THE FRIENDS OF ST JAMES THE GREAT, THORLEY

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 8th MARCH 2013

TREASURER'S REPORT - YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2012

This year our accounts show an excess of income over expenditure of £8705 compared with £9153 in 2011. All our excess funds are deposited with the Church's Central Board of Finance until they are needed and so we can earn a little bit of interest. The Accounts I am presenting tonight show how the income was received and the expenditure was incurred in the year ended 31st December 2012 with comparative figures for 2011.

I will now comment on some of the detail.

1. Subscriptions show a slight decrease this year, due to some members leaving on moving away and some, sadly, passing away. So we still need new members, we need to encourage our friends to become our "Friends" and in particular, those of us who attend the 10.30am service need to invite members of that congregation to join. Donations have also increased substantially on the 2011 figures due to a very generous donation which covered the entire cost of the new carpet in the Church.

2. As you know, because I say it every year, gift-aid on contributions is a great benefit, particularly in these days of low interest rates. The tax rebate has increased to £876 for this year and I expect a further increase in 2013.

3. The Festival of Flowers and Music was again a huge success and our thanks are to you all for your tremendous support and hard work. Gross takings of £6541 less expenses of £2059 give a net proceeds of £4482, as against £5142 for 2011, which I think is not at all bad, given the parlous state of our national economy and people not able to be as generous as they may have been in earlier years, so Praise the Lord. I have produced details of the figures for you, alongside the Accounts.

4. Our annual Quiz evening was held last month instead of last October so the results will appear in the 2013 accounts.

5. Sunday teas in the summer and soup lunches in the winter months have both generated substantial funds again, although, here too, the combination of a harsh winter in and a wet summer together with not so much money around has been reflected in the drop in proceeds. . These afternoons are a vital outreach opportunity for our Church and our thanks go to the small band of volunteers who take on this work. Visitors to the Churchyard and walkers obviously value the opportunity for a sit down, a chat and refreshment.

6. Once again, I would like to thank Bob and Brenda Williams for running the ever popular whist drives which raised a tremendous £229 for the Friends.

7. Lesley Parker's contributions have again been wonderful. The Plant sale in May raised £147 and the Craft Fair in November £573. Both further outreach opportunities. In fact, all our events are outreach opportunities, which I think is something the whole Church family should be aware of, we are not just a fund-raising organisation, we have become much more.

8. Repairs and Maintenance costs remain high, with our equipment needing costly repairs because of all the hard work they are put to. Our thanks to Peter and Margaret Morley for all their dedication and efforts in this area.

9. Our Churchyard expenditure was only £110 this year, the purchase of a new bench. You may recall, last year we had to spend quite a lot on the trees.

10. You will note that we have a lot of money in the Bank. This is because we have not yet been asked by the PCC to pay over the £18500 for the work currently in hand.

11. Finally, I would like to thank Geoff Pickering for again examining our Accounts to check I haven't done the sums wrong. Geoff is currently working on the audit but I have been assured by him that it all looks fine. If you have any questions, I shall endeavour to answer them.

Rosemary Jones
8th March 2013

Notes

1. Cost of flowers met by sponsors £540 (2011 £676).

2. Other expenses include donation to Organist and advertising.

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