2024-12-31-accounts - Romney Marsh Community Church

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1075784

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH

Statement of Account

For the Year Ending 31st December 2024

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH

Contents Page 1 Charity Information 2 - 5 Trustees' Report 6 Independent Examiner's Report 7 Statement of Financial Activities 8 Balance Sheet 9-15 Notes to the Accounts

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH

Charity Information

Charity Registration No.:	1075784
Company Registration No.:	3719704
Governing Document:	Memorandum and Articles of Association
	Incorporated on the 25th February 1999
Trustees:	Paul Stephen King (Chairman)
	Nicholas Peter Barratt
	Keren Elizabeth Morrell
Correspondence Address:	Mrs Christine Clifton
	Romney Marsh Community Church
	The Centre
	8 North Street
	New Romney
	Kent
	TN28 8DW
Legal Advisors:	Streathers Solicitors LLP
	44 Baker Street
	London
	W1U 7AL
Independent Examiner:	Peter Saltiel
	Church & Charity Accounts Service Ltd
	7 Planchadeau
	23460 Saint-Pierre-Bellevue
	France
	formerly, 69 Portland Place
	Greenhithe, Kent, DA9 9FE
Bankers:	Lloyds TSB
	43 Sandgate Road
	Folkestone
	Kent
	CT20 1RZ

Trustees’ Annual Report For 2024

Romney Marsh Community Church

Company Limited by Guarantee

Registered in England No 3719704 Charity Number 1075784 Registered Address The Centre, 8 North Street, New Romney, Kent, TN28 8DW Trust Deed dated 31/01/99 Elders/Members Paul Stephen King Trustees Paul Stephen King Nicholas Peter Barratt Keren Elizabeth Morrell

Company Secretary Paul Stephen King

Objects

The objects of the charity are:

1) To promote the knowledge and practice of the Christian Faith and in particular but not so as to limit the generality of the foregoing:-
a. to encourage people to worship and glorify God and become disciples of Jesus Christ.
b. To advance the Christian Faith by promotion of evangelism and social mission.
2) To carry on such other charitable activities as the charity may determine.

Management

The Elders manage the spiritual life of the church and work closely with the leaders of other churches in the Forge Sphere Group. The Trustees hold the legal responsibility for the company/charity and are responsible to the Members. The staff and volunteers are responsible to their Head of Department, who in turn are responsible to the Elders.

Finance

The Charity is totally self-supporting, giving 13% of its income away to various good causes. The Gift Aid Declaration Scheme and GADAS still provide a successful additional income at no extra cost to our members.

Reserves Policy

It is a requirement of the Charites Act that the trustees consider the financial requirements of the Charity on an ongoing basis and formulate a policy which seeks to determine the level of reserves required to be held at any one time to enable the Charity to carry out its charitable activities.

The Charity is founded on biblical principles, one of which is that all things come from God, and He will provide for our every need (Luke 12:22-31). On this basis, whilst the trustees understand the importance of good practice and stewardship in all matters relating to the Charity, they do not believe it is appropriate to make specific financial provision for future liabilities.

Activities

Rainbow Toddlers has continued to give much needed support to young mum and carers of preschool ages children. They are, as a group, donating to the RNLI through their subs. The Easter and Christmas parties were popular times for both children and adults during which Christian books and Christmas presents were given to the children. All who attend Rainbow Toddlers are invited to all our services and appropriate activities.

The regular Sunday worship services continue at 10.30am and we stream services on line through the use of Zoom, making them open to people of all faiths or no faith, of any age, nationality, culture or gender, and give a public benefit to all who choose to view and engage; all are welcomed and valued equally. This will continue. The basis of our teaching and moral and ethical guidance is in line with the scriptures and teaching of Jesus Christ as contained in the Bible. From January 2025 we are starting a Through The Bible course aiming to read through the whole bible over a 2 year period.

Formats of doing Church have been experimented with to encourage more diversity and accessibility. We have continued this year with regular Building Block Church which takes the form of a Café style church, in which we start with breakfast and have a more informal service using more multimedia technology, games and quizzes, and encourage families to come to learn more about Christ.

As we are without a regular pastor following the retirement of Nick Barratt at the end of 2023, we have regularly been supported by teaching from visiting members of other

Forge Spere churches. This has proved to be very rewarding and has further strengthened relationships within the family of churches.

Discipleship groups meet regularly for fellowship, study and ministry. Also, there are more opportunities for prayer with weekly prayer walks and lunch time prayer. We have also had a half day of prayer, where we are seeking God’s direction for the church, a new successor for our Pastor and for our community, nation and worldwide matters.

Tuesday Pulse Drop in club is the only “Youth club” now running. Clients are mainly young adults with learning difficulties. They pray regularly together and have done a youth Alpha.

We contributed financial and in person with our local Country Fayre, and were involved in the parade and being a Christian presence on the field. Ride and Stride was running again and we opened up the church to participants to have refreshments and rest.

The Christmas Soup Restaurant ran again this year. Much of the church was involved in some way, be it making soup, serving or just talking to diners. It was run over three lunch times and raised over £1,620 for the Romney Marsh Community Hub and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) charities. We also advertised our Christmas Candle light service and Christmas Service.

Foodbank is still running at The Centre providing support to those finding it difficult to make ends meet. This service, which is an ecumenical and community led project, still provides food, toiletries, signposting to various agencies, and fresh fruit and veg, some dairy and bread. Clients are given the opportunity to be prayed with and invited to our various activities.

Employees

Nicholas Barratt retired at the end of December 2023. We are currently seeking a replacement pastor, having been looking to recruit throughout the year but as yet unsuccessfully. A Church receptionist/Caretaker is employed for 10 hours per week. A Church Administrator is employed for 12 hours per week to deal with finance, policy reviews, publicity of events and admin support for the Leadership Team. A Children’s Worker is employed for 5 hours per week to co-ordinate volunteers and arrange programmes.

Other Work

The charity has two people who are registered with Kent County Council to officiate at wedding ceremonies, although no weddings took place during the year.

The plans drawn up for the installation of a lift, making the 1st floor accessible to all and safer for heavy deliveries, have not been achieved this year due to issues raised

by the Baptist Union relating to the Trust Fund they administer on behalf of Romney Marsh Community Church. This is still to be resolved but concerns over whether significant work may be required to the roof have further halted the lift project for the time being.

Facilities rented out

Unit 3 in The Centre is occupied by Al’s Gym.

The Marsh Academy excluded pupils project has run in units 5 & 6 with numbers having stabilised.

Reflective Care Ltd have now vacated the office at the front of the first floor in The Centre.

RMCC is in membership with the Baptist Union of Great Britain. RMCC continues to be part of The Forge Sphere group of churches giving additional pastoral care for our leaders, and apostolic input.

Romney Marsh Community Church Independent Rep to the Tnjstees, Di[[5 and membets of the Romney Marsh Community Churth Cha No- 1015184 c[ No" 3719704 I lept the accounts of Ihe TtU5t foi Ihe yeai ended 3151 tkcembet 2024 vthich dte set out on pages 7 10 15. Re5W>Pd5ibilities apdd tiasis of rep<t As Ihe thatity's trustees of the Compally ate also Ihe (ttectots of the cotnpaty foi Ihe purposes of company laiv), you Bre responsible f( the preparaliDTr af the accounts in ccordance wilh the rewirements of the Companie5 Act 2006 fthe 2006 Art}. Hairyng satisfied that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for thi5 year under Part 16 of the 2006 Ad and are el igible for independent examination. I repjrt in resped of my aMinatIon of your charibfs accounls as cattied out under section 145 of the Chattlies Act 2011 flhe 2011 Acf). In 1[j (xrt my &¥arninalion, I have followed the Direcb-ffls given by Ihe Chatrty C(xllmEsion {under Sec" 145(5Mb) ollhe 2011 Acl IndepenileNt examiners statement I have completed my examination. I confitm that no rnatetial matters have Con to my ttention Nthich give5 me cause to believe that.. acCour. recor05 were not kept in accordan wrth 5ecb.on 386 of Ihe Companies Acl 2006., or Ihe account5 do not accord vmh such records- or the accounts do not comply wilh reltant accounting rE4]uirerTrent5 under 5eclion 396 ol the Cornpanies Act 2006 other Ihan any wuitement that the account5 give a 1tue and fairf view which is n<)t a matter considered as part of indepen dent examinalion" or .Ihe accounts have not been prepared in accorthnce Mrylh the Chatilies SORP (FRS102) I have no concems d have come across nct other rnatteTS in conneclion ipiith the exan7ination to vthith attention should be draivn in this report io.o[4J¢[.Lo enable a proper understanding of the accourts tD be teached. Petei Salliel Ch urch & Chatrty Accounts Serwce Ltd 7 Planchadeau 23460 Saint-Piett&Bellevue France romjerty. 69 Portland Pla Greenhithe, DA 9 9FE Dated 2T' December 2025

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH

Company Registration No: 3719704

Registered Charity No: 1075784

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31st December 2024

(including income & expenditure account)

Income from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Sundry Income Investments Total Expenditure on: Charitable expenditure Total Excess of income over expenditure Fund transfers Total Funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Restricted Total Notes Fund Fund 2024 £ £ £ 3 3a 75,651 3,353 79,004 3b 330 669 999 3c 710 - 710 3d 12,611 - 12,611 89,302 4,022 93,324 4 4 59,963 4,453 64,416 59,963 4,453 64,416 29,339 (431) 28,908 (743) 743 - 7 405,619 5,231 410,850 7 434,215 5,543 439,758	Total 2023 £ 72,474 1,550 5,176 12,886	Total 2023
		92,086
		89,004
		89,004
		3,082 - 407,768
		410,850

All activities are regarded as continuing. The above statement includes all recognised gains and losses during the year.

The Notes to the Accounts form part of these Financial Statements

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH

Company Registration No: 3719704

Registered Charity No: 1075784

Balance Sheet at 31st December 2024

		Notes		2024		2023
				£		£
FIXED ASSETS
The Centre		5		293,476		278,580
Office furniture				-		-
CURRENT ASSETS
Current account & petty cash			31,508		21,306
Cash Float -	Pulse Youth Club		43		-
Kingdom Bank Deposit Account			88,693		87,203
COIF deposit account			18,927		18,005
			139,171		126,514
Debtors & prepayments			10,613		8,960
Net current assets				149,784		135,474
Total assets				443,260		414,054
LIABILITIES
Creditors:		6	3,152		2,854
Amounts falling due within one year		6	350	3,502	350	3,204
Total assets less current liabilities
Net Assets			1	439,758		410,850
FUNDS
General Fund				423,688		394,831
Restricted Fund		7		5,543		5,231
Designated Fund				10,527		10,788
				439,758		410,850

The company was entitled to exemption from audit under s477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.

These financial statements were approved by the members of the Board on 30th December 2025 and are signed on their behalf by:

Paul Stephen King Trustee/Director

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity No: 1075784

Notes to the Accounts

1 Basis of Preparation

Basis of accounting

These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts, accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Going concern

All activities are regarded as continuing.

Change in basis of accounting

The accounts present a true and fair view and no changes in the basis of accounting have been made during

Changes to previous accounts

There have been no changes to the previous accounts during the financial year.

2 Accounting Policies
a. Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when received.
b. Restricted funds are to be used for the specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is identified to the fund.
c. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
d. Unrestricted funds are donations and other income received or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity No: 1075784

Notes to the Accounts (cont'd)

s	to the Accounts (cont'd)
3	Income from: Donations and legacies 3a General offerings & gifts Missions Income tax recovered Missions Missions allocation % Anugrah Sponsorship of Children Missions - S Paul Forge Sphere Send a Saint Tear Fund Pastoral Emergency Fund Restaurant Charity Royal National Life Boat Assoc'n Ally Chepkwony Rainbow Centre Open Doors CAP Other Missions Charitable activities Mustard Seed 3b Food Bank L Payne Magnox youth equipment Ride & Stride Activity inc Romney Enterprise Centre Fundraising/socials & sales Total charitable activities Sundry Income 3c Baptist Union Trust Fund Church events Refreshments Bookswap profits Star Fund Miscellaneous Investments 3d Bank interest Rental income Total income	Unrestricted Restricted Total Notes Fund Fund 2024 £ £ £ 52,108 - 52,108 3a1 11,878 3,353 15,231 11,665 - 11,665 75,651 3,353 79,004 3a1 - - - - 345 345 866 360 1,226 2,600 120 2,720 615 - 615 866 55 921 2,600 - 2,600 867 1,640 2,507 866 240 1,106 - 453 453 866 - 866 866 - 866 866 - 866 - 140 140 11,878 3,353 15,231 - 669 669 - - - - - - - - - 330 - 330 330 669 999 - - - - - - 330 669 999 9 - - - - - - 97 - 97 - - - - - - 613 - 613 710 - 710 2,412 - 2,412 10,199 - 10,199 12,611 - 12,611 89,302 4,022 93,324	Total 2023 £ 49,593 12,726 10,155	Total 2023
			72,474
			(595) 300 1,323 2,349 - 1,153 2,229 1,619 1,487 450 743 743 743 -
			12,544
			817 20 - 413 300
			1,550
			-
			-
			1,550
			- 3,845 350 6 380 595
			5,176
			2,170 10,716
			12,886
			92,086

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity No: 1075784

Notes to the Accounts (cont'd)

Notes	to the Accounts (cont'd)
4 new	Expenditure on Direct Charitable Expenditure Missions donations Total donations Ministry Alpha materials Youth work Mustard Seed Food Bank Junior Youth Club Pastoral Worship Outreach Refreshments Church events Training Support costs Missions Anugrah Sponsorship of Children Ally Chepkwony C&D Richards CAP Lifeboats Open Doors Rainbow Centre Other Missions Sunil Paul Forge Sphere Send & Saint Tear Fund Christmas Restaurant Charity Tear Fund - Toilet Twinning Marsh School Worker Pastoral Emergency Fund Mustard Seed Magnox youth equipment A Hulme Fund F&H DC L Payne Fund Marsh Youth Grant Police Property Fund Star Fund Rembrance Day Book Ride & Stride Tuck Shop Sundry Expenses	Unrestricted Restricted Total Notes Fund Fund 2024 £ £ £ 4a 11,394 4,008 15,402 11,394 4,008 15,402 46 - 46 - - - 96 - 96 4b 143 - 143 - 445 445 9 - - - - - - 3,830 - 3,830 193 - 193 1,044 - 1,044 575 - 575 410 - 410 4c 42,232 - 42,232 59,963 4,453 64,416 4a - - - - 452 452 - - - 948 - 948 948 262 1,210 948 - 948 948 - 948 - 208 208 948 390 1,338 2,865 110 2,975 1,875 - 1,875 948 55 1,003 - 2,531 2,531 - - - - - - 966 - 966 11,394 4,008 15,402 4b - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 111 - 111 32 - 32 143 - 143	Total 2023 £ 14,850	Total 2023

			14,850 168 - 83 1,388 1,116 - - 2,756 153 1,418 4,657 230 62,185
			89,004
			- 480 - 686 3,963 686 866 12 1,206 2,177 1,060 1,350 - - - 2,364
			14,850
			- - - - - - - - 426 102 393
			921

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity No: 1075784

Notes to the Accounts (cont'd)

Unrestricted Restricted Total Fund Fund 2024 £ £ £ Direct Charitable Expenditure (cont'd) Support costs 4c Wages & NIC 17,410 - 17,410 Premises general maintenance - - - Premises North Street expenses - - - Romney Enterprise Centre Building - - - Maintenance & expenses 17,403 - 17,403 Office Staffing Costs - other 522 522 Postage, stationery & telephone 2,185 - 2,185 Photocopier 636 - 636 Computer Costs 612 - 612 Publicity 209 - 209 Subscriptions 1,227 - 1,227 Accountancy 1,350 - 1,350 Travel - - - Bank Charges & Interest 286 - 286 Miscellaneous expenses 392 - 392 42,232 - 42,232 Total expenditure 59,963 4,453 64,416	Total 2023 £ 39,182 3,946 - 516 11,066 1,175 1,645 573 861 452 893 1,300 - 337 239	Total 2023
	62,185
	89,004

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity No: 1075784

Notes to the Accounts (cont'd)

5 Fixed Assets

ed Assets
Romney Enterprise Centre at 1st January Additions at 31st December	Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Fund Fund 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 278,580 - 278,580 258,455 14,896 - 14,896 20,125 293,476 - 293,476 278,580	Total 2023
	293,476

The (Romney Enterprise) Centre was purchased by the Church for the furtherance of it's aims and objectives during the year 2000. The purchase was partly funded by a release of trust funds from the Baptist Union Corporation and partly by way of a loan from Lloyds Bank Plc secured against the property by way of a mortgage. The loan was due to be repaid over a 20 year period.

During 2003 an additional mortgage was taken out secured against The Centre to provide funds for capital works required for furtherance of the aims of the charity. Part of this work was also funded by way of a grant awarded to the charity during 2001 from The New Romney Institute. The trustees decided that as extensive structural improvements have been carried out at The Centre, and that these improvements greatly enhanced the value of the property, the costs associated with these improvements should be capitalised to reflect this. Further works were carried out during 2004 and again these costs were capitalised.

In late 2006 some damage was sustained to The Centre by a third party, which was then subject to an insurance claim. Remedial works were carried out during the latter part of 2008 and during 2009 and it was decided to combine some improvement work in with the repairs. To this end the charity borrowed an additional sum from Lloyds TSB Bank secured against The Centre and the amount of these improvements have been capitalised in the accounts.

The Church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets the legal title to which is held by the Church's custodian trustee The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd.

The Chapel value was revised in 2019 due to the fact that it was subject to a contract of sale and having been placed on the open market and independently valued the Trustees had accepted an offer of £140,000 for the sale. This sale completed in January 2020 and the resultant funds are held in trust by the BU Corporation on behalf of the church.

In February 2023 the windows at The Centre were upgraded to aluminium from timber windows that were rotting away. The sum of £20,125 has been capitalised for this reason.

During 2024 electrical upgrades were carried out and a new uprated fire alarm system was installed with these capital works amounting to £14,896.

A full breakdown of the trust fund movement is shown in Note 10.

Shown at higher of insured or market value: Church premises (Chapel) - North Street BU Corp Trust Fund re Chapel Sale	Total 2024 £ 147,257	Total 2023 £ 143,976	Total 2023

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity No: 1075784

Notes to the Accounts (cont'd)

s	to the Accounts (cont'd)
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
			Fund	Fund	2024	2023
			£	£	£	£
	Office Furniture
	Desks, Chairs, Cupboards & Computers
	Cost Value
	at 1st January		13,625	-	13,625	13,625
	Additions		-	-	-	-
	at 31st December		13,625	-	13,625	13,625
	Depreciation
	at 1st January		13,625	-	13,625	12,362
	Additions		-	-	-	-
	at 31st December		13,625	-	13,625	13,625
	Net Book Value
	at 1st January		-	-	-	-
	Additions		-	-	-	-
	at 31st December		-	-	-	-
6	Creditors-Amounts Falling Due Within	One Year
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
			Fund	Fund	2024	2023
			£	£	£	£
	Accruals		3,152	-	3,152	2,854
	Deposits Received		350	-	350	350
			3,502	-	3,502	3,204
7	Fund Breakdown:	1st Jan	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	31st Dec
		£	£	£	£	£
	General Fund	394,831	77,424	(48,567)	-	423,688
	Designated Fund	10,788	11,878	(11,396)	(743)	10,527
	Restricted Fund	5,231	4,022	(4,453)	743	5,543
		410,850	93,324	(64,416)	-	439,758
	Restricted Fund Breakdown:	1st Jan	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	31st Dec
		£	£	£	£	£
	Missions	2,188	3,353	(4,453)	743	1,831
	Mustard Seed (Youth Work)	333	669	-	-	1,002
	Other	2,710	-	-	-	2,710
		5,231	4,022	(4,453)	743	5,543
						(0)
					2024	2023
					£	£
	Represented by:		Cash: Funds	held in -
			Missions Account		5,278	5,031
			COIF Account		-	200
			General Fund Account		265	-
					5,543	5,231
			Net Prepayments		-	-
					5,543	5,231
8	Staff costs and remuneration to Trustees:				2024	2023
					£	£
	Salaries				17,410	39,182
	Employer's National Insurance				-	-
	Employer's Pension Contributions				522	1,175
					17,932	40,357

No employee was paid more than £60,000 and the Trustees received no remuneration during the year.

ROMNEY MARSH COMMUNITY CHURCH Registered Charity No: 1075784

Notes to the Accounts (cont'd)

9 Trust Fund

Details of the Trust Fund held on behalf of the Church by Baptist Union Corporation

Date Item Details Jan-20 Proceeds of Sale of The Chapel, North Street New Romney, Kent Jan-20 Agents fees deducted from proceeds Balance credited to Trust Fund Jun-20 Interest added to fund Dec-20 Interest added to fund Trust Fund Balance as at 31-12-20 Jun-21 Interest added to fund Dec-21 Interest added to fund Trust Fund Balance as at 31-12-21 Jun-22 Interest added to fund Dec-22 Interest added to fund Trust Fund Balance as at 31-12-22 Mar-23 Interest added to fund Jun-23 Interest added to fund Sep-23 Interest added to fund Dec-23 Interest added to fund Trust Fund Balance as at 31-12-23 Mar-24 Interest added to fund Jun-24 Interest added to fund Sep-24 Interest added to fund Dec-24 Interest added to fund Trust Fund Balance as at 31-12-24 Trust Fund released as Income credited to RMCC General Fund Allocated by way of:- Expenses charged to RMCC General Fund Increase in Assets in RMCC Balance Sheet Reduction of Liabilities in RMCC Balance Sheet	3,000.00 -£ 265.76 £ 138.00 £ 135.75 £ 148.27 £ 546.41 £ 1,585.24 £ 1,148.24 £ 1,033.12 £ 1,073.76 £ 901.56 £ 897.39 £ 902.97 £ 796.78 £ 683.67 £	140,000.00 £ 3,000.00 -£
		137,000.00 £ 403.76 £
		137,403.76 £ 284.02 £
		137,687.78 £ 2,131.65 £
		139,819.43 £ 4,156.68 £
		143,976.11 £ 3,280.81 £
		147,256.92 £
		- £
		- £ - £ - £
		- £