Digitally Signed Document Document ID: F7ACDAD13DE181
## Document Details
|**Filename:**|Chorley URC 31 Dec 2025 Final Signed Accounts
24.07.26.pdf|
|---|---|
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|**Client of:**|P B Syddall & Co|
## Signature Details
|**Name:**|Ian McKendrick|
|---|---|
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|**Email:**|ian.isamckendrick@btinternet.com|
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|**Date & Time:**|28/07/2026 10:03:52 AM (BST)|
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|**IP Address:**|86.178.195.11|
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|**Signing Statement:**|Ian McKendrick confirms that the information is
correct and complete to the best of their knowledge
and belief.|
|**Name:**|Grahame Barkby|
|---|---|
|||
|**Email:**|gbarkby@blueyonder.co.uk|
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|**Date & Time:**|24/07/2026 16:33:24 PM (BST)|
|||
|**IP Address:**|86.23.138.204|
|||
|**Signing Statement:**|Grahame Barkby confirms that the information is
correct and complete to the best of their knowledge
and belief.|
Digitally Signed Document Document ID: F7ACDAD13DE181
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**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1128897**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **FOR**
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
P B Syddall & Co Chartered Accountants Grafton House 81 Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AJ
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Reference and Administrative Details**|1|
|**Report of the Trustees**|2 to 9|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|10|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|11|
|**Balance Sheet**|12|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|13 to 18|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|19 to 20|
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**TRUSTEES**|Mrs R Ballard|
|---|---|
||Mrs Y Barkby|
||Mrs R Brown|
||B Darbyshire|
||Mrs F Hodson|
||Mrs B Phillips (resigned 16.4.25)|
||G Barkby|
||I McKendrick|
||J Mawdesley|
||Mrs M Pendlebury|
||Mrs P Holgate|
|**PRINCIPAL ADDRESS**|34 Hollinshead Street|
||Chorley|
||Lancashire|
||PR7 1EP|
|**REGISTERED CHARITY**|1128897|
|**NUMBER**||
|**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER**|P B Syddall & Co|
||Chartered Accountants|
||Grafton House|
||81 Chorley Old Road|
||Bolton|
||Lancashire|
||BL1 3AJ|
|**LEGAL**|Legal Officer|
||URC NW Synod Office|
||Unit 20, Sandpiper Quay|
||Mowden Road|
||Salford|
||Manchester|
||M5 3EZ|
||Birchall Blackburn Law|
||Merchant House|
||Avenham Street|
||Preston|
||PR1 3BN|
|**STOCKBROKER**|N G Stockton|
||Arnold, Stansby & Co|
||3rd Floor|
||Alexandra Buildings|
||28 Queen Street|
||Manchester|
||M2 5JJ|
Page 1
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Chorley United Reformed Church Charity is a local church of the United Reformed Church (URC) in Great Britain, and is a member church of the North West Synod of the Church. It was registered with the Charity Commission on 31 March 2009.
Chorley URC Church manse address is 6 Lingwell Close, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancashire PR6 7JS.
The members of the Elders' Meeting are registered as the charity trustees.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
As a local congregation of the United Reformed Church, Chorley United Reformed Church seeks to advance the Christian religion through its activities and the facilities offered to the community by its premises, described more specifically in its mission statement as:
- To reach out, speak out and gather in for Christ
- To be a centre of excellence in worship and praise
- To maintain and continue to develop the needs of our children and youth
- The Church with a heart in the heart of Chorley
## **Public benefit**
The Elders' Meeting is aware of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in "The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit" and has regard to it in the administration of the Church.
The Elders' Meeting believes that the Church provides benefit to the public by;
- providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development both for the congregation and for anyone else who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers
- promoting Christian values and service by members of the congregation to the community for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole
Our Community Engagement Project and any activity arising from that are based on the following additional mission statement which supplements the above.
To provide or facilitate the provision of services and activities that respond to and meet identified local community needs and that are delivered within premises that are fit for purpose whilst maintaining an appropriate and contemporary place of Christian worship.
This project is on-going and further details of activity and progress during the year are outlined later in the report under the appropriate headings.
These mission statements were reviewed in 2025 and remain unchanged.
Page 2
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS**
## Worship and Prayer
The church has been blessed with some very talented and dedicated people who give selflessly of their time and expertise to ensure that the quality of worship and pastoral care continue. We have continued to offer our usual range of services during 2025 including Café Church with its puppet ministry. Our weekly online service is live streamed and remains freely available on You Tube.
We held 7 funerals in our church during 2025 and 4 baptisms were held but no weddings were celebrated.
## Mission and evangelism
Mission has progressed during 2025. We continue to receive positive responses from the weekly on-line services on You Tube. Our community worker continues to be busy during 2025 with the activities of The Meeting Place, as expressions of our faith, demonstrating God's love for the community in addition to the long-running Open Kitchen. We still host The Repair Café which still operates but is now self-supporting and self-financing. All the community activities we provide are still known as The Hollinshead Centre and supporting grants from Chorley BC, Lancashire CC and the North West Synod of the URC have continued in 2025.
The Meeting Place is managed by the community worker, a named church Elder and a Peer Support Worker funded by Chorley BC supporting asylum seekers and refugees, signposting being a major role, A team of volunteers with DBS vetting and safeguarding measures still assist.
## "Dreaming our Dreams" 2012 -A vision for the next 5 years - and beyond
The targets we set out in that document under the headings of Worship, Mission/Evangelism, Caring/Service (both for the local community in liaison with outside agencies and for our own church family) and Learning are unchanged and will continue to be taken forward by the church as circumstances allow.
## Church and manse buildings and fabric
To facilitate our objectives and activities it is important that we maintain the fabric of all the church premises despite the events of the last 3-4 years. This is the role of the Fabric Committee with their ongoing programme of preventative maintenance and improvements to the fabric and property keeping within budgetary guidelines though the North West Synod of the URC is now responsible for the maintenance of the manse. However, in view of proposed church development, only essential maintenance was carried out in 2025. Both the gas and electric supply contracts continue to be monitored to ensure value for money.
The charity trustees are mindful that we should use our monies and assets wisely and effectively and not squander monies. They consider that the responsible use of our resources is still to develop on our present site to provide more flexible and versatile premises that are attractive, more efficient and ecologically and disabled friendly for the benefit of the community while still providing premises that would be recognisable as a place of worship. This decision is unchanged from 2019. The Church Development Group continued to take this forward. Progress was initially delayed by the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic and then we were included in a bid by Chorley BC to the government's Levelling Up Fund which was successful. However, our part of that bid was later dropped by the council for financial and other reasons. There was a misunderstanding in the details for which the council did apologise and we have successfully pursued CIL monies with them. We are now hopefully back on track to revamp the community buildings as we have done with the worship space, now referred to as The Sanctuary.
Page 3
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS**
continued
## Community care
The use of our former school buildings by a varied number of organisations and community groups continues. In revisiting the needs of the local community by repeating the Community Engagement Project during 2017 that report confirmed that very little had changed and most of those needs remained.
Since then our researchers have repeatedly confirmed that this would still be the case and our experience in 2025 indicates that the need for the aforementioned community activities is even greater:
- The monthly Repair Café provides a free service for those on low incomes run with qualified registered trades people (volunteers), working on domestic appliances and within health and safety guidelines.
- The Meeting Place provides a drop-in facility for the vulnerable and isolated in the community 2 days a week with hot meals provided and sign-posting to other agencies both statutory and voluntary.
- The Meeting Place runs with the support of and in collaboration with the NHS and Chorley BC including partnerships with their community and social prescribing teams and with the support of Lancashire CC and other voluntary organisations such as Citizens Advice.
In addition, during 2025 The Meeting Place continues to attract funding for what it provides for the community from Chorley BC's Household Support Fund. The long-running Open Kitchen continued in 2025 and sessions run by Lancashire Adult Learning provided training in life skills for the community.
The Community Project Fund, set up within the charity accounts, deals with the funding and expenditure of those activities and the accounts correlate expenditure with grants received. Those monies include further grants from Chorley BC, Lancashire CC, the North West Synod of the URC and other organisations during 2025 as well as donations made by those attending those activities.
Page 4
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position**
## Overview
The financial management structure under the overall management of the charity trustees/Elders with Finance and Fabric Committees continues to function well. This eases the day to day burden on the charity trustees/Elders for financial, property and investment matters and gives them more time for pastoral activities and developing our vision for the future.
We believe that we have managed the church's financial activities in the last year well. The impact of an ageing church membership is now being felt in terms of congregation numbers and the regular income streams, though some church members and friends have responded in their giving to ensure that the charity's expenses were met. New people have attended church services during 2025 and are able to contribute financially.
To ensure that monies for church development are set aside from other income and expenditure the Church Development Fund Account remains. The income to this fund from church members and regular worshippers reflects the confidence they have in the way forward though this also needs to be reflected in financial support for the other church activities. Equally to ensure that monies for the above community work are set aside from other income and expenditure the Community Project Fund operates for The Hollinshead Centre. This fund is self-financing with donations made by those attending the Meeting Place and grants as documented elsewhere covering expenditure.
As long as continuing to cover our running costs, the church continues to support charitable causes donating £1,423. In addition, at some of our fundraising activities some individuals have made direct donations to the charity concerned.
## Our investments have been maintained in 2025.
In view of earlier comments relating to an ageing church membership, possible church developments as described earlier and the financial implications, the concerns that the Minster and Elders have around regular giving were addressed with the membership and congregation in 2025, based on proportionate giving, for the charity to be able to continue its activities.
The church's contribution to the URC's Ministry and Mission Fund was still the major item of expenditure for 2025 and will be for 2026. Any capital and capital assets for church development and donations/income for such and the community project fund are now ring-fenced and excluded from its calculation.
Expenditure for 2025 includes some expenses for the community worker but their major expenses will be met centrally by the URC.
The full financial implications of church development on our present site cannot at this point be fully addressed though the development team will be working on estimated costings as the project proceeds.
If we find that the costings for any further community development are beyond what the charity can resource and put the charity's finances and activities in jeopardy, then the charity trustees will review the scope of that development and proceeding further hopefully without losing key facilities for the community as far as possible.
Major decisions will go to the church meeting in accord with our constitution for ratification before any action can be taken.
Details of the funds that the charity has available are included in the notes to the financial statements.
Further comments are made under "Major risks to the charity".
## Payments to employees and Charity trustees
The charity employs a Peer Support Worker and our cleaner is self-employed.
Since the retirement of the church organist volunteers play the organ for us in his place.
Page 5
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
It should be noted that the majority of the work of the charity is carried out by willing volunteers and it is only when the work is too difficult or specialist that we employ outside contractors.
## Major risks to the charity
There are 6 continuing major risks to the charity:
- A continuing fall in the number of people worshipping at the church in recent years directly related to an increasingly ageing congregation/membership which reduces the voluntary income we receive. Approximately 74% of our voluntary income is direct giving by members and regular worshippers in which recovery under Gift Aid is significant. This particularly emphasises the need for our Minister and Elders to monitor the progress and funding of our activities and ensure that the charity continues to meet its expenses and fulfil its objectives. This is offset by the increasing income from room hire and lettings.
To ensure the continuation of the support for the community of Chorley provided by The Hollinshead Centre, the charity is pursuing the setting up of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in partnership with the North West Synod of the URC, potential local charities and organisations who have previously expressed an interest in working with us in the future and the support of Chorley BC, while taking legal advice to ensure that the interests of the charity are protected. Those potential partner local charities and organisations would be counted as stakeholders in the organisation. Should the church close as a place of worship, the community facility would then still remain.
- The Finance Committee continues to seek professional advice to review and re-balance its investment portfolio as required to safeguard and diversify its capital investment and reduce the level of risk while still seeking a significant level of capital growth and income from investments. We have still met a target income from investments of 4%. Risks to our investments will constantly be kept under review. This capital will be a contribution to the costs of church development.
- Increasing costs for developments arising from "Dreaming our Dreams". Some are relatively minor and easily met while others are major, such as the church development, for which we will seek grants and other sources of outside funding as we move forward in liaison with professional fundraisers and national and local outside agencies, statutory and non-statutory. With professional advice we still hope to be able to overcome the obstacles to successful applications for grants that we had previously identified. The positive response from church members and regular worshippers, the support of the North West Synod of the URC and its head office, the support of Chorley BC and the feedback from our professional advisers, positive so far, are all encouraging signs.
- Our work in the Open Kitchen, the Repair Café and The Meeting Place highlights issues around safeguarding for vulnerable demographic groups. Our policies and procedures continue to be reviewed and updated along with the provision of regular training. In 2025 these activities have been supported financially by Chorley BC, Lancashire CC and the North West Synod of the URC. Their support is expected to continue in 2026 and the support of the Duchy of Lancaster, the National Lottery and other organisations remain available to the charity.
- It had been identified that our present premises are sitting on top of an old coal seam and mine workings originating a few miles away. There is the risk of subsidence that is very likely to account for some of the structural problems that are now apparent in our present premises. As we pursue church development on our present site we are seeking professional advice on what can be realistically achieved, particularly in light of the above risk, and overcoming such, which is very likely. With the support of the North West Synod of the URC, taking appropriate professional advice and successfully seeking financial support we can potentially remedy the situation and still pursue further revamping of the premises.
- Any church development still has the potential for risk as follows:
1. Financial risk of funds being committed to any redevelopment and that fails and funds cannot be recovered though professional support/advice and sourcing outside funding should minimise this risk.
2. Building work, when completed, being found to be not fit for purpose. By having repeatedly researched the needs of the local community and ensuring that our plans meet those requirements as well as our own and with further advice from architects and surveyors, this risk will be minimised.
Page 6
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
3. The risks of any proposed church development to the charity's finances in future years. As well as our own accountant the legal and financial advisers of the North West Synod of the URC will also be ensuring that the charity does not take any unnecessary or undue risks.
4. Following local elections, the council may change its planning strategy. However, we have understood from council officers that this remains very unlikely. Financial support from the council for redevelopment is now assured with there being match-funding from the North West Synod of the URC and the church's own fundraising.
As previously stated, if we find that the costings are beyond what the charity can resource and put the charity's finances and activities in jeopardy then the charity trustees will continue to review the scope of any church development and think again about proceeding any further.
The development group are aware of these issues and continue to take professional advice. The charity trustees are aware of the financial implications of the above issues. All church members and the wider congregation will be continually kept informed of the charity's finances particularly in light of developments arising from "Dreaming our Dreams" and any proposed church development.
In addition, our minister retires in October 2026. This may have an impact on the church services we provide, but this is unlikely with the resources within the church membership and is unlikely to have any effect on the continuation of Chorley URC remaining a place of worship or on the community activities we facilitate.
## **Reserves policy**
Ideally, the charity trustees would wish to have in hand general reserves equal to at least 3 months regular expenditure for "business as usual".
The charity has bank deposits of £126,469 at the balance sheet date but a liability to NW Synod of £136,000 resulting in there being insufficient general reserves (on paper) to meet this "business as usual" level of funds. In reality the liability to NW Synod is to be paid over the next seven years and the trustees have no major concerns as to the cashflow position.
The trustees are endeavouring to increase the charity's unrestricted income to increase the general reserves.
## **Tangible asset restatement and exceptional historical expenditure written off in 2024**
The trustees, having taken professional advice, are of the opinion that in 2020, major redevelopment expenditure on the church building which is now called "The Sanctuary" was incorrectly capitalised. This led to an inflated balance sheet and a recognition of restricted and designated funds which no longer belonged to Chorley URC Charity.
Both the Church and old school buildings, now referred to as "The Sanctuary" and "The Hollinshead Centre" are held in trust by the N W Synod of The United Reformed Church. Should Chorley URC no longer be operational, both these buildings could be sold by the NW Synod to realise monies to fund the United Reformed Church's mission elsewhere in the North West. As such they are not an asset of Chorley URC and any work done to redevelop or repair the buildings should be written off in the year the expenditure is incurred.
Chorley URC were given a loan of £170,000 by the NW Synod to help repair the roof of "The Sanctuary".
The entire repair and redevelopment costs which were initially capitalised have now been written off.
## **FUTURE PLANS**
The worship space of our present premises continues to be a much more versatile and flexible space used by the community during the week.
We are continuing to look at revamping the present community buildings seeking advice from the architects as to the possibilities. This would take account of the community facility provided by the revamped worship space and will lead to a revamping of the existing community buildings and a smaller new build.
Despite the bid by Chorley BC, of which we were part, to the government's Levelling Up Fund being in the end unsuccessful, we are back on track with the church development group acting on behalf of the charity and with the financial support of Chorley BC through CIL funding matched by the North West Synod of the URC while still taking appropriate professional advice as required.
Page 7
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document**
The initial governing document of the registered charity was a statement adopted by the Church Meeting in 2009. This was revised in 2017 and is now replaced by the document "CURC - How we operate" adopted by the church meeting in 2024. This is one of the documents in a new "Resilient Governance" pack adopted by the church at the same church meeting in 2024.
## **Structure and Governance**
The activities of Chorley United Reformed Church are overseen by the Elders' Meeting of the Church in accordance with the provisions of The Structure of the United Reformed Church determined by the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church and supplemented by the rules of Chorley URC Church.
The Elders' Meeting is responsible for the financial administration of the Church and the care and maintenance of Church premises. The North West Synod of the United Reformed Church is now responsible for the maintenance of the manse. The Church Meeting (of all members wishing to attend) gives general guidance on the life and work of the Church. The Elders assist the Minister in the pastoral care of the church.
The members of the Elders Meeting are the minister in pastoral charge, Rev. Martin Whiffen, who was inducted in September 2011 and members of Chorley URC Church nominated and elected as Elders by the members of Chorley URC Church at a Church Meeting.
Elders serve for 4 years, retire by rotation and are eligible for re-election. There is no limit on the number of consecutive periods of service. The members of the Elders' Meeting are the trustees of the registered charity during their period of service as Elders unless they opt out or are ineligible.
The Elders are assisted in the administration of the Church, its property and its investments by committees established for Finance and Fabric. In line with the URC Model Trust the URC "North Western Province Trust Company" act as custodian trustees on behalf of Chorley URC.
The Charity trustees delegate to the Finance Committee the following tasks while maintaining responsibility for such:
- Overall management of the finances of the church within the agreed authority, financial limits and budgets.
- Monitoring/managing income and expenditure and making budget recommendations
- Proactively managing the church's investments within the investment objectives, delegated authority and financial limits agreed with the Charity Trustees.
Further details are set out in the document "CURC - How we operate".
The Charity Trustees delegate to the Fabric Committee the following tasks while maintaining responsibility for such:
- Managing the maintenance, upkeep and improvement of all church buildings and fabric within the delegated authority and financial limits agreed with the charity trustees.
- Managing the lettings of all church buildings.
Further details are set out in the document "CURC - How we operate".
The Elders' Meeting have met monthly and, in addition, if circumstances required such, meeting either face to face or on Zoom as circumstances permitted. The Finance Committee and the Fabric Committees have met quarterly and, in addition, if circumstances required such.
We have been able to monitor the church's investments and seek advice from the charity's financial advisers.
An upgrading of the charity's governance policies and procedures was carried out in 2024 resulting in the aforementioned "Resilient Governance" pack which will be held and stored electronically on a central database with named and defined access at different levels and subject to regular review.
Page 8
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 24 July 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
## Grahame Barkby
G Barkby - Trustee
At the date of signing this report, work has begun on revamping the community buildings though on a reduced scale to that which was originally intended. Funding, including the realisation of the charity’s investments, has been secured with grants from the NW Synod, CIL monies through Chorley BC and other grants from other funders. The charity’s own fundraising activities and regular donations from church members continue.
However, the potential risks to a successful outcome as previously identified remain and the building work and the associated finances will be carefully monitored by the development group, reporting back to the trustees.
Page 9
**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Chorley United Reformed Church**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Chorley United Reformed Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
A J Syddall M.A. F.C.A
P B Syddall & Co Chartered Accountants Grafton House 81 Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AJ
24 July 2026
Page 10
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
**70,911**
**Charitable activities**
Charitable activities
**-**
Other trading activities
2
**5,307**
Investment income
3
**65,215**
Other income
**778**
**Total**
**142,211**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Charitable activities
**117,530**
Other
**-**
**Total**
**117,530**
Net gains on investments
**2,034 **
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**26,715**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**(5,185)**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**21,530**|Restricted
funds
£
**2,299**
**17,003**
**-**
**32**
**-**
**19,334 **
**22,867**
**-**
**22,867**
**-**
**(3,533)**
**26,950**
**23,417**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**73,210**
**17,003**
**5,307**
**65,247**
**778**
**161,545**
**140,397**
**-**
**140,397**
**2,034 **
**23,182**
**21,765**
**44,947**|2024
Total
funds
£
71,201
9,741
5,041
59,253
1,584
146,820
131,731
501,716
633,447
707
(485,920)
507,685
21,765|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 11
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **BALANCE SHEET 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Investments
5
**48,354**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
6
**7,084**
Cash at bank
**103,052 **
**110,136**
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
7
**(17,960)**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**92,176**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**140,530**
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due after more than one year
8
**(119,000)**
**NET ASSETS**
**21,530**
**FUNDS**
10
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
funds
£
**-**
**-**
**23,417**
**23,417**
**-**
**23,417**
**23,417**
**-**
**23,417**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**48,354**
**7,084**
**126,469**
**133,553**
**(17,960)**
**115,593**
**163,947**
**(119,000)**
**44,947**
**21,530**
**23,417**
**44,947**|2024
Total
funds
£
46,320
6,604
105,801
112,405
(17,960)
94,445
140,765
(119,000)
21,765
(5,185)
26,950
21,765|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 24 July 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:
## Ian McKendrick
I McKendrick - Trustee
## Grahame Barkby
G Barkby - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 12
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **BASIS OF PREPARING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.
## **INCOME**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **EXPENDITURE**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
## **TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
All works to the properties what are held by NW Synod as custodian trustee are expensed in the year in which the expenditure occurs.
## **TAXATION**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **FUND ACCOUNTING**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **GOING CONCERN**
At the time of approving the accounts the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
The repayment of the loan is re-negotiated on an annual basis and whilst the financial commitment remains the trustees do not expect N W Synod to enforce unaffordable repayments. The loan is due to be repaid over the next 7-8 years.
As such, the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
continued...
Page 13
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Special efforts
**3,984**
**-**
Saturday coffee
**1,323**
**-**
**5,307**
**-**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Rents received
**62,670**
**-**
Dividends received
**2,482**
**-**
Deposit account interest
**63**
**32 **
**65,215**
**32 **|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**3,984**
**1,323**
**5,307**
**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**62,670**
**2,482**
**95**
**65,247**|2024
Total
funds
£
4,163
878
5,041
2024
Total
funds
£
56,496
2,619
138
59,253|
|---|---|---|
## **3. INVESTMENT INCOME**
## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **TRUSTEES' EXPENSES**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **5. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**
|**FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**||
|---|---|
||Listed|
||investments|
||£|
|**MARKET VALUE**||
|At 1 January 2025|**46,320**|
|Change in market value|**2,034 **|
|At 31 December 2025|**48,354 **|
|**NET BOOK VALUE**||
|At 31 December 2025|**48,354 **|
|At 31 December 2024|46,320|
There were no investment assets outside the UK.
continued...
Page 14
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**6.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**2025**
**£**
Gift aid receivable
**7,084 **
**7.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**2025**
**£**
N W Synod loan (see note 9)
**17,000**
Accruals and deferred income
**960**
**17,960**
**8.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR**
**2025**
**£**
N W Synod loan (see note 9)
**119,000**
**9.**
**LOANS**
An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below:
**2025**
**£**
Amounts falling due within one year on demand:
N W Synod loan
**17,000**
Amounts falling due between two and five years:
N W Synod loan
**119,000**
**10.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
Net
movement
At 1.1.25
in funds
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**(5,185)**
**26,715**
**Restricted funds**
Flower fund
**377**
**58**
Natural Disasters fund
**-**
**1,183**
Community Project fund for The
Hollinshead Centre
**22,640**
**(4,360)**
The Open Kitchen
**3,933**
**(414)**
**26,950**
**(3,533)**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**21,765**
**23,182 **|2024
£
6,604
2024
£
17,000
960
17,960
2024
£
119,000
2024
£
17,000
119,000
At
31.12.25
£
**21,530**
**435**
**1,183**
**18,280**
**3,519**
**23,417**
**44,947**|
|---|---|
continued...
Page 15
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Flower fund
Natural Disasters fund
Community Project fund for The
Hollinshead Centre
The Open Kitchen
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated funds
**Restricted funds**
Flower fund
Natural Disasters fund
Church Development fund
Community Project fund for The
Hollinshead Centre
The Open Kitchen
Hollinshead Centre appeal fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
**142,211**
**490**
**1,183**
**17,003**
**658**
**19,334 **
**161,545**
At 1.1.24
£
68,759
299,279
368,038
324
208
106,799
27,701
4,591
24
139,647
507,685|Resources
expended
£
**(117,530)**
**(432)**
**-**
**(21,363)**
**(1,072)**
**(22,867)**
**(140,397) **
Net
movement
in funds
£
(472,368)
(8,016)
(480,384)
53
(208)
489
(5,140)
(730)
-
(5,536)
(485,920)|Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
**2,034**
**26,715**
**-**
**58**
**-**
**1,183**
**-**
**(4,360)**
**-**
**(414)**
**-**
**(3,533)**
**2,034 **
**23,182 **
Transfers
between
At
funds
31.12.24
£
£
398,424
(5,185)
(291,263)
-
107,161
(5,185)
-
377
-
-
(107,288)
-
79
22,640
72
3,933
(24)
-
(107,161)
26,950
-
21,765|
|---|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 16
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated funds
**Restricted funds**
Flower fund
Natural Disasters fund
Church Development fund
Community Project fund for The
Hollinshead Centre
The Open Kitchen
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
112,627
17,079
129,706
550
1,588
527
14,374
75
17,114
146,820|Resources
expended
£
(584,995)
(25,802)
(610,797)
(497)
(1,796)
(38)
(19,514)
(805)
(22,650)
(633,447)|Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
-
(472,368)
707
(8,016)
707
(480,384)
-
53
-
(208)
-
489
-
(5,140)
-
(730)
-
(5,536)
707
(485,920)|
|---|---|---|---|
## **RESTRICTED FUNDS**
The church accounts include restricted funds where the monies can only be used for the specific purpose 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:
**Flower fund Monies donated to the church for the expressed purpose of providing flower arrangements for the church.**
**Natural disaster fund Monies specifically donated for funding any current disaster emergency appeal either through Christian Aid or the Disasters Emergency Committee or other agencies as circumstances dictate.**
**Community Project fund These are monies set aside to fund community projects initiated by our community worker such as the Repair Cafe and The Meeting Place. The community activities are now collectively known as The Hollinshead Centre.**
**Open Kitchen fund**
**Monies donated and grants received for providing hot meals for the homeless in Chorley on one day each week.**
continued...
Page 17
**CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Page 18
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Gift aid recovered
Fees received
**Other trading activities**
Special efforts
Saturday coffee
**Investment income**
Rents received
Dividends received
Deposit account interest
**Charitable activities**
Grants
**Other income**
Adlington pastoral
Adlington manse
Miscellaneous income
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
URC mission and ministry
Pastoral expenses
Church water heat and light
Manse water heat and light
Insurance
CRCW expenses
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Cleaning
Sundries
Carried forward|2025
£
**61,072**
**10,988**
**1,150**
**73,210**
**3,984**
**1,323**
**5,307**
**62,670**
**2,482**
**95**
**65,247**
**17,003**
**-**
**-**
**778**
**778**
**161,545**
**55,448**
**-**
**15,654**
**583**
**6,661**
**1,451**
**331**
**781**
**6,687**
**478**
**88,074**|2024
£
60,469
10,572
160
71,201
4,163
878
5,041
56,496
2,619
138
59,253
9,741
592
452
540
1,584
146,820
45,467
3,064
13,225
723
7,102
1,332
309
1,124
6,663
5,398
84,407|
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 19
## **CHORLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
|**DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
**Charitable activities**
Brought forward
Building maintenance and improvements
Licences
Pulpit supply & worship
Family church
Flowers
Church development
Community project
Donations
Manse council tax
Legal and professional fees
Grants
**Other**
Historical repairs to "The Sanctuary"
**Support costs**
**Finance**
Bank charges
**Governance costs**
Independent examination fee
Total resources expended
**Net income/(expenditure) before gains and**
**losses**
**Realised recognised gains and losses**
Realised gains/(losses) on fixed asset investments
**Net income/(expenditure)**|2025
£
**88,074**
**4,354**
**290**
**483**
**21**
**432**
**16,089**
**21,375**
**1,423**
**1,652**
**2,982**
**1,841**
**139,016**
**-**
**421**
**960**
**140,397**
**21,148**
**2,034 **
**23,182 **|2024
£
84,407
3,030
262
3,277
9
497
11,894
19,501
104
5,084
-
2,673
130,738
500,756
393
1,560
633,447
(486,627)
707
(485,920)|
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 20