Financial Update

December has once again been a busy month trying to tie up any loose ends and pay outstanding bills before the end of the financial year, as well as ensuring sufficient funds were available to cover the 2005 church insurance direct debit, payment of £1,273.24 due on January 4th. A transfer of £1,000 from hall funds has made this possible and I am grateful to Andrew Clark the hall manager for his help.

Other income has included gift aid tax refund for July to September £1,956.25, 100 Club donation £583.72, interest/dividends during December £554.27, table top sale £83.07, bookstall safe £189.25, votive candle sales £112.70, holly sales £75 and bulb sales during November and December £365.

The Bazaar on December 4th raised a magnificent £1,870.88 on the day and with ongoing sales the figure has now risen to £1,992.25. Recent expenses include wine £159.23, Altar Bread, now from Saint Cecilia's Abbey Ryde on the Isle of Wight £34.06, incense £41.40, keys/locks £51, Performing Right Society Licence adjustment £35.25 and ramp for wheelchairs etc at the vestry door £90.83. £198 has been spent on purchasing computer programmes to enable the accounts to be computerised from now on and the quarterly photocopier charge was £120.32. Please remember to help funds by arranging for any photocopying you need to be done on the church copier - it only costs 4p per copy.

The retiring collection during November for the Church of England Pensions Board raised £91.80. A grant total of £363.77 has been forwarded to the Children's Society comprising December retiring collection £145.31 plus Christingle Service £168.46 plus a donation of £50 from the Wednesday coffee morning charity funds. This fund has also sent £50 to each of the following charities - Naomi House Hospice, the Historic Churches Trust, Sargent Cancer care for children, the Rocky Appeal and Water Aid, adding to the £94 already contributed to the Water Aid appeal. Leprosy Mission collecting boxes raised £36.85 during the year and the collection at the Carol Service on December 19th raised £123.10 for Biblelands who supplied the new Bethlehem Carol Sheets.

Both our 2005 Lottery Licence fee to Havant Borough Council £17.50 and the 2005 subscription to Pompey Chimes £120 have already been paid.

Linda Wainwright
Hon. Treasurer to the PCC