## **THE UNITED PARISHES OF SULHAMSTEAD ABBOTS WITH BANNISTER AND** ## **UFTON NERVET** ## **ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL** **YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025** ## **CLERGY** Priest in Charge Revd. Canon John Paton ## **BANKERS** National Westminster Bank plc ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Emily Crowson FCCA Goringe Accountants Ltd 1650 Arlington Business Park Theale Reading RG7 4SA ## **WEBSITE** www.sunchurch.co.uk ## **Sulhamstead & Ufton Nervet Parochial Church Council** ## **Annual Report for 2025** ## **Membership of the PCC:** The PCC is a charity number 1212009 registered with the Charity Commission in February 2025. The members of the PCC are either elected each year at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules or are ex-officio. During the year the following persons served on the PCC: ## **Rector:** Canon John Paton ## **Churchwardens:** Mr Stuart Burdess Mr Robert Astor ## **Officers:** Mrs Anthea Burdess Secretary Mrs Rachel Belshaw Treasurer ## **Elected Members:** Mr Edward Bucknall Mrs Yvonne Cook Mrs Dorcas Green Mrs Margaret Griffiths-Eyton Mr Peter Plant Mrs Rosemary Sanders-Rose (from 11[th] May 2025) Maj John Steeds Mrs Gill Tallett Mrs Claire Tilson ## **Deanery Synod Representatives** : Mrs Jenny Peabody Mrs Anthea Burdess ## **Ex-officio Members:** Mrs Melissa Whittaker, Headmistress S.U.N. School Julian Bailey, Foundation Governor S.U.N. School Samantha Stapley, Foundation Governor S.U.N. School 2 ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES:** Sulhamstead Abbots Church serves the two parishes of Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet. There are two other churchyards, St Peter's Ufton Nervet and St Michael's Sulhamstead Bannister. St Peter's is closed except for the interment of ashes, whilst St Michael's serves as the Parish burial ground. ## **COMMITEES AND TEAMS** ## **PCC:** The PCC has met on 5 occasions during 2025. It has been assisted by a number of sub-groups, which met to discuss and suggest action on several issues, particularly in 2025 on outreach and working with children and young people. The APCM in 2025 was held in the Parish Room on Sunday 11[th] May. ## **Standing Committee:** The Standing Committee is made up of the priest-in-charge, churchwardens, secretary, treasurer and finance manager. The Standing Committee meets before the PCC to review the work of the church and prepare the PCC agenda. ## **100 Club:** There were 115 subscribers in 2025. The renewal process facilitated by Mrs Tess Watson Smith was smooth and generated a profit of £660. ## **Charitable Giving /Outreach:** The quarterly donation to Pact continued, together with subscriptions to Berkshire Historic Churches Trust plus 50% of the sponsor money for Ride & Stride, and to Royal County of Berkshire Agricultural Society. In addition, donations were made to local Charities namely, West Berkshire Homeless, The Waterways Chaplaincy, Christian Community Action, Berkshire Vision and The Children’s Society (collection at the Christingle service). The total was £4,779. ## **Website: sunchurch.co.uk** Webmaster: Mr. Tony Holden ## **Facebook: St Mary’s Church, Sulhamstead** Facebook Administrator: Claire Tilson 3 ## **Readers:** We have a team of approximately 30 who read the various 'readings' at services. The rota is produced on a quarterly basis by Mrs Pat Willoughby. This has operated every Sunday in 2025. ## **Intercessions:** This is a small team who lead intercessions at the main Sunday service. The team is led by Mr Peter Plant. ## **Sidesmen:** A team of 12 is led by Mrs Pat Willoughby who serve on a rota of one service a month. ## **Church flowers:** This team is led by Anthea Burdess. There is now a rota of four with Elisabeth Shelley, Jill Brooks and Penelope Pilkington as well as Anthea. They do two weeks each and then join up for festivals. ## **Grass-cutting and churchyard maintenance:** During the year Major John Steeds who had co-ordinated a team for grass cutting at St. Mary’s, stepped down from the role. A committee led by Mr Geoff Harvey has been formed to oversee the management of the churchyard. During the year 2025 Mr Robert Astor has been responsible for hedge cutting and other work in the churchyard at St. Mary’s. It proved impossible to maintain the churchyards at St. Peter’s and St. Michael’s with volunteers from the congregation therefore contractors were employed, with costs divided between SUNPCC and UNFAC for St. Peter’s and between SUN PCC and SULHAMSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL for St. Michael’s. ## **Church cleaning:** Mrs. Dorcas Green organises teams of volunteer cleaners from our congregation. ## **LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:** ## **Quinquennial Inspection:** The 2025 Quinquennial Inspection was carried out on 19[th] November 2025 by JBKS. ## **Lightening Conductors:** The lightning conductors were inspected in 2025 and found to be satisfactory. ## **Fire Equipment:** The firefighting equipment was inspected in 2025 and found to be satisfactory. ## **Church Car Park Lease:** The church car park lease was renewed for 3 years with the Englefield Estate at no cost to the church. 4 ## **Health and Safety:** Risk assessments have been carried out during the year on all church buildings and the churchyard and are reviewed annually as part of our safeguarding policy. ## **Safeguarding :** Anthea Burdess was appointed Parish Safeguarding Officer at the APCM in 2024 since when the PCC has caught up with all its training, action plans and safeguarding policies and has been classified by Diocese as being in the top level of excellence in developing our safeguarding. If anyone wishes to contact Anthea on safeguarding matters please do not hesitate to do so. ## **STATISTICAL INFORMATION:** ## **Electoral Roll 2025:** There were 104 members on the Roll. ## **Attendance:** During the four weeks in October 2025 St. Mary’s held 2 Sunday services on 5[th] , 12[th] , 19[th] of October and 3 on Sunday 26th, a 4[th] Sunday. SUN School Harvest service on Oct 10[th] was attended by 115 children and 58 adults. Sunday Attendance ranged from 27-44 for October, and average weekly attendance during the year was 33 with 86 on Easter Day. During Advent 162 attended the school service, 127 at the Carol Service and 262 at services on Christmas Eve and Day. ## **On-line services and You-tube viewings** : None during 2025. **Baptisms:** During the year there were 4 Baptisms. ## **Weddings** : During the year there was 1 wedding. ## **Funerals:** During the year there was 1 funeral followed by burial at St. Mary’s, 2 funerals at St. Mary’s followed by cremation, plus 1 graveside funeral followed by burial at St. Michael’s. ## **Interment of Ashes:** During the year 2025 no urns of ashes were interred in any of the Churchyards. 5 ## **SERVICES** During 2025 a BCP Holy Communion was held at 8.30am, a sung Common Worship Holy Communion at 10.30am with a sung Matins at 9.30am on a 4[th] Sunday. In November and subsequent 4[th] Sundays 1 BCP Communion with hymns was introduced at the 10.30am service instead of Common Worship. This change has been met with approval by the congregation. ***Candlemas:** was celebrated on Sunday 2[nd] February during the morning services. ***Ash Wednesday 5[th] March** at 5.00pm a service of BCP Holy Communion with imposition of ashes. ***Mothering Sunday 30[th] March with posies of spring flowers for everyone.** ***Holy Week:** On **Palm Sunday 13[th] April** services at 8.30am and 10.30am with blessing and distribution of palm crosses. A 5pm service of Compline took place on **Monday-Wednesday** in church, with a BCP Holy Communion, then watch and Compline at 10.45pm on **Maundy Thursday** . * **On Good Friday 18[th] April:** Said Matins and Litany at 11am, Hot cross buns at 12.30pm in the Parish Room and then, from 1.30-3pm, Preaching the Cross, with reading the Passion according to John. * **Easter Day 20[th] April** BCP Holy Communion at 8.30am and sung Eucharist for Easter at 10.30am and blessing the Easter Garden. * **Rogation Day** : No Rogation Walk this year. ## **Ascension Day 29[th] May: a BCP communion service with hymns.** *** Pentecost was celebrated on Sunday 8[th] June.** ## *** Trinity Sunday on 15[th] June.** **Sunday 14[th] September** a service of music & readings for our Patronal Festival with special guest Bishop Mary of Reading. ***Harvest Festival 12[th] Octobe** ***All Souls’ Sunday 2nd November** at 3.30pm. This was our usual service, when our family members or friends who have died were named and remembered. ***Remembrance Sunday 9[th]** November: An Act of Remembrance was held in the churchyard at 11am during the 10.30am service. *** Christmas Carol Service** on Sunday 21[st] December at 3.30pm. ***Christmas Services** : On Christmas Eve 3.30pm Children’s Nativity service, 10.30pm BCP Holy Communion and two services on Christmas day. ## **MUSIC** We are a singing congregation, and music is important to us. Our organist, Michael Thomas plays the organ in person on the 4th Sunday but on other occasions we use our library of midi files usually operated by Mrs Jenny Peabody. The Viscount Digital Organ was installed in Spring 2023 and 6 since then Canon John has recorded all the hymns, quiet music to play during communion, and voluntaries The midi files are stored on a memory stick and on a computer, catalogued, and retrieved for all services as required, which is an excellent resource with top quality organ music for all services. ## **EVENTS OF THE YEAR:** *The church has continued to be **open all day** from 10am until 4pm in winter, and 6pm in during Spring, Summer, and early Autumn. *Everyone on our **Church Distribution Group** of 130+ has continued to receive weekly notices and a chat-letter by email, with a few people without a computer, receiving a paper copy and visit. This helps to keep everyone connected and not forgotten even if they cannot get to church. * St. Mary’s being the first stop on **the pilgrim route from Reading Abbey to Santiago de Compostela,** there have been an increasing number of pilgrims visiting St. Mary’s, to rest, have their pilgrim cards stamped and to receive a blessing if possible. This year over 450 Pilgrims have visited and been welcomed. This is now a major factor in our Outreach to the wider Community. *The **100 Club Draw** continued, on the 2[nd] Sunday **during coffee** after the 10.30am service. *The monthly **Theology Discussion group** also continued, on the 2[nd] Wednesdays, in the Parish Room **during summer months** but is held as a house group during winter months. *** The SUN Community Choir** met on Wednesday evenings in the Parish Room. Anthony Peabody conducts the choir, and Canon John accompanies on the keyboard. ***Our monthly Tea, Cake and Chat** , organised by Mrs Anthea Burdess and Mrs Elisabeth Shelley in the Parish Room, continued only until June *The **contactless card reader** facilitated by the provision of Wi-Fi in church and Parish Room by West Berks Community Broadband continues to be a useful resource. ***On Sunday March 2nd** There was a special pre-Shrovetide service of readings and carols at 5pm followed by pancakes in the Parish Room. The boys choir, the Treblemakers sang at the service. ***On Friday March 7[th] we** took part in the annual **World Day of Prayer service** which this year was held at St. Oswald’s RC, Burghfield Common. Mrs Jenny Peabody is secretary for our local committee which represents 8 local churches. The committee meetings are held in the Parish Room. ***SUN School Easter Service** did not take place this year 7 **Friends of St. Mary’s Funday & Picnic** Wednesday 30[th] July in the churchyard was a great success and very well attended ***A Children’s Summer Activity week did not take place this year** On **Saturday 13[th] September** our Church was open for those visitors taking part in the sponsored **Ride & Stride** for Berkshire historic Churches’ Trust. **On Sunday *14 September** Bishop Mary Gregory of Reading was our guest at the special service to celebrate our Patronal Festival. This was a great success, with hymns, readings, poems and singing by the choristers called “The Treblemakers”. Refreshments followed in the Parish Room. * **SUN School Harvest** service took place in Church on **Friday 10[th] October** at 1pm * **Harvest Service on Sunday 12[th] October** with a Bring & Share lunch in the Parish Room afterwards. *The service in church for **All Soul’s Day** on **Sunday November 2nd** was very much appreciated as was the tea, cake, and chat afterwards. ***Remembrance Tide** : **Friday November 7[th]** was marked by four Acts of Remembrance; the first at the Thames Valley Police College in our parish and led by Revd. Anthony Peabody RBL Chaplain. Poppy Crosses were laid in our churchyards on all graves of those who had served in the armed forces; at St. Michael’s, St Mary’s, and St. Peters (The Spire), where wreathes were laid at the War memorial and children from SUN School read poems. Sycamore class laid poppy crosses and heard a history of each person remembered. **Remembrance Sunday** was marked, as usual, with the last post ceremony at the flagpole at 11am. **Friends of St Mary’s Pre-Christmas party** Saturday 22[nd] November at The Spire was very well attended and a great success. *** The Sun School Christmas service** took place in church on **Tuesday 16[th] December** at 2.30.pm. ***The Church Carol Service** took place on **Sunday 21[st] December** , with mulled wine and mince pies afterwards in the Parish Room. ## **WEBSITE:** Our website during 2025 continued to reflect the day-to-day activities of our Church and its interaction with the wider community. We are hugely indebted to **Mr. Tony Holden** for the quality and timeliness of our website. **WEEKLY NEWS SHEET** & chat letter are sent by email to a large group with paper copies to those without a computer. 8 **FACEBOOK:** St Mary’s created its own Facebook page in October 2022 and now, in April 2026, we have 35 active followers. 78% of these are women and 18% are men (with an additional 4% where the gender is unknown). The majority of our followers are in the age range of 65+ but also spread with significant numbers from younger ages. Interestingly some of our followers live a long way from the area but used to live here and like the church Facebook page as a means of keeping in touch and triggering some happy memories. In the last 28 days we have had 962 views and if we look at the last 3 months, that number rises to 2,673. Every week we post a range of updates, always with graphics and photographs to keep our page interesting, colourful and fun. Typical weekly updates include The latest and most urgent donation needs from the West Berkshire Foodbank Weekly get togethers such as the coffee mornings at The Spire and the Sun Community Choir sessions Twice yearly reminders to re-set the clocks, especially important when attending the 8.30 service feels like 7.30 am! Weekly services including reminders of the 100 Club draw being done after the 10.30 am service. Advance notices for special events such as Rogation Sunday, Harvest Festival, All Souls day, special arrangements for Holy Week and Christmas as well as upcoming Friends of St Mary’s events Information about one-off events such as sponsoring Easter lilies and the date of the Ufton Dole. With the current non-availability of the church website we are trying to use Facebook as an alternative place where people can check out our events. We also advertise our Facebook presence by providing free bookmarks to visiting pilgrims. ## **PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD** Mrs Elisabeth Shelley organised the distribution of the card to all homes in the Parish, the staff at SUN School, recent wedding, baptism, and funeral families This year a design by a pupil at SUN School was used as the front cover. ## **WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER:** We continue to take an active part in the World Day of Prayer’s local Churches' Committee with Mrs Peabody as Secretary. 9 ## **FOOD BANK:** This operates as an enterprise which is now organised by West Berkshire Food Bank. Donations can be made at various shops and St. Mary’s has a collecting box in the porch for this purpose. In 2025 special collections were made during October for Harvest and many bags of food and other items were taken to the main depot at Greenham. ## **DEANERY SYNOD:** St. Mary’s was represented at Synod by Mrs Anthea Burdess and Mrs Jenny Peabody. Mrs Jenny Peabody also acts as a lay representative on the Synod Standing Committee which held one meeting at St. Mary’s. ## **CHILDREN’S OUTREACH UPDATE 2025:** **S.U.N School:** Canon John visits the school twice a week when he takes morning worship and leads the children in singing whilst playing the piano. In addition, he liaises with the Head and the Governors over future policy. Members of the congregation help with reading at SUN School. ## **Retreat Day Friday 18th July:** On the last Friday of the summer term 18 children from year 6 spent part of the morning walking to Ufton Court remembering their previous visits. They then walked to St Michael’s burial ground and Anthony told them interesting facts of its history. We then walked back to church along the St James Way. At church Canon John had arranged activities in groups. In the afternoon the children had their Leavers’ Service with parents in the congregation. ## **Explorers Summer Activity week** : Did not happen in 2025 **Acorn Visit 2025:** 14 children from SUN school visited us in November and enjoyed a morning of Sheep-related activities and readings. They rang the bells, looked around the church, drew pictures of things they had seen and enjoyed some refreshments in the Parish room. John gave them a blessing before they headed back to school. As ever Jenny and Anthony helped. ## **Explorers, an after-school club at Sun School:** Explorers is a long-standing after school club at Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet Primary School open for all children from Year 1 to Year 6 and is free. It is a joint church /school venture which seeks to develop connections between the school and St Mary’s Church. They meet each Tuesday during term time from 3.15 pm to 4.30 pm and have a regular core of 18 children from across the age range. They are organised by Rachel, Yvonne, Sian Webb and Diana. 10 A weekly session starts with drinks and biscuits and then a chance to run off some energy by playing games. Hide and seek is a favourite. A story from the bible is followed up by a craft or a game and the session ends with time to reflect on what the children have learnt and how they can carry this forward into the week ahead. For Christmas the children created Christmas story sacks for each class. They took turns in taking home the sacks and adding to the crib scene, reading the Christmas story and relating their families’ Christmas traditions. The children made decorative sleeves for toilet rolls and sold them to raise money to sponsor a toilet in a developing country and were pleased to raise enough to sponsor four toilets in different countries. ## **Children’s Choir called “The Treble Makers”:** The children’s choir called the Treble Makers, started by Canon John in 2024, meets on Tuesday afternoons after school in the Parish Room. The aim is to provide singing opportunities, to increase knowledge of music, to sing at special services and have fun time, with refreshments and a small honorarium for attending. The group of five boys sang very well at the 2025 Patronal Festival service and Christmas carol service. ## **Baptised Children’s Birthday Cards** : Diana Bagshaw borrowed the Baptism Register from church and has written a spreadsheet of baptisms going back to 2016. Birthday cards are sent out to those babies/children until they reach the age of 5. Last year 16 birthday cards were sent out. ## **Friends of St. Mary’s:** The Friends of St Mary’s was launched with the aim of bringing the church closer to the community and the community closer to the church. We had two events in 2025 the first a picnic in the churchyard in July which was attended by 78 people, and a pre-Christmas party aimed at the children and families of the church school, which was a sell out. We are very pleased with the way this has begun and plan more events for 2026. ## **CHURCH WARDENS REPORT:** ## **Diocese Seminars:** The Churchwardens have attended Diocese seminars as appropriate. ## **Quinquennial Inspection:** The Quinquennial Inspection was carried on 19 November 2025 by JBKS Architects Ltd. Once again we received very favourable comments on the general condition of the Church. A few minor comments were raised, mainly concerning plaster repairs and a damaged window frame. Estimates have been requested to carry out the necessary remedial work. 11 ## **Sound System:** The new sound system has continued to work well. Estimates for a better microphone for the wooden lectern, and for microphones that will support our choirs, have been received and will be discussed by the PCC. ## **Large Painting:** A large painting on the North Wall has fallen down, damaging both the painting and a stone pillar. The painting can be restored. Repair estimates have been obtained and an insurance claim is being prepared. ## **Plans for 2026:** We will complete all actions from the 2025 Quinquennial Inspection Report. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Overview:** Total receipts for the year amounted to £67,079 (2024: £176,742). The principal sources of income were voluntary giving, including planned giving and collections, together with tax recoverable under Gift Aid, and investment income, income from fundraising activities and the use of church facilities. The decrease in giving from 2024 is due to the receipt of a large legacy in the prior year. The underlying level of giving remained stable. Total payments were £58,992 (2024: £69,711). Expenditure was directed towards the maintenance and mission of the church, including the parish share, upkeep of the church buildings and churchyard, and support for charitable and outreach activities. The net movement of funds for the year was £8,087 (2024: £107,031), resulting in closing balances of £319,346 (2024: £311,259). ## **Reserves Policy:** The trustees aim to maintain a level of unrestricted reserves sufficient to meet between 1224 months of routine expenditure, to provide financial stability and to enable the charity to respond to unforeseen circumstances. At the year end, unrestricted (and undesignated) reserves stood at £103,843, which represents approximately 22 months of normal expenditure. The trustees consider this level to be adequate, but are reviewing ways to ensure that excess funds are used. Funds have been designated for mission activities and a music fund. Restricted funds, amounting to £88,759, are held for specific purposes in accordance with donors’ Intentions, including the Bell legacy which is for the maintenance of the church. These funds are not available for general use. 12 ## **Going Concern:** The trustees have considered the charity’s financial position and cash flow forecasts and are satisfied that the charity remains a going concern. The trustees believe that existing reserves and anticipated income are sufficient to meet the charity’s obligations as they fall due. ## **Future Plans:** The trustees will continue to encourage regular giving, seek opportunities for fundraising, and carefully manage expenditure. Overall, the trustees are satisfied with the financial position of the charity at the year end and remain committed to the prudent stewardship of its resources in furtherance of its charitable objectives. 13 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examlner's Report Repor¢ to the trusteesl membern of The Parochial Church Council of the E￿Ie$la$￿¢al Parfsh of Sulhamstead AbLK)ts wrth Bannister and Ufton Nervet On accounts for the year ended 31 DecernL￿r 2025 Charity no Irf any) 1212009 Set out on pa9es I report to the truslees on my examination of Ihe accwnts of the above charity Ilhe Trust-l ftsr the year ended 3111212025. Responslbllltles and basis of report As ¢harity's trustees. y(w are respongble for the preparalhon of the ac￿junts in accordance wilh the r8quir8m8nts of lh8 Charities AL1 2011 (Wie Act"). I r8rM)rt in respect of my examinalion ofthe TnJsl'8 arr￿Unts carr*d under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in ¢arryiTrJ out my examination. I have followed all th8 applicabl8 Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 1451Sllbl of the Act. Independent I have completed my examinatson. I confim that nck material matters have •xamln•r's statement lo my attention in conn8ction wth the exarnination vthich gives m Gquse to beI￿ve that in. any material respect.. the accounting r8cords were not kept irb accordance wrth seL1￿￿ 130 of the Charities Acl.. or the accounts did not accord with the acC￿￿ting recofds," or the accounis did nol comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form an¢J content of accounts sel out in Ihe Charities IAccounts and Reports) Regulab'ons 2008 other than any requiremenl that the accounts give a 'true and fair view which is a matter (x>n8idered as part of an indep8ndent examinalion. I have rbo concerns and have come across no other maiters in connection wllh the examination to which attenbon shwld be drawn in this rewrt in order to enable a proper understanding of th8 accounts to be r8ached. Slgned: Date: 0310512026 Name.. Emily Crowson Relevant professional quallfl¢allonl$l or body lif anyl- FCCA Addr•¥s: Waterside, 1650 ArfiThJton Busine55 Paik, Theal8, R8ading RG7 4SA 14 Section B Disclosure Only c0511ple&e I,. uie eknul115￿l LU liiyI'.l￿IaL 511aL￿ldl 511dLI￿5￿ IA Isee CC32. Independent ex8minab.on of charrty accounts.. directicms and guMlanr& for exarnTht51. Give here brief d8ts11s of any rtom5 that th8 èxamlnor wlsh•s to dlsdose. 15 ## **Sulhamstead & Ufton Nervet Parochial Church Council** ## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2025** |||**General**|**Designated**|**Restricted **|**Bell legacyTotal funds**|**Bell legacyTotal funds**|**Total funds**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**2025**|**2024**| ||**Note**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |**Incoming resources**|||||||| |Incoming resources from donors|3a|49,043|-|-|-|49,043|158,416| |Other voluntary incoming resources|3b|2,352|-|-|-|2,352|324| |Income from charitable & ancilliary trading|3c|3,765|-|-|-|3,765|4,479| |Other ordinary incoming resources|3d|1,612|-|-|-|1,612|3,754| |Income from investments|3e|4,995|-|2|5,310|10,307|9,769| |**Total incoming resources**||61,767|-|2|5,310|67,079|176,742| |**Resources expended**|||||||| |Grants|4a|4,779|-|-|-|4,779|4,536| |Activities directly related to the church|4b|45,915|-|-|7,550|53,465|65,039| |Church management & administration|4c|748|-|-|-|748|136| |**Total resources expended**||51,442|-|-|7,550|58,992|69,711| |**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**||10,325|-|2|(2,240)|8,087|107,031| |Transfers between funds||(20,000)|20,000|-|-|-|-| |Gains/(losses) on investment assets||-|-|-|-|-|-| |**Net movement of funds**||(9,675)|20,000|2|(2,240)|8,087|107,031| |Balances brought forward at 1 January||113,518|106,744|897|90,100|311,259|204,228| |**Balances carried forward at 31 December**||103,843|126,744|899|87,860|319,346|311,259| 16 ## **Sulhamstead & Ufton Nervet Parochial Church Council Balance sheet as at 31 December 2025** |**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets
5
Investment assets
6
**Current assets**
Cash at bank & in hand
7
**Liabilities**
Amounts falling due within one year
8
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
General purposes
Designated
Restricted
Bell Legacy|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
-

-
-

-
-

-
319,346

311,259
-
-
319,346
311,259| |---|---| ||319,346
311,259| ||103,843
113,518
126,744
106,745
899
897
87,860
90,100| ||319,346
311,259| 17 ## **Sulhamstead & Ufton Nervet Parochial Church Council Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025** 1. The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2008 using the Receipts and Payments basis. ## **2. Funds** General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any special restrictions regarding their use and are available for application to the general purposes of the PCC. These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC. During 2024 the PCC agreed that the General Reserve Policy of the PCC should represent 12-24 months expenditure which for 2025 amounted to between £58,922 and £117,844. It was also agreed that a buildings maintenance and repairs provision equal to 5% of the insured value of the church and parish room buildings be allocated. The insured value of these buildings as at July 2025 amounted to £3,216,359 resulting in a provision of £160,800. The total of the General Reserve policy and buildings provision amounted to a maximum of £278,644 against actual total funds of £319,346. Out of the legacy received during 2024 an amount of £50,000 has been designated by the PCC for children's work and ministry. A further £20,000 has been designated during 2025 for a music fund. Funds analysis at 31st December 2025 |Brought forward at 1 January 2025
Amounts reclassified to designated funds
Income received during the year
Expenditure during the year
Transfers between funds
Carried forward at 31 December 2025|Churchyard
General
Designated
Restricted
Bell
funds
funds
funds
Legacy
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
113,518
106,744
897
90,100
311,259
204,228
(20,000)
20,000
-
-
-
61,767
-
2
5,310
67,079
176,742
(51,442)
-
-
(7,550)
(58,992)
(69,711)
-
-
Total funds| |---|---| ||103,843
126,744
899
87,860
319,345
311,259| The accounts include monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC can be held responsible. They do not include the accounts of other church groups that we owe an affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members. Subject to the above, receipts and payments include income as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid. ## **3. Incoming resources** |**3a. Incoming resources from donors**
Planned giving (envelopes, Parish
Giving Scheme)
Collections and other giving (cash
collections, donations for choir)
Grants received
Legacy income
Income tax recovered
**3b. Other voluntary incoming resources**
Candles and Offertory Box
**3c. Income from charitable and ancillary trading**
Coffee, flowers, miscellaneous
Fees
**3d. Other ordinary incoming resources**
Donations for use of the parish room
Deanery general fund
Fundraising activities and functions|Choir
Churchyard
General
Restricted
Restricted
Bell
funds
funds
funds
Legacy
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
30,979
30,979
30,776
8,692
-
8,692
9,750
1,380
1,380
3,381
-
-
105,889
7,992
7,992
8,620
Total funds| |---|---| ||49,043
-
-
-
49,043
158,417| ||2,352
2,352
324| ||2,352
-
-
-
2,352
324| ||392
392
400
3,373
3,373
4,079| ||3,765
-
-
-
3,765
4,479| ||58
58
56
-
-
1,909
1,554
1,554
1,789| ||1,612
-
-
-
1,612
3,754| 18 |**3e. Income from investments**
Bank and consolidated stock interest
**4a. Grants**
Charity donations
**4b. Activities directly related to the church**
Diocesan parish share
Church running expenses
Priest's expenses
Cost of services
Cost of fundraising activities
Flowers, coffee, children's church, local projects
Building maintenance
Other expenses
Churchyard maintenance
Insurance
**4c. Church management and administration**
Postage, printing and stationery
Accountancy & audit fees
Bank interest and charges|4,995
-
2
5,310
10,307
9,769
4,779
4,779
4,536
26,847
26,847
27,840
3,049
3,049
2,694
249
249
746
869
869
1,322
575
575
625
1,731
1,731
1,652
2,191
-
3,062
5,253
18,891
3,471
-
3,471
1,609
4,942
4,488
9,430
7,696
1,991
1,991
1,964| |---|---| ||45,915
-
-
7,550
53,465
65,039| ||388
388
125
360
360
-
-
-
11| ||748
-
-
-
748
136| ## **5. Tangible fixed assets** There are no tangible fixed assets required to be included in the accounts. The PCC owns: The church buildings and contents and the parish room buildings and contents, insured for a total of £3,216,359. The PCC has a residual interest in some of the land on which the SUN school is situated, in the event of the school closing down. ## **6. Investment assets** The PCC has no investment assets |**7. Cash at bank and in hand**
Current account (NatWest)
Deposit accounts (CCLA)
Planned giving account (Santander)
Reserve Account (Natwest)
Choir Account (Natwest)
Cash in hand
**8. Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year:**
Sundry creditors|47,747
47,747
79,522
233,817
-
-
233,817
223,694
-
-
2,525
37,626
37,626
5,436
156
156
82
-
-| |---|---| ||319,346
-
-
-
319,346
311,259| ||-
-
-| ||-
-
-
-
-| 19