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## Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statementsementsmentsentsntstss 2023
100 years of making Jesus Christ known, to the glory of God
Page 1 of 8
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
The trustees, who are the church officers named in 1.3 including the Pastors, have pleasure in presenting this report of the church for the year ended 31[st] December 2023. The information set out above regarding the trust forms part of our report and the attached accounts are the accounts of the church which we have prepared and were adopted by church members at the AGM on 28[th] March 2024.
## **Name & Address:**
Swindon Evangelical Church 17-19 Devizes Road, Swindon. SN1 4BH
## **Registration with the Charity Commission:**
The church is registered directly with the Charity Commission, no. 1129912.
## **Trustees during the period:**
Holding Trustee: The Fellowship Property Trust Ltd 41 The Point, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7QU. Managing Trustees: Brian Whittaker, Pastor Paul Williams, Associate Pastor (retired 30 June 2023) Tom Brewer, Assistant Pastor (appointed 1 September 2023) Mark Trafford, Elder Richard Foster, Elder and Chair of Trustees Jonathan Redhead, Elder John Baker, Deacon Duncan Thew, Deacon (resigned 31 December 2023) Luke Moody, Deacon Michel Crabol, Deacon Barney Main, Deacon Timothy Mann, Deacon (resigned 31 December 2023) Paula James, Deacon Katie Gurr, Deacon (appointed 1 January 2024) Michael Jeffery, Deacon (appointed 1 January 2024)
## **Bankers:**
CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, WEST MALLING ME19 4JQ Lloyds Bank plc, 5 High Street, SWINDON SN1 3EN
Page 2 of 8
## **Independent Examiner:**
Paxton Software Ltd
61a High Street South, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0RA
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing Documentation:**
Swindon Evangelical Church Constitution, November 2008.
A - Chapel, 17 & 18 Devizes Rd - Conveyance (and Declaration of Trust), 17[th] March 1927. B - Meeting Rooms, 19 Devizes Rd - Conveyance (and Declaration of Trust), 30[th] April 1955. A & B – Charity Commission Scheme (appointing FIEC Ltd as Trustee), 11[th] May 1993. Church Rules, June 2009.
## **Members and Employees**
The church is an independent body made up of members who, on public profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and acknowledgment of His authority over their lives, voluntarily agree to adhere to the church Basis of Faith and Constitution.
The membership on 31[st] December 2023 stood at 142 members, 12 of whom joined the church during 2023. During the year eight members resigned and one died.
The Annual General Meeting was held on 28[th] March, with four other Members’ Meetings held on the 2[nd] May, 27[th] June, 26[th] September, and 28[th] November.
On 30[th] June 2023 Paul Williams, Associate Pastor, and Ruth Williams, retired after 25 years of service in the church, with Paul Williams as Lead Pastor between 1998 and 2022. We thank God for their faithful ministry over many years.
Tom Brewer was called to pastoral ministry at Swindon Evangelical church and appointed as Assistant Pastor on 1[st] September 2023.
The church employed a full-time Pastor, a full-time Associate Pastor, and the Associate Pastor’s wife on a part-time basis until the end of June 2023, a full-time Assistant Pastor from September, a parttime Ladies’ Worker, a part-time Women’s Ministry and Development Worker, a part-time Administrator, and a part-time Children’s and Youth Worker.
Page 3 of 8
## **Volunteers**
The church continues to benefit from committed people who are willing to give their time to help in the work of the church across the range of activities.
## **OBEJECTIVES AND ACTIVTIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT**
## **Aims and Objectives**
The church exists for the:
- worship of God through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, praise and prayer; encouragement of spiritual growth in the lives of its members; promotion of fellowship between the members;
- organisation of evangelistic efforts to tell other people the good news of the Gospel; support of missionary activities both at home and abroad;
in accordance with the governing documentation.
## **Public Benefit**
The trustees consider that they have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission as described in the section below.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Church Activities**
The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was faithfully preached throughout the year by our Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor and members of the church, as well as a number of visiting preachers and speakers.
Sunday services were held in the church building but also broadcast online for the benefit of a number of worshippers who would normally be unable to attend meetings due to age or infirmity.
Significantly, the church celebrated its centenary on 8[th] January 2023 with a visiting speaker, Stuart Olyott, and a special outreach on 28[th] and 29[th] April with evangelist Roger Carswell, three-time Olympic rower Debbie Bruwer, and ex-CEO of Hoare’s Bank Jeremy Marshall.
Page 4 of 8
One day after the 100[th] anniversary the church had its offer accepted for the purchase of two buildings on a plot of land at 38-42 Newport Street, which is adjacent to the existing site on Devizes Road. We thank God for providing funds to enable an outright purchase with no mortgage nor loans required. These buildings allow for the expansion of further ministries and, following decoration work by deacons and members of the church, parts of the building started to be used in September 2023 for various church activities.
The church was also able to purchase an adjacent garden which is bounded by both the Newport Street and Devizes Road sites. This further plot of land gives opportunity to reconfigure the whole church site in the future and provides a larger external space for church activities in good weather.
Other meetings held by the church during the year were:
## Weekly & Fortnightly
Sunday services of public worship, both morning and evening.
- Adventurers and Explorers (Sunday School) and Ignite (for teenagers) each Sunday. Care Groups (house groups) for Bible Study, prayer & fellowship on alternate Tuesdays. Church Prayer Meeting on alternate Tuesdays.
- Stepping Stones parent-toddler group on Wednesday mornings during school terms. Women’s Fellowship meeting on Wednesday afternoons.
- Ladies’ Bible Study on Thursday mornings.
- Men’s Bible Study on Thursday mornings.
- Mums Connect met weekly during term time for mums of young children for fellowship, Bible Study and prayer.
- One-Way Club and Pathfinders outreach clubs for children on Thursdays during school term. Oasis outreach & lunch on alternate Fridays.
- Rooted, the group for teenagers (age 14+) on Wednesdays.
- 20+ group for Bible Study, prayer & fellowship on Friday evenings.
## Other regular meetings
- Triple-C card making club held once per month.
- Women’s Breakfast meeting roughly every 6 months on Saturdays.
- Men’s Breakfast meeting roughly every 3 months on Saturdays.
- Ladies Together fellowship for all women every 6 months.
## Other special meetings or events:
- There were ten baptisms, two babies dedicated, one funeral, but no weddings First Aid training, 14[th] January
- EQUIP online topical Bible training, five sessions throughout the year Music Ministry training, 12[th] March
- Easter Cracked outreach to primary schools, six days in March
Page 5 of 8
- Good Friday service, 7[th] April
- Easter Day Service, 9[th] April
- Holiday Bible Club 11[th] to 14[rd] April
- Hope Explored 3-week courses, in May and July Christian Institute meeting, 13[th] June
- Retirement tea for Paul and Ruth Williams, 25[th] June Football Tournament outreach, 1[st] July
- Induction of Tom Brewer as Assistant Pastor, 17[th] September Harvest Thanksgiving, 1[st] October
- Quiz Night outreach, 6[th] October Light Party for children, 31[st] October
- Christmas Unwrapped outreach to primary schools, 5 days in November and December Newcomers’ Lunch, 13[th] November
- Carol Singing outside local shop, 9[th] December
- Christmas Lunch for older people, 15[th] December
- All age Christmas Service on 17[th] December
- Carol Service on 24[th] December
- Christmas Day Service on 25[th] December
Other ministries include outreach using posted literature; visitation of the sick and elderly; and practical care including collections for Swindon Food Bank.
## **Missionary Support**
The church supports missionary organisations both practically and financially. We support Sarah Deacon, a youth worker in Slovenia and member of the church, via ECM. Organisations regularly supported are Barnabas Aid which supports persecuted Christians worldwide; 20Schemes in the UK; Cranford Baptist Church, in the UK; UFM in Asia; Baptist Church in Myanmar and International Mission to Jewish People.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial Review and Policies**
God always provides for our needs when we seek to trust Him and follow in obedience to the way He leads. As described above this was a very significant year for the church and this is reflected in the finances as well.
Page 6 of 8
We have seen that many times in the past and have seen how God has provided for us in the year. This was most evident in that we were able to purchase two properties and some land without having to borrow any money as significant pledges were received to enable this.
Total income is significantly up on last because of this at over £500K and the pledges account for the increase in total funds to £2.2m although the majority of this is now held in property rather than cash.
As well as this the General Fund also saw some significant changes as the running costs of the new buildings were expensed here along with the changes in the staffing structure. Although costs were higher than expected this was offset by an increase in donation income so that the deficit in the year was in line with what was expected.
## **Principal Funding Sources**
The principal source of funding is from our members who generously give to support the work of the church in seeking to meet its charitable objectives.
## **Reserves policy**
Our current reserves policy is to hold unrestricted reserves that are at least equal to three months operational expenditure. While the current level of our unrestricted reserves are higher than this, the trustees have designated some of them to particular aspects of the church’s ministry, which means that the actual free reserves currently stand at £27,297 which is below this. Trustees are working
## **Investment Policy**
Income is generally received to support the work of the church so any surplus income is held in relatively accessible current or short-term deposits accounts.
## **Going Concern**
The trustees have reviewed the circumstances of the charity and believe that sufficient resources are available to fund the activities for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the trustees are of the view that the charity is a going concern.
## **Building Together Project**
The site at 38-42 Newport Street, Swindon (two office buildings and car park) was bought outright for £1,253,000. The garden adjacent to both Newport Street and Devizes Road sites, 35-36 Newport Street, was bought for £35,000. These purchases were possible due to the generosity of the church family and allocating a significant proportion of the large legacy received last year.
Page 7 of 8
## **Risk Management**
The church has a risk management strategy involving an annual review and update by the trustees of identified operational, personnel, financial and reputational risks. The trustees are satisfied that appropriate systems and procedures are in place to monitor, manage and, where appropriate, mitigate these risks.
Richard Foster Chair, on behalf of the Managing Trustees 26[th] March 2024
Page 8 of 8
**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
|**Section A**
**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**Section A**
**Independent Examiner’s Report**|
|---|---|
|**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**
**Responsibilities and**
**basis of report**|Charity Name
Swindon Evangelical Church
31 December 2023
**Charity no**1129912
Trustees’ report 1 to 8 and Accounts pages 10 to 14
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2023.
As the charity's trustees, 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 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 Act.|
**Independent** The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to **examiner's statement** undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the association of accounting technicians.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did 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.
|**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**Address:**|Darren Warren
**Date:**|29/02/2024|
|---|---|---|
||||
||Darren Warren – Paxton Independent Examiners||
||||
||FMAAT||
||||
||61a High Street South||
||Rushden||
||Northants, NN10 ORA||
**Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2023**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2023**
|**Notes**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Interest
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
3
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
10
**Net movement in funds**
Total funds brought forward
10
**Total funds carried forward**
**10**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
200,933
773
201,706
214,151
214,151
12,445
-
(289,419)
**(301,864)**
716,142
**414,278**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
362,715
11,964
374,679
60,968
60,968
313,711
(998,581)
**(684,870)**
714,434
**29,564**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
900
-
900
1,075
1,075
(175)
1,288,000
**1,287,825**
537,675
**1,825,500**|**Total funds**
**2023**
**£**
**564,548**
**12,737**
**577,285**
**276,194**
**276,194**
**301,091**
**-**
**301,091**
**1,968,251**
**2,269,342**|**2022**
**£**
292,535
13,203
305,738
249,215
249,215
56,523
-
**56,523**
1,911,724
**1,968,247**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 10 of 14
**Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2023**
## **Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023**
|**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible assets
6
Investments
7
**Current assets**
Debtors
8
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due
9
within one year
**Net current assets**
**Total net assets**
**Funds of the charity**
Endowment funds
10
Restricted income funds
10
Unrestricted funds
10
**Total funds**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
21,518
-
21,518
160,892
236,017
396,909
(4,149)
392,760
**414,278**
-
-
414,278
**414,278**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
10,437
25,487
35,924
(6,360)
29,564
**29,564**
-
29,564
-
**29,564**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
1,725,500
100,000
1,825,500
100
100
-
-
-
-
**1,825,500**
1,825,500
-
-
**1,825,500**|**Total funds**
**2023**
**£**
**1,747,018**
**100,000**
**1,847,018**
**171,429**
**261,404**
**432,833**
**(10,509)**
**422,324**
**2,269,342**
**1,825,500**
**29,564**
**414,278**
**2,269,342**|**Total funds**
**2022**
**£**
445,704
100,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||545,704|
||||||151,206
1,277,684|
||||||1,428,890|
||||||(6,347)|
||||||1,422,543|
|||||||
||||||1,968,247
537,675
714,434
716,138|
||||||1,968,247|
Approved by the Trustees on and signed on their behalf by:
**Richard Foster** Chairman
Page 11 of 1 6
**Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2023**
## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023**
## **1. Basis of preparation**
## **a) Basis of preparation**
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
Swindon Evangelical Church meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis**
The church has sufficient unrestricted reservesthat trustees are happy the church prepares accounts on a going concern basis.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **a) Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are donations receivable without further specified purpose and are available as general funds. Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. Details of the nature and purpose of each fund is set out in note 12.
## **b) Income**
Voluntary income is received by way of donations and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Gift Aid is recognised on the date of the donation and recovered on an annual basis. The Trust also makes use of the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.
## **c) Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Support and governance costs are recognised in the costs of the charitable activities of the church.
## **d) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
All assets costing (excluding land and buildings) more than £1,000 are capitalised and valued at historical cost. Depreciation is charged on the assets at the following rates:
Fixtures, fittings and equipment
20% per annum on a straight line basis
Land and buildings are not depreciated as the trustees believe the property's market value is in excess of the carrying value.
## **e) Investments**
Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date. The same treatment is applied to unlisted investments unless fair value cannot be measured reliably, in which case it is measured at cost less impairment.
Page 12 of 16
**Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2023**
## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023**
## **3. Charitable expenditure (including support and governance costs)**
|Ministry
Outreach and mission
Premises
Admin
Other costs
Governance costs
**4. Governance costs**
Governance costs include:
Independent examiner's fees
**5. Staff costs and numbers**
Staff costs were as follows:
Salaries and wages
Employer's National Insurance contributions
Pension costs
The average number of employees during the year:
Charitable activities|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
127,838
26,005
23,250
33,223
1,722
2,113
214,151|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
23,780
37,188
1,075
62,043|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**127,838**
**49,785**
**60,438**
**33,223**
**2,797**
**2,113**
**276,194**
**2023**
**£**
**390**
**2023**
**£**
**117,323**
**4,070**
**8,456**
**129,849**
**2023**
**6**
**6**|Total
funds
2022
£
124,702
78,517
18,370
25,332
1,415
879|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||249,215
2022
£
510
2022
£
118,042
5,188
9,070|
|||||132,300
2022
6|
|||||6|
No employee received total emoluments (excluding employer pension costs) above £60,000.
Page 13 of 16
**Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 202** �
## **Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2023**
## **6. Tangible Fixed Assets**
|Used by the Charity
**Cost**
As at 1 January 2023
Additions
Disposals
As at 31 December 2023
**Depreciation**
As at 1 January 2023
Charge for year
Eliminated on disposal
As at 31 December 2023
**Net book value**
As at 31 December 2023
As at 31 December 2022
**Fixed Asset Investments**
Carrying value at 1 January 2023
Revaluations
Less: impairments
Carrying value at 31 December 2023
**Debtors**
Loan to trustee
Income Tax recoverable for Gift Aid donations
Prepayments
Accrued income|Freehold
land &
buildings
£
437,500
1,288,000
-
1,725,500
-
-
-
-
1,725,500
437,500|Fixtures,
**Total**
fittings &
equipment
£
**£**
49,287
**486,787**
16,804
**1,304,804**
-
**-**
66,091
**1,791,591**
41,083
**41,083**
3,490
**3,490**
-
**-**
44,573
**44,573**
21,518
**1,747,018**
8,204
**445,704**
**Other investments**
**£**
**100,000**
**-**
**-**
**100,000**
**2023**
2022
**£**
£
**128,500**
105,000
**36,442**
31,303
**-**
3,100
**6,487**
11,803
**171,429**
151,206|
|---|---|---|
## **7. Fixed Asset Investments**
## **8. Debtors**
Loan was made to Brian Whittaker, Associate Pastor in 2021 to enable his relocation to Swindon. This loan was for £105,000 at 0% interest with an equal interest in any property revaluation. An additional loan of £23,500 was made this year to Brian & Becca Whittaker on the same basis as the original loan for the creation of a home office.
Page 15 of 16
**Swindon Evangelical Church Report and Financial Statements - 31 December 2023**
## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023**
## **9. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|**2023**
**£**
Accruals
**10,509**
**10,509**
**10. Movements in funds**
**At 1**
**Income Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Gains/**
**January**
**(losses)**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Endowment funds:**
Church Premises
437,500
-
-
1,288,000
-
Manse Trust Fund
100,175
900
1,075
-
-
-
**Total endowment funds**
537,675
900
(1,075)
1,288,000
-
**Restricted funds:**
Building fund
680,856
360,969
(37,188)
1,004,637
-
-
Other restricted funds
33,578
13,710
(23,780)
6,056
-
**Total restricted funds**
714,434
374,679
(60,968)
(998,581)
-
**Unrestricted funds:**
General funds
161,590
201,706
(181,274)
(154,725)
-
Building fund provision
436,959
-
-
(300,168)
-
Other unrestricted funds
117,593
-
(32,877)
165,474
-
**Total unrestricted funds**
716,142
201,706
(214,151)
(289,419)
-
**Total funds**
1,968,251
577,285
(276,194)
-
-
**11. Related party transactions**
The following trustees received remuneration:
Name
Salary
Pension
**Total**
£
£
**£**
Paul Williams
22,477
1,798
**24,275**
Ruth Williams
2,786
223
**3,009**
Brian Whittaker
40,711
3,257
**43,968**
Rebecca Whittaker
12,547
1,004
**13,551**
Deborah Baker
11,637
931
**12,568**
Thomas Brewer
9,333
747
**10,080**
Trustees were reimbursed for the following expenses in the year:
Travel expenses
**1,947**
Accommodation expenses
**-**
**1,947**
Church constitution
Legal Authority
Church constitution
Church constitution
Church constitution
Church constitution
Church constitution|2022
£
6,347
6,347
**At 31**
**December**
**2023**
**£**
**1,725,500**
**100,000**
**1,825,500**
**-**
**29,564**
**29,564**
**27,297**
**136,791**
**250,190**
**414,278**
**2,269,342**
2022
£
46,314
6,278
40,047
2,679
12,510
-
1,248
-
1,248|
|---|---|
There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period.
Page 16 of 16