Parochial Church Council of St Leonard Church, Sunningwell Report and Accounts 2025
Parochial Church Council of St Leonard Church, Sunningwell is officially known as
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Leonard, Sunningwell in the Diocese of Oxford
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1213446
CONTENTS
Page 2 Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council Page 3 Church Activities Report Page 4 Church Fabric Report Pages 5 to 7 Treasurer’s Report
Pages 8 to 11 Accounts
Page 12 Independent Examiner’s Report
pg. 1
Parochial Church Council of St Leonard Church, Sunningwell Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
Administrative Information
St. Leonard's church is situated in the village of Sunningwell and is part of the United Benefice of Radley, Sunningwell and Kennington in the Diocese of Oxford.
The correspondence address is The Vicarage, Kennington Road, Radley. OX14 2JN
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Leonard, Sunningwell in the Diocese of Oxford is a registered charity: (charity number 1213446). Members who have served from 22[nd] November 2024 until this report was approved are:
Clergy Incumbent: Rev'd Robert Glenny Associate Priests: Rev’d Samson Kuponiyi Rev'd Glynis Beckett Curate Rev’d Anne Curtis (resigned 28[th] February 2026) Churchwardens: Mrs Emma Chorley Deanery Synod Representative: Vacant Elected Members Ex-Officio Mr Robert Chorley (Treasurer) Mrs Eileen Cross Mrs Karen Laister Mr John Logan Mrs Sarah O’Kelly (resigned 16[th] June, 2025) Mrs Cynthia Warmington (Secretary) Mr Richard Youdale (commenced 23[rd] March 2025)
Structure, governance and management
The Method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church Attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The Friends of Sunningwell church is a committee of the PCC.
Objectives and activities
St Leonard's PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical.
Achievements and performance
There are 24 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll of whom 5 are not resident in the parish. The average adult weekly attendance as counted in October is 14.
Review of the year
The full PCC met four times during the year.
Rob, Samson, Glynis and Anne are maintaining weekly Sunday Communions in all three parishes.
Financial Review
The Financial details are given separately. The Parish Share was paid in full and on time.
Reserves policy
It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (if possible), which equates to approximately six months unrestricted payments. The balance is sufficient to meet this requirement at present. It is our policy to invest our funds with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.
Approved by the PCC in March 2026 and signed on their behalf by Rev Rob Glenny (Rector)
pg. 2
Church Activities Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
Our church may be small but we are a friendly church and visitors are always made very welcome. Of course, we would like more to join us and share some of the enjoyable ‘chores’. We continue to manage our Lay-led service and even when we think we are running short of ideas, more spring to mind. I know many look forward to the diversity of the service.
Emma, John, Vanessa and Mike plus helpers, have made great efforts to enlarge the Sunday School but sadly Rugby practise/tennis practise/swimming/shopping etc. are rivals to our Sunday School but we try, pray and hope each week that more will wish to come.
‘Open the Book’ continues to share Bible Stories with Radley and Sunningwell Primary Schools. Two teams regularly rehearse, dress up and bring the Bible stories alive for the children in the schools.
Fund raising continues with the two quizzes and monthly film nights. Showing the ‘Muppets Christmas Carol’ was a brilliant idea and much fun was enjoyed by children and parents. Film nights now have regular visitors who attend and enjoy the refreshments. Thanks must go to Robert and Emma for all their work now they have taken over from Edward and Thomas. Also to be thanked are Nick Horn, Ben Tonks and Jon Twinn with their eloquent quiz questions. Not forgetting Roger Dennett for organising the raffle.
We had several extra special events in our church life this year. The first was the VE Day Celebration which was held in the churchyard along with the Padre from Dalton Barracks and the Army Cadets from Abingdon School. This was a joint Church and Parish event, and was well received by the parish.
In September we held a Pet Service. Children from the school came with their pets and we were relieved that no snakes joined in. Again very much enjoyed.
At the Remembrance Day service we again welcomed the Army Cadets from Abingdon School. After a quick refreshment break they rushed to Bayworth to join in their Service of Remembrance.
The Christmas services were enjoyed by many in the Parish the highlight being the Crib Service enjoyed particularly by Glynis. Although a lot of preparation is required, the Christingle service is great fun. Many from the villages attended one or two service particularly enjoying the welcome given by church members.
We have passed our Quinquennial inspection which has raised a long list for Emma and John to solve. John has this in hand and more work will be completed this year.
Many thanks must be given to all those who help with the services. The PCC of course, Bob Evans who daily opens the church and ensures we have the right altar cloths. Vanessa and Mike for continually welcoming us all for refreshments. Val King who prepares the hymn books and order of service; and sneakily cleans the church. The readers; intercessors; chalice helpers; the flower ladies, Chris Gill our stand in organist and of course Felicity FletcherCampbell, our treasured organist.
Cynthia Warmington PCC Secretary, 22 March 2026
pg. 3
Church Fabric Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
Church entrance pathway replacement
I have recently chased the Vale of White Horse for Planning permission for the pathway replacement only to be told that I have used the wrong form for the online application, so I am now re doing the application, hopefully using the correct form! I apologise that this straightforward work is taking so long – I will keep everyone appraised of my progress
Quinquennial Inspection
Since our last meeting the QI has taken place, and I have previously circulated a copy to PCC members. I would encourage everyone to look at the listed items that Robert Montgomery has identified and if anyone felt they would like to undertake any of the works – please let me know and I will assist with obtaining approvals etc from the DAC.
Bells and associated activity
The inspection of the Bells did take place as planned and we have a brief report from Whites of Appleton confirming that they have carried out that work.
We (Richard and I) were able to seek guidance from Mark (‘Whites’) regarding the best method to remove the bells from the bell tower and we are currently waiting for his written report which we will then use to seek approval from the DAC for their removal and associated maintenance work.
CCTV camera
We have a quote for the placement of the CCTV camera on the south wall of the Village Hall (we have the permission of the Village Hall committee to install it) and I am hopeful that we will soon have it installed.
Duke of Edinburgh Award – volunteers
My daughter, Emma has been keeping the wall clear of ivy, and she is coming to the end of the time for her Silver award – I expect her to say she is finished in the next few weeks. My son, Jack is now moving on to start his D of E Gold award and he will be happy to step back into Volunteering his time (for 18 months) carrying on with wall clearing and in addition to this he will undertake some of the jobs identified in the QI – hopefully everyone will support this initiative. I will send out a list of the jobs that Jack will undertake so that we don’t have any overlap in voluntary work.
John Logan – 26[th] February 2026.
pg. 4
Parochial Church Council of St Leonard Church, Sunningwell Treasurer’s Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
HIGHLIGHTS
As reported last year, St Leonard’s financial position was transformed in 2024 by a generous interim legacy of £113,000 from the Estate of the late Geoffrey Bailey, which in 2025 has since been supplemented by the final distribution of £3,746 from Geoffrey Bailey’s estate and a further large legacy of £84,576 from the Estate of Angela Baker. These large legacies have been put aside into a separate designated fund for capital expenditure (hereafter referred to as the “Capital Fund”), distinguished from the General Fund, which is held to cover day-to-day expenditure funded by dayto-day income generation.
Notwithstanding these generous legacies, it should be noted that to fund its day-to-day expenditure St Leonard’s remains reliant on the continued generous regular giving of our congregation and parishioners, one-off donations and fundraising activities (quiz and film nights), for which we are truly grateful.
The General Fund had a surplus for the year of £5,057, leaving St Leonard’s in a healthy financial position with total reserves including Capital and Fabric funds of £201,321 (of which £199,520 is unrestricted). This enables St Leonard’s to look forward to the future with confidence, fund any major capital works required by the recently completed Quinquennial inspection and consider further capital projects that might further St Leonard’s mission and secure its future.
Parochial Church Council (PCC) General Fund
Summary
Receipts £30,302 (2024: £25,084) increase of £5,218 or 21% Expenditure: £25,244 (2024: £28,399) decrease of £3,155 or 11% Surplus: £5,057 (2024: £3,314 deficit) an improvement of £8,371
Receipts
The £5,218 (21%) increase in income receipts generated by the General Fund is primarily the result of an increase in income from the following inherently volatile sources of income:
-
Increased interest income[1] (positive £2,803) thanks to the unexpended balance on the Geoffrey Bailey legacy, to be further boosted in 2026 by the Angela Baker legacy.
-
Consolidation of the Bell fund account into the General Fund (see comment overleaf), amounting to £1,316, and included in “All Other Giving (General Donations)”.
-
Fundraising (positive £605) has benefited from one additional film night and the April Quiz raised c£200 more versus comparator period.
-
While fees for weddings and funerals increased by £465 versus prior year, these are still significantly less than 2022 and 2023 when they were over double the fees generated in 2025. There have been no weddings at St Leonard’s since 2023.
1 As a designated fund there is no requirement for the Capital Fund to be held in a segregated bank account separate from other unrestricted funds, such as the General Fund. The PCC agreed in 2024 that all interest arising on unrestricted fund cash and deposit balances should be allocated to the General Fund.
pg. 5
Otherwise planned giving and collections at services have been relatively stable with a small increase in income, while the rebate of the Diocesan share was £308 higher than prior year.
As is common in other parishes, historically St Leonard’s bell-ringers maintained a separate bank account to cover sundry expenses related to the church bells (inspection fees, minor repairs and maintenance, Ringing Guild fees), funded by donations from parish and visiting bell-ringers and fees for ringing the bells at weddings and other events. These expenses will in the future be incurred by the PCC’s general fund. £1,281 being the balance on the Bell fund bank account was transferred to the PCC in June since supplemented by donations of £35 and has been included in “All Other Giving (General Donations)”. A fee of £238 was incurred for the annual inspection of the Bells, resulting in a remaining balance of £1,078 on the Bell account.
Expenditure
The £3,155 (11%) decrease in expenses incurred by the General Fund is primarily the result of a £2,728 reduction of in Sunningwell’s Diocesan Contribution Share. The allocation of the Joint Benefice’s parish share between the three parishes is based on the electoral roll of the three churches, with the reduction reflecting changes in St Leonard’s electoral roll relative to St James’s, Radley and St Swithan’s, Kennington.
Clergy and staff expenses were £1,270 (2024: £1,426) a decrease of 11%. These are incurred by the Radley PCC on behalf of Sunningwell PCC and recharged.
Church running expenses were £7,895 (2024: £8,060), a decrease of 2%. An increase in church yard expenses of £450, primarily reflecting the one-off expense of reducing the canopy of trees was more than offset by a reduction in utility costs (decrease £247) and a 62% decrease in trading fees, as most funerals / burials in 2025 were performed by non-stipendary clergy reducing the fees rebatable quarterly to the Diocese.
We made charitable donations of £637 (2024: £557), comprising donations to The Children’s Society, Crisis, Citizens Advice and the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust.
Fundraising costs of £26 represent the 1.5% transaction for donations collected by credit card. The prior year fundraising costs were inflated by the one-off expense of £200 for the purchase of a SumUp credit card reader.
Funds
Total General Fund (unrestricted): 2025: £20,504 (2024: £15,447)
The PCC’s reserves policy is to have sufficient funds to cover 6 months of operating costs, which currently equates to £12,622. Current reserves in the general fund equate to circa 9.7 months operating costs.
Income is recognised as and when received and therefore while the £395 gift aid recoverable on December 2025 donations is disclosed in the accounts as a not just an asset but as an account receivable or debtor, it is not recorded as income in 2025, as the gift aid claim was made and tax rebate received in January 2026.
Interest for Q4 2025 of £1,461 on the CBF Deposit account was credited to the deposit in January 2026 and therefore, as the accounts are prepared on a receipts basis, will be recognized as income in the 2026 accounts.
pg. 6
Capital Fund (Designated) & Friends Fabric Fund (Restricted)
Summary
PCC Capital Fund Friends Fabric Fund Receipts £89,340 (2024: £116,307) Receipts £1,977 (2024: £13,038) Expenditure: £4,847 (2024: £21,784) Expenditure: £1,837 (2024: £33,105) Surplus: £84,493 (2024: £94,523) Surplus: £140 (2024: Deficit £1,798)
If there are sufficient funds, the PCC’s policy is to charge major capital works to the Friends Fabric Fund ahead of the Designated Capital Fund, as the former is restricted and therefore cannot be applied in any circumstances to any other purpose.
Expenditure
Capital-related major work in 2025 was considerably down after the extensive work in 2024 to repair the church roof with new leadwork, stonework and replacement timbers and reinforcement. The following items of major works expenditure in 2025 were:
Charged to Capital Fund, as there were insufficient funds in the Friends Fabric Fund
-
Further masonry repairs amounting to £2,400
-
Internal replastering walls and painting with lime-based paint following the 2024 roof repairs amounting to £1,496 charged to capital fund and £520 charged to the Fabric Fund.
-
Architect fees for the Quinquennial fabric inspection, which will provide direction to the PCC of major capital projects over the next five years
Charged to Fabric Fund
-
The cost of timberwork and the alarm for the scaffolding required for the roof repairs in December 2024, paid in January and amounting to £760.
-
£556 for clearance and disposal of debris and waste relating to the roof repair work in 2024.
Receipts
As referred to earlier, in 2025 the Capital Fund received £89,340 in income being Angela Baker’s legacy and the final distribution from the estate of the late Geoffrey Bailey. No grants were received in 2025, while the comparator period included significant grants received for the Church roof repairs undertaken in 2024.
Friends Fabric Fund Income of £1,977 relates to planned giving (gross of tax recovered through Gift Aid) and interest and is in line with the 2024 comparator period.
Funds
The resulting balances at 31 December 2025 for the Capital Fund is £179,016 (2024: £94,523) and Friends Fabric Fund is £1,801 (2024: £1,661).
The PCC’s reserves policy is to hold £10,000 to fund future capital expenditure and repairs covered by the Capital Fund and Friend’s Fabric Fund combined, while drawing on the Friend’s Fabric Fund before the Capital Fund to cover capital expenditure. We are clearly well above this amount. The PCC will consider in 2026 how to apply the excess to possible future capital projects that support the church in its mission, as well as the cost of repairs identified in the quinquennial report received late2025.
Robert Chorley
28 February 2026
pg. 7
Parochial Church Council of St Leonard Church, Sunningwell
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
Receipts and Payments Accounts
| Note 4 RECEIPTS Voluntary Receipts: Planned giving Collections at services Legacies 4 All other giving/voluntary receipts 5a Gift Aid recovered Activities for generating funds 5b Investment income 5c Church activities 5d Other 5e Total receipts PAYMENTS Diocesan parish contribution Clergy and staffing costs Church running expenses 5f Mission giving and donations 5g Major works 5h Cost of generating funds Total payments SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) for the year Transfer between funds Fund Balances 1 January Fund Balances 31 December Represented by Cash Funds |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Fund Total Total General Designated 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 10,615 - 1,555 12,170 12,048 3,768 - - 3,768 3,557 - 89,340 - 89,340 113,000 2,173 - - 2,173 15,388 3,608 - 389 3,997 3,746 |
|---|---|
| 20,164 89,340 1,944 111,448 147,739 2,807 - - 2,807 2,202 4,182 - 33 4,215 2,113 2,346 - - 2,346 1,881 803 - - 803 495 |
|
| 30,302 89,340 1,977 121,619 154,430 15,417 - - 15,417 18,146 1,270 - - 1,270 1,426 7,895 - - 7,895 8,060 637 - - 637 557 - 4,847 1,837 6,684 54,889 |
|
| 25,219 4,847 1,837 31,903 83,078 26 - - 26 210 |
|
| 25,245 4,847 1,837 31,929 83,288 5,057 84,493 140 89,690 71,142 - - - - - 15,447 94,523 1,661 111,631 40,489 |
|
| 20,504 179,016 1,801 201,321 111,631 |
|
| 199,520 1,801 201,321 111,631 |
pg. 8
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Note Cash Funds Bank Current Account Deposit – Barclays CBF Deposit – CCLA Account Other Monetary Assets Gift Aid recoverable Investment Assets Investment Fund shares at market value 3 Assets retained for Church use 2 Liabilities |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 £ £ £ £ 6,192 1,028 7,660 6,744 24,380 - 24,000 24,000 168,948 773 169,721 80,887 |
|---|---|
| 199,520 1,801 201,321 111,631 |
|
| 395 - 395 391 - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Notes
-
The financial statements of the Parochial Church Council (“PCC”) have been prepared in accordance with the Church Account Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payment basis.
-
The church has no fixed assets.
-
The church has no investments
Note 4. Movements in designated and restricted funds during the year
| Designated Capital Fund |
Balance b/fwd Receipts Payments Transfer Bal c/fwd 94,523 89,340 (4,847) - 179,016 |
|---|---|
| 94,523 89,340 (4,847) - 179,016 |
In 2024, following the receipt of a large legacy, the PCC agreed to put aside this and subsequent large legacies received into a separate designated fund for capital expenditure, distinguished from the General Fund for the purpose of the accounts. As an unrestricted fund, subject to PCC agreement, it would still at a future date be possible redesignate any unexpended funds from the legacy to the General Fund to cover general day to day expenses.
As a designated fund there is no requirement for the Capital Fund to be held in a segregated bank account separate from other unrestricted funds, such as the General Fund. The PCC agreed also in 2024 that all interest arising on unrestricted fund cash and deposit balances should be allocated to the General Fund.
| Restricted Friend’s Fund |
Balance b/fwd Receipts Payments Transfer Bal c/fwd 1,661 1,977 (1,837) - 1,801 |
|---|---|
| 1,661 1,977 (1,837) - 1,801 |
The Friend’s Fund represents accumulated donations and appeals specifically for the church fabric maintenance, which can only be spent for that purpose.
pg. 9
Note 5. Further Analysis of Receipts and Payments
| Receipts a) All other giving/voluntary receipts: General donations Grants b) Activities for generating funds: Quiz nights Film nights c) Investment income: Barclays Deposit CCLA Deposit Fund interest d) Church activities: Fees for weddings and funerals e) Other: Diocesan share refunds Payments f) Church running expenses: Church expenses Churchyard expenses Utility costs Trading g) Mission Giving and Donations Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust The Children’s Society Citizens Advice Oxfordshire Crisis |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Fund Total Total General Designated 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 2,016 - - 2,016 1,204 157 - - 157 14,184 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 2,173 - - 2,173 15,388 |
||
| 1,388 - - 1,388 1,186 1,419 - - 1,419 1,016 |
||
| 2,807 - - 2,807 2,202 |
||
| 380 - - 380 1,021 3,802 - 33 3,835 1,092 |
||
| 4,182 - 33 4,215 2,113 |
||
| 2,346 - - 2,346 1,881 |
||
| 2,346 - - 2,346 1,881 |
||
| 803 - - 803 495 |
||
| 803 - - 803 495 |
||
| 4,913 - - 4,913 4,919 1,530 - - 1,530 1,080 1,233 - - 1,233 1,480 219 - - 219 581 |
||
| 7,895 - - 7,895 8,060 |
||
| 100 - - 100 100 97 - - 97 - 220 - - 220 228 220 - - 220 229 |
||
| 637 - - 637 557 |
pg. 10
| h) Major works Repairs to Church Roof (leadwork, stonework, timbers replacement and reinforcement) Internal remedial works following Repairs to Church Roof (replastering, repainting) Quinquennial Inspection |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Fund Total Total General Designated 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ £ - 2,400 1,317 3,717 54,889 - 1,496 520 2,016 - - 951 - 951 - |
|
|---|---|---|
| - 4,847 1,837 6,684 54,889 |
pg. 11
INDEPENDENT EXAMINEWS REPORT I rep to the tntstees of Parochial Chwch of St Leonafd Chwth. Sunningwell on nwexaminatic ofthe accounts of the Parochtral Chwch Council of St Leonard Churth, knninfftll for the year e[ed 31 December 2025 P•pDnsibrfitie5 and basis of rewt As the charity trlee$ ofthe Trvst are re5trfJnsible for preparntion of auounts in accordance ¥th the requirements of the Chafities kt 20111.the kt'l. I rewt Sn SpeCt of ny examination of the Trust's acctyJnts calld out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examlrsatlLM I habe lolltrwed all the apwk'tablÈ D&rethSl4n by the Charity Comrnt55ion under Section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent ¢xaminerfs slatement I have compleied my exèmirtration. I confvm that no malerial matters come to my attentiL In connection wilh ihe examination gNing me (ause to believe that in any material Spect.. attounttn8 records were not kÈpt in respect of thè Tru as requirèd by Settbon 130 01 t ¥counts do r¥X accord wlth those recryds. I have no concerns aNI ha¥e rO$S no other matters in connection wrth the examination to ¥thich ttentr'on should be dTrwn in thi5 report in onler to enable a woper undersrantn8 ofthe cOUnt$ to be reached. N•rne'. 8runo Delaca% 4 Beav1 CtyJrt, Sunnin8*ll. OX13 6RQ Oatt.. 28 Ftbruary 2026 pg. 12