## St Andrew's Church, Hurstbourne Priors
# **Annual Report and Financial Statements**
## **of the Parochial Church Council**
for the year ended 31st December 2025
## **Incumbent up until 1 June 2025**
The Revd David Roche
## **Bank**
National Westminster Bank
## **Independent examiner**
Mr Michael Stanes The Old Laundry Hurstbourne Park Whitchurch RG28 7RW
## **2025 Report and Accounts**
## **for the Parochial Church Council of St Andrew’s Church Hurstbourne Priors**
## **Aims and purposes**
Hurstbourne Priors’ Parochial Church Council (PCC), working with the incumbent the Revd David Roche (whilst in post) and Assistant Priest the Revd Russell Smart has the responsibility of promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the maintenance of St Andrew’s Church and churchyard.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The Mission Plan of the PCC is to seek to serve the religious, spiritual and pastoral needs of the entire Parish of Hurstbourne Priors, administering to the needs of all worshippers including families and children, offering Occasional Offices, outreach services and going into the Community to reach out to those at the fringes of the Church. It works constructively with the other Parishes in the Bright Waters Benefice to share good practice and to support one another in their mission.
## **Achievements and Performance**
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at St Andrew’s Church and with the Incumbent offers a range of services designed to appeal to both established and traditional churchgoers of all ages and those at the fringes of religion. They have worked hard to build communications with as many villagers as possible to inform them of what is happening and to welcome them at any church event. Attendance is very high at Easter and Christmas services.
Working in conjunction with local parents, special Children’s Activities Services or pew activities have been offered at some services and a Travelling Crib has been introduced in Advent. This contains a Nativity Crib to play with, books to read and a gift of a book to any family in the Parish that would like to receive the Crib.
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Hurstbourne Priors in the Diocese of Winchester (more commonly known as Hurstbourne Priors PCC) was registered with the Charity Commission under Registered Charity Number 1212066.
Proceeds from the Harvest lunch in October were donated to the Mityana Projects Trust in Uganda. Individuals from St Andrews have continued to sponsor the training of a Lay Reader in Mityana. The collection from the Christmas Carol Service was donated to the Children’s Society.
A very successful St Andrew’s Reels event was held in September to fundraise and also provide much fun to those who attended.
The PCC led by the Churchwardens worked with other Benefice Representatives to produce a Parish Profile to advertise for a new Incumbent. Unfortunately, there were no applications in the first round of advertising; however, interviews are taking place on 17 March.
## **Worship and Prayer**
In 2025, the pattern of regular worship continued to include traditional services such as Holy Communion and Benefice Evensong, more informal services such as Children’s Activity services, the Pets Service, the Carol Service, a Taizé Service and an outdoor Carols and Nativity led by children. There was an organist at many Clergy led services although sourcing organists is becoming more difficult. The Benefice zoom service continues online for those unable to come into church. There is also a lunchtime House group which meets weekly and very instructive Advent and Lent Courses were held and enthusiastically attended by core Parishioners.
The Church Electoral Roll increased to 44 with 38 residents and 6 non-residents. The average Sunday attendance was 17 (20) with an average of 20 (26) attending services including Baptisms Weddings and Funerals. In 2025 there were: 5 (4) baptisms, no marriages (2) or funerals (3) but 2 Burials of Ashes and one blessing of a memorial stone. There was also a renewal of marriage vows. Figures for 2024 are shown in brackets and included 3 funerals with a very large attendance.
## **Incumbency**
The Revd David Roche was the vicar of the Benefice of Bright Waters until 1 June 2025 after which there has been an Interregnum. The Benefice consists of nine churches with the Revd Russell Smart as Assistant Priest. They are assisted by a team of self-supporting clergy and Lay Readers.
## **Deanery Synod**
The PCC has one representative on the Whitchurch Deanery Synod in addition to the Incumbent. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the church. During the year, Deanery Synod discussed the opportunities and challenges facing us as a Deanery. Topics included children’s ministry, training for ministry – lay or clerical, the Common Mission Fund, volunteers, a growing local population and supporting the clergy.
In June, we heard a presentation from Diocesan representatives on the Common Mission Fund and general finances. All are facing similar financial challenges and rely on the CMF requests being met in full. Of the expenditure by the Diocese, 70% is spent on ministry and 78% of the income comes from parishes (CMF plus fees).
At the November meeting representatives discussed ideas for a future vision of Synod meetings. Suggestions included engagement with youth, administration processes such as faculty applications, testimony and inspirational speakers, rural ministry, the role of lay people, fundraising and celebration and praise.
Revd Dodie reported on her visit to Mityana. She had visited the lay readers that the Deanery is supporting during their training. They are so grateful for the support they receive. The visiting group also delivered food parcels, visited schools and the building of a new church.
## **The Church and Churchyard**
The church was kept open to visitors by a team of parishioners and villagers between April and October and throughout the year on a Sunday. The PCC have also involved parishioners
in the maintenance of the church and churchyard creating community activities in the form of the Annual Clean-up and a Raking Party. With this and an excellent regular contractor, the churchyard is looking well-kept. A part of the churchyard has been left unmown through the summer to allow wildflowers to grow and attract butterflies and wildlife. The PCC had to take action to eradicate a colony of moles which had taken residence in the churchyard and were in danger of disturbing graves.
The PCC have commissioned repairs to the roofs on the North side of the nave, the vestry and southside of the chancel which have all been overhauled to replace broken tiles and to mend all guttering to ensure the free flow of water from the roofs into the drains. The drain at the eastern end of the church at the back of the vestry has been extensively repaired and should operate much more effectively to channel water into the drains rather than back into the church. The contractors, TM Roofing, said the roofs should be good for 5-10 years.
The PCC also commissioned a report into the function of the 20-year-old sound system and completed the recommended repairs to put it in good order.
Edward Dove has maintained the organ. Gas and electricity provision continues to be sourced through Parish Buying to keep costs down. Maintenance of the heating system has been moved to a local contractor Ryan Dickinson.
Pastoral visits were carried out by members of the clergy and the laity.
The churchwardens and sidesmen and women offer refreshments after every service so parishioners, visitors and those from around the Benefice can be welcomed to chat and support one another. This has proved increasingly popular with most people lingering after services. The mulled wine and mince pies gathering after the Carol Service is also extremely well attended.
## **Mission and Evangelism**
The regular emails, Whatsapp and website posts keep many in the village for whom the PCC have contact details informed of church activities. Details of services are also put in Hill & Valley, a free magazine which is distributed to the village and three other villages in the Benefice. PCC members work hard to maintain up to date details of services and events on the Hurstbourne Priors pages of the Benefice website.
As mentioned above, St Andrew’s Church tries to offer a wide variety of services both to cater for regular attendees and to reach out to those on the fringes of the church. Through activities like the Travelling Crib, the PCC are also trying to reach out to those who do not attend church services.
## **Financial Review**
The total receipts on ordinary unrestricted funds were £30,638 of which £12,054 were from church fundraising activities including the May Fair. The PCC were fortunate to receive the balance of a restricted donation of £3,372 from the share of the estate of a late parishioner. Funds are invested in interest-bearing accounts which generated £4,127 of investment income and these, along with £1,000 of donations and a small amount from other church activities, brought total restricted fund receipts to £8,582. Further details can be found in the Financial Statements attached to this report.
£27,374 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the Christian ministry from St Andrew’s Church. This includes the contribution of £17,093 to the Diocesan Common Mission Fund, which provides the stipends, housing and training for the clergy. The sum that the churches give is shared between the churches according to a formula that is based mainly
on a head count of the congregations and the affluence rating of the community. Payment of the full amount of the Common Mission Fund was completed by year end. The PCC spent £13,406 of restricted funds on roof repairs following the quinquennial inspection.
We continue to benefit from the Parish Giving Scheme where Gift Aid donations are managed through the Diocese of Gloucester. The number of planned givers through the Parish Giving Scheme is 14.
The net result for the year was an excess of receipts over payments of £3,264 for unrestricted funds and a deficit of £8,865 for restricted funds. Adding the bank balance brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balance carried forward on 31 December 2025 was £20,206 on unrestricted funds and £117,781on restricted funds.
## **Reserves Policy**
A Reserves Policy was adopted by the PCC in 2018 stating that the PCC will endeavour to maintain a minimum balance in the general account of sufficient funds to cover three months’ contribution to the Common Mission Fund. This was revised at the March 2025 PCC meeting as follows. The PCC will endeavour to maintain a minimum balance in the general account of sufficient funds to cover three months’ contribution to the Common Mission Fund and three months’ average essential bills. If the closing balance at year end is likely to fall below £10,000 the PCC will consider whether full payment of CMF is appropriate. This has been complied with throughout the year and despite another increased demand, full CMF was paid.
## **Volunteers**
The PCC are most grateful to all the volunteers who continue to support the activities of the church in a wide variety of ways. This includes a team of sidesmen and women, refreshment providers, talented flower arrangers, planning and producing service sheets and taking services, running Children’s Activity services, opening and closing the church in the summer months, participating in the Spring clean-up of the Church and Churchyard, fund-raising and providing generous funding and preparing the church for services.
The church doors were beautifully oiled by a PCC member and the noticeboard at the end of the avenue was also repaired by a Parishioner.
The Bells were rung on a few occasions with assistance from Bellringers in other villages. A team rings regularly before Evensong every month.
The PCC would like to thank all the volunteers who so reliably carry out these duties.
## **Inventory of Contents of the Church**
The contents of the church remain as listed in the comprehensive Record produced by the Arts Society Church Recorders in 2020. There have been no breakages nor additions.
## **Safeguarding**
There were no safeguarding issues to report during the year. Members of the PCC have all completed the necessary safeguarding training, and they continue to monitor their compliance with this requirement.
## **Risk Assessment**
A risk assessment for the church generally was carried out as well as for additional events and their recommendations were implemented. The risk assessments are reviewed annually.
## **Structure, Governance and management**
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Andrew’s the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent, two churchwardens, and 6 members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the Electoral Roll of the church. All those who attend services and are baptised 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. The full PCC met six times during the year.
The Standing Committee is the only committee required by law and is composed of the Vicar, two Churchwardens, the Secretary and the Treasurer. Due to the weight of responsibility on the Incumbent, with nine churches to administer, the Standing Committee did not meet in 2025. However, the two Churchwardens (one of whom is also the Secretary) met six times to plan PCC meetings and other church activities and events in place of the Standing Committee.
## **Administrative Information**
St Andrew’s Church is situated in the middle of Hurstbourne Priors with an avenue leading to it from the road through Hurstbourne Priors and can be found at the address St Andrew’s Church, Hurstbourne Priors, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7SB. The correspondence address for Hurstbourne Priors PCC is 50 Hurstbourne Priors, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7SB.
It is part of the Diocese of Winchester within the Church of England. In July 2022, the parishes of St Andrew’s, Longparish, St Mary Bourne and Woodcott joined with the parishes of Whitchurch, Tufton, Litchfield and Barton Stacey to form the Bright Waters Benefice.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and is registered with the Charity Commission, having previously been exempt from registration.
PCC members who served from 1 January 2025 until the date this report was approved are:
**Chairman** Incumbent: Revd David Roche to 1 June 2025 and thereafter Revd Russell Smart
_**Ex Officio Member**_ Associate Priest Revd Russell Smart
**Churchwardens:** Mrs Fenella Williams, also Deanery Synod Representative from April 2025, Mrs Ann Orr also Deanery Synod Representative to April 2025 and Secretary.
**Elected members:** Mr Edward Beasley, Mr Ian Bradley, Mrs Denise Bradley, Mrs Joanne Brunwin, Mr Charles Ekins and Mrs Hannah Oakley.
Mrs Julia Mattison acts as Treasurer.
## **Approved by the PCC on 16 March 2026**
## **and signed by**
## **Hurstbourne Priors PCC Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## **Receipts and Payments Accounts**
||||**Unrestricted**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Unrestricted**|**designated**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**_Total_**|
||**_Notes_**|**fund**|**fund**|**fund**|**2025**|**_2024_**|
|**RECEIPTS**|||||||
|**Voluntary receipts:**|||||||
|Planned giving||9,219|
**-**|-|9,219|_10,133_|
|Collections at services||1,403|
**-**|-|1,403|_3,239_|
|Donations||4,905|
**-**|1,000|5,905|_6,280_|
|Legacy||-|**-**|3,372|3,372|_112,000_|
|Gift Aid recovered||1,966|
**-**|-|1,966|_2,384_|
|Total voluntary receipts||17,493|
**-**|4,372|21,865|_134,036_|
|**Activities for generating funds**|||||||
|Fundraising|_3a_|12,054|
**-**|-|12,054|_6,375_|
|Church Activities|_3b_|1,091|
**-**|83|1,174|_2,192_|
|Investment income||-|**-**|4,127|4,127|_1,460_|
|Grants||-|**-**|-|-|_-_|
|**Total Receipts**||**30,638**|
-|**8,582**|**39,220**|**_114,063_**|
|**PAYMENTS**|||||||
|Church Activities:|||||||
|Common Mission Fund||17,093|
**-**|-|17,093|_15,405_|
|Clergy and Staffing costs|_3c_|3,306|
**-**|-|3,306|_2,861_|
|Church running expenses|_3d_|5,407|
**-**|3,538|8,945|_8,425_|
|Mission giving and donations||392|**-**|-|392|_625_|
|Maintenance and repair of fabric|_3e_|-|**-**|13,909|13,909|_970_|
|Fundraising costs||1,176|
**-**|-|1,176|_219_|
|Bank charges||-|**-**|-|-|_-_|
|**Total Payments**||**27,374**|
-|**17,447**|**44,821**|**_28,505_**|
|**Excess of Receipts over**|||||||
|**payments**||**3,264**|
**-**|**(8,865)**|**(5,601)**|**_115,558_**|
|Cash at bank and in hand at 1 Jan||16,942|
**-**|126,646|143,588|_28,030_|
|**Cash atbank and in hand at31 **|**Dec**|**20,206**|-|**117,781**|**137,987**|**_143,588_**|
## **Hurstbourne Priors PCC Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
||||**Unrestricted**|**Restrictedf**|**Restrictedf**|**Total**|
**_Total_**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**|**Unrestricted**|**designated fund**||**und**|**2025**|
**_2024_**|
|**Cash Funds**||||||||
|Bank Accounts||20,206|-|117,781|
137,987||_143,588_|
|**Other monetary assets**||||||||
|Income tax recoverable||2516|-|-|2516||_760_|
The movements in designated and restricted funds during the year were:
||**Bal**|**Receipt**|||**Bal**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Restricted**|**B/Fwd**||**Payments**|**Transfer**|**C/Fwd**|
|Fabric Fund|123,701|9,292|(16,945)|**-**|116,048|
|Organ Fund|-|-|-|**-**|-|
|Roof Fund|1,295|-|(1,295)|**-**|-|
|Bell Fund|1,650|83|-|**-**|1,733|
||**126,646**|**9,375**|**(18,240)**|-|**117,781**|
## **Notes:**
1. The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.
- 2.a. The Fabric Fund represents accumulated donations and appeals for fabric maintenance, which can only be spent for that purpose.
- 2.b The Organ Fund represents funds raised for the repair and maintenance of the organ, which can only be spent for that purpose.
- 2.c The Roof Fund represents grants and donations for roof repairs which can only be spent for that purpose.
- 2.d The Bell Fund represents accumulated funds raised for the repair and maintenance of the bells, which can only be spent for that purpose.
## **Hurstbourne Priors PCC Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## **3. Further Analysis of Receipts and Payments**
|||**Unrestricted**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**designated**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**_Total_**|
||**fund**|**fund**|**fund**|**2025**|**_2024_**|
|**RECEIPTS**||||||
|**a. Fundraising**||||||
|May Fair|8,641|-|-|8,641|_5,295_|
|Annual dinner|-|-|-|-|_-_|
|Concerts and events|3,338|-|-|3,338|_925_|
|Sale of miscellaneous items|75|-|-|75|_155_|
||12,054|-|-|12,054|_6,375_|
|**b. Church activities**||||||
|Bellringers|-|-|83|83|_117_|
|Fees for weddings and funerals|1,091|-|-|1,091|_2,075_|
||1,091|-|83|1,174|_2,192_|
|**PAYMENTS**||||||
|**c. Clergy and staffing costs**||||||
|Benefice expenses|1,998|-|-|1,998|_1,283_|
|Costs of services|1,308|-|-|1,308|_1,578_|
||3,306|-|-|3,306|_2,861_|
|**d. Church running expenses**||||||
|Church building running expenses|1,433|-|2,430|3,863|_4,052_|
|Church repairs and maintenance|3,974|-|1,108|5,082|_4,373_|
||5,407|-|3,538|8,945|_8,425_|
|**e. Maintenance and repair of fabric**||||||
|Quinquennial roof repairs|-|-|13,406|13,406|_-_|
|New noticeboard|-|-|197|197|_-_|
|Organ maintenance|-|-|216|216|_-_|
|New blind|-|-|90|90|_-_|
|Other|-|-|-|-|_970_|
||-|-|13,909|13,909|_970_|