Charities for Ecclesiastical and Other Purposes
Also known as The Pickering Fields Trust Registered Charity Number: 238492
Annual Report of the Trustees for the financial year 1[st] January 2023 to 31[st] December 2023
Trustees
Roderick Street Elizabeth Welton Rev’d Geoff Lanham
Principal Address
1717 High Street Knowle Solihull West Midlands B93 0LN
Solicitors
Fentimans 1623 Warwick Road Knowle Solihull West Midlands B93 9LF
Banks
HSBC Bank plc Solihull
CCLA Senator House One Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity comprises the following constituents:
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The Pickering Charity established by trust deed dated 18[th] October 1933 and originally registered with the Charity Commissioners on 14[th] July 1938.
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The Trentham Charity established by trust deed dated 22[nd] June 1956.
The charity is constituted as an unincorporated association.
The trustees are the vicar and churchwardens of the parish of St John the Baptist, St Laurence and St Anne, Knowle, who are trustees ex officio.
The Bishop of Birmingham possesses the power of appointment of the vicar of Knowle.
The two churchwardens have been elected as provided by the Churchwardens Measure 2001.
Objectives and Activities
Objectives
The objects of the charity are:
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Site for extension of churchyard (both constituents).
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Site for gardens or convenience (Pickering Charity constituent).
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For any ecclesiastical purpose (both constituents).
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For any charitable work or purpose which the vicar and churchwardens think proper (both constituents).
The area of benefit is prescribed by the governing document for each constituent and is defined as the parish of Knowle.
Activities
The principal activity and achievement of the charity is the provision of a house (49 Newton Road, Knowle) for the clergy of the parish of Knowle. The house was rented to Knowle PCC and was occupied by the Associate Minister throughout the year. From the rental income received, the charity insures the building and carries out repairs and improvements to the property.
Surplus funds and income are invested in collective investment media, which are available specifically for charities. Surplus funds are deposited in a common investment fund with CCLA rated Aaa by Moodys Investors Services, The Scottish Widows savings account was closed during the year with the monies being transferred to CCLA.
The trustees consider that the charity’s main activities fall within the last two of its objects listed above.
Achievements and Performance
The trustees have continued to support the ministry of Knowle Parish Church by the management of 49 Newton Road.
The Trust made one donation in the year to the Knowle Parish Church PCC towards the cost of the Curate.
Financial Review
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The main investment of the charity is the dwelling house at 49 Newton Road, which forms an integral part of its charitable activity.
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There are no specific investment powers.
Plans for Future Periods
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Currently the charity is generating more income than is likely to be required for the obligations in respect of 49 Newton Road. The trustees are committed to increasing income reserves and the capital value of the charity and as a result the charity holds such unrestricted income reserves as the Trustees deem necessary to cover a number of anticipated medium term projects including:
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fabric projects totalling up to £50,000;
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Additional housing needs for future Knowle Parish Church clergy or staff £50,000; and
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Major projects for charitable and ecclesiastical purposes including plans for the redesign of the interior of Knowle Parish Church.
Funds held as Custodian Trustee
No assets are held by the charity or trustees that fall within this category.
Related Parties
By virtue of their office of vicar or churchwarden, all the trustees are also ex officio members of Knowle PCC. As Knowle PCC has approximately 20 members, however, there is no common control although there is significant cooperation as described above.
Trustees declare their interests at meetings of Knowle PCC when matters concerning the charity are referred to. Wherever possible, officers of Knowle PCC who are not trustees of the charity execute documents on behalf of Knowle PCC where these also concern the charity.
By virtue of their office of vicar or churchwarden, all the trustees are also ex officio trustees of Knowle Church Clock Trust (registered charity 514954). There are no transactions between Knowle Church Clock Trust and the charity.
The Trustees have approved the Trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Steven Wynde Administrator
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees
Charity Name Charities for Ecclesiastical & Other Purposes
On accounts for the year 31[st] December 2023 Charity no 514954 ended
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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
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:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; 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: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:
1
Oct 2018
IER