## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 1 April 2024 To 31 March 2025**
**Charity name: Fords Lane Evangelical Church**
**Charity registration number:**
## **1125658**
## **Objectives and Activities**
|**Objectives and Activities**|**Objectives and Activities**|**Objectives and Activities**|
|---|---|---|
|SORP reference|||
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document
Para 1.17
The advancement of the Christian Faith in
accordance with the Basis of Faith in the UK
and abroad but primarily in the area
surrounding Bramhall, Stockport; and such
other charitable purposes as shall in the
opinion of the Elders further the work of the
Church|||
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.
Para 1.17 and
1.19
The focus of our activities has been and
continues to be the preaching and teaching
of the Christian Faith, conducting weekly
services of worship and prayer, our weekly
clubs and activities for children and youth
and the provision of facilities and secular
activities all for the benefit of the community.|||
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|In planning our activities for the year we kept
in mind at all Elders’ meetings the Charity
Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference|
|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|
||Para 1.38|
|Contribution made by||
|volunteers||
Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
**==> picture [436 x 16] intentionally omitted <==**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**Achievements and Performance**|**Achievements and Performance**|**Achievements and Performance**|
|---|---|---|
|SORP reference|||
||||
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|1. We set up a drop-in on a Thursday for
teenagers who want a place to meet and
chat informally. This was run by our church
and supported by volunteers from other local
churches. We installed a lift giving access to
the youth area for young people with mobility
issues. We continued links with the local
High School and Primary Schools. We did
this via a part-time youth leader, who ran two
weekly lunchtime groups at the local high
school. We continued to host children from
two local primary schools for half-day
sessions to learn what Christians believe
about Christmas and Easter and began
planning and recruiting volunteers for an
Easter holiday club for primary-age children
in the neighbourhood.
2. Our children’s groups have continued this
year, including the club for primary-age
children called Sparks and a weekly club for
secondary age young people called Ignite.
Children and young people from inside and
outside the church membership have
attended and benefited and both groups
continue to grow numerically. Our weekly
group for pre-school children and their
parents/carers, which mainly serves families
outside the church, continues to thrive with a
lengthy waiting list.
3. One of our church members continues to
serve as trustee for ‘Press Red’, a
Manchester-based initiative to help women
suffering from domestic violence and abuse,
which extended its training reach across
England. We also hosted in our church hall
another regular community group for those
suffering from or survivors of domestic
abuse and a regular group for adults with
learning disabilities.
4. Our monthly lunch club for the over 60’s
across the area continues to offer a low-cost
hot meal, friendship and transport if required.
Numbers continued to grow. We continued
to support the planning and running of a
summer “Holiday at Home” week for elderly
local residents less able to take holidays|
independently. We also resumed a craft club which enables attendees to develop their artistic talents and is a place for mutual support and encouragement. 5. Our previous pastor, Jonathan Dawson, continued to work in Ecuador alongside his wife Susan. Jonathan supports adults spiritually through leading a Bible school and Susan leads work to support poor children in the neighbourhood. The church continues to support all this work. 6. The elders of the church continued to provide pastoral support for the whole church membership. A number of them are vulnerable adults, whom we assist with transport, shopping and friendship. We have established a Pastoral Team to oversee this. 7. The flow of foreign nationals, including some of the Hong Kong diaspora, continues. We have carried on supporting these new arrivals practically by advising on and helping them integrate into British life and running a monthly group offering meals, friendship and teaching to help them become more proficient in English language and culture. This group has continued to grow in number. 8. We remain a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) partner with another church in the town. We offer debt advice and practical support to anyone in the area who contacts CAP and wants to become debt-free. This has included providing Christmas hampers of food and food vouchers. Our collections of food donations to the local food bank continued throughout the year. We also continued our annual support for children in the developing world by filling boxes with Christmas gifts and sending them to other countries through a Christian charity. 9. We also host a number of local events to strengthen a sense of community in the neighbourhood including a Remembrance Day brunch and community BBQ. 10. We have continued broadcasting and live-streaming our services over the Internet. For more vulnerable and housebound people, this continues to be a way of keeping in touch and contributing markedly to emotional well-being. 11. We continued to run a 6 weekly group for men both inside and outside the church. It meets over a meal with the opportunity for
men to discuss issues facing them. The group weekend away planned for spring 2024 ran successfully.
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
**==> picture [436 x 396] intentionally omitted <==**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 The Charity was solvent at the end of the
financial position at the end financial year. Income showed a marked
of the period decrease on the previous year but this was
due to a gift from the legatees of one of our
deceased members in the previous year.
There was an decrease in expenditure,
again due to a one-off increase in the
previous year due to the installation of a lift
to allow disabled access to the first floor of
the church hall. The accounts show a
healthy reserve of funds but some of these
are ringfenced for improvements to the
church buildings as stipulated by the donors
of specific gifts. The planned improvements
to the buildings will commence in the next
financial year.
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 Our policy is to accumulate income to set
policy for holding reserves aside for special purposes or as reserves
stating why they are held against future expenditure including
unforeseen expenditure that may occur, for
example repairs or extensions to buildings,
for such period not exceeding that permitted
by law. We aim to hold at least £70,000 in
reserves for the year end.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £219,538
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 n/a
reserves
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 n/a
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 n/a
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47||
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Trust Deed|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Unicorporated Association|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Each elder acts as trustee and elders are
appointed by the elders for the time being|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
**==> picture [439 x 109] intentionally omitted <==**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity name Fords Lane Evangelical Church
Other name the charity uses n/a
Registered charity number 1125658
Charity’s principal address Fords Lane
Bramhall
Stockport
SK7 1DQ
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
**==> picture [498 x 349] intentionally omitted <==**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 C T Thornton Pastor The Elders
2 N Wilson The Elders
3 P E Harper MBE The Elders
4 D R Webb The Elders
5 T K Ayebare The Elders
6 P Parsons The Elders
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
**----- End of picture text -----**
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
**==> picture [436 x 63] intentionally omitted <==**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|n/a|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|n/a|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets|n/a|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of**|**Name**|**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|**adviser**|||
**==> picture [438 x 73] intentionally omitted <==**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
|**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**|(sgnd)
(sgnd)|
|---|---|
||Paul Harper
Chris Thornton|
||
Trustee
Pastor|
||24/01/2026|
||24/01/2026|
## Fords Lane Evangelical Church (1125658)
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE South Brae 6 Ogden Road Branhall Stockport SK7 1HJ GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated 05 August 2008 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1125658 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Philip Parsons MANAGING THE CHARITY Christopher Thornton Terence Ayebare Donald Webb Paul Harper Neil Wilson INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
## **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
## **Fords Lane Evangelical Church**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **31-Mar-25**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Objects of the charity**
The charity which is a church is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a trust. The charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are:
a) the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith in the United Kingdom and abroad but primarily in the area surrounding Stockport and Bramhall.
b) such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the Elders, further the work of the Church
## **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 focus of our activities has been and continues to be the preaching and teaching of the Christian Faith. Conducting weekly services of worship and prayer, our weekly clubs and activities for children and youth and provision of facilities and secular activities all for the benefit of the community.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Financial review**
During the year income decreased by £130,002 to £152,379 (due to a special gift in the previous year), and expenditure decreased by £51,070, to £141,841. As a result the cash held by the charity increased by £10,538, to £219,538, of which £91,008 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £70,000 (which equates to about 6 months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £91,008 so the charity is complying with its reserves policy. Restricted funds were given specifically for improvements to the building that are at the planning stage.
## **Funds in deficit**
The church funds are not in deficit
## **Governance**
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity and plan future activities. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees using the biblical criteria for Eldership.
## **Organisational structure**
The charity is managed by 6 trustees one of whom is the Pastor who is an employee of the charity.
There are approximately 50 volunteers who are active in supporting the charity's activities.
Page 2
## **Relationships with other charities and related parties**
The charity is related to The Mossfield Trust, the charity set up to purchase 11a Fords Lane currently used as the Pastor’s residence. All the trustees of Mossfield Trust are also trustees of Fords Lane Evangelical Church.
The charity does not have any formal relationship with other charities but works with a number of charities that share similar aims e.g. other local churches, The Message Trust etc.
## **Risk statement**
The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks
## **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:
## Neil Wilson
Neil Wilson (Oct 29, 2025 13:29:07 GMT)
Neil Wilson Oct 29, 2025 Date:
_
Page 3
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Fords Lane Evangelical Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025 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.
## Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Nov 19, 2025 07:50:09 GMT)
Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Nov 19, 2025
Page 4
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|||||||Unrestricted|Funds|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||General|Designated||Restricted|||
|||||||Funds||Funds|Funds|2024|2023|
||||||Notes|£||£|£|£|£|
|**_Income receipts_**||||||||||||
|Donations||||||113,047||5,412|10,572|129,031|245,370|
|Gift aid receipts||||||13,648||-|-|13,648|20,555|
|Income from letting of facilities||||||465||-|-|465|875|
|Bank Interest||||||5,038||-|-|5,038|4,530|
|Other||||||4,197||-|-|4,197|11,050|
|||||||136,395||5,412|10,572|152,379|282,381|
|||||||||||||
|**_Total receipts_**||||||136,395||5,412|10,572|152,379|282,381|
|**_Payments_**||||||||||||
|Payments
in
relation
to
activities undertaken directly||||charitable|2|84,926||5,267|6,800|96,993|145,429|
|Grants
paid
in
relation
to
activities undertaken by others||||charitable|3|-||-|44,847|44,847|47,481|
|||||||84,926||5,267|51,647|141,841|192,910|
|||||||||||||
|**_Total payments_**||||||84,926||5,267|51,647|141,841|192,910|
|Net of receipts|/ (payments) before|||||51,469||145|(41,076)|10,538|89,471|
|Transfers between funds|||||5|(54,210)|15,424||38,786|-|-|
|**Net movement in funds**||||||(2,741)|15,569||(2,290)|10,538|89,471|
|Cash funds as|at|last year end||||48,580|29,602||130,819|209,000|119,530|
|**Cash funds at**|**this year end**||||A|45,838|45,170||128,529|219,538|209,000|
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|Notes
**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Cash held by collection providers
Petty cash
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
Legacy debtor
Other debtors
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Loans
Trade creditors
Taxes due
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
**Total**||General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
45,695
45,170
144
-
-
-
45,838
45,170
12,456
-
65,223
-
-
-
77,679
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,380
-
991
-
2,371
-
-
-
2,371
-
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
128,529
-
-
128,529
275
-
-
275
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|2024
£
219,394
144
-
219,538
12,731
65,223
-
77,954
-
-
-
1,380
991
2,371
-
2,371|2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
45,695
144
-
45,838
12,456
65,223
-
77,679
-
-
-
1,380
991
2,371
-
2,371||||
||||||209,000
-
-|
||||||209,000|
||||||-
-
-|
||||||-|
||||||-
-
-
-
-|
||||||-|
|||||||
||||||-|
|||||||
||||||-|
## **D Assets retained for charity's own use**
The charity owns their church building and church hall. Mossfield Trust owns an adjacent residential property which is used by the pastor and family. All the trustees of the Mossfield Trust are also Trustees of Fords Lane Evangelical Church The charity is responsible for the up-keep of all three properties.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## Neil Wilson
Neil Wilson (Oct 29, 2025 13:29:07 GMT) ___________________________________Neil Wilson
Oct 29, 2025 Date:_______________________
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **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**
Staff Costs
Premises
Event Costs
Gifts Given
Activities
Admin
Insurance
Bank charges
Other Expenditure
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Grants to institutions for:
Mission
Relief of poverty
Grant to individuals for:
Mission||Unrestrict|Designated
funds
£
-
1,130
4,137
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,267
-
-
-
-
ed Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
-
5,780
-
620
400
-
-
-
-
6,800
2,790
6,837
35,220
44,847|2024
£
52,869
18,203
9,901
2,500
939
6,214
4,263
445
1,658
96,993
2,790
6,837
35,220
44,847|2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
52,869
11,293
5,764
1,880
539
6,214
4,263
445
1,658
84,926
-
-
-
-|||||
|||||||43,937
61,365
16,498
9,980
2,183
3,552
3,862
200
3,852|
|||||||145,429|
||||||||
|||||||47,481|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
Christopher Thornton served as the church leader and was paid £30,874 for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
Page 7
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **5 Movement of funds**
|**vement of funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|General funds
Designated funds
Events
Lift Project
Maintenance Fund
Missionary and Mission Organisations
Restricted funds
Church Building Project
Church Hall Building Project
Church Weekend
Fund Raising & Projects
Missionary and Mission Organisations
Youth Worker Support
Total funds|Opening
balance
£
48,579
(219)
421
29,400
-
29,602
122,815
10,000
(300)
-
(1,696)
-
130,819
209,000|Receipts
£
136,395
5,412
-
-
-
5,412
1,360
-
-
4,572
4,020
620
10,572
152,379|Payments
£
(84,926)
(4,137)
(1,130)
-
-
(5,267)
(5,780)
-
-
(4,437)
(40,810)
(620)
(51,647)
(141,841)|Transfers
£
(54,210)
-
710
-
14,714
15,424
-
-
300
-
38,486
-
38,786
-|Closing
balance
£
45,838
1,056
-
29,400
14,714|
||||||45,170|
||||||118,395
10,000
-
135
-
-|
||||||128,529|
||||||219,537|
Events Fund is used for activities run by the church that are intended to be self-funded The Lift Fund was for the installation of a disabled lift in the church hall. This project is now complete The maintenance fund is to fund major maintenance and repair projects as required The restricted and designated Missionary funds both support those Missionaries and Mission Organisations that we are associated with.
Church Building Project is to improve the entrance to the church building. Church Hall Building Fund is to extend and improve the church hall. Church Weekend Fund is for the church weekend away which happens every two years. Fund Raising & Projects is use when funds are raised for specific outreach causes. Youth Worker Support are donations given to help the church fund the costs of their youth worker
Page 8
## Fords Lane Evangelical Church (1125658)
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE South Brae 6 Ogden Road Branhall Stockport SK7 1HJ GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated 05 August 2008 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1125658 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Philip Parsons MANAGING THE CHARITY Christopher Thornton Terence Ayebare Donald Webb Paul Harper Neil Wilson INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
## **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
## **Fords Lane Evangelical Church**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **31-Mar-25**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Objects of the charity**
The charity which is a church is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a trust. The charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are:
a) the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith in the United Kingdom and abroad but primarily in the area surrounding Stockport and Bramhall.
b) such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the Elders, further the work of the Church
## **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 focus of our activities has been and continues to be the preaching and teaching of the Christian Faith. Conducting weekly services of worship and prayer, our weekly clubs and activities for children and youth and provision of facilities and secular activities all for the benefit of the community.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Financial review**
During the year income decreased by £130,002 to £152,379 (due to a special gift in the previous year), and expenditure decreased by £51,070, to £141,841. As a result the cash held by the charity increased by £10,538, to £219,538, of which £91,008 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £70,000 (which equates to about 6 months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £91,008 so the charity is complying with its reserves policy. Restricted funds were given specifically for improvements to the building that are at the planning stage.
## **Funds in deficit**
The church funds are not in deficit
## **Governance**
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity and plan future activities. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees using the biblical criteria for Eldership.
## **Organisational structure**
The charity is managed by 6 trustees one of whom is the Pastor who is an employee of the charity.
There are approximately 50 volunteers who are active in supporting the charity's activities.
Page 2
## **Relationships with other charities and related parties**
The charity is related to The Mossfield Trust, the charity set up to purchase 11a Fords Lane currently used as the Pastor’s residence. All the trustees of Mossfield Trust are also trustees of Fords Lane Evangelical Church.
The charity does not have any formal relationship with other charities but works with a number of charities that share similar aims e.g. other local churches, The Message Trust etc.
## **Risk statement**
The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks
## **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:
## Neil Wilson
Neil Wilson (Oct 29, 2025 13:29:07 GMT)
Neil Wilson Oct 29, 2025 Date:
_
Page 3
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Fords Lane Evangelical Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025 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.
## Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Nov 19, 2025 07:50:09 GMT)
Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Nov 19, 2025
Page 4
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|||||||Unrestricted|Funds|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||General|Designated||Restricted|||
|||||||Funds||Funds|Funds|2024|2023|
||||||Notes|£||£|£|£|£|
|**_Income receipts_**||||||||||||
|Donations||||||113,047||5,412|10,572|129,031|245,370|
|Gift aid receipts||||||13,648||-|-|13,648|20,555|
|Income from letting of facilities||||||465||-|-|465|875|
|Bank Interest||||||5,038||-|-|5,038|4,530|
|Other||||||4,197||-|-|4,197|11,050|
|||||||136,395||5,412|10,572|152,379|282,381|
|||||||||||||
|**_Total receipts_**||||||136,395||5,412|10,572|152,379|282,381|
|**_Payments_**||||||||||||
|Payments
in
relation
to
activities undertaken directly||||charitable|2|84,926||5,267|6,800|96,993|145,429|
|Grants
paid
in
relation
to
activities undertaken by others||||charitable|3|-||-|44,847|44,847|47,481|
|||||||84,926||5,267|51,647|141,841|192,910|
|||||||||||||
|**_Total payments_**||||||84,926||5,267|51,647|141,841|192,910|
|Net of receipts|/ (payments) before|||||51,469||145|(41,076)|10,538|89,471|
|Transfers between funds|||||5|(54,210)|15,424||38,786|-|-|
|**Net movement in funds**||||||(2,741)|15,569||(2,290)|10,538|89,471|
|Cash funds as|at|last year end||||48,580|29,602||130,819|209,000|119,530|
|**Cash funds at**|**this year end**||||A|45,838|45,170||128,529|219,538|209,000|
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|Notes
**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Cash held by collection providers
Petty cash
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
Legacy debtor
Other debtors
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Loans
Trade creditors
Taxes due
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
**Total**||General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
45,695
45,170
144
-
-
-
45,838
45,170
12,456
-
65,223
-
-
-
77,679
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,380
-
991
-
2,371
-
-
-
2,371
-
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
128,529
-
-
128,529
275
-
-
275
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|2024
£
219,394
144
-
219,538
12,731
65,223
-
77,954
-
-
-
1,380
991
2,371
-
2,371|2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
45,695
144
-
45,838
12,456
65,223
-
77,679
-
-
-
1,380
991
2,371
-
2,371||||
||||||209,000
-
-|
||||||209,000|
||||||-
-
-|
||||||-|
||||||-
-
-
-
-|
||||||-|
|||||||
||||||-|
|||||||
||||||-|
## **D Assets retained for charity's own use**
The charity owns their church building and church hall. Mossfield Trust owns an adjacent residential property which is used by the pastor and family. All the trustees of the Mossfield Trust are also Trustees of Fords Lane Evangelical Church The charity is responsible for the up-keep of all three properties.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## Neil Wilson
Neil Wilson (Oct 29, 2025 13:29:07 GMT) ___________________________________Neil Wilson
Oct 29, 2025 Date:_______________________
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **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**
Staff Costs
Premises
Event Costs
Gifts Given
Activities
Admin
Insurance
Bank charges
Other Expenditure
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Grants to institutions for:
Mission
Relief of poverty
Grant to individuals for:
Mission||Unrestrict|Designated
funds
£
-
1,130
4,137
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,267
-
-
-
-
ed Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
-
5,780
-
620
400
-
-
-
-
6,800
2,790
6,837
35,220
44,847|2024
£
52,869
18,203
9,901
2,500
939
6,214
4,263
445
1,658
96,993
2,790
6,837
35,220
44,847|2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
52,869
11,293
5,764
1,880
539
6,214
4,263
445
1,658
84,926
-
-
-
-|||||
|||||||43,937
61,365
16,498
9,980
2,183
3,552
3,862
200
3,852|
|||||||145,429|
||||||||
|||||||47,481|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
Christopher Thornton served as the church leader and was paid £30,874 for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
Page 7
## **FORDS LANE EVANGELICAL CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **5 Movement of funds**
|**vement of funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|General funds
Designated funds
Events
Lift Project
Maintenance Fund
Missionary and Mission Organisations
Restricted funds
Church Building Project
Church Hall Building Project
Church Weekend
Fund Raising & Projects
Missionary and Mission Organisations
Youth Worker Support
Total funds|Opening
balance
£
48,579
(219)
421
29,400
-
29,602
122,815
10,000
(300)
-
(1,696)
-
130,819
209,000|Receipts
£
136,395
5,412
-
-
-
5,412
1,360
-
-
4,572
4,020
620
10,572
152,379|Payments
£
(84,926)
(4,137)
(1,130)
-
-
(5,267)
(5,780)
-
-
(4,437)
(40,810)
(620)
(51,647)
(141,841)|Transfers
£
(54,210)
-
710
-
14,714
15,424
-
-
300
-
38,486
-
38,786
-|Closing
balance
£
45,838
1,056
-
29,400
14,714|
||||||45,170|
||||||118,395
10,000
-
135
-
-|
||||||128,529|
||||||219,537|
Events Fund is used for activities run by the church that are intended to be self-funded The Lift Fund was for the installation of a disabled lift in the church hall. This project is now complete The maintenance fund is to fund major maintenance and repair projects as required The restricted and designated Missionary funds both support those Missionaries and Mission Organisations that we are associated with.
Church Building Project is to improve the entrance to the church building. Church Hall Building Fund is to extend and improve the church hall. Church Weekend Fund is for the church weekend away which happens every two years. Fund Raising & Projects is use when funds are raised for specific outreach causes. Youth Worker Support are donations given to help the church fund the costs of their youth worker
Page 8