Highbury Home - 8 - Reports 2008
the overall planning of the heating system. Although some of these costs were anticipated, and the appropriate funds have been built up over the last few years, the cost was significantly more than anticipated. We have been able to just cover the cost by using virtually all the saved money and money raised recently by the boiler appeal. The appeal raised a generous £3480. This has enabled us to now start rebuilding our Fabric Fund, which we will continue to do over the next few years to cover the ever ongoing maintenance and refurbishing work necessary to keep our buildings in good condition, and to meet future legislation.
It has been an exciting year as we have welcomed Becky Hartwell as our Pastoral Assistant. She has become close to us all, but particularly among the children and young families, and her enthusiasm is an inspiration to everyone. She has brought some interesting ideas to the church and we look forward to the coming year. We have been able to initiate this work using the Mission fund that has been built up over many years. To enable us to continue to fund the Pastoral Assistant post, and all the future work that may follow from it, we are proposing to highlight this work in our 2009 Gift Day Appeal.
For the general Income and Expenditure, the good news is that we have had increases in our offerings and room lettings. The bad news is that, as well as the inevitable normal cost of living rises, there has been a significant rise in the cost of gas and electricity.
Last year we paid some 50% more than in the previous year. However, the net result is that our income and expenditure is about balanced, as last year, leading to a reasonably satisfactory situation. So keep that “door closed” and “switch off” the lights when not required and, with an increase in offerings to match cost of living rises, who knows, we can be positive next year.
If you would like to know more about the way the church is financed a leaflet is available, produced some years ago but updated last year, that explains the basics. It is called TRIO (The Responsibility Is Ours). Ask Richard or us for a copy.
As you are by now aware, this was our last year as Treasurers and we would like to thank everyone in the church for the support, understanding and particularly the encouragement you have given us during the time we have been doing this work. This has made the job so much easier. We are pleased that Roger Gregory is prepared to take over from us.
Ted and Jenny Horsfield
Worship
