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2024-03-31-accounts

Wilmslow United Reformed Church Charity

Trustees’ report and financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Trustees’ report and financial statements

Contents

Legal and administrative information 3
Trustees’ report 4
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7
Notes to the financial statements 8
Treasurer’s statement 16
Independent examiner’s report 17

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Legal and administrative information

Charity Name: Wilmslow United Reformed Church Charity (Wilmslow URC)
Registered Charity Number: 1128170
Minister/Trustee Revd Dr KE Thorpe (retired on 31 July 2023)
Elders/Trustees Dr M Arnell (appointed 1 January 2024)
Mr P Bradley
Mrs A Brander
Mrs A Dean
Mr M Duguid (appointed 1 January 2024)
Dr I Duncan (stood down from office 31 December 2023)
Mrs E Gilliland
Mrs N Moss
Mrs T Shepherd
Mrs W Williams
Mrs F Wood (appointed 1 January 2024)
Mr R Wood
Mr S Wood
Church Address: Chapel Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 1PR
Independent Examiner: Teresa Fennell ACMA, CGMA
It Doesn't Have to Cost the Earth Ltd
47 St Dunstans Close
Worcester
WR5 2AJ
Bankers: NatWest Bank plc
4 Grove Street
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 1EJ

3

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Trustees’ report

The elders, acting as trustees, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Structure, governance and management

The minister and elders are the trustees of the charity as defined under the Charities Act 2011.

The responsibilities of elders are defined in the Basis of Union which was the founding document of the United Reformed Church. The minister and elders are responsible for leading the church; fostering the spiritual development of the congregation; giving pastoral care to the congregation, ensuring that public worship is held on a regular basis and exercising stewardship over the church’s property and finances. Elders are church members elected, normally for a three-year term, by the church meeting. The elders normally meet once a month and the meetings are usually chaired by the minister.

Many of the elders’ responsibilities are delegated to several teams covering Worship, Outreach, Finance, Premises and Property. These teams have members some of whom are elders and they report to the elders’ meeting.

Church meetings are normally held quarterly and are open to all members of the church; all major decisions affecting the church are made by church meeting.

The governing document is in line with an approved instrument issued by the United Reformed Church.

Objectives and activities

The church is committed to providing public worship open to all; having a programme of Christian education for all ages; providing social and recreational activities for all ages; giving pastoral support to the congregation; providing premises, resources and services to the local community.

The elders declare that they have complied with the duty imposed by the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. Worship is open to all and all are welcome. The church premises are used by both church groups and other social, community and commercial organisations.

Achievements and performance

A public worship service is conducted every Sunday morning and a monthly mid-week service designed for those who struggle to attend on a Sunday morning has also continued over the past year. Messy Church continues on the first Sunday each month and continues to be highly appreciated. There is also Modern Believers, a faith-based discussion group.

The year has seen the Community Café held on Monday and Wednesday mornings continue the development of its outreach mission. The support for Wilmslow Youthwork, the charity set up in 2019 has continued through the year and makes a significant difference in the lives of young people and their families in and around Wilmslow and links with Wilmslow High School continue to be developed.

The social, study and recreational activities include a badminton club, bowling club, quilters group and book club. A fellowship group meet regularly on Mondays with speakers and social events. These groups and the uniformed youth organisations which meet on our premises are open to and attended by people who are not church members.

Pastoral care is provided through a network led by two support coordinators to offer the best possible and most relevant support to those members of the congregation with pastoral needs. The network is organised to coordinate the many members who volunteer to offer services such as home visiting to the sick or lonely and transport for those with limited mobility. There is also a much-valued Prayer chain.

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Trustees’ report (continued)

Review of the year

The past twelve months has seen two significant events in the life of the church.

After 15 years of ministry with us our Minister, Revd Dr Kirsty Thorpe retired and finished her time with us at the end of July 2023. The accounts include donations towards a leaving gift for Kirsty under special offerings and donations and the cost of the gifts under secretarial expenses.

The church also discussed and asked for a move between Synods in the URC. The process to come to this decision and request came after a lot of prayer and discussion. Synod resolutions were approved in October 2023 and the URC Assembly Executive approved the move in February 2024. Wilmslow United Reformed Church moved to the Mersey Synod on 31 March 2024.

Financial review

The church's principal funding comes from freewill giving which was down on the previous year but lettings income from the use of the church buildings increased as we continued to promote the use of the premises to the community.

Expenditure in the year was ahead of budgeted figure, £163,885, as in some areas additional expenditure was approved and with some increased costs linked to inflationary pressures. Significant work in the year work on the roofs and a new coffee machine for the Undercroft.

With the departure of our minister through retirement in the year there was a significant collection for a farewell gift which was passed on at the farewell events.

Reserve policy

The General Fund, from the regular freewill giving, contributes to the day to day running costs of the church and there are designated funds set aside for repairs and improvements. Monies are set aside each year from the general fund, net of any costs incurred in the year, to maintain sufficient balances in this fund for future expenditure without recourse to special appeals. The General Fund balance, excluding the manse fund, equates to three months’ expenditure in line with the Charity Commission recommendations. This means that key contracted expenditure is properly covered in the event of a fall off of income.

The year-end balance for the designated fund is shown in note 17.

Approved by the elders on 7 October 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Steve Wood, Church Treasurer

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2024

Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
Note General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and legacies 2 133,926 - 10,189
144,115		 189,791
Charitable activities 3 39,649 - - 39,649 27,787
Other trading activities 4 10,507 - - 10,507 10,225
Investment income 5 5,965 - 124
6,089		 2,976
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total income 190,047 - 10,313
200,360		 230,779
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 6 1,873 - 290
2,163		 2,544
Charitable activities 7 185,299 351 13,194 198,844 228,308
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total expenditure 187,172 351 13,484
201,007		 230,852
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Net income / (expenditure) 2,875 (351)
(3,171)		 (647) (73)
Transfers between funds 6 -
(6)		 - -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
2,881 (351)
(3,177)
(647)		 (73)
Total funds brought forward 1 April 2023 272,826 23,535
12,788
309,149		 309,222
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total funds carried forward 31 March 2024 275,707 23,184
9,611		 308,502 309,149
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
(Note 16) (Note 17)

The notes on pages 8 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2024

Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
Note General Designated Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 12 3,317 6,660 -
9,977		 -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
3,317 6,660 -
9,977		 -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Current assets
Debtors 13 29,526 -
1,598		 31,124 30,461
Investments 14 223,530 -
-		 223,530
 218,690
Bank and cash balances 23,133 16,524
8,583
48,240		 79,951
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
276,189 16,524
10,181
302,894
 329,102
Current liabilities
Creditors payable within one year 15 (3,799) - (570)
(4,369)		 (19,953)
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Net current assets 272,390 16,524
9,611
298,525
 309,149
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total net assets 275,707 23,184
9,611		 308,502
 309,149
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted income funds
General 275,707 - -
275,707
 272,826
Designated 16 - 23,184 -
23,184		 23,535
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Total 275,707 23,184 -
298,891
 296,361
Restricted funds 17 - - 9,611
9,611		 12,788
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
275,707 23,184
9,611		 308,502
 309,149
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

The notes on pages 8 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

Approved by the elders on 7 October 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Steve Wood, Church Treasurer

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements

1 Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice: (FRS 102) issued by the Charity Commission on the basis that the charity is a Public Benefit Entity. The accruals basis of accounting has been adopted, and the principal accounting policies set out below are applied consistently.

There are no estimates or assumptions made creating estimation uncertainty as at the year-end that put the carrying values of assets and liabilities at risk of material adjustment in next year’s financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the church in furtherance of its charitable objectives. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donors.

Tangible fixed assets

Freehold property : The trustees of the church buildings are the URC (Mersey Province) Trust Limited who hold them for purposes connected with Wilmslow URC. Expenditure incurred on the church is written off in the year it is incurred.

Equipment : Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Resources expended

The URC Ministry and Mission contribution is paid regularly and is included in the financial statements for the year to which it relates. Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred and include VAT which cannot be recovered. They are allocated to the particular activity to which they relate. As most of the management and activity of the church is carried out by volunteers, this intangible asset is not included in the financial statements as this voluntary contribution to the life of the church is incalculable.

Financial instruments

The charity’s basic financial instruments as defined by FRS 102 are all recognised at their settlement value and the charity has no “other” financial instruments.

Taxation

As part of the United Reformed Church, the church is an excepted and registered charity within the meaning of the Taxes Acts. Accordingly, it is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income and capital gains received to the extent that such income or gains are applied to exclusively charitable purposes. No provision for taxation has been made in these financial statements.

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

2
Donations and legacies
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Offertory and standing orders(£1,743 per week;
2023: £1,820) 90,658 -
-		 90,658 94,635
Income tax refunds under Gift Aid 21,635 - -
21,635		 60,430
Special offerings and donations 18,633 - 10,189
28,822		 26,148
Legacies 1,000 - - 1,000 5,328
Grants 2,000 - - 2,000 3,250
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
133,926 -
10,189
144,115		 189,791
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
3
Charitable activities
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Use of church rooms 39,649 -
-
39,649		 27,787
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
39,649 -
-
39,649		 27,787
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4
Other trading activities
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Fund raising 5,081 - - 5,081 6,826
Café income 4,416 - -
4,416		 2,560
Manse energy feed in tariff 819 - -
819		 839
Royalties 191 - -
191		 -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
10,507 -
-
10,507		 10,225
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
5
Investment income
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Bank interest 1,125 - 124
1,249		 464
Investment income 4,840 - - 4,840 2,512
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
5,965 -
124
6,089		 2,976
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

9

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

6 Raising funds

6
Raising funds
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Fundraising expenses 714 - 290
1,004		 2,507
Running expenses 1,159 - -
1,159		 37
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
1,873 -
290		 2,163 2,544
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
7
Charitable activities
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Ministry costs
URC Ministry and Mission Fund 63,012 - -
63,012		 68,085
Youth Work 20,000 - -
20,000		 20,000
Synod levy 3,261 - -
3,261		 3,408
Missional Partnership - - -
-		 1,946
Pulpit supply 500 - -
500		 550
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
86,773 -
-		 86,773 93,989
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Ministerial costs
Travel and subsistence 1,127 - -
1,127		 2,533
Synod expenses 3,983 - -
3,983		 -
Pastoral support 190 - 3,295
3,485		 4,504
Worship resources 172 - -
172		 528
Wedding and funeral expenses - - -
-		 200
Flowers 662 - -
662		 735
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
6,134 -
3,295		 9,429 8,500
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Church costs
Cleaning 15,680 -
-
15,680		 12,993
Supplies 4,616 -
-
4,616		 3,609
Heat, light and water 24,255 -
-
24,255		 17,089
Repairs and maintenance 9,975 - -
9,975		 55,945
Insurance 5,658 -
-
5,658		 4,453

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

7 Charitable activities (continued)


Charitable activities (continued)
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Church costs (continued)
Waste disposal 1,353
 -
-
1,353		 1,585
Kitchen supplies and equipment 1,486
 -
-
1,486		 -
Gardening 1,503 -
-
1,503		 306
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
64,526 -
-		 64,526 95,980
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Manse costs
Council tax 3,454 - - 3,454 3,286
Telephone 1,032 - - 1,032 876
Water 310 - - 310 490
Repairs and maintenance - - - - 13
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4,796 - - 4,796 4,665
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Office costs
Telephone 1,622
 -
-		 1,622 1,573
Stationery and furniture 711
 -
-		 711 145
Printing 501
 -
-		 501 412
Photocopying 585
 -
-		 585 493
Postage -
 -
-		 - 23
Newsletter 805
 -
-		 805 849
Website 200
 -
-		 200 88
Sundries 209 -
-		 209 652
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4,633 -
-		 4,633 4,235
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Team and activity costs
Fellowship 890 - 890 1,085
-
Messy Church 103 - 103 -
-
Music 948 - 948 455
-
Outreach - - - 234
-
Uniformed organisations - - - - 14
Worship 249 - 249 800
-
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
2,190 - - 2,190 2,588
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

7 Charitable activities(continued)
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £
Finance and admin costs
Secretarial expenses 5,448 - - 5,448 994
Finance expenses 2,471 - - 2,471 662
Premises expenses 1,660 - - 1,660 296
Bad debts 627 - - 627 112
Bank charges 854 - - 854
557
Depreciation 114 351 - 465 -
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
11,174 351 - 11,525 2,621
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Donations
Northern College 250 - - 250 250
East Cheshire Eye Society 1,591 - - 1,591 -
East Cheshire Hospice - - - - 1,590
NSPCC 1,591 - - 1,591 1,590
Samaritans 1,591 - - 1,591 1,590
Disaster Emergency Committee appeals - - - - 500
Church Action on Poverty 50 - - 50 50
East Manchester Community Assoc’n - - - - 250
Commitment for Life - - 2,807 2,807 2,513
Disaster appeals - - - - 2,302
Harvest appeal - - 3,238 3,238 2,729
Christian Aid - - 3,854 3,854 1,856
Other donations - - - -
510
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
5,073 - 9,899 14,972
15,730
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Charitable activities 185,299 351
13,194
198,844		 228,308
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

8 Trustee remuneration and expenses

None of the trustees ( 2022-23: £Nil ) were paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from their employment with the church. The Minister was remunerated by the United Reformed Church and her settlement agreement includes the manse, which is owned by the Synod, but whose costs of £4,796 ( 2022-23: £4,651 ) are paid by the church.

Donations without conditions totalling £15,009 ( 2022-23: £15,279 ) were received from trustees.

Expenses totalling £5,999 ( 2022-23: £11,440 ) were paid to nine ( 2022-23: seven ) trustees including the Minister. These were for travel, subsistence and the reimbursement of out of pocket expenses.

9 Related party transactions

Donations without conditions totalling £9,115 ( 2022-23: £12,080 ) were received from related parties.

Expenses totalling £1,137 ( 2022-23: £909 ) were paid to four ( 2022-23: three ) partners of trustees. These were for travel, subsistence and the reimbursement of out of pocket expenses.

One of the trustees was also a trustee of Wilmslow Youth for part of the year. Amounts paid to Wilmslow Youth in the year were £19,771 ( 2022-23: £18,977 ). Donations amounting to £6,500 ( 2022-23: £6,000 ) were received from Wilmslow Youth in the year as contributions towards use of the Undercroft.

10 Staff costs

Staff costs in the year totalled £2,224 ( 2022-23: £60 ) in relation to two employees ( 2022-23: one ). There were no social security or pension costs payable.

11 Independent examination

The fee in the year for independent examination of the financial statements was £750 ( 2022-23: £720

12 Fixed assets

General Designated Total
equipment equipment
General funds and fixtures and fixtures
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 April 2023 -
-
-
Additions 3,431
7,011
10,442
——— ——— ———
At 31 March 2024 3,431
7,011		 10,442
——— ——— ———
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023 -
-
-
Charge for the year 114
351
465
——— ——— ———
At 31 March 2024 114
351		 465
——— ——— ———
Net book value
At 31 March 2024 3,317
6,660
9,977
——— ——— ———
At 31 March 2023 -
-		 -
——— ——— ———

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WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

12 Fixed assets (continued)

For the reasons stated in the Accounting Policy (Note 1), the church buildings are not tangible fixed assets of the church. For insurance purposes the church buildings are insured by the church for £7,343,000 and the contents of the church buildings are insured for £354,000.

13 Debtors

Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Accounts receivable 6,371 - -
6,371		 4,001
Bad debt provision (1,142) - -
(1,142)		 (514)
Income tax recoverable 20,931 -
1,598
22,529		 24,189
Prepayments 3,366 -
-
3,366		 2,785
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
29,526 -
1,598		 31,124 30,461
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
4 Investments
Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £ £
At 1 April 2023 218,690 - -
218,690
 216,178
Interest applied in the year 4,840 -
-
4,840		 2,512
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
At 31 March 2024 223,530 -
-
223,530		 218,690
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

14 Investments

The investments represent the amount held on behalf of the Church by the Synod following a review which resulted in responsibility for the manse passing to the URC (North Western Province) Trust Limited.

15 Creditors payable within one year

Unrestricted funds Restricted Total Total
General Designated Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Accounts payable 2,799 - -
2,799		 15,461
Accruals and deferred income 1,000 - 570
1,570		 4,492
——— ——— ——— ——— ———
3,799 -
570
4,369		 19,953
——— ——— ——— ——— ———

14

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

16 Designated funds

The church operates one designated fund with the encouragement of the church meeting.

Repairs fund - this is established to fund the maintenance of the church and manse premises; it receives regular budgeted transfers from the general fund when funds are available. The maintenance is supervised by the Property Team.

The movements on the designated fund were as follows:

Repairs Total Total
fund 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £
Brought forward at 1 April 2023 23,535 23,535 42,192
Expenditure on charitable activities (351) (351) (27,657)
Transfers from other funds
-		 - 9,000
——— ——— ———
Carried forward at 31 March 2024 23,184
23,184		 23,535
——— ——— ———

17 Restricted funds

The church accounts include four restricted funds where the monies can only be used for the specific purposes for which they were entrusted to the church. These monies are not at the disposal of the church meeting for any other purpose and represent:

Specific gifts – at different times of the year monies are raised in the church to support specific projects. Additional ministry fund – this represents the balance of a legacy and although it is totally expendable, it may only be used to provide additional ministry.

The movements in the restricted funds during the The movements in the restricted funds during the year were:
Specific Additional Missional Hardship Total Total
gifts ministry partnership fund 2023-24 2022-23
£ £ £ £ £ £
Brought forward at 1 April 2023 - 2,749 6 10,033 12,788 16,786
Donations and legacies 10,189 - - - 10,189 16,385
Activities for generating funds - - - - - 757
Investment income - 124 - - 124 57
Expenditure on raising funds (290) - - - (290) (691)
Expenditure on charitable activities (9,899) - - (3,295) (13,194) (15,506)
Transfers to other funds - - (6) - (6) (5,000)
——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ———
Carried forward at 31 March 2024 - 2,873 - 6,738 9,611 12,788
——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ———

15

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Treasurer’s statement

I have prepared the financial statements on pages 6 to 15 for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Stephen David Wood, FCA

16 May 2024

16

WILMSLOW UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Independent examiner’s report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Wilmslow United Reformed Church Charity (“the Church”) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 15.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Church, 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 Church’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying 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 material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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.

Signed:

Date: 8th October 2024

Teresa Fennell, ACMA CGMA

It Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth Ltd 47 St Dunstans Close Worcester, WR5 2AJ

17