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2025-12-31-accounts

Heswall United Reformed Church Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2025

Administrative Information

Heswall United Reformed Church (Registered Charity No. 1129285) is a Church on the Wirral Peninsula within Mersey Region Synod of the URC. It is centred on the village of Heswall. The Church Office is at the church at 199 Telegraph Road, Heswall, Wirral CH60 7SE (tel; 0151 342 8522). The Elders who were serving on 31[st] December 2025 until the date this report was approved are as follows:

Stephen Chantler (Secretary) Ray Craig (Treasurer)

Dave Lock, Dave Dixson, Jonathan Gregson, Faith Hardie, Jenny Smith, Avril Lock, Ian Murphy, Decima Beecroft

Minister: Revd. Dr. Nick Jones

The church buildings are vested in the name of URC (Mersey Province) Trust Ltd from 1[st] January 2025 to the date this report was approved.

Structure, Governance and Management

The United Reformed Church is governed by the Scheme of Union of the URC its Constitution, set up under Section D: The United Reformed Church Acts 1972, 1981 and 2000 as amended from time to time by its Governing Body.

The Eldership is not a body corporate. Its composition, procedures and powers are regulated by The United Reformed Church Manual… Section B: The Structure of the United Reformed Church Clause 2.(2). Elders are elected at the AGM of the Church Meeting by the Members of Heswall United Reformed Church. The Eldership met 11 times during 2025 (75% average attendance). It dealt with all the affairs of the Church and received and considered reports by the Worship Group, Fabric and Finance Committee, Pastoral Team and Junior Church.

Objectives and Activities

Heswall United Reformed Church is a Church within the United Reformed Church and seeks: (i) to further the Church's mission in the locality; (ii) to develop local ecumenical relationships; (iii) to further the Church's compassionate ministry in the locality and throughout the world; (iv) to consider and support the wider work of the Church at home and abroad; (v) to consider public questions in relation to the Christian faith; (vi) to bring concerns for consideration by the Elders’ Meeting and wider councils of the church.

The Eldership’s objectives are: (i) to foster in the congregation concern for witness and service to the community, evangelism at home and abroad, Christian education, ecumenical action, local inter-church relations and the wider responsibilities of the whole Church; (ii) to see that public worship is regularly offered and the sacraments are duly administered, and generally to promote the welfare of the congregation; (iii) to ensure pastoral care of the congregation, in which the minister is joined by elders having particular responsibility for groups of members; (iv) to nominate from among its members a Church secretary (or secretaries), to be elected by the Church Meeting, to serve both the Church Meeting and the Elders’ meeting; (v) to arrange for pulpit supply in a vacancy; (vi) to keep the roll of members and (as an aid to the discharge of the congregation's pastoral and evangelistic responsibility) lists of names of adherents and children attached to the congregation, and in consultation with the Church Meeting to maintain standards of membership and to advise on the admission of members on profession of faith and by transfer, on the suspension of members, and on the removal of names from the roll; (vii) to be responsible for the institution and oversight of work among children and young people and of all organisations within the congregation; (viii) to call for the election of elders and advise on the number required; (ix) to consider the suitability of any applicant for recognition as a candidate for the ministry or for service as a CRCW and to advise the Church Meeting about its recommendation to the synod; (x) to recommend to the Church Meeting arrangements for the proper maintenance of buildings and the general oversight of all the financial responsibilities of the Local Church; (xi) to act on behalf of the Church Meeting and bring concerns to the wider councils of the United Reformed Church; (xii) to do such other things as may be necessary in pursuance of its responsibility for the common life of the Church.

The Eldership is aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in “The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit” and have regard to it in their administration of Heswall United Reformed Church. The Eldership believes that, by fulfilling its responsibility to work together with the Minister and cooperate in all matters of concern and importance for the promotion of the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, it provides a benefit to the public by:

• providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for its members and for anyone who wishes to benefit from what the church offers;

• promoting Christian values, and service by members of the church to their communities, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.

The Eldership is responsible, inter alia , for the Church budget and all expenditure thereunder, the care and maintenance of church fabric and its buildings, and for any action or other matter referred to it in accordance with the Constitution, and is the normal channel of communication between members and the Mersey Synod.

REVIEW OF HURC ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Minister

The Revd Dr Nick Jones provides a Joint Pastorate ministry to Heswall United Reformed Church [HURC] based on a 75% scoping and with Chester Road, Ellesmere Port URC on a 25% scoping. The minister provides both spiritual and pastoral leadership to the members and adherents of HURC.

Church Roll

The membership was 87 members compared to 84 in January 2025.

Elders’ Elections

The Church Members voted on the re-election for Faith Hardie, Jenny Smith and David Dixson and election of Decima Beecroft. All candidates were duly re-elected/elected.

Employed Staff

The church employed one part-time staff as an Administrator.

Churches Together

HURC gave its ecumenical support for the activities of Churches Together in Heswall. The annual all denominational walk of witness through Heswall on Good Friday took place, followed by a joint service at HURC. A Christmas Coffee Morning was hosted at HURC to raise funds for Christian Aid. During Advent ecumenical Carol Singing took place in Heswall high street.

Web Content

The content of the Church Website is continuously reviewed to reflect policy and information is regularly updated.

Hiring Agreements for Church Premises: The documentation for those hiring the premises was reviewed and updated. Public Liability insurance extends to Church events only, it does not cover outside hirers and this was clarified in the documentation. In 2025 room hiring charges and on-site parking charges remained the unchanged.

Scales of Fees

The transparent fee scale agreed for weddings and funerals held at HURC remained unchanged.

Security of Confidential Information

The security of confidential information is continually reviewed. Old Church Directories are now brought to the office for shredding. HURC continues to review the currency of its compliance with the Data Protection Act and, from May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The New Church Directories contain only such information as permitted by the individual, for which a signed GDPR Consent Form has been received and securely filed. The New Church Directories are issued to individuals in a controlled manner, rather than being displayed for collection. The office computer has an updated PIN number to restrict access to sensitive information. All the filing cabinets have been checked to ensure any confidential information is segregated and contained within a locked cabinet.

Church Fabric

Progress has been made towards improving the environmental footprint of the church. Significant expenditure has been incurred during the year to attend to boiler issues which provide heating and hot water to the premises. Alternative forms of heating are being considered in the event that the boilers become unserviceable in the future. Following a review of the electrics a major distribution board required replacement.

Charity Commission Trustees. Five Elders nominated by the Church are the designated trustees. The trustees were appointed at the AGM 2019.

Social & Spiritual Achievements

Live and online services continued throughout the year.

Contact with the congregation is also regularly maintained through either email or by post. The Pastoral group, regularly visit or telephone the members and friends of the church and where appropriate provide in person support.

The Second Sunday Lunches and the Monthly Midweek Communion with a Souper Lunches, and Healing Services continued throughout the year. The church organised regular Bible Study classes continued either in person or using online conference facilities. Prayer Days continued during the year. In addition, there is an established Prayer Group and support is provided for prayer time on an ad hoc basis to anyone who might wish to make use of the Quiet Room.

Open Table service continued through 2025 on a once per month basis. The Open Table Network is an ecumenical grouping, and registered charity, which began in Liverpool and aims to create communities where LGBTQIA+ people are made welcome. More than 40 churches now host Open Table Communities, and this has brought a number of people into the life of the church through a different style of worship. This is one of the ways we are seeking to live out our mission statement and ensuring that everyone is welcome in church, and has led us to engaging with a group who have historically often felt marginalised from church life. The congregation has grown over the months and the services have attracted strong support from within the existing church congregation.

Outreach

Weekly Keep Fit for the over 60s and Badminton together with regular Afternoon Guild meetings took place throughout the year. Regrettably there has been little scope for Youth activities due to the lack of youth presence at the church. Support is given by members of the church to a local Foodbank. The Greet, Eat and Meet (GEM) initiative took place once per week throughout 2025 for individuals from the community to meet and socialise.

The church gave to charities and individuals were encouraged to donate to various local charities and to Christian Aid or alternatively contact charities directly.

HURC has continued with its policy to offer to provide ceremonies for same sex marriage.

FINANCIAL REVIEW Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Heswall Unitsd Refonned Church. l ￿ port on the accounts of the church for the year ended 2025, set out on the next pages. Res ctive res onsibilities of trustoes and oxaminer The church's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church's trustees consider that an audit is not ￿qUired for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibilrty to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 ACL follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5){b) of the 2011 Act),. and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of inde endent examinerfs re ort My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting ￿COrdS kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those ￿CordS. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees conceming any such matters. The pro￿dureS undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present 'true and fair view and the ￿port is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examinerfs statement In connection with my 8xamin8tion. no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements . to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act,. and . to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requ1￿mentS of the 2011 Act have not been met; MalGolm Cranfield F.C.A. 28 March 2026 8 Foxcover Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 1YB

HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Page 1

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Page 1 Page 1
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
Unrestricted
Funds £
Designated
Funds £
Restricted
Funds £
This Year
2025
Total £
Last Year
2024
Total £
Note
RECEIPTS
Offerings 36,109 0 0 36,109 35,714
Fund raising and donations 2,659 0 0 2,659 4,190
Monies raised for outside causes 3 0 740 0 740 754
Gift Aid tax repayments 8,025 0 0 8,025 8,233
Legacies 0 0 0 0 1,000
Property - church/hall users 4 23,422 0 0 23,422 23,232
Afternoon Guild 0 75 0 75 150
FURY group 0 0 0 0 0
Grants received 325 0 0 325 725
Loans received 0 0 0 0 0
Offsets to payments made 1,249 0 0 1,249 5,222
Flower Fund 0 0 0 0 100
Bank interest & investment transfer 20,000 0 50 20,050 30,000
Total receipts 91,789 815 50 **92,654 ** 109,320
PAYMENTS
Ministry & Mission Fund 34,420 0 0 34,420 35,067
Minister expenses inc Petrol 1,200 0 0 1,200 1,200
Church running costs 5 39,876 0 0 39,876 50,650
Programme activity costs 6 1,891 0 0 1,891 2,971
Support of outside causes 7 0 1,593 0 1,593 0
Maintenance of church buildings 8 14,881 0 0 14,881 19,075
Maintenance of manse 9 2,831 0 0 2,831 2,671
Flower Fund 0 73 0 73 23
Afternoon Guild 0 45 0 45 44
Total payments 95,099 1,710 0 96,809 **111,701 **
NET RECEIPTS / (PAYMENTS) 2 -3,310 -895 50 -4,156 **-2,381 **
TRANSFERS between funds 0 0 0 0 0
CASH FUNDS b/fwd1 January 18,939 3,428 1,374 23,741 26,121
CASH FUNDS c/fwd31 December 15,629 2,533 1,423 19,585 23,740
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Monetary assets
Cash 0 0 0 0 0
Bank current account -1,127 2,533 0 1,406 22,367
Kalifi Current Account 0 0 0 0 0
Deposit accounts 0 0 1,373 1,423 1,373
Synod Trust deposit 0 0 0 0 0
Total monetary assets 10 -1,127 2,533 1,373 2,829 23,740
Other assets
GiftAidrecoverable 0 0 0 0 0
Other monies due to church 0 0 0 0 0
Investments at Net Asset value 12 124,394 0 0 124,394 147,761
Assets used for church purposes
Buildings under statutory trusts 11 Church buildings and manse
Church contents 11 Furnishings and equipment
Liabilities
Loans outstanding 0 0 0 0 0
Significant creditors 0 0 0 0 0
APPROVED by the Trusteeson
03/5/2026

and signed on their behalf by
The notes onpages 2 and 3 formpart of this financial statement

HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 NOTES

Page 2

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 1993 Section 42(3), using the Receipts and Payments basis available to small charities, and the United Reformed Church guidance.

Designated Funds represent unrestricted funds set aside by the church for specific designated purposes; they can be transferred back into general funds at the church's decision.

Fund name & purpose: Balance
Receipts
Payments
Transfers
Balance
b/fwd £
inyear £
inyear £
foryear £
c/fwd £
Afternoon Guild 1,010
75
45
0
1,040
Flower Fund 998
0
73
0
925
Donation for Premises / Repair 0
0
0
0
0
FURY FUND 456
0
0
0
456
Totals for designated funds
2,464
75
73
0
2,421
Restricted Fundsrepresent income which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of a
trust or bequest, or donations or grants received or invited for a specific purpose. These funds can only be spent on the
specific purpose for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent must be carried forward as a balance on
that fund for future expenditure on that specific purpose, or returned; it cannot be absorbed into general funds.
Fund name & purpose: Balance
Receipts
Payments
Balance
HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HESWALL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Page 2
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
NOTES
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 1993 Section 42(3), using the
Receipts and Payments basis available to small charities, and the United Reformed Church guidance.
2 FUND ACCOUNTING
Unrestricted Fundsmaybe used bythe church for anyof its ordinary purposes.
Designated Fundsrepresent unrestricted funds set aside by the church for specific designated purposes; they can be
transferred back into general funds at the church's decision.
Fund name & purpose: Balance Receipts Payments Transfers Balance
b/fwd £ inyear £ inyear £ foryear £ c/fwd £
Afternoon Guild 1,010 75 45 0 1,040
Flower Fund 998 0 73 0 925
Donation for Premises / Repair 0 0 0 0 0
FURY FUND 456 0 0 0 456
Totals for designated funds
2,464
75 73 0 2,421
Restricted Fundsrepresent income which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of a
trust or bequest, or donations or grants received or invited for a specific purpose. These funds can only be spent on the
specific purpose for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent must be carried forward as a balance on
that fund for future expenditure on that specific purpose, or returned; it cannot be absorbed into general funds.
that fund for future expenditure on that specific purpose,
Fund name & purpose: Balance Receipts Payments Balance
b/fwd £ inyear £ inyear £ c/fwd £
Kalifi Fund 0
0
0
0
Youth Fund 1,034
0
0
1,034
Benevolent Fund 316
0
0
316
Totals for restricted funds
1,350
0 0 1,350
This Year Last Year
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2025 2024
Funds £ Funds £ Funds £ Total £ Total £
3 MONIES RAISED FOR OUTSIDE CAUSES
Christian Aid 0 208 0 208 503
D.E.C 0 155 0 155 0
Age UK 0 142 0 142 0

Charles Thompson Mission (Birkenhead)
0 107 0 107 181

Salvation Army
0 116 0 116 50

The Ark
0 0 0 0 20
Claire House 0 14 0 14 0
Totals raised for outside causes
0
740 0 740 754
4 PROPERTY INCOME
Lettings income 23,422 0 0 23,422 23,232
Weddings and funerals 325 0 0 325 725
Totalproperty income
23,747
0 0 23,747 23,957
5 CHURCH RUNNING COSTS
Gas, Electric and Water 14,441 0 0 14,441 25,215
Insurance 3,018 0 0 3,018 2,956
Cleaning 4,691 0 0 4,691 4,090

Telephone & Internet
2,172 0 0 2,172 2,073

Administration
792 0 0 792 958
Photocopying 2,464 0 0 2,464 2,668

Staffing
12,223 0 0 12,223 12,588

Bank Charges
75 0 0 75 104
Total church running costs
39,876
0 0 39,876 50,652
**HESWALLUNITED REFORMEDCHURCH ** **HESWALLUNITED REFORMEDCHURCH ** **HESWALLUNITED REFORMEDCHURCH ** **HESWALLUNITED REFORMEDCHURCH ** Page 3
FINANCIALSTATEMENTS YEAR ENDED31 DECEMBER 2025
NOTES –continued
This Year Last Year
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2025 2024
Funds £ Funds £ Funds £ Total£ Total£
6 PROGRAMME ACTIVITYCOSTS
HeswallChurchesTogether 75 0 0 75 75
Missionary & Outreach 0 0 0 0 212
Licenses &Refreshments 1,816 1,816 2,684
Total programme activity costs 1,891 0 0 1,891 2,971
7 SUPPORTOF OUTSIDECAUSES
Money paid tor outside causes
Christian Aid 0 711 0 711 0
Salvation Army 0 166 0 166 0
DEC 0 155 0 155 0
Age UK 0 142 0 142 0
Wirral Ark 0 20 0 20 0
Charles Thompson Mission 0 201 0 201 0
Claire House 0 14 0 14 0
Christmas Boxes 0 186 0 186 0
Total support of outside causes 0 1,593 0 1,593 0
8 MAINTENANCE OF CHURCH BUILDINGS
Repairs &Renewals 9,448 0 0 9,448 11,589
Maintenance Costs 2,821 0 0 2,821 2,788
Gardens 1,548 0 0 1,548 4,698
Total maintenance of church buildings 13,817 0 0 13,817 19,075
9 MANSE MAINTENANCE /RUNNING COSTS
ManseMaintenance 0 0 0 0 0
Council Charge 2,547 0 0 2,547 2,425
Water Rates 284 0 0 284 246
Total maintenance of manse 2,831 0 0 2,831 2,671
10 MONETARY ASSETS
The church monies are not held in segregated accounts, but for the sake of this financial statement the total
of each account is allocated appropriately over the various funds.
11 ASSETS USED FOR CHURCH PURPOSES
The church building and the manse are vested in URC Mersey Synod Trust as trustees and are not church
assets. They are held for the benefit of Heswall URC in accordance with the statutory trusts applicable to
URC properties under the URC Acts. For insurance purposes the church buildings are insured by the
church for£2,816,439The churchcontents areinsured by the church for£285,558
12 CCLA – INVESTMENT FUND
At 31/12/2024 Number of unit held was 27543.2742, valued at £147761.40 based upon a mid market value
of £5.3647. By 20/06/2025 its value had decreased to £143864.03 and on 15/12/2025 3839.7287 units were
sold at a value of £20,000. At 31/12/2025 the number of units held was 23703.5445 with a mid market
value of£124393.83. The annualdecreaseinthevalue ofour investmentwas therefore £23367.57