## **Houghton Regis Community Church AGM 4[th] July 2021 Summary of the year – April 2020-March 2021** This financial year will be remembered by most for the impact the coronavirus pandemic had on our world. Our most recent in-person meeting had occurred in March 2020 and so by April 2020 we had moved to online Zoom meetings for our Sunday Gatherings, Midweek Small Groups, Prayer Meetings and leaders Meetings. As the pandemic evolved we realised this change was not likely to be short term – and it turned out we didn’t meet in person for a church meeting for the whole of the April 2020 – March 2021 year. The other main impact of the coronavirus restrictions came on our work at Jewels. Over the year Jewels has opened when able, in line with government guidance and regulations, understandably at reduced opening hours given our reliance on volunteer staffing to open and the widespread impact everyone was having on their lives. Our prayer tree enabled visitors to write a simple prayer or concern and pin it to the season of their choice – with members of the Jewels team, and wider church being able to pray for these concerns. We were blessed to be able to be a blessing to the community by using Jewels as a base from which to provide Food Bags to those in need. Generosity from within the church and from the wider community ensured a regular flow of donations and our enthusiastic volunteers ensured those in need could not only come to collect food bags but also facilitated home deliveries. This continued to grow our excellent relationship with the town council and Morrisons. Our links with the council also saw Jewels become a collection point for the Town’s ‘Family Fun Activity Packs’ during the summer holidays. With the country being told to “Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save lives” we enjoyed some virtual social events to keep the church connected and boost moral – including some challenging, and enjoyable, quiz afternoons/evenings. We joined in with the millions of people creating rainbows as a show of solidarity with front line workers – and paused small group meetings to join in the 8pm Thursday #clapforheroes. Regular prayer meetings took place over the year to pray and unite – including joint prayer meetings with the wider River Network Churches. Our planned River Network Weekend for April 2020 had been cancelled, and initial considerations to move it to 2021 were changed in favour of 2022 and more time for the world to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Teaching in our Sunday Gatherings focused on a chapter by chapter study of Acts - each week David posted a video explain the chapter, this included discussion questions that were used in small groups or for individual consideration. On the Sunday Zoom meetings, we looked more closely at one particular part of the chapter with various people taking turns to lead. We found the Sunday Gatherings on Zoom were challenging for the young people to fully engage with, so a separate bi-weekly Monday Night Kids Zoom was introduced which helped them keep in touch with one another and explore biblical themes and teachings through interactive activities and songs. Due to the restrictions our regular Christmas Celebration also became an online event. ‘Wise Men Seek Him Still’ went out live on YouTube and Facebook as well as our Zoom Gathering. In December we also offered ‘Need a Listening Ear?’ drop in sessions at Jewels for people to seek support during the mounting challenges. In January 2021 we started a new teaching series on the gifts of the Spirit and also introduced a new approach to our teaching delivery; with a pre-recorded message going out mid-week for people to watch and explore (often together in small group) followed by facilitated discussions on the topic at the Sunday Gatherings. Also during early 2021 we agreed to participate in an exciting PhD research project looking at church leadership – the lead researcher has since been observing and participating in our church gatherings and also having one:one interviews with consenting members of the church. As March 2021 drew to a close the UK was on a roadmap to ‘reopening’ but there was no clear guidance on when we would be likely to be able to meet again in person without significant restrictions. ## **HOUGHTON REGIS COMMUNITY CHURCH** ## **Accounts for the Year to 5 April 2021** ## **1. Receipts & Payments Account (General Purpose Fund)** |**1. Receipts & Payments Account (General Purpose Fund)**|| |---|---| |**Income Receipts**
**2021**
Covenanted Giving
13,126
£
General Offerings
-
£
Gift Aid
3,804
£
Sundry Donations
-
£
Jewels income
13,358
£
River Network Weekend
-
£
Grants
-
£
Bank Interest
8
£
Specific Gifts
1,335
£
Worship Services
259
£
Childrens and Youth Work
-
£
Rent of Bedford Square
12,924
£
Rent of School
2,400
£
Church Equipment
-
£
Sundry Expenses
72
£
Office Stationery and equipment
-
£
General Insurances
309
£
Resources and Conferences
-
£
Advertising
-
£
Church Administration
720
£
Evangelism
1,702
£
River Network
300
£
Evangelical Alliance
90
£
Thirtyone:eight (CCPAS)
129
£
River Network Weekend
400
£
Total Gas & Power
872
£
Jewels Net Costs
**Total Payments**
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
**Net receipts for the Year**
Cash and Bank Balances as at 5 April 2020
**Cash and Bank Balances as at 5 April 2021**
**Other Expenditure**
Covenants and Donations
**Other Receipts**|**2020**
11,484
£
1,811
£
11,789
£
-
£
9,324
£
1,450
£
-
£
4
£
**30,296**
**£**
**35,863**
**£**
400
£
176
£
-
£
16,719
£
4,400
£
502
£
72
£
16,990
£
60
£
307
£
-
£
20
£
693
£
1,017
£
300
£
90
£
120
£
-
£
971
£
507
£
4,522
£
**21,512**
**£**
**26,354**
**£**
**8,784**
**£**
**9,509**
**£**
14,400
£
4,891
£| ||**23,184**
**£**
**14,400**
**£**| Page 1 of 2 ## **HOUGHTON REGIS COMMUNITY CHURCH** ## **2. Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 5 April 2020** |**2. Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 5 April 2020**|| |---|---| |**Monetary Assets**
Bank and Cash
Balances:
Bank Current Account - HRCC
Deposit Account - HRCC
Bank Current Account - Jewels Co-Operative
Total for General Purpose Fund, as above|**2021**
**2020**
8,172
£
8,954
£
15,012
£
5,004
£
-
£
442
£| ||**23,184**
**£**
**14,400**
**£**| ## **Non-Monetry Assets** **Permanent Endowment:** None |**Other Assets**|||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**(non-endowed)**|- Held for functional use by the Charity|||£|| ||Office Equipment|value|£||150
| ||PA Equipment|value|£||3,000
| ||Worship Equipment|value|£||100
| ||Church Equipment (computers||||| ||etc)|value|£||500
| ## **Jewels** Jewels is our space in Bedford Square that acts as both the official church office and also functions as our point of contact with the local community. The shop is officially run as a fund-raising venture of the church and transfers surplus funds to HRCC to cover the costs of the space - "Jewels Income". The receipts and payments for the Jewels shop do not form part of these accounts. Page 2 of 2 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examIne￿S report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Houghton Regis Communty Chur On accounts for the yoar ended 5 April 2021 Charity no (rf any) 1050853 Set out on pages 1to2 I report to the trustees on my examinatron of the accounts of the above chartyllhe Trusfi for the year ended 05 104 12020. Responsibilltles and As the chanty twstees of the Trust, you are re$kK￿s1b1e for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in accordance wilh Ihe requirements ofthe Charities Act 2011 fthe Acr). I reFM)rt in respect of my examinatK)n of the Trust's accounts carried out under seclw)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying otrt my examination, I have follthved the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under seC￿n 145(5)(b) of the A(* I have completed my examinati(y). I c¢)nfimi that no material matters have come to my aliention in connection with the examinalion vA)i¢h gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with seclion 130 of the Act or the aczounts do not ￿ with the accountiThJ records Independent examinetrs statement I have no ￿￿ernS and have come auoss no other matters in Connection with the examInat￿n to which attenlion should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signod: Dato: 11-07-2021 Name: John Magee Relevant professlonal qualification{sl or b