2025-12-31-accounts

Friends of St Mary’s Church

Financial Report 2025

Annual Financial Report of the

Friends of St Mary’s Church, Sunbury-on-Thames for the Year Ending 31 December 2025

Registered Charity No 1213718

St Mary’s Parish Office Parish Hall Green Street Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 6RN

Friends of St Mary’s Church

Financial Report 2025

Contents

1	Annual Financial Report for 2025 ............................................................................ 1-1	Annual Financial Report for 2025 ............................................................................ 1-1
	1.1	Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1-1
	1.2	Objects of the Charity ...................................................................................................................... 1-1
	1.3	Trustees .......................................................................................................................................... 1-1
	1.4	Accounting Policies ......................................................................................................................... 1-1
	1.4.1	Funds .......................................................................................................................................... 1-1
	1.4.2	Income ........................................................................................................................................ 1-2
	1.4.3	Expenditure ................................................................................................................................. 1-2
	1.4.4	Fixed Assets ............................................................................................................................... 1-2
	1.4.5	Investments ................................................................................................................................. 1-2
	1.5	Grant-Making Process..................................................................................................................... 1-2
	1.6	Financial Information ....................................................................................................................... 1-3
	1.6.1	Narrative Report .......................................................................................................................... 1-3
	1.6.2	Consolidated Financial Statement .............................................................................................. 1-3
	1.6.3	Notes to Financial Statement ...................................................................................................... 1-3
	1.7	Financial Report Approval ............................................................................................................... 1-4
2	Independent Examiner’s Report .............................................................................. 2-1
	2.1	Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2-1
	2.2	Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner .................................................................. 2-1
	2.3	Basis of Examiner’s Statement ....................................................................................................... 2-1
	2.4	Independent Examiner's Statement ................................................................................................ 2-1

Friends of St Mary’s Church

Financial Report 2025

Section 1 Annual Financial Report for 2025

1.1 Introduction

This Annual Financial Report for 2025 has been prepared for the Trustees of the Friends of St Mary’s Church, Sunbury-on-Thames (FOSM), a charity registered with the Charity Commission under reference 1213718. It covers the accounting period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) except where detailed below. As the total income from all sources is less than £1m and the assets are less than £3.26m, the financial statement has been prepared under the receipts and payments convention and an Independent Examination of the accounts is all that is required.

1.2 Objects of the Charity

The objects (‘the Objects’) of the Charity are to assist the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s Sunbury on Thames (‘the PCC’), the Vicar and Churchwardens of St Mary’s Church, the Church Commissioners and other competent persons and bodies and authorities by the provision of grants to contribute to the repair, maintenance, rebuilding, improvement and / or redecoration of the fabric of St Mary’s Church and St Mary’s Parish Hall and the associated grounds, monuments, fixtures, fittings, stained glass, organ, clock and bells (‘the Buildings’) to preserve them for the long-term benefit of the community.

1.3 Trustees

The Trustees who served during period covered by this report are listed in Table 1-1.

TABLE 1 – 1 TRUSTEES

Full Name	Role
Andrew Victor John DOWNES	Trustee & Chairman
Michael BANNISTER	Trustee
John Beeden MOLD	Trustee
Karen May PAGE	Trustee
Simon Derek John WHEATLEY	Trustee
Andrew Richard WOOD	Trustee & Treasurer

1.4 Accounting Policies

1.4.1 Funds

The funds for which the Trustees are responsible are held in bank accounts with CAF Bank Limited and are listed in Table 1-2.

TABLE 1 – 2 FUNDS	TABLE 1 – 2 FUNDS
	Nature of Accounts
FOSM – Cash Account FOSM – Gold Account	Current account Savings account

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Friends of St Mary’s Church

Financial Report 2025

This Report includes all transactions, assets and liabilities for these funds which the Charity is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of other groups that owe their main affiliation to another body.

The two affiliated funds listed in Table 1-3 are separate charities registered with the Charity Commission. They prepare separate annual financial reports and their income, expenditure and investment valuations are not included here.

TABLE 1 – 3 AFFILIATED FUNDS

TABLE 1 – 3 AFFILIATED FUNDS
Fund Name	Charity Number
Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Sunbury on Thames St Mary’s Endowment Fund	1133834 1069355

1.4.2 Income

• Legacies to FOSM are accounted for as soon as it has been notified of its legal entitlement, the amount due and that title has been vested in FOSM.

• Dividends and interest receivable are recognised when received.

1.4.3 Expenditure

• All payments are made by bank transfer and are recognised when debited to the relevant bank account. No payments are made by cash.

• All payments are supported by grant applications from the PCC of St Mary’s Church or invoices as applicable and approved by the Trustees.

1.4.4 Fixed Assets

The charity does not hold any fixed assets.

1.4.5 Investments

The charity does not hold any investments.

1.5 Grant-Making Process

The Diocese of London is the owner of the St Mary’s Church and Parish Hall. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Mary’s Church, Sunbury on Thames is responsible for the upkeep of the buildings and is responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions / consents for proposed works from the Diocese and other applicable bodies. FOSM will only be providing grants to the PCC to undertake specified and approved works and will not be involved in the process of obtaining permissions / consents from the Diocese of London or other bodies

Grants will be made to the PCC in response to requests for financial support for specific projects for the Church . There is a formal process for the PCC to apply to the Trustees of FOSM for funding for projects.

The Trustees of FOSM will consider each application from the PCC on its merits and may approve the application in full or in part or reject the application. Funds will be transferred to the PCC which will be responsible for the execution of the project and remains responsible for the upkeep of the Church and Parish Hall.

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Friends of St Mary’s Church

Financial Report 2025

The Trustees of FOSM will report annually on how the funds have been applied and where applicable, the resulting outcome or benefit.

1.6 Financial Information

1.6.1 Narrative Report

The Friends of St Mary’s Church, Sunbury on Thames (FOSM) was formed in August 2025 to receive a legacy which nominated a charity of this name as the beneficiary. The legacy, amounting to £486,291.53, was received into FOSM’s savings account in September 2025. On receipt of this legacy, a sum of £25,000 was transferred into the current account to provide working capital. In the period September to December 2025, the only income has been the legacy from Ms M Bridle and interest payments on the two bank accounts. The only expenditure has been the bank charges on the current account.

1.6.2 Consolidated Financial Statement

The consolidated financial statement for the year is shown in Table 1-4.

TABLE 1 – 4 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT

	Current Account	Savings Account	TOTAL	Notes
Bank Balance
Opening Balance	0	0	0
Income
Legacy		484,512		1
Interest	7	1,773		2
TOTAL INCOME			486,292
Expenditure
Grants to St Mary's PCC	0			3
Bank Charges	-15			4
Audit / Inspection Fees	0			5
TOTAL EXPENDITURE			-15
Transfers
Transfers	25,000	-25,000		6
NET TRANSFERS			0
Bank Balance
Closing Balance	24,992	461,285	486,277

1.6.3 Notes to Financial Statement

1. A legacy totalling £486,292 from the estate of Ms M Bridle was received from the solicitors administering the estate and paid into the savings account. A sum of £25,000 was transferred to the current account to provide a working capital. (see Note 6).

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Friends of St Mary’s Church

Financial Report 2025

1. Bank interest was paid on both the current and savings accounts. The total interest paid was £1,780

2. No requests for grants were received from the PCC of St Mary’s Church during the period.

3. Bank charges of £5 per month were incurred on the current account.

4. No audit / inspection fees were incurred during the period.

5. A Sum of £25,000 was transferred from the savings account to the current account to provide a working capital.

1.7 Financial Report Approval

This Financial Report for the year ended 31st December 2025, including the notes, was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by The Rev. Andrew Downes, Chairman:

Signed:

Date: 30 July 2026

Andrew Downes Vicar, St Mary’s Church, Sunbury on Thames

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Friends of St Mary’s Church

Financial Report 2025

Section 2

Independent Examiner’s Report

2.1 Introduction

This report on the accounts of the Friends of St Mary’s Church, Sunbury-on-Thames (FOSM) for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 1-1 to 1-4, is in respect of an examination carried out under and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011.

2.2 Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The Trustees of FOSM are responsible for the preparation of the annual reports. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

1. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

2. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and

3. to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

2.3 Basis of Examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters.

The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below..

2.4 Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or

• the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Date: 31st July 2026

Name: Mark Blackwell ACMA Address: MHR Consultancy Limited Ferneberga House Alexandra Road Farnborough GU14 6DQ

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