EPPING FOREST COMMUNITY CHURCH trust
ANNUAL REPORT for 2020
• THE TRUST: Structure, Governance and Management
The Epping Forest Community Church (EFCC) Trust is constituted by Deed of Trust on 5[th] January 1999 and is a registered charity No 1074617.
The Charity Trustees during the year to 31 December 2020 were as follows:
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Paul Blackham - Chairperson (elected 23.10.18)
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Gill Harryman (elected 27.08.18)
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Janice Westwood (elected 13.01.19)
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Rachel Bartels (elected 13.01.19)
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Andrew Leslie (elected 27.08.18 – resigned 13.09.20)
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Michael Lyons (elected 13.01.19 – resigned 13.09.20)
The Deed of Trust allows that any person over the age of 18 meeting the Trust’s and the Charity Commissioners criteria is eligible to stand as a Trustee of EFCC. A new Trustee may be appointed by a resolution of the Trustees passed at a meeting of the Trustees at which there is the majority of the Trustees present. There must be a minimum of three Trustees at any one time with no maximum set.
The day-to-day affairs of EFCC are managed by our full-time employed Church Leaders, Mr. Richard Seaman and Ms. Kate Nicholson, ably supported and assisted by the five-strong voluntary Leadership Support Team.
EFCC owns, and is based out of, Grosvenor Hall, Grosvenor Drive, Loughton IG10 2LG.
• SUMMARY OF THE PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY
The objects of the charity remain as:
(a) to advance the Christian faith, in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs, in the Epping Forest District and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Trustees may from time-totime think fit
(b) to relieve persons who are in conditions of need or hardship or who are aged or sick and to relieve the stress caused thereby in the said locality and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time-to-time think fit
(c) to promote and fulfil such other charitable purposes beneficial to the community in the said locality and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the World as the Trustees may from time-to-time think fit.
In summary Epping Forest Community Church exists to advance the Christian faith and serve the local community (and wider) in accordance with the objects of the charity and provides:
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A public place of worship
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Multiple activities and projects to serve the local community
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International Support to those most marginalized
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- A venue for other community organisations to use
• WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING….
At the beginning of the year our planned gatherings and activities continued as normal in line with our vision and programme developed in 2019. The emphasis of the church's activities remained on reaching out to the local community.
Sunday morning public worship and mid-week, daytime and evening, gatherings being held at Grosvenor Hall, and a plethora of small group meetings being held throughout the week in private homes across the whole church.
However, by March all was to change as the Global Pandemic caused us to reassess and rearrange the entire way we met, worked and reached out to others.
In the light of Government guidance concerning coronavirus, we decided to suspend all church meetings both at Grosvenor Hall and in people’s homes. We also cancelled all external hall bookings.
A YouTube channel was set up to create a means of broadcasting teaching and in May we moved over to Zoom meetings, which allowed for live interaction for participants, and these arrangements remained in place for the rest of the year. These media were a great help to those who felt isolated during “Lock Down”. They also enabled a much wider audience than our physical meetings would have been able to cater for and allowed many people to join in from far away, even from overseas.
Also in May, we set aside a week of prayer and fasting for the whole Church to seek God for the next season. This, and the Leaders continued reflections during the times of “Lock Down”, generated some significant insight, both for the present and the future, although implementing some elements meant waiting for restrictions to ease.
Overall, it has allowed us to refocus on what Church really is and to reconsider how Jesus wants us to represent him in this world.
Meanwhile, we invested in measures to make Grosvenor Hall a “Covid Safe” place in preparation for the lifting of restrictions. Consequently, we felt able to open our doors for additional in-person meetings in September, October, and December, as the Government’s “Guidelines for Places of Worship” permitted, and thus were allowed a glimpse of “normality”, and a way to better help those feeling isolated.
Small groups continued to meet either on Zoom, outdoors or indoors depending on the law and advice in force at the time, this also related to Trustees, general business, and staff meetings.
The pandemic in fact opened up some new opportunities to the Church to serve and help the local Community. We set up a system of food delivery to those in need around us, wonderfully supported and enabled by generous donations and volunteers. We also were able to help with shopping deliveries and prescription collections to those around us.
• WHO DOES IT ALL…
In addition to our Leaders, Rich and Katie and their wonderful Support Team, we have a fantastic group of both paid and voluntary staff and helpers, without whom we would be lost.
Together they all look after every aspect of running the Church and I thank God for them!
Regrettably this year we have had to “furlough” three of our staff for various periods of time during “Lock Down”, but we are grateful to the Government for their support.
Nothing would be possible without the unfailing generosity of everyone who supports us and, particularly this year when times have been so challenging for everyone, we continue to be amazed by, and are so grateful for, all that has been given to us. As you can see in the section below, even throughout the ravages of the pandemic we have still been able to make ends meet financially.
Praise the Lord!
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• FINANCIAL REPORT
The Trustees were satisfied with the financial statement provided by our wonderful Treasurer and thank her most sincerely for all the work she undertook for the Trust. As referred to above the generosity of the members of EFCC and others continues to amaze us, and we remain so thankful for the financial investment people are making.
In 2020 total income was £159516 and total expenditure £156860 .
The detailed finances are detailed in the attached End of Year Financial Statements.
The above income figure includes special collections and love offerings as follows: -
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Hope House Project £10108
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• Fountain of Life Hospice £ 3137 • Orphanage school fees, Cambodia £ 6686 • Local Christians in need £ 5733
From the collections received, we make regular monthly payments to the following:
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Margaret Gordon (Central Asia)
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Emily and Drew Maust (Cameroon)
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Tough Talk (UK)
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Fountain of Life Hospice (Central Asia)
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Samaritan's Purse (UK & US)
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Indian Orphanage
Additionally, we have tithed a total of £11651 out of General Funds to various local, national and international organisations.
We have also received income from Hall Bookings, albeit significantly reduced from previous years due to “Lock Down”, of £2261
AND FINALLY…
In conclusion I must again reiterate that all of the above represents just a fraction of the life and work of the EFCC Family, and I count it a great privilege and honour be a part of it.
Further, I would like to once more express a great big “THANK YOU” to all of you who have made it happen!
DATED 5[th] October 2021
Paul Blackham
Chairperson
For and on behalf of the Trustees – Epping Forest Community Church
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EPPING FOREST COMMUNITY CHURCH
End of Year Financial Statements
Year ending 31 December 2020
- Introductory Note
This year was an unusual year because for about 8 months most of the premises were closed due to Covid19 restrictions. Only the office and a few small rooms remained in use throughout.
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Receipts and Payments Account
| Total funds Prior year funds |
|
|---|---|
| Receipts Planned Giving Cost Recovery for Specific Activities General Donations - imported from DC General giving - sundry Gift Aid -Sundry giving Sunday cash collections Total Planned giving Collections and other giving Collection - ISF - M Gordon Collection - Samaritan's Purse Collection - Tough Talk Collection - Uganda Families Collection - Wycliffe - D Maust Collection for Hope House Collection- Indian Orphanage Collections - Special Fountain of Life - Hospice Total Collections and other giving Other voluntary receipts Grants from Jack Petchey Pastoral Care Fund - External Pastoral Care Fund - Internal Total Other voluntary receipts Gift Aid recovered Tax recovered on Gift Aid Total Gift Aid recovered Investment Income Gross Interest Income from Hall Bookings Total Investment Income Receipts from church activities Miscellaneous receipts Total Receipts from church activities Total Receipts Payments Missionary and Charitable Giving Children's work (special events) Fountain of Life - Hospice Gift - ISF - M Gordon Gift - Samaritans Purse Gift - Tough Talk Gift - Uganda Families Gift - Wycliffe - D Maust Gift for Hope House Gift- Indian Orphanage Gifts - Sundry Gifts from Pastoral Care Fund - External Gifts from Pastoral Care Fund - Internal Special Collections Tithe Total Missionary and Charitable Giving |
1 — 83,670 103,903 100 0 — 433 440 — |
| 84,211 104,337 6,301 6,185 1,200 1,200 550 1,180 — 2,879 5,423 4,992 6,370 15,244 4,867 — 6,575 40 2,620 4,220 |
|
| 33,906 35,941 — 1,200 1,935 — 7,922 2,060 |
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| 9,857 3,260 28,766 32,176 |
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| 28,766 32,176 512 484 2,261 7,662 |
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| 2,774 8,147 — 0 |
|
| — 0 |
|
| 159,516 183,863 7 262 3,137 5,025 7,237 8,134 1,375 1,500 3,100 3,638 — 3,600 6,720 6,720 10,108 16,622 3,864 — 75 40 2,891 611 2,842 4,300 6,686 673 11,651 13,598 |
|
| 59,695 64,726 |
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| Clergy and Staffing costs Employer's Nat Ins Leaders Development and Training Office Salaries Permanent Insurance Salaries - Leaders Staff Pensions Youth Workers Total Clergy and Staffing costs Church Running Expenses Advertising & publicity Bank charges and interest Children's work (Sunday) Christian Resources Church holiday - Naturally Supernatural Computer Expenses Equipment repairs & maintenance Events Office Supplies PA/AV sundry equipment & repairs Photocopier costs Refreshments & Kitchen Supplies Speakers Subscriptions & Licences Telephone and Broadband Web Site Women's Group Youth Group Expenses Youth Group Holidays & Outings Youth Group Soul Survivor Youth Group Training Youth Group charges to Jack Petchy Grant Total Church Running Expenses Hall Running Costs Caretaker Cleaning Covid 19 exp Electricity Gas Hall Maintenance & Repairs Insurance Miscellaneous Water Total Hall Running Costs Coach/Minibus Costs Minibus Expenses Total Coach/Minibus Costs Assets Furniture Total Assets Total Payments Excess of Receipts over Payments Brought forward balance Transfers to/(from) Carried forward balance |
3,266 3,945 861 904 3,472 5,911 390 385 69,747 67,249 4,306 3,999 1,500 4,800 |
|---|---|
| 83,544 87,196 57 404 — (95) 594 742 791 181 — 224 23 — 6 146 91 1,118 102 499 14 604 182 140 395 776 — 323 642 560 924 860 153 160 105 480 177 623 8 (396) (320) (1,226) — 149 — 931 |
|
| 3,951 7,207 — 200 4,142 5,704 597 — 979 1,203 1,290 1,964 476 1,817 1,492 1,445 — 1 631 444 |
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| 9,611 12,779 57 2,010 |
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| 57 2,010 — 710 |
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| — 710 |
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| 156,860 174,630 2,656 9,232 215,111 205,879 — — |
|
| 217,767 215,111 |
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Notes to the accounts
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£7992 was posted incorrectly to Pastoral Care Internal in lieu of General Income. The total general income was £91662 (£83,670 plus £7992) which is £12,675 less than last year. A drop is not surprising given that we had very little rental income and several members left for varying reasons. The Pastoral gifts external £1935 was mostly donations received for a newly bereaved widow in the community.
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The Special Collections £6686 was what we collected for school fees for a family working in Cambodia
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The good news is our expenses dropped by £17,770 so our income was £2,214 more than our expenses!
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Christian Resources was mainly what we spent on a speaker for outdoor services and Debden outreach.
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I was surprised that our water charges were more this year than 2019 so I’ve made an enquiry.
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The reason there is money remaining in the Indian Orphanage funds is that a decision was taken to spread what was collected over 2 years.
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Statement of assets and liabilities
| Class and code Description |
This year Last year |
|---|---|
| Fixed assets 6431 Freehold Building Total Fixed assets Current assets 6501 NatWest current account 54005604 6505 NatWest Business Reserve 54005787 6522 Kingdom Bank account 03278786 6525 Virgin Money 6540 Mission Housing Equity Loan 6590 Petty Cash 6599 Loan given Total Current assets Liabilities Z04 Accounts Payable Z06 CTL balance Total Liabilities Net Asset surplus(deficit) Reserves Excess / (deficit) to date Z01 Starting balances Total Reserves Represented by funds Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment Total |
500,000 500,000 |
| 500,000 500,000 3,186 4,208 9,894 11,205 50,481 55,039 — 20,000 30,000 — 46 200 1,700 2,000 |
|
| 95,309 92,653 — — 1,249 1,249 |
|
| 1,249 1,249 |
|
| 217,767 215,111 |
|
| 2,656 27,116 215,111 187,994 |
|
| 217,767 215,111 207,107 204,830 8,924 9,520 1,735 761 — — |
|
| 217,767 215,111 |
Signed G Harryman Treasurer 26 Feb 2021
C Corrigan Independent Examiner
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of CPPIJ o lotLESr i On accounts for the year ended Charity no {if anyl Set out on pages I report to Ihe trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Twst-) for the year ended Responsibilltles and As the charity trustees of the Tmst, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'Ihe Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusys accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out ffly examination. I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charty Commission under section 14515)Ib) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection th the exarnination which gives me Cause to believe that in, any material respect.. acUntIng rewrds were nol kept in accordance with section 130 of the Acl or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounls to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not 8ppIy. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s} or body (if any}: Address: IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: d1ctionS and guidance for examiners). Glve here brief details of any Items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018