2025-06-30-accounts - Grace Church Manchester

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Charity Number: 1108310

Grace Church Manchester

Report and financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025

Grace Church Manchester

Reference and administrative information

for the year ended 30 June 2025

Charity number 1108310 Registered office and operational address 247A Wilmslow Road, Rusholme Manchester M14 5LW

Trustees	Trustees who served during	the year and up to the date of this	the year and up to the date of this	report were as
	follows:
	Dr. Sophie Craggs	Trustee
	Rev. Stephen James	Trustee	(External to GCM)	(To July 2024)
	Nnamdi Okolie	Trustee
	Nigel Tate	Trustee	(External to GCM)
	Clare Fundira	Trustee		(From July 2024)
	Ro Mody	Trustee	(External to GCM)	(From July 2024)
Staff	Peter Horlock	Senior Pastor
	Jeremy Poyner	Associate Pastor		(To August 2024)
	Emily Horlock	Administrator
	Grace Fulford	Ministry Development Worker
Bankers	The Co-operative Bank
	PO Box 101
	1 Balloon Street
	Manchester
	M60 4EP
Independent	Jennifer Daniel FCCA DChA
Examiner	Slade & Cooper
	Beehive Mill
	Jersey Street
	Manchester M4 6JG

Grace Church Manchester

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 30 June 2025

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2025.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the charity’s trust deed and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in the governing document

a) To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of beliefs (which appears as a schedule in The Declaration of Trust) hereto particularly but not exclusively amongst students in Manchester and in such other parts of the UK or the world as the trustees may from time to time think fit and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the Trust.
b) To relieve persons who are in conditions of need or hardship or who are aged or sick and to relieve the distress caused thereby in Manchester and in such other parts of the UK or the world as the trustees may from time to time think fit.T

The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remain focused on its stated purposes.

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects

The main activities of Grace Church over the 2024-2025 financial year in relation to our charitable objectives are described below.

a) To advance the Christian faith

Sunday Services and Mid-week groups

The church does not have its own building and so continues to hire out a local school on a Sunday morning for our weekly meetings. There are around 115 people over the age of 11 attending each week. We have a time of bible teaching, sung worship, prayer and we provide children’s ministry for creche age through to year 6. We are a culturally diverse but youthful church (average age range 2040) with a high turnover due to the transient nature of city living and changes in circumstances in this people group. We see ourselves as a ‘sending church’ investing in people for a season, aiming to equip believers to then be scattered wherever God takes them.

Our mid-week groups meet in people’s homes across the local area. They consist of individuals and families meeting together to encourage one another with mutual support, bible study and prayer. The groups focus on building a day-to-day gospel presence across the city and are based on geographical location or mission affinity. The leaders of these groups are supported with periodic training sessions.

Grace Church Manchester

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 30 June 2025

Childrens and Youth Ministry

On Sundays we see on average 25-30 children in Creche, Kids Club and Explorers which are our teaching and activity groups from children aged 6 months to 10/11 years old. These meet during the morning service. We have a youth ministry on a Sunday evening for High School students that now meets in a local community centre as of September 2024 to accommodate the growing numbers (from 6 members to an average 12 per week) The leadership team is made up of our Ministry Development Worker and five volunteers.

Student Ministry

Our student ministry continues to encourage and equip students to grow in their knowledge and joy of the faith and to live and speak for Jesus at University. The team has seen some change in leadership this year with three leaders moving on and two new leaders joining the team. All leaders are church members that volunteer their time, and it continues to meet weekly in term time in a home, with an average of 15 students attending. There is food, fellowship, and a bible study. They also offer one-toone ministry and pastoral care in the week and host a weekend away in January.

Staff

The Church employs one full time Minister, one Ministry Development Worker and a part time Administrator. Our Associate Pastor ceased employment in August 2024, moving on to pursue full time theological training.

Training

There have been many training opportunities for both Staff and Volunteers over the last year including: safeguarding, youth and children' s leaders Fortify day, Crosslands online Intercultural Church course, FIEC National Conference and local church day.

Mission and Partnership

The church is involved in a range of local outreach initiatives, including the following:

Running a weekly toddler group for pre-school children with the aim of providing support and friendship to parents and carers.
Running a community choir in Fallowfield twice a month. They perform at local events throughout the year including our Christmas Carol Service.
Meeting regularly to clean up a local park in the Old Moat ward to serve the community.
Partnering with Friends International’s iCafé initiative, providing a conversation cafe for international students and academic visitors.
The Ministry Development Worker engaged with a local primary school leading a children’s choir.
Women’s ministry events which include bible studies, termly breakfasts and social meet ups.
In May, Friends International, a local mission partner celebrated their 40th Anniversary, our pastor was on the organising committee for the dinner event and several people from GCM attended.

We work closely with a number of local churches to help equip and serve one another sharing resources, training opportunities and wisdom to help further the work of the gospel in Manchester.

We also continue to support 6 overseas mission partners around the world both in prayer and financially. These include a number of church planting and leadership initiatives in France, Pakistan and Turkey. We also support 3 UK mission partners.

Grace Church Manchester

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 30 June 2025

b) To relieve persons who are in conditions of need or hardship

As a church, we had a charity collection for The River Manchester.

Direct relief of hardship has been given to those that have approached the leadership or been referred by members, with two recipients over this financial year.

We have continued to support members of the church with a range of pastoral needs. Our pastoral care structure aims to provide support practically, as well as providing a system for people to refer issues that are more serious than they feel able to deal with, to the elders or other trained members and services.

Achievements and performance

The charity's main activities and who it tries to help are described below. All its charitable activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.

4 new church members joined GCM in Spring 2025. We had new undergraduate and graduate students begin attending the church with the new academic year.
We have also seen people move on from Grace church with fond farewells and sent with our prayers into their next season of life, including our Associate Pastor and his family and one of our Elders and his family. We installed 4 new volunteer Elders in November 2024
We continue to have a large team of volunteers who serve both on Sunday morning and throughout the week.
Monthly prayer meetings, monthly book clubs for both the men’s and the women’s are well attended.
We have a Safeguarding team that oversees the documents, training and recruitment needed to keep our volunteers above reproach.
We have a finance team that oversee the church finances, sharing relevant information with the church family at quarterly church family meetings and also liaising with the Trustees.

A few highlights:

The Church appointed three new Elders on November 10th 2024 following Eldership training and consultation with church members, who gave unanimous support.
The Church has received teaching on a number of topics and biblical series including sermon series from: Luke - ‘Meals with Jesus’, 1Peter - ‘Chosen exiles on God’s mission,’ Advent Series in Micah, Luke and John, Genesis 37-50: God's Plan For Saving Lives, and Acts part 2
We held a 20th anniversary celebration for the church. John Hindley, an Elder at the time of the church’s establishment, came to preach.
Various church members hosted or attended ‘Lunches in homes’.
Over 60 members of the church family participated in a progressive dinner hosted in different homes for each course.
Emunah ensemble group put on a Spring evangelistic concert which was jointly supported with another local church and well attended.
The church held two carol services with attendance of 179 at the traditional service and many at the family carols including a number of guests.
Women’s Christmas bowling social saw many attend with some church members bringing friends. It was a fun and inclusive event.
The students enjoyed a weekend in Edale, 16 attended. There was time for teaching, fellowship and food.

Grace Church Manchester

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 30 June 2025

Financial review

Reserves policy

We continue to hold reserve funds of £15,000 which is felt sufficient to meet any unforeseen needs or commitments.

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is an unincorporated charity, registered as a charity on 10th February 2005 in England and Wales. The charity is constituted under a trust deed which was last amended on 1st June 2014. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity. All trustees give their time voluntarily. Those who receive benefits from the charity are outlined in note 5 of the accounts. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 5 to the accounts.

In line with the trust deed, a trustee is appointed by a resolution of the trustees passed by a majority. This is recorded in the meeting minutes and signed by the new trustee and the meeting chair as evidence of the appointment. We seek to have external and internal trustees as recommended by the FIEC. All trustees declare their agreement with the Statement of Beliefs.

Related parties and relationships with other organisations

During the course of this financial year, we were members of two external organisations. The first of these is a national group of churches called the FIEC (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches). The FIEC provides training support for church leaders as well as legal, and governance support for church leadership teams. Pete attended the Leadership conference in November 2024 and both Jez and Pete attended their regional meeting in May. We pay an annual membership support gift to the North West Gospel Partnership. Whilst this is not a subscription, it helps support the work of the partnership which we benefit from throughout the year.

Grace Church Manchester

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 30 June 2025

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They 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 responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 23/03/2026 and signed on their behalf by

Name: DR. SOPHIE CRAGGS

Title: Trustee

Independent examiner’s report

to the members of

Grace Church Manchester

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30th June 2025 which are set out on pages 8 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Jennifer Daniel FCCA DChA

Slade & Cooper Limited, Chartered Certified Accountants Beehive Mill, Jersey Street Manchester, M4 6JG

Date: 02/04/2026

Grace Church Manchester

Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 30 June 2025

Unrestricted funds Note £ Receipts Donations, Legacies and Grants 3 143,888 Gift Aid Receipts 27,821 4 79 11,558 Total receipts 183,346 Payments 101,463 Property Expenses 2,486 Facilities 16,883 Ministry Costs 13,975 Children/Youth Ministry 4,312 Admin Costs 10,414 Professional Fees 4,922 Grants Payable for Missionary Support 20,483 Relief of Poverty 570 Total payments 175,508 7,838 Transfer between funds (5,370) Surplus/(deficit) 2,468 Income from Charitable Activities Net receipts/(payments) Other Income Staff Costs including Pensions and Expenses	Restricted funds £ 800 - - - 800 5,370 - - - - - - - - 5,370 (4,570) 5,370 800	Total funds 2025 £ 144,688 27,821 79 11,558 184,146 106,833 2,486 16,883 13,975 4,312 10,414 4,922 20,483 570 180,878 3,268 - 3,268	Total funds 2024 £ 185,643 36,553 502 9,125
			*231,823*
			129,671 10,197 15,958 15,382 840 10,069 4,129 19,233 821
			206,300
			*25,523* -
			*25,523*

Grace Church Manchester

Statement of assets and liabilities

as at 30 June 2025

Unrestricted funds Note £ 71,125 2,468 73,593 Assets retained for the charity's own use Property: 62 The Gallery Endowment Cash funds Bank and cash balances at start of year Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and payments account Bank and cash balances at end of year	Restricted funds £ - 800 800	Total funds 2025 £ 71,125 3,268 74,393 Cost £ 139,000	Total funds 2024 £ 45,602 25,523
			*71,125*

Approved by the trustees on 30/03/2026 and signed on their behalf by:

Sophie (Trustee) Craggs

Grace Church Manchester

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025

1 Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts & Payments basis.

2 Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

3 Income from Donations, Legacies and Grants

Unrestricted £ Donations, Legacies and Grants 143,888 Gift Aid Receipts 27,821 171,709 Restricted income from donations and legacies Unrestricted income from donations and legacies	Restricted £ 800 - 800 2025 £ 800 171,709 172,509	Total 2025 £ 144,688 27,821
		172,509
		2024 £ 2,833 219,363
		222,196

Grace Church Manchester

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025 (continued)

4 Receipts from charitable activities

Income from Charitable Activities Other	Unrestricted £ 79 11,558 11,637	Restricted £ - - -	2025 £ 79 11,558
			11,637

5 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

Neither trustees or persons connected with them received any remuneration during the year .

One trustee received travel and subsistence expenses during the year of £42 (2024: £43).

No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity, including guarantees, during the year.

Grace Church Manchester

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025 (continued)

6 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

Total Donations, Legacies and Grants: JP Support Building Fund	Balance at 1 July 2024 £ - - -	Receipts £ - 800 800	Payments £ (5,370) - (5,370)	Transfers £ 5,370 - 5,370	Balance at 30 June 2025 £ - 800
					800

7 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

General fund	Balance at 1 July 2024 £ 71,125 71,125	Receipts £ 183,346 183,346	Payments £ (175,508) (175,508)	Transfers £ (5,370) (5,370)	As at 30 June 2025 £ 73,593
					73,593