The Majestic Church
DRAFT Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
Charity number 1076156 (Registered in England & Wales)
Contents
| Contents | |
|---|---|
Reference and Administrative Information |
3 |
| Structure, Governance and Management | 4 |
| Objectives and Activities | 5 |
| Achievements and Performance | 6 |
| Plans for Future | 6 |
| Financial Review | 6 |
| Members of the Trustee Body | 7 |
2
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity Name
The Majestic Church
Charity Registration No. 1076156
Registered Office and operational address: Majestic Building, Albert Road, Barnoldswick, Lancashire BB18 5AA
Elders
Mr David Lord Mr Garry Pearson (Lead Elder)
Trustees
Ron Ellerton (co-opted from 28.09.22) Mr John Hawthorn
Mrs Suzanne Hawthorn (treasurer until 31.03.23 and Chair from 01.03.23) David Taylor (Chairman until 01.03.23)
Treasurer
Mrs Suzanne Hawthorn
Administrator
Mrs Catherine Taylforth
Independent Examiner
Mr Tom Atkinson, William Fortune & Sons, Chartered Accountants, Collingwood House, Church Square, Hartlepool TS24 7EN
Bankers
Reliance Bank Ltd., Faith House, 23-24 Lovat Lane, London, EC3R 8EB Skipton Building Society, Albion House, Church Street, Barnoldswick BB18 5UT
3
Structure, Governance and Management
ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT
The operational leadership of the charity is provided by the elders, who are in turn recognised and supported by the wider regional structure of Christ Central Churches (which is committed to building the church according to New Testament principles) under the leadership of Jeremy Simpkins. The trustees are responsible for the management of the charity which is also affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance. The elders of the church are:
Mr David Lord
Mr Garry Pearson (Lead Elder)
GOVERNING BODY
The organisation is an incorporated charity with trustees elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the church in accordance with the Trust Deed and the Constitution. These provide for a minimum of three and a maximum of seven persons who carry legal responsibility for the charity. The trustees are required to meet at least four times a year. The trustees met on the following dates:
11[th] May 2022, 22[nd] June 2022, 16[th] August 2022, 28[th] September 2022, 9[th] November 2022, 18[th] January 2023, 15[th] March 2023
Due to a delay in the accounts being forwarded to the accountants, the AGM (2021/22) took place on 1[st] March 2023. The responsibilities were assumed during 2022/2023 as follows:
Chairman - D Taylor (until 01.03.23) - S Hawthorn (from 01.03.23) Deputy Chair - Minute-taker - S Hawthorn (until 15.03.23) - J Hawthorn (from 15.03.23) Treasurer - S Hawthorn Human resources - By the board of trustees Health and Safety - R Ellerton (co-opted)
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustee Body
The charity trustees for the purposes of charity law are known as members of the Trustee Body. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the members of the Trustee Body are elected to serve for a period of three years after which they can be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting.
New Trustees are recruited by direct invitation from the Trustee Body and are identified either by the Trustee Body or by referral to the Trustees. In extending invitations account is taken of the skills present and needed within the Trustee Body. Potential Trustees are invited to attend Trustee meetings as observers and are enabled to familiarise themselves with the organisation. Once mutual agreement as to the suitability of the appointment has been established new Trustees may be appointed to serve as co-opted trustees on the Trustee Body until the next Annual General Meeting.
4
Trustee Induction and Training
Currently new Trustees receive familiarisation during the pre-election period of their association with the Board. Familiarisation includes: sitting in on Trustee meetings, an introduction to the various aspects of the work, including strategic planning documents.
Relevant guidance publications from regulatory bodies are provided to all new Trustees. If deemed necessary, Trustees will be encouraged to attend relevant training and refresher courses on an ongoing basis.
Objectives and activities
Charitable Objectives
The objects of the charity are to encourage a wide range of activities which provide benefit to active members of the church and the wider communities in the West Craven district (including Barnoldswick, Earby etc.) and beyond. The charity carries out charitable activities for the public benefit.
Primary Objectives
-
To seek, save, and disciple the lost
-
To relieve those in poverty; and support those in special need
Activities in support of Primary objectives
The following top level objectives have been agreed:
-
to be actively engaged in mission outreach, through
-
involvement with the town events
-
inter-church mission events across the wider region
-
individual and team participation in outreach abroad.
-
to respond to the needs of the people of the local area through social action.
-
provide courses, such as Freedom in Christ, Friendship First and Joining the Family, for the church community to grow
Risk Management
The Trustees are constantly reviewing the churches objectives and policies, including risk assessments, currently there are no major risks to which the Charity is exposed, nor were there policy issues to be addressed. Responsibility for monitoring and action rests with the Trustees.
Organisational Structure
Day to day operational leadership is delegated by the Trustee Body to the Lead Elder (LE). The Trustee Body is a policy making Body, having adopted the Carver principles of governance. It sets policies that are needed and sets policies for the strategic ends of the Charity for a rolling plan that is reviewed each year. For governance, the Trustee Body
5
interfaces with the LE, who is free to make decisions within the bounds of the strategic plan and governance parameters. The LE is invited to all trustee meetings and provides progress against objectives and the strategic plan, and any exceptions to governance parameters.
Achievements and Performance
External redecoration/repair has taken place
Have been able to provide food parcels at Christmas from Josef Fund.
We continue to hold a community lunch each week
Tea & Toast – a ‘warm space’ initiative through Winter 22/23 to help with cost of living crisis.
Involvement with Hope Barlick and Town Council projects throughout the year
Plans for Future Periods
To continue providing Tea & Toast after school, once the winter is over, as well as the community lunch.
To continue to provide financial assistance to local charities where possible.
Planning events alongside local community events (Hope Barlick and Barnoldswick Town Council) where possible.
The trustees are aware of the need to repair/replace the false ceiling in the fellowship room, but it has been agreed to put this on hold until finances are at a greater level.
Financial Review
Presentation of the financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with The Charities Act (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and The Charity Commission Statement of Recommended Practice 2005 Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have set a policy on reserves that there should be sufficient for normal expenditure of a minimum of 3 months.
Investment Policy
Funds that are not required to meet expenditure are invested in the short term in a deposit account. The Charity therefore does not seek to invest for the sake of income
Principal funding resources
Our total income including the restricted for the financial period 1st April 2022 - 31st March 2023 was £48,688.
Our total expenditure including the restricted for the same period was £43,048.
6
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The Charities Act require the trustees (under Charity Law) to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial period. In preparing those financial statements, trustees follow best practice and:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and
-
prepare the financial statements unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are also responsible for the contents of the Annual Report, and the responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the Trustees Report is limited to examining the report and that ensuring on the face of the report there are no inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (revised 2005).
Members of the Trustee Body
The Trustees, who are trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 3.
In accordance with charity law, as the trustees of the charity, we certify that:
-
so far as we are aware, there is no relevant financial information of which the charities Independent Examiner was unaware; and
-
we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant financial information and to establish that the Charity’s Independent Examiner is aware of that information.
Independent Examiner
Tom Atkinson of William Fortune & Sons was appointed as the charity’s Independent Examiner and has expressed his willingness to continue in that capacity.
Suzanne Hawthorn (Chair of Trustees)
7
MAJESTIC CHURCH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31ST MARCH 2023
| CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND Reliance Current account Skipton BS Cash REPRESENTED BY Unrestricted funds Creditors |
'2023 '2022 6,536 2,164 5,299 4,867 314 0 |
|---|---|
| 12,149 7,031 | |
| 12,149 6,509 0 522 |
|
| 12,149 7,031 |
MAJESTIC CHURCH
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 1ST APRIL 2022 TO 31ST MARCH 2023 INCOMING RESOURCES Donations Tax reclaimed under gift aid Room Hire Sundry income Bank interest RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable giving Music Visiting speakers Management and administration Salaries and administration Insurances DBS & safeguarding Light, heat and water Plus Equipment repairs Building repairs Postage, stationery and office supplies Subscriptions and licenses Bank charges Sundry expenses Surplus (Previous year deficit) |
'2023 '2022 40,580 25,066 4,442 3,258 2,740 2,277 875 508 51 32 |
|---|---|
| 48,688 31,141 | |
| 2,186 2,762 45 692 600 440 22,600 22,854 3,241 2,433 0 0 3,327 3,732 0 371 0 1,690 9,001 410 1,170 533 790 577 88 76 0 221 |
|
| 43,048 36,791 | |
| 5,640 -5,650 |
2
MAJESTIC CHURCH Charitable Giving FOR THE YEAR 1ST APRIL 2022 TO 31ST MARCH 2023
| Adopt a child Ministries Christ Central Food for thought Josef's fund Messy events Other giving Sunday school |
216 50 900 244 194 53 346 183 |
|---|---|
| 2,186 |
3
Independent eiaminer's report to the Trustees on the unaudited fillancial statements of the M2jesti¢ Church I report on the accounts of the Charity- England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 2023, which comprise the statement of financial activities and the balance sheet and as are sel out on the attached page. These financial statements have been pr¢pared und¢r the historical cost convention and the accounting polici¢s set out therein. Respective rcspoDsibilities of trustees and examiner As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, you consider that the audit requirement of section 144(a) of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Act), does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under sectioTr 145 of the Act, to follow procedures specified in tbe general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 156 of the A¢t, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attenlion. Basis of independent examiner's report My examinhtion was ¢affied out in accordance with the general Directions given by the chlty Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting recoTds kept by the charity and a comparlson of the accounts presented with those recoTds. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trust¢¢s oncerning any such matters. The proeedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audlt opinion on the view given by the a¢¢ounts. Independent examiner's stlltement In conncction with my examination, no matter has come to my attention. Which gives me reasonable cause to beli¢ve that in any material respect the requirements: To keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and To prepare statements which accord with the a¢¢ounting records and Comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met- or To which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of tlle accounts to be reached. Independent exami er Thomas Atkinson FCA Senior Statutory Auditor Wm Fortune & Son Collingwood House Church Square Hartlepool TS24 7EN