## Congleton Pentecostal Church Annual Report for the financial year 1/4/23– 31/3/24 ## Mission Statement The purpose of Congleton Pentecostal Church is to give every man, woman and child the opportunity of understanding the Gospel and to be a Church where people can grow and develop for the glory of God. Jesus said to His disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid...” Our vision is to be like a city set on a hill, shining the light and love of Jesus for all to see. Our aim is to do this, not by staying within the four walls of a building, but by reaching out to the community around us and to a world in need. ## 1. Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees ## and advisers Charity name: Congleton Pentecostal Church. Additional Working Names: Carmel Pentecostal Church, Cross Street Church, Cross Street Pentecostal Church ## Charity registration number: 1051793. Principle address of the charity: Cross Street, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1HQ. ## Names of the charity’s trustees on the date the report was approved: Rev. Andrew Calvert (Chairman)), Miss Alison Bond (treasurer), Mrs Karen Calvert (Secretary), Mr. Paul Bayley and Mr Gareth Lewis. Name of any other person who served as a trustee in the financial year in question: ## 2. Structure, governance and management The Charity’s governing document is a Constitution and trust deed adopted on 10[th] April 2006 as amended by resolutions 4[th] December 2007 and 7[th] September and by Deed of Variation dated 7[th] September 2008. The management and control of the Church and its property and funds is vested in the Church Council. The Church Council consists of the Senior Minister and any other ministers of the Church together with such persons as the Church Council may from time to time appoint or elect. The minimum number of members of the Church Council is three. The Charity is a Church which operates in Congleton, Cheshire but also supports other Christian missionaries and charities worldwide. The objects of the Church are for the benefit of the public: - a) To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of faith in such ways and such parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Church Council from time to time may think fit; - b) To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind including through the provision of counselling and support in such parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Church Council from time to time think fit; and - c) To advance education in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Church Council from time to time may think fit. 3. Financial Review The charity has remained financially solvent during this financial - year (See accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2024). The charity’s reserves policy is: The charity aims to hold reserves of between three months and two years of its annual expenditure. ## Donations made to other charities and missionaries during this ## financial year: World of Worth - £1,827 Carmel Assembly & Colin Mitchell (Israel) - £215 Israel (relief for those affected by the Hamas attack) - £600 Focus on Israel - £190 David Taylor & Oasis of Hope Foundation (Colombia) - £840 Central Africa Missions (C.A.M.) - £50 Open Doors - £75 Albanian Evangelical Mission - £130 CSW - £170 Gathehu School - £600 ## **TOTAL - £4,697** ## 4. Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others The Charity does not hold any funds as custodian trustee on behalf of others. ## 5. Public benefit statement In compliance with their duty as charity trustees the Church Council, in exercising their powers and duties, have shown due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission. 6. Activities During this period the church’s regular weekly activities have been two services on Sundays, Toddler Group and Prayer Meeting on Wednesdays, Bible Study on Thursday evenings and Lighthouse children’s club on Friday evenings. The monthly Nourish meal and monthly all age Family services have also continued to attract visitors. Some of the annual highlights of the year have been: the Easter Breakfast, the Evening of Prayer for the persecuted church, Christmas Cracker, Carols by Candlelight with Rode Hall Silver Band, the New Year’s Eve celebration, the Spring, Summer and Autumn Fairs, the Way course and baptismal service. In November we also had Safeguarding Sunday when we thought about the importance of keeping each other safe. Visiting speakers during this period have been: David Taylor (Oasis of Hope Ministries, Colombia), Keith Davies (Christian Solidarity Worldwide), Rachel David (World of Worth), Andy Thomson (Albanian Evangelical Mission), Mark Baker (Focus on Israel) and Matt Searles as part of the Congleton Bible Week. 7. A Period of Transition This year the Church Council began the process of appointing a new Pastor to take over from Andrew when he retires. Members were given opportunity to give their input regarding what gifts and qualities they felt were important in the new Pastor. March 2024 was a month of prayer for God’s guidance and the position was advertised both locally and internationally with a view to making an appointment in 2024. ## 8. Health and Safety The Church Health and Safety Officer is Glenys Somayajula. The Church fire safety Co-ordinator is Gaz Lewis. In case of fire, the fire safety co-ordinator, members of the Church Council and/or others with leadership responsibility at the time of evacuation will act as fire marshals. The procedure for evacuation of the building is outlined at each A.G.M. The fire and burglar alarms are tested twice a year by Crime Watch Security Systems Fire extinguishers are checked annually by 3 Counties services The boilers are serviced annually by Gas Care. The Church has a level 5 Food Hygiene certificate. ## 9. Legal The Church is insured for buildings, contents and public liability with Congregational. The Church is covered for copyright on words and music for songs we use through the Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI). The Church has a Safeguarding policy which is in line with the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) guidelines. Our safeguarding officer is Karen Calvert. ## 10. Thank You We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of Congleton Young People’s Trust who donated £250 towards the costs of Christmas Cracker. We are also very thankful for the ongoing support of the Congleton Town Trust who donated £300 towards the cost of the Health and wellbeing Day. Finally, thank you to everyone who during this year has given generously either financially or with their time and talents. Thanks to people using their many and varied God given talents and abilities we continue to be a thriving expression of the body of Christ here in Congleton. L CHURCH Accounts for the ear ended 31st March 202 2024 2023 Service colleclions Service colleclions Gift Aided Missionary Offerings Missionary Offerings Gift Aided Tax reclaimed Designated donations Other donations Toddler group Other grants Interest Other 18,510 16,133 2,514 2,690 4,704 550 65 520 15,159 9,768 1,256 2,392 7,427 3,230 1,659 382 108 38 1841 615 Total income 47,635 41,926 Ministrylmissionary gifts to institutions Ministrylmissionary gifts to individuals 4,697 190 5.076 550 (4,887) (5,626) Payroll Club costs Rates, water, light & heat Insurance Repairs, renewals, furniture & fitlings cleaning Printing, postage & stationery Advertising Office costs computer and phone Hire of equipment Motor expenses Legal & professional Accountancy Bank charges Canteen & refreshments Payment against designated donations 24,101 822 5,455 1,069 22,022 914 4,663 1,429 1,680 144 260 122 882 1343 872 872 75 115 775 993 764 22 1288 615 1330 9880 Toddler group expenses Building fund expenditure Other Total expenses 70 637 878 (39,359) (44,740) Net surplusl{deficit) 8.440 Cash & bank balances 13,626 10,499 Statement of Financial Position At 31 March 2024 2024 2023 FIXED Asstrs Tangible Assets 369,625 369,625 Investments 369,625 369,625 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank & in hand 13,626 10,499 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year (244) 1457) Ntr CURRENT ASSETS/{LIABILITIES) 13,382 9,952 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABI LITIES 383,007 379,577 ASSETS 383,007 379,577 The financial statements were approved by the board of Trustees on Signed: Print Name: .M.CAL-KIFOf Chairman of Trustees Date: 231tLI 2(t REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1051793 Report of the Trustees and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 for CongLeton PentecostaL Church Independent Examlner Rachel David Financial Director World of Worth 6 Belfield Close MarLdon Paignton TQ3 1NZ endent examiner's re ort to the trustees of Con leton Pentecostal Church I report on the accounts of Congleton Pentecostal Church for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on page l. Respeclive responslbilities of trustees and examlner The charitV'5 trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, The charity's trustees conslder that an audlt is not required for this year under sectlon 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 {the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. -Examlne the account5 under section 145 of the 2011 Act and to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5)Ib} of the 2011 Act to state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission, An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also includes consideration of anv unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters, The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement. Independent examinerfs statement In connettion with my examination, no matter has come to my attentton: {11 which glves me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and o to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requlrements of the 2011 Act have not been met or {21 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached la￿D Rachel David Fi nantial Di rector World of Worth 6 Belfield Close Marldon Paignton Oevon TQ3 INZ 16 December 2024