Mangravet Church working as Grace Community Church (Maidstone)
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2021
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
MANGRAVET CHURCH WORKING AS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (MAIDSTONE)
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Grace Community Church Grove Road Maidstone Kent ME15 9AR GOVERNING DOCUMENT Deed of Trust dated 15 May 2007 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1119181 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Anthony Rogers (stood down 20/09/2021) MANAGING THE CHARITY Malcolm Thwaites (stood down 12/07/2021) Jonathan Smith (stood down 17/04/2021) Charles Keith Alan Nash Dave Thompson (appointed 20/09/2021) Su Mcfadden (appointed 25/07/2022) BANKERS The Co-operative Bank plc Business Directplus INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jacob Farley ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8-9 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
MANGRAVET CHURCH WORKING AS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (MAIDSTONE)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2021.
Objects of the charity
The Trust seeks to demonstrate the Christian faith in the following ways:
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The advancement of the Christian religion both in the UK and overseas,
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The relief of the poor, sick, disabled and homeless.
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The advancement, for the public benefit, of religious or other education.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
The Church is not a building, but a gathering of people of different ages and backgrounds, whose lives have been changed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The New Testament reveals the Church as a community of people, properly taught and cared for, who by loving and serving Jesus Christ, were also committed to love and care for each other and to being a blessing to the area in which they live.
Grace Community Church, its Church Leaders, it’s Trustees and members are committed to the restoration of the New Testament principles. It is not alone in this. It is one of many churches in the area, nation and world wide that is rediscovering the excitement of knowing Jesus Christ. The vision is to see the community around Grace Community Church come to experience knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and friend.
The year in question continued with Sunday morning services being on-line until the end of April 2021, when meetings were able to resume at the church building. Prayer meetings were also moved online but a short series of small group meeting were able to take place in-person at the church building on Saturdays. A number of outdoor fellowship activities were also held to respond to the dangers of social isolation as a result of lockdown.
Other activities of the church have been severely hampered by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing restrictions but have included -
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A small number of events for young people;
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A weekly club for the elderly;
Church volunteers have also been involved with other initiatives including –
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Distribution of ‘Good News’ newspaper
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MacMillan Coffee Morning;
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Maidstone Street Pastors;
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Starfish Malawi;
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Life Café and food parcels.
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In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
When coronavirus restrictions have allowed, the church buildings have been used on a daily basis by a local pre-school, which has about 25 children on its roll.
The church premises are used as a Polling Station and, in normal times, regularly hired by the local community for events such as children's parties and other family life celebrations. Once lockdown was lifted Sunday services resumed in the church building whilst weekly home group meetings remained online.
Most the charity's activities are undertaken by volunteers and the charity could not operate effectively without their efforts.
The church continues to support the work of Maidstone Street Pastors, The Family Trust and bible correspondence courses in southern Africa, all with prayer and finance.
From July 2020 until May 2021, Pastor Charles Keith took alternative, secular, employment. During this time Pastor Becky Keith was instead salaried, on a part-time basis. From May 2021 Charles Keith’s employment resumes, but also on a part-time basis.
Financial review
Unrestricted income was £56,905 which after expenditure and transfers, resulted in a surplus for the year of £12,848.
At the end of August a contract was signed with Vernacular Homes Ltd to design and build phase 1 of a new annex to replace our life expired wooden buildings. Work started immediately. During the year £2,204 was donated to the Restricted Building Fund and the Trustees designated a further £10,575 of General funds to be set aside for the building project.
£977 was spent on professional services for the building project, leaving the Restricted Building Fund standing at £95,665. Together with monies from General Funds previously designated by the trustees for the project, the total Building Fund at the end of the year was £247,382. Whilst this sum is not sufficient to cover all of Phase 1, the trustees are confident that with continued fund raising and successful grant applications the cost will be met.
The Trustees set a cautious budget and continued to monitor commitments and reserves on a monthly basis. Forecast outturns compared to the budget were also reviewed regularly. The congregation have continued to support the church with their giving.
Reserves policy
In the event of unforeseen financial circumstances historically the church has, through the generosity and commitment of church members, met any needs as they have arisen. It is the Trustees policy to have a three-month surplus of funds, circa £8,500. At the year- end the unrestricted general reserves are in excess of this at £23,105.
Looking forward to the next year, with the equivalent of a full-time pastor, the reserves target will be £13,000.
Governance
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust.
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New trustees are appointed by the Church Leadership Team. Any appointed trustees are people appointed from within the church and have proved themselves in integrity and the shared vison for the aims of Grace Community Church. One of the trustees, Charles Keith, is employed as part-time pastor. He, Becky Keith and Alan Nash are also part of the Church Leadership Team.
The church is in fellowship with the Assemblies of God in Great Britain and the Evangelical Alliance and is also part of Churches together in Maidstone.
Responsibilities of trustees
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:
Alan Nash
Date: 11 April 2022
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
MANGRAVET CHURCH WORKING AS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (MAIDSTONE)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Mangravet Church working as Grace Community Church (Maidstone) ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2021 on pages 6 to 9 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.
Jacob Farley ACA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 27 April 2022
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MANGRAVET CHURCH WORKING AS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (MAIDSTONE)
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
| Unrestricted | Funds | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | |||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Income receipts | |||||||||
| Donations | 38,076 | - | 2,319 | 40,395 | 47,424 | ||||
| Gift aid receipts | 8,568 | - | 255 | 8,823 | 10,276 | ||||
| Hire of premises | 8,360 | - | - | 8,360 | 7,678 | ||||
| Interest received | 575 | - | - | 575 | 406 | ||||
| Sale of Property | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Other | 1,325 | - | - | 1,325 | 2,948 | ||||
| Total receipts | 56,905 | - | 2,574 | 59,479 | 68,731 | ||||
| Payments | |||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 32,882 | - | 1,327 | 34,209 | 55,601 | ||
| Grants paid in | relation to | charitable | |||||||
| activities undertaken by others | 3 | 600 | - | - | 600 | 3,873 | |||
| Total payments | 33,482 | - | 1,327 | 34,809 | 59,474 | ||||
| Net of receipts / (payments) before | |||||||||
| transfers | 23,423 | - | 1,247 | 24,670 | 9,257 | ||||
| Transfers between funds | (10,575) | 10,575 | - | - | - | ||||
| Net movement in funds | 12,848 | 10,575 | 1,247 | 24,670 | 9,257 | ||||
| Cash funds as at | last year end | 10,258 | 141,141 | 94,438 | 245,837 | 236,581 | |||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 23,106 | 151,716 | 95,685 | 270,507 | 245,837 |
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
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MANGRAVET CHURCH WORKING AS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (MAIDSTONE)
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Petty cash B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Fee for Independent Examination Building project |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 23,096 151,716 9 - 23,106 151,716 2,814 - 2,814 - 960 - 35,752 151,716 36,712 151,716 Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 95,685 - 95,685 139 139 - 95,665 95,665 |
2021 £ 270,498 9 270,507 2,953 2,953 960 283,134 284,094 |
2020 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 245,828 10 |
||||
| 245,837 | ||||
| 2,923 | ||||
| 2,923 | ||||
| 960 - |
||||
| 960 |
The liability for the Building Project is repayable in stages and the Trustees are confident that sufficient funds will be avalbel to the charity to meet this cost full.
D Assets retained for charity's own use
| Freehold Building Equipment |
Fund to which asset belongs General General |
Current value £ |
|---|---|---|
| 485,250 46,630 |
||
| 531,880 |
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by Alan Nash date 11 April 2022
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
MANGRAVET CHURCH WORKING AS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (MAIDSTONE)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
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.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Salaries Assemblies of God Contribution Children's Work - Resources Outreach & Fellowship Ministry and Fellowship Gifts Administration Building Maintenance Building Project Utilities & Insurance Licences & subscriptions Accounts Prep & Examination Ministry, Conferences & Other Expenses 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Grants for: Overseas mission Relief of poverty |
Unrestricted Fu General funds £ 22,498 1,645 97 1,741 491 1,317 814 - 2,207 1,094 960 16 32,882 600 - 600 |
nds Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - 977 - - - 350 1,327 - - - |
Total 2021 £ 22,498 1,645 97 1,741 491 1,317 814 977 2,207 1,094 960 366 34,209 600 - 600 |
Total 2020 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34,305 1,824 76 1,900 872 1,759 2,608 4,953 4,246 988 972 1,098 |
|||||
| 55,601 | |||||
| 3,682 191 |
|||||
| 3,873 |
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MANGRAVET CHURCH WORKING AS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH (MAIDSTONE)
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021
4 Transactions with related parties
Charles Keith served as church leader and was paid £5,500 (2020: £24,650) and a pension contribution of £540 (2020: £812) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; this payment is permitted by the charity's governing document.
Rebecca Keith, spouse of Charles Keith a trustee, served as church leader and was paid £12,500 (2020: £1,281) and a pension contribution of £375 (2020: £38); this payment is permitted by the charity's governing document.
No other amounts were paid or are payable to any trustee or to any person connected to them other than the reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the charity.
5 Movement of funds
| General funds Designated Building Fund Designated AOG Zone Days Restricted funds Building Fund Starfish Other Total funds |
Balance at 31.08.20 £ 10,258 141,141 - 151,399 94,438 - - 94,438 245,837 |
Receipts £ 56,905 - - 56,905 2,204 20 350 2,574 59,479 |
Payments £ (33,482) - - (33,482) (977) - (350) (1,327) (34,809) |
Transfers £ (10,575) 10,575 - - - - - - - |
Balance at 31.08.21 £ 23,106 151,716 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 174,822 | |||||
| 95,665 20 - |
|||||
| 95,685 | |||||
| 270,507 |
The Building Fund is for the replacement of two life expired wooden buildings with a single modern, purpose-built annexe to enhance facilities for the church and the local community.
The Starfish Malawi Fund is for a Christian organisation whose mission is to reduce extreme poverty and build the Kingdom of God in the lives of children, through collaborative work within communities, schools and churches in the UK and Malawi.
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