purpose except by agreement with the donor(s).
The funds of the PCC have been appropriately analysed and the statement of financial activities has been prepared in accordance with this analysis.
Note 3 Analysis of income
| Notes Donations and legacies Tax-efficient planned giving Other planned giving Collections at services Non-recurring donations Tax recovered (Gift Aid) Recurring grants Non-recurring grants Total Charitable activities Fees for weddings and funerals Other trading activities Fundraising events Hire of building Total Investment income Bank interest Total incoming resources |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total for 2025 Total for 2024 £ £ £ £ 13,971 638 14,609 13,047 6,245 - 6,245 5,676 4,083 250 4,333 4,583 20,744 47,025 67,769 50,695 4,599 498 5,097 5,925 2,095 79,632 81,727 57,006 4,500 81,198 85,698 58,693 |
|---|---|
| 56,237 209,241 265,478 195,625 |
|
| 1,907 - 1,907 429 344 1,121 1,465 730 7,625 - 7,625 9,200 |
|
| 7,969 1,121 9,090 9,930 |
|
| 2,445 - 2,445 2,235 |
|
| 68,558 210,362 278,920 198,261 |
In 2024 £118,941 of income related to restricted funds.
20
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes on the accounts
Note 4 Analysis of expenditure
| ote 4 Analysis of expenditure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total for | Total for | |
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Resources expended on charitable activities | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| 1702 - Bank Charges | 237 | - | 237 | 169 |
| 1802 - Church Tithe - Giving to missionary societies | 250 | - | 250 | - |
| 1851 - Church Tithe - Home Mission | 3,000 | - | 3,000 | - |
| 1850 - Home mission | 8,737 | 35,660 | 44,397 | 56,043 |
| 1910 - Ministry parish share etc | 17,350 | - | 17,350 | 13,962 |
| 2001 - Assistant staff costs | 175 | - | 175 | 99 |
| 2050 - Payroll Costs | 4,397 | 113,895 | 118,292 | 89,022 |
| 2101 - Working expenses of incumbent | 10 | - | 10 | 79 |
| 2102 - Vicar's Travelling | 1,672 | 346 | 2,018 | 1,978 |
| 2150 - Vicar's telephone | 156 | - | 156 | 149 |
| 2201 - Parish training and mission | 300 | - | 300 | 149 |
| 2301 - Church running–insurance | 111 | 1,219 | 1,330 | 1,203 |
| 2310 - Church office–telephone | 1,028 | 382 | 1,410 | 870 |
| 2330 - Church maintenance | 962 | 4,776 | 5,738 | 4,221 |
| 2331–Cleaning | 1,049 | 4,863 | 5,912 | 5,240 |
| 2340 - Upkeep of services | 2,570 | - | 2,570 | 1,662 |
| 2342 - Refreshments | 915 | 1,190 | 2,105 | 1,369 |
| 2360 - Administration | 580 | 1,709 | 2,289 | 2,724 |
| 2361 - Photocopier (lease & meterage) | 474 | 1,218 | 1,692 | 1,494 |
| 2362–Stationery | 121 | 853 | 974 | 766 |
| 2401 - Church running - electric | 2,627 | 9,948 | 12,575 | 13,052 |
| 2420 - Church running - water | - | 171 | 171 | 158 |
| 2540 - Hall running - gas | 49 | 496 | 545 | 1,305 |
| 2560 - Hall running - maintenance | -59 | 1,875 | 1,816 | 5,928 |
| 2701 - Church major repairs - structure | - | - | - | 9,430 |
| 2710 - Church major repairs–installation | - | - | - | 3,714 |
| 2820 - Hall + major repairs - installation | - | - | - | 1,610 |
| 2830 - Hall + interior and exterior decorating | - | - | - | 698 |
| Depreciation | 3,898 | - | 3,898 | 2,863 |
| Total resources expended on charitable activities | 50,609 | 178,601 | 229,210 | 219,957 |
In 2024 £141,618 of expenditure related to restricted funds.
21
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 5 Fixed tangible assets
| Cost At 1 January 2025 Additions At 31 December 2025 Depreciation At 1 January 2025 Charge for the year At 31 December 2025 Net book value At 31 December 2025 At 31 December 2024 Note 6 Debtors Gift Aid tax recoverable Total Note 7 Creditors Accrued expenses Other creditors Total Note 8 Cash at bank and in hand CAF Bank Deposit account |
Tangible assets £ 21,128 5,174 26,302 5,326 3,898 9,224 17,078 15,802 2025 2024 £ £ 2,019 1,077 2,019 1,077 2025 2024 £ £ 1,772 812 1,169 298 2,941 1,110 2025 2024 £ £ 149,927 100,000 5,952 6,599 - 1,000 |
Tangible assets £ 21,128 5,174 26,302 5,326 3,898 9,224 17,078 15,802 2025 2024 £ £ 2,019 1,077 2,019 1,077 2025 2024 £ £ 1,772 812 1,169 298 2,941 1,110 2025 2024 £ £ 149,927 100,000 5,952 6,599 - 1,000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| CAF Bank Current account | |||
| Lloyds Bank Holding account (closed) | |||
| Total | 155,879 107,599 |
22
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 9 Statement of cash flows
| Note 9 Statement of cash flows | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||
| Net cash provided by / (used in) | ||
| operating activities(see note 13) | 51,010 | (13,193) |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||
| Interest and investment income | 2,444 | 2,235 |
| Acquisition of fixed tangible assets | (5,174) | (6,780) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (2,730) | (4,545) |
| Change in cash in the period | 48,280 | (17,738) |
| Cash at the beginning of the year | 107,599 | 125,337 |
| Cash at the end of the year | 155,879 | 107,599 |
| Note 10 Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow | from operating activities | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Net income / (expenditure) | 48,668 | (11,738) |
| Adjustments for: | ||
| Depreciation charges | 3,898 | 2,863 |
| Interest and investment income | (2,444) | (2,235) |
| (Increase) / decrease in debtors | (942) | 647 |
| Increase / (decrease) in creditors and provisions | 1,830 | (2,730) |
| Net cash provided by / (used in) operating | ||
| activities | 51,010 | (13,193) |
23
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 11 Restricted and designated funds
| Designated funds | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Reserves expenditure fund | It is PCC policy to maintain a designated reserves fund which |
| equates to at least three months unrestricted expenditure. | |
| Payroll redundancy fund | This fund was established in 2025 to set aside funds for the cost of |
| possible future redundancies. | |
| Salaries Fund | For topping up community-orientated staff salaries as required. |
| RC Snelling Charity Fund | For Foodbank costs only. May be used for any of: equipment for |
| signposting service, uniform, food safety training, equipment for | |
| cabin, volunteer travel expenses, gas and electric top up, food for | |
| recipients. | |
| Restricted funds |
|
| Admin Support - | For the salary and employment costs of the Operations Coordinator |
| Operations Coordinator | only. |
| Community Support | For the salary and employment costs of the Community Support |
| Coordinator | Coordinator (was Community Link) |
| DIAL | For the service provision by Dial of a worker providing debt, |
| budgeting and benefits advice on site at StMM during agreed hours. | |
| Food Bank | For any costs related to the running and provision of Gorleston |
| Foodbank. | |
| Forever Young | For any costs related to the running and provision of Forever Young, |
| over 60s group. | |
| MAGS | For the running and provision of Mags Youth Club. |
| Mercers | For any costs related to the StMM Community provision: Serving the |
| disadvantaged on the Magdalen through crisis relief, community | |
| foundations, personal resilience and progression | |
| Mercers Community | For any costs related to the running and provision of the Community |
| Workshop | Workshop (shed). |
| Mercers Wellbeing | For the wellbeing of community-related staff and volunteers |
| MP - Secondment | For the salary and associated employment costs of the Discipleship |
| Lead, providing cover for Matthew Price's secondment to the | |
| national Church of England estates project. | |
| Magpies | For the running and provision of Magpies Baby and Toddler group. |
| Norfolk Community Foundation: | |
| • Greening Our | For any costs related to the maintenance and development of the |
| Communities | StMM gardens, including the nurture of bees, creatures and |
| habitats, and creating wellbeing experiences in the garden. Includes | |
| contributions to Volunteer Coordinator, Community Support | |
| Coordinator/Wellbeing worker, Project Manag ment | |
| (Community/Deputy Community Lead), admin and utilities. | |
| • GYIF | For the employment and associated costs of a Wellbeing Specialist |
| and Counsellor, in accordance with Great Yarmouth Investment | |
| Fund. |
24
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 11 Restricted and designated funds (continued)
Restricted funds (continued)
Norfolk Community Foundation (continued):
-
Know Your Neighbourhood
-
Love Norfolk 2024
-
Household Support Grant
-
Preventing Hardship Fund
For costs of the StMM KYN project enhancing volunteering and reducing isolation. Specifically funds are prioritised for the salaries of the Volunteer Coordinator, Community Lead, Cook, Mental health worker and associated costs.
For the employment and associated costs of the Cook's salary
For direct provision that reduces the financial burden on individuals and families in NR31.
For the Bridge lunch food costs, advice services (Community Support Coordinator and Dial) and project management costs (Community/Deputy Community Lead)
• Smokefree Generation For the provision and running of smoke-free advice, support and awareness. • Surviving Winter Fund For food for the Bridge and the Cook's salary costs The Bridge For the provision and running of the Bridge Community Lunch club and Drop in. Trussell Trust Volunteer For the contribution to the salary of the Volunteer Coordinator for Coordinator Fund foodbank purposes.
25
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 12 Movements in funds
| General Fund (Unrestricted) Designated Funds (Unrestricted) Reserves expenditure fund Payroll redundancy fund Salaries Fund Fixed tangible assets Totals for unrestricted funds Restricted Funds Admin Support - Operations Coordinator Community Support Coordinator DIAL Food Bank Forever Young MAGS Magpies Mercers Mercers Community Workshop Mercers Wellbeing MP - Secondment Norfolk Community Foundation: • Greening Our Communities • Great Yarmouth Community Investment Fund • HIV • Household Support Grant • Know Your Neighbourhood • Love Norfolk 2024 • Preventing Hardship Fund • Smokefree Generation • Surviving Winter Fund The Bridge Trussell Trust Volunteer Coordinator Fund Totals for Restricted Funds |
Balance at 31 December 2024 Incoming Expended Transfers between funds Balance at 31 December 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 24,193 68,058 37,165 (8,074) 47,012 5,000 - - - 5,000 - - - 5,000 5,000 33,369 500 9,546 (15,000) 9,323 15,802 - 3,898 5,174 17,078 |
|---|---|
| 78,364 68,558 50,609 (12,900) 83,413 |
|
| 5,657 27,364 25,375 - 7,645 15,051 22,538 23,810 5,000 18,779 - 9,000 - 3,000 12,000 16,551 16,903 19,960 7,000 20,493 1,682 874 2,556 - - 416 622 1,039 - - - 796 1,590 - - - 30,000 28,013 - 1,987 - 2,000 525 - 1,475 - 1,600 1,902 - (302) - 8,000 5,253 - 2,747 - - 5,000 786 - 4,214 - 10,000 2,216 - 7,784 - 5,000 5,000 - - 1,562 - 1,562 - - - 45,392 33,746 (2,100) 9,546 1,068 - 1,068 - - - 4,300 7,101 - (2,801) - 9,000 7,133 - 1,867 1,891 - 1,891 - - (2,423) 11,974 6,363 - 3,188 2,755 - 2,755 - - |
|
| 45,004 210,362 179,644 12,900 88,623 |
26
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 13 Trustees and related parties
No trustees were paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the charity. No trustee expenses have been incurred. Unrestricted donation income includes £10,171 (2024 £6,260) received from trustees and related parties.
There were no other related party transactions during the year.
Note 14 Paid employees
| Staff costs Salaries and wages Social security costs (net of Employment Allowance) Other employee benefits Total staff costs Average head count in the year Part time Full time Estimated full time equivalent |
2025 2024 £ £ 115,204 86,475 - 69 3,088 2,477 |
|---|---|
| 118,292 89,021 |
|
| 2025 2024 5 3 3 2 5.2 3.5 |
The Charities SORP obliges charities to disclose whether they had any employees who received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000. Gorleston St Mary Magdalene did not.
27
– Gorleston St Mary Magdalene PCC Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 15 Impact of change in accounting basis
In previous years the accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis. These accounts have been prepared on the accruals basis. In restating the 2024 figures for use as comparatives in these accounts, the following adjustments have been made.
| Receipts and payments reported in the receipts and payments account for 2024 As reported in the statement of assets and liabilities for 2024 Income accrued at 31 December 2024 (tax recoverable) Less income accrued at 31 December 2023 Expenditure accrued at 31 December 2024 (electricity) Less expenditure accrued at 31 December 2023 Expenditure capitalised as fixed assets Depreciation on fixed assets As restated in these accounts |
Income 2024 Expenditure 2024 Net assets 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 Restricted funds 2024 208,867 225,962 - - - - - 107,300 (U) 23,829 (D) 38,369 45,102 1,077 - 1,077 810 267 (1,683) - - - - - 812 (812) (447) (365) - (2,900) - - - - (6,780) 21,128 21,128 - - 2,863 (5,326) (5,326) - |
|---|---|
| 208,261 219,957 123,367 78,363 45,004 |
28
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Report to the trustees / members of The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Gorleston St Mary Magdalene, Charity no 1207772 on accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 set out on pages 15 to 27
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 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 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of
-
accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date: 5 July 2026
Name: Paul Light FCA
Relevant professional qualification: Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Address: 32 Caldwell Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 9FB