FINANCIAL UPDATE

Compilation of the 2003 accounts went reasonably smoothly this year and was greatly assisted by the prompt submission of figures from all the associated church groups. However there was the problem of how to deal with the sequestration fund - which covers clergy payments during the interregnum - as well as grappling with the realisation of assets, both items I have not had to deal with before. Remember I am only a treasurer not an accountant!

Thanks are due to Gordon Uphill, the Parish Resources Adviser, for his recent help to both myself and Winifred Mancz, answering our general queries and giving advice on gift aid record keeping and the procedures to claim the tax back from the Inland Revenue.

The PCC meet on March 4th to approve the accounts and the official summary annual report (not the group reports each section of the church produces for our own information). The accounts will only be for discussion at the APCM on March 28th. As usual a copy will be displayed on the noticeboard at the back of the church for inspection but I will happily produce further full copies (12 pages) to anyone interested, on request. The one page summary will also be available. As I write this article the books for 2003 are with our Independent Examiner Feri Eshraghi of Morris Palmer for inspection.

My problem is that whilst I am busily producing last year's accounts the everyday financial business of church does not go away - money still has to be banked, bills paid, the cash book kept up to date for year 2004 transactions, and even magazine articles written. Consequently, cheques have been written for: Parish Share January £4105; Palm Crosses £21; Royal School of Church Music Membership £68; Capitation fees to the Deanery for Synod Representatives £40; Renewal of our Performing Right Society Licence £95.15; Hayes and Finch candles and wine £293.17; telephone, gas and water rates for the Vicarage totalling £165; work on the church lightning conductor £500 and church insurance £1226.95.

The retiring collection for St Luke's Hospital for the Clergy during January raised £96.54 and the Salvation Army and Ethiopiaid for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital have both received £50 donations from the Wednesday coffee morning funds. Bulb sales since Christmas have topped £140 and as you already know the Churchyard appeal received £115.50 from the raffle at the pantomime and £134 to date contained in the Smartie tubes.

Linda Wainwright
Hon Treasurer to the PCC