THE FRIENDS OF ST JAMES THE GREAT, THORLEY

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 14th MARCH 2014

TREASURER'S REPORT - YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2013

 

This year our accounts show an excess of expenditure over income of £13764 compared with an excess of income over expenditure of £8705 in 2012. We are still, however, in the black with healthy cash balances in our bank and savings accounts. 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 2013 with comparative figures for 2012.

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, so please invite your friends to become "our" Friends as well. Donations have decreased on the 2012 figures, as you may recall, we received a very generous donation which covered the entire cost of the new carpet in the Church in 2012. This year we have, again, had a sizeable donation which enabled the Committee to purchase a new strimmer, costing £329.

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 £1169 for this year but I expect a lesser sum in 2014.

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 £7527 less expenses of £2372 means that, for the first time, we have broken the £5000 ceiling, Praise the Lord. I have produced details of the figures for you, alongside the Accounts.

4.Our annual Quiz evening was held February 2013 and raised a net £624, much more than we used to raise when we bought in a hot supper. The home made fillings for jacket potatoes were well received, so we repeated the exercise this year, again successfully.

5.Sunday teas in the summer and soup lunches in the winter months have both generated substantial funds again, £1604 in 2013. Maureen has decided to hang up her soup tureen after many years, almost single-handedly, providing winter lunchtime refreshments. The numbers have not been making the venture cost effective, we have had such bad winters of late, people have not been walking around the Church so much on Sunday afternoons at lunchtime. I would like to thank Maureen , on behalf of the Committee, for the idea in the first place and for being so faithful with her time and effort over these winters. You deserve a rest now, Maureen.

6.Once again, I would like to thank Bob and Brenda Williams for running the ever popular whist drives which raised a tremendous £149 for the Friends.

7. Lesley Parker's contributions have again been wonderful. The Plant sale in May raised £266 and the Craft Fair in November £388. Both great outreach opportunities. In fact, all our events are outreach opportunities, something of which the whole Church family should be aware. The Friends, through our activities, probably welcome more non-St.James people, indeed, non-Churchgoers here to our Church.

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 repairs to the Churchyard wall and this is included in the Church works as it formed part of the work commissioned by the PCC, which was retrospectively funded by the Friends.

10. Philip has already given you the details of the Stonework and Glazing project, which is now complete.

11. Finally, I would like to thank Geoff Pickering for again examining our Accounts to check I haven't done the sums wrong. As many of you will know, Geoff and Lynn are planning to retire to Yorkshire later this year and so this will be the last time he acts as our examiner. On behalf of the Committee and personally. I would like to especially thank Geoff for his time, patience and advice over so many years. If you have any questions, I shall endeavour to answer them.

Rosemary Jones
14th March 2014

 

Flower Festival

2013
2012
 
£
£
Raffle
713.35
502
Donations 
1332.70
1105
Refreshments 
1729.68
1434
Ice Cream
47.80
47
Souvenirs 
25.14
142
Plants
442.80
222
Flowers (note 1)
(1.38)
(3)
Stalls -Mini Fete
461.51
366
St Barnabas Centre
(120)
(120)
Expenses (note 2)
(189.98)
(95)
Craft Fair
280.00
315
Programmes
86.40
142
Books
328.70
411
Bill Hardy's Talk
18.15
14
Totals
5154.87
4482

 

 

Stalls

2013
2012
 
£
£
Recycled Goods
195.11
145
Tombolas
122.00
86
Cakes and Produce
144.40
135
Cut Flowers
-
-
Totals
461.51
366

Notes

1. Cost of flowers met by sponsors £625 (2012 £540).

2. Other expenses include donation to Organist and advertising.

 

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