Wallington Christian Centre Annual Report 2020
Trustees: David Gnanaseharam, Andrew Nias (Holding Trustee), Joy Gnanaseharam, Josephine Imaga (Holding Trustee), Samuel Imaga.
Chair: Mr David Gnanaseharam
David Gnanaseharam currently has the role of Lead Pastor at Wallington Christian Centre, as such this trustees report has been prepared by him.
2020 was a significantly challenging year for Wallington Christian Centre and the world due to COVID-19. Despite the church being affected by the pandemic, the Pastor and trustees agreed that we should move forward and not step back. 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone. Due to Covid 19 the church building was for in person worship from March 2020 (through to the whole of May 2021). We chose during this time to carryout major refurbishment to the church and used the opportunity to refresh everything that we were doing, with a major shift and restructure in the leadership so that we able to more effectively fulfil the mission that God has given us.
We see the church as a Hive of Activity – with Jesus at the centre of it all. We see the church being in the centre of the local community, with thousands of people becoming disciples of Christ bringing God's blessing to the community around them.
We can imagine garden centres, allotments, food stores & markets, play groups, business’s, conference centres, counselling firms, and more - with the church at the centre of it all! We can imagine this relationally, locationally and operationally with the Church sanctuary literally in the centre of all these other aspects of the community going on. We see the church as a Hive of Activity – with Jesus at the centre of it all.
Wallington Christian Centre has 3 objects (objectives) as part of our constitution:
(a) to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement (AoG Statement of Faith) 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;
Wallington Christian Centre has serviced an inclusive provision of Sunday and midweek church activities that enhanced the spiritual development of the Christian faith into a multi-generation and multi-ethnic community. Wallington Christian Centre also has specific services and events cater for the Tamil community.
Our Sunday services provide a focal point for our church community. The AM service has been running in various forms since 1917. In the year 2000, the church saw a need to also start a PM service in the Tamil language. Our services provide a time for the community to come together and participate in worship, prayer, bible reading, teaching and sharing together in the communion (partaking of bread and wine, symbolising the body and blood of Jesus shed for us). We want our services to be welcome to all.
In 2020, for the first time in the church history, the church closed it’s doors for in person services. This occurred from March through to the end of the year (December 2020) and continued to the May 2021. During the lockdown, the church ceased all in person services and transitioned to of online streaming services. Specifically, the following:
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Sunday services 10:30 (on Facebook and Zoom)
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Initially (March – July 2020) David Gnanaseharam led the entire services from his home.
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From July 2020, a small team carried out a live stream from the church premises, in a Covid safe manner.
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Sunday services 15:00 in the Tamil language (on Zoom)
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Daily prayer meetings occurred at 7pm on Zoom.
We acknowledge that we are part of larger Christian Community as such we attempted (as far as possible) to be involved with the following:
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Assemblies of God, UK;
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we are also fully engaged with the Churches Together community;
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part of the Hillsong Network.
In 2020 due to the pandemic the volunteers who helped with regular church activities dramatically reduced. These were stripped down to approximately 5- 10 volunteers, helping with various online services.
(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;
With regard to the Charity’s second objective 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, Wallington Christian Centre has done so by providing pastoral support to facilitate counselling, support and structured events to those needy persons within the local church community but not excluding such to persons in the external environment.
The Charity has provided financial support to London based charities and overseas charities providing care to people in need. Specifically during the Covid-19 season the church has regularly supported the following mission partners:
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Lakeside Harvest - Jay, Supriya and Jaidan Achamby (Malaysia)
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Roy & Romaine Isaac – (Sri Lanka)
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City Hill - Andy and Jodi Gray ( Clapham, London)
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Pastor Christopher Jesu Anthony (India)
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Great Harvest Bible college (India)
Easter Gifts
For over 7 years the charity has given Christmas and Easter gifts to its local neighbours. However, due to the restriction imposed from pandemic, the church instead choose to donate 200 Easter Eggs to the children’s cancer ward at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton. These were greatly received by the children and the church was officially thanked by the Hospital.
Local Love
During the pandemic the charity choose to initiate the local love project from October 2020. The project consisted of providing “bags of hope” to fill the gap and support vulnerable families in the local community. Our bags included food and essential items donated by our volunteers. We also felt passionate to support the emotional and mental needs of the children affected, so we include activities and puzzles for them to complete.
Our strategy was to work alongside schools to help families in need and at present, we are supporting 25 families across two schools in Wallington, Surrey (London Borough of Sutton).
Special thanks goes to Sarah Paramasivam for organising the Local Love project.
(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.
The first part of 2020 saw Wallington Christian Centre continue its regular Youth and Children’s activity. This was mainly focused on Sunday mornings and afternoons. These ceased to continue physically once the pandemic lockdown commenced in March. The church attempted to keep in touch with the children and youth via streaming platforms and social media.
Other:
Significant Items
Major refurbishment
The charity choose to use the lockdown from the pandemic to conduct significant refurbishment of the premises. This included the following:
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Disposal/clearing up/de-cluttering,
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Removal of false ceiling,
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Installation of insulated plasterboard to the roof,
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Removal carpet and restoration of parquet flooring,
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Construction and installation of storage to the front and back hall,
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Construction of new PA desk,
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Upgrade of lighting to the front hall,
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Upgrading and electrical re-wiring through-out the church,
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Installation of new monitor screens throughout the church,
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Purchase of equipment for streaming (camera, streaming device),
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Reconfiguration of stage area.
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Painting of ceiling and walls of the front and rear halls,
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Upgrade of Wifi and network system throughout the church.
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Upgrade of the main office space,
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Reconfiguration of other office and small room to single larger space.
Special thanks goes to all who helped (practically and financially) for the major refurb works that occurred this was predominately undertaken by the congregation. Special mention needs to given to Andy Nias, who carried out the major works at the church.
Managerial matters
At the beginning of the year 2019, David Gnanaseharam officially took on the role of Lead Pastor at Wallington Christian Centre (although he had been Leading the church since 2016).
Lead Pastor David Gnanaseharam was employed by the Charity as the Lead Pastor who is in the process of accreditation with the Assemblies of God, UK.
At the beginning of the 2020 Samuel and Josephine Imaga agreed to join the Trustees team at the church.
Finances
The Church Council, being the trustees of the Charity responsible for day to day management benefiting the outworking of the objects of the Charity as outlined in its Constitution, are required to receive formally the end of year financial statement that has been independently examined by an accountant not linked with the management trustees. A copy of the final accounts is attached at the end of this report. It should be noted that the final accounts have
been independently examined. Special thanks goes to Shyamala Sumanojh and Joy Gnanaseharam who has aided in putting accounts together and submitting them to the independent accountant.
Summary of the accounts are below:
Income £73,812 Outgoings £82,140
Detailed accounts are attached.
In addition the above, 2020 has been a struggle to the church in various ways, especially with regard to the finances. The following should be noted with regard to this:
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The staff (Joy Gnanaseharam & Manohari Jeyasingam) were placed on the governmental furlough scheme.
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David Gnanaseharam, choose not to take renumeration through the portion of the pandemic.
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An over payment was paid for the mortgage such that the church manse (1 Garden Close, Wallington) was fully paid by the end of 31 Dec 20.
The lead Pastor would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members/team/leaders/staff who contributed to all services that occurred across the last year. This is particularly relevant during this challenging year.
Respectfully submitted October 2021 el
David Gnanaseharam BSc (Hons) MSc MIOA
Registered Charity No: 1054435
WALLINGTON CHRISTIAN CENTRE
ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DEC 2020
36 Plough Lane, Wallington, Surrey SM6 8LN
WALLINGTON CHRISTIAN CENTRE
CHARITY INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DEC 2020
Trustees
Joy Sucila Gnanaseharam Andrew Nias David Gnanaseharam (Chair) Josephine Imaga Samuel Imaga
Charity No
1054435
Registered address
Wallington Christian Centre 36 Plough Lane Wallington Surrey SM6 8LN
Accountant
Accounts & Tax Advisor Ltd 27 Mayesbrook Road Dagenham Essex RM8 2EA
WALLINGTON CHRISTIAN CENTRE
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST ] DEC 2020
| £ | £ | |
|---|---|---|
| INCOME | ||
| Tithe | 41,952 | |
| Rent | 4,500 | |
| Others | 27,360 | 73,812 |
| ------------ | ||
| LESS: EXPENSES | ||
| Salaries&Wages |
30,176 | |
| Light & Heat | 4,004 | |
| Printing, postage & stationery | 1,324 | |
| Telephone | 1,268 | |
| Subscriptions | 1,670 | |
| Water |
41 | |
| Insurance | 1,308 | |
| Bank charges | 60 | |
| Building Repairs |
19,061 | |
| Mortgage | 9,158 | |
| Council Tax | 2,152 | |
| Equipment Expensed | 1,711 | |
| Ministry Gifts | 8,511 | |
| CCPAS | 483 | |
| Accountancy fee | 1,040 | |
| Other expenses | 173 | 82,140 |
| -------------- | ----------- | |
| Total Expenses over Income for the year | (8,328) | |
| Retained Surplus brought forward | 15,646 | |
| ----------- | ||
| Retained Surplus carry forward | 7,318 | |
| ======= |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustaesl members of WALLINGTON CHRISTIAN CHURCH On accounts for the year endod 31- DECEMBER 2020 Charlty no (If any 1054435 Set out on pagos I report to the trustees on my examinakn'on of the accounts of the ab¢)ve charty (Ihe Tnjsf) for the year ended Ra8pon•lbllitl•8 and As the d)arrty truste88 of Ihe Trust, you are responsible for the preparation bash of rnport of the acmunts in accordanL% %*ryth the requ1MentS of th8 Charrties Act 2011 {'the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's ac¢ount8 carried out under sectlon 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicabl8 Directions given by the Charity Commission uTrJer 8e¢tion 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed telow") in connection with the examination whith giv88 me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in aCcorrIan with section 130 of the Act or the account8 do not acrd with the accounting records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reathed. ' Please delete Ihè words in th8 br8ckgls rfthey do not apply. Date: 2711012021 Independent examlner's 8tstem•nt Signed: Name: ACCOUNTS & TAX ADVISOR LTD Relevant professional quallflcation(s) or body (If any): FCPA ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTAKrs Address: 27 MAYESBROOK ROAD DAGENHAM. ESSEX RM8 2EA IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of N.A any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER