## The Vine Church Cranbrook
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **THE VINE CHURCH CRANBROOK**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
|ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE|12 Frythe Close|
|---|---|
||Cranbrook|
||TN17 3AX|
|GOVERNING DOCUMENT|Trust Deed dated 19 January 1999|
|CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER|1074670|
|TRUSTEES|Mr Christopher Goodchild|
||Mr Michael Hoare|
||Mr Marcus Cameron|
|BANKERS|HSBC Bank plc, Ashford, Kent|
||Kingdom Bank, Nottingham|
|INDEPENDENT EXAMINER|Archie McDowall BA CA|
||Stewardship|
||1 Lamb's Passage|
||LONDON|
||EC1Y 8AB|
## **INDEX**
||**INDEX**|
|---|---|
|Page 1|Legal & Administrative Details|
|Pages 2- 3|Trustees' Report|
|Page 4|Independent Examiner's Report|
|Page 5|Receipts and Payments Account|
|Page 6|Statement of Assets & Liabilities|
|Pages 7 - 8|Notes to the Accounts|
Page 1
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees are pleased to present the report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Charitable Objectives**
The principal objective of the church is to advance the Christian Faith within the UK and overseas. It seeks to accomplish this by maintaining a presence and witness in the town of Cranbrook by conducting regular times for worship and prayer and by teaching and preaching the truths of the Christian life and faith.
## **Organisation**
The church is governed by its trustees who meet at least three times a year to review activities, set policies and to monitor the financial position. The trustees delegate the management of the day to day activities of the church to the minister.
## **Review of Activities**
Reflecting on another year it is again a time of gratitude to God for His faithfulness and presence among us. We endeavour to be a people of Godly influence here in the heart of the Weald of Kent, committed to living the way God intends, bring His power, truth and love to the communities we represent. As Trustees we have continued to meet for business through the year and to enjoy a happy working relationship built on a strong foundational unity. In planning the activities of the charity the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the commission on public benefit.
**Our Meetings** – We have continued to hold our weekly Sunday meetings, including “Bible Study Cafe” (meeting round tables to dig into the Bible in small groups before responding corporately in sung worship), and “Church in the round” (taking the emphasis off the front and encouraging people to both contribute and be aware of the community they are part of and with whom they worship) as well as a more traditional worship and preaching format. This past year we have continued with these formats as we have found them beneficial for helping develop people’s engagement with and understanding of Scripture. Over the course of the year we held a variety of smaller mid-week meetings, including on-line when appropriate.
Unfortunately this last year has seen the departure of a significant number of long-standing friends from The Vine for a variety of different reasons. It has, none the less, been a delight to welcome visitors to our Sunday meetings from time to time. It is both gratifying and humbling to receive their sincere and enthusiastic appreciation of their time with us.
**Missionary Focus** – We have benefited from David’s role with a “Practical Missions” organisation as he has raised the profile of internation missions by sharing his experiences with missions projects around Africa and Asia. We have continued to support Peter and Kay, working out of Emmanuel Press in South Africa, producing and distributing Christian discipleship and Bible training courses across Africa. When their tenure serving in South Africa came to an end, we were pleased to welcome them home and have sought to help them readjust to life in rural England. We have maintained our support of Brazilian Kids Kare, overseen by Reinhard and Debi, building orphanages and day schools in Brazil, sharing the love of God in practical ways with the most needy and vulnerable in society. We have also maintained our connection with Martin from Jesus For Europe and have continued to appreciate his challenge and encouragement in evangelism each time he visits us.
Page 2
**The Wider Church** – This year we have built upon the relationships with churches in the locality. The youth group, jointly run together with the Congregational Church, has continued and we’ve also been well involved with some of their Men’s Breakfast events and Ladies’ Teas. The relationships with the leaders of a number of churches in and around Cranbrook remain strong as we seek to bring God’s love to our community in our complimentary styles. David has continued to build good relationships with leaders from other Assemblies of God churches across Kent, encouraging and inspiring them as they fulfil their calling in their locality. We anticipate these good relationships continuing over the coming year.
We conclude with thanks to God for the faithful giving and the enthusiasm of our church community; together we have continued the good work and witness over another year.
## **Financial Review**
Receipts for the year reduced from £37,372 to £31,115 and payments reduced from £41,899 to £31,078; resulting in a surplus for the year of £37 compared with a deficit of £4,527 in the previous year. Funds have increased correspondingly to £29,802 leaving the church solvent with adequate surpluses for the year ahead.
## **Reserves Policy**
The trustees regularly monitor the church’s finances to ensure sufficient reserves are maintained to enable the charity to continue operating. Our Reserves Policy is to hold a minimum of three months running costs which equates to approximately £5,600. At the year end, this was being met with unrestricted cash at bank of approximately £29,802.
## **Trustees' Responsibilities**
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## CGoodchild
CGoodchild (Nov 30, 2024 17:15 GMT) Christopher Goodchild Date : Nov 30, 2024
Page 3
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **THE VINE CHURCH CRANBROOK**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Vine Church Cranbrook ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024 on pages 5 to 8 following.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns 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 accounts to be reached.
## Archie McDowall
Archie McDowall (Dec 6, 2024 14:32 GMT)
Archie McDowall BA CA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Dec 6, 2024
Page 4
## **THE VINE CHURCH CRANBROOK**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations
Gift aid receipts
Other income
**_Total receipts_**
**Payments**
2
3
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Net
of
receipts
/
(payments)
before
transfers
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken by others
Payments
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken directly|General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
25,284
-
5,683
-
148
-
31,115
-
22,578
-
5,272
3,228
27,850
3,228
3,265
(3,228)
(3,228)
3,228
37
0
29,765
0
29,802
0
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
0
0
0
0|2024
£
25,284
5,683
148
31,115
22,578
8,500
31,078
37
0
37
29,765
29,802|2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||30,821
6,538
13|
|||||37,372|
|||||30,649
11,250|
|||||41,899|
|||||(4,527)
0|
|||||(4,527)
34,292|
|||||29,765|
The notes on pages 7-8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
## **THE VINE CHURCH CRANBROOK**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
**C**
**Liabilities**
Payroll taxes
Unbilled fee for Independent Examination
Rent due||General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
Unrestricted Funds|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£|2024
£|2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£|||||
|||29,802|-|-|29,802|29,765|
|||**29,802**|**-**|**-**|**29,802**|**29,765**|
|||4,373|-|-|4,373|5,683|
|||**4,373**|**-**|**-**|**4,373**|**5,683**|
|||480
954
100|-
-
-|-
-
-|480
954
100|487
930
100|
|||**1,534**|**-**|**-**
|**1,534**
|**1,517**|
**D Assets retained for charity's own use**
|Fund to
which asset
belongs
Equipment (Music, PA, IT)
General|Current
value
£|
|---|---|
||5,753|
||5,753|
The trustees have used insurance values as an estimate for current values.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
CGoodchild CGoodchild (Nov 30, 2024 17:15 GMT) -------------------------------------------Christopher Goodchild Nov 30, 2024 Date:__________
The notes on pages 7-8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **THE VINE CHURCH CRANBROOK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (Note 4)
16,676
-
Rent of premises
1,520
-
Insurance
277
-
Training & resources
396
-
Speakers' expenses
445
-
Other expenses
510
-
Marketing costs
175
-
Subscriptions
1,210
-
Independent Examination fee
936
-
Church activities including Sunday School
433
22,578
-
Unrestricted Funds|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (Note 4)
16,676
-
Rent of premises
1,520
-
Insurance
277
-
Training & resources
396
-
Speakers' expenses
445
-
Other expenses
510
-
Marketing costs
175
-
Subscriptions
1,210
-
Independent Examination fee
936
-
Church activities including Sunday School
433
22,578
-
Unrestricted Funds|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (Note 4)
16,676
-
Rent of premises
1,520
-
Insurance
277
-
Training & resources
396
-
Speakers' expenses
445
-
Other expenses
510
-
Marketing costs
175
-
Subscriptions
1,210
-
Independent Examination fee
936
-
Church activities including Sunday School
433
22,578
-
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
Funds
£|Total
2024
£|Total
2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|16,676
1,520
277
396
445
510
175
1,210
936
433|22,431
2,193
277
270
400
540
175
1,210
930
2,223
|
||22,578|-|-|22,578
|30,649|
## **3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
|Local mission
Overseas mission|-
5,272|-
3,228
|-
-|-
8,500|-
11,250
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||5,272|3,228|-|8,500
|11,250|
Page 7
## **THE VINE CHURCH CRANBROOK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
Mr Christopher Goodchild (a trustee) received remuneration of £6,367 (2023: £5,809) paid in his capacity as church administrator and not as a trustee.
Mr David Goodchild (brother of a trustee) received remuneration of £10,184 (2023: £16,519) paid in his capacity as a pastor-lead elder of the church.
Mr & Mrs P Goodchild (parents of a trustee) received support of £4,500 (2023: £6,000) in their capacity as Missionaries working at Emmanuel Press in South Africa.
The above payments are permitted by the Trust Deed. No other amounts have been paid to any trustee or to any person connected to them other than reimbursement of expenditure incurred on behalf of the church.
## **5 Movement on funds**
|Opening
Balance
£
**Restricted funds**
Special offerings
-
**Total Restricted**
-
**Unrestricted Funds**
**_Designated funds_**
Missionary fund - 'Tithe of Tithe'
-
-
**_General Funds_**
29,765
**Total unrestricted**
29,765
**Total Funds**
29,765|Opening
Balance
£
-|Receipts
£
-|Payments
£
-|Transfers
£
-|Closing
Balance
£
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||-|-|-|-|-|
||-|-|(3,228)|3,228|-|
||-|-|(3,228)|3,228|-|
||29,765|31,115|(27,850)|(3,228)|29,802|
||29,765|31,115
|(31,078)|-|29,802|
|||||||
|||31,115
|(31,078)|-|29,802|
Page 8