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← Rushden Mission Church

2024-10-31-accounts

Charity Registration Number 1130048

Rushden Mission Church

Statutory Information

Legal Status

Rushden Mission Church is an unincorporated association with Managing Trustees appointed by a meeting of the Members.

Principal Office

Rushden Mission Church 159 Wellingborough Road Rushden NN10 9TA

Registered Address

1 St Peters Ave Rushden NN10 6XW

Charity Trustees

Mrs Linda Jane Crawley Mr David Lloyd Rooksby Mrs Gillian Lindsey Russell (resigned 15[th] April 2024) Mrs Thandiwe Washoma Mr David McGrath Mr Thomas Joseph Poulton Mr William John Franklin Mrs Kim Elaine Wilton (appointed 26[th] June 2024)

Property Holding Trustees

Mrs Linda Jane Crawley Mr David Lloyd Rooksby Mrs Gillian Lindsey Russell Mrs Thandiwe Washoma

Minister of the Church

Rev David Bracken

Bankers

Barclays Bank PLC 9 Midsummer Place MILTON KEYNES MK9 3GB

Co-operative Bank Plc P.O. Box 101 Manchester M60 4EP

Solicitors

Wilson Browne The Manor House Market Square Higham Ferrers NN10 8BT

Independent Examiner

Elsby & Co 155 Wellingborough Rd, Rushden NN10 9TB

The Trustees Report

Year ended 31st October 2024

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st October 2024.

Charitable Objects

The Charity is governed by a constitution adopted 1st April 2009. The Objects of the Church are:

The Church occupies premises which are held by the above listed Property Holding Trustees and the Trust is entirely compatible with the above objects.

Public Benefit

The Trustees consider that the activities of the Charity are conducted for the public benefit, in particular two of the charitable purposes as set out by the Charity Commission in its general guidance on public benefit are met:

An explanation of these activities is given below in the section Objectives and Activities.

Organisational Structure and Decision-making processes.

Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution, which requires them to make a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ and to subscribe and adhere to, in belief and lifestyle, the Statement of Beliefs.

The Members meeting normally takes place four times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the Church. In accordance with the Constitution, the Members appoint Trustees who accept responsibility for the legal aspects of the Charity. The constitution states that there should be a minimum of three Trustees but does not stipulate a maximum number. The Church Meeting also appoints up to six Church Leaders, who together with the Minister, Church Secretary and Treasurer, are responsible for the day to day running of the Church's work and witness. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective. In accordance with the constitution a person may serve as both a Trustee and Church Leader, or any other officer of the Church.

Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church Meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by Members in Church Meeting for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church Meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.

The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted regarding the Disclosure and Barring Service and Safeguarding Policies in place for both Children and Vulnerable Adults.

The Church is a member of The Wesleyan Reform Union of Churches.

The Church is affiliated to Rushden & Higham Council of Churches, the Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs, and the East Northants Faith Group.

Objectives and Activities

To achieve the Principal Objective, which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord.

Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of a regular public service of Christian worship. This service takes place in person each Sunday at 10.45 am. However, we also offer this service as a live stream through YouTube. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised on the Church Notice Board and the website at www.rushdenmission.co.uk. A children's programme operates during the morning services. The Church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is welcome to attend any of these services.

The Church operates house groups each week for Bible Study, mutual support, to encourage the growth of faith and to develop discipleship.

A monthly men’s group, and a monthly women’s group also meet and the aim these groups, is to give mutual support, to encourage the growth of faith and to develop discipleship.

Two Prayer Meetings are held each week. We are a Church who believe in the power of prayer and the need to lift all matters before God.

Further details of these meetings can be obtained at the Sunday services of worship and on the Church website.

The Church also offers a lace making group and a weekly Community Café, “Faithful Blend.”

All of these groups are open to the general public.

The Church provides a practice venue for the Rushden Mission Brass Band and a meeting place for the weekly meetings of Cocaine Anonymous.

Since April, the Church has been home to East Northants Child Contact Centre (CIC). ENCCS support families during the initial stages of family break up before permanent arrangements for ongoing family life are established. They:

The Church is proud to be involved with and support these groups, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.

A number of WhatsApp groups encourage connection between friends and members of the church, for prayer but also practical engagement of the various groups.

Achievements and Performance

The Church does not measure the success of its programmes in numbers alone, either by headcount or by financial performance, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees recognise that although these are difficult to measure, 2024 was a positive year in the life of the Church.

The Trustees believe that the Church will be able to continue its mission purposes in 2025 with confidence and enthusiasm.

Services are held each Sunday, with an average total in person attendance of approximately forty-five adults and children. Due to the live streaming of services, we are able to connect with a larger number of people and reach those who are no longer able to attend a church service in person. Two Home Groups meet in member’s homes to encourage the growth of faith and discipleship.

Using our improved Audio & Visual equipment we have been able to support and encourage the wider Wesleyan Reform Union by hosting hybrid meetings, enabling people to take part in the meeting both in person and via Zoom.

The Church has a committed youth team who encourage spiritual growth, support, and friendship for children of the Church and their families and seek to welcome and engage with the local community and friends through a variety of mission activities throughout the year.

The team lead a two Sunday morning children’s groups, PathFinders for ages 5 to 11 and WayMakers for ages 11 to 16. These groups provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere to help the children and young people develop in their faith. The children performed at a Nativity service during the year.

The older youth have been joining in with townwide youth events that the youth leaders feel encourages the young people in their own faith and allow the youth to connect with their Christian peers.

Some of the young people meet as Young People’s Worship Group with the objective of teaching and encouraging them to play guitar, drums and to sing, this is also a great opportunity in encouraging the Young People to worship together.

A Movie Night took place for the Children.

“Curry Club,” a men’s group meet monthly to provide men with conversation, support, and food, and “Father to Father,” meets monthly to offer mutual support, encourage the growth of faith and discipleship.

“Sisters in Christ,” formally known as “Woman to Woman,” is a women’s group who meet monthly, to offer mutual support to one another, and encourage the growth of faith and discipleship,

Through Pillow Talk, and our support of Rushden Mission Brass Band the church has been able to encourage the learning and development of new skills in a Christian environment.

Through hosting the weekly meetings of Cocaine Anonymous we have been able to support a fellowship of men and women, who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so that they may resolve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction.

East Northants Child Contact Services have been able to expand their work and support more families as a result of using our premises.

The Church reached out into the wider community by visiting homes in the locality of the Church building at Easter with an Easter Egg and an invitation to Easter events at the Church, and in a similar way at Christmas with a gift of chocolate coins and an invitation to Christmas Events.

Beginning in January a 10-week course, “Alpha”, was help giving the opportunity for a group of interested people the opportunity to learn about and ask questions of the Christian Faith.

Christmas events were well attended with Carols on the Car Park, the Carol Service with the Rushden Mission Brass Band, the Children's Nativity, and the Christingle Service.

The Church is available to serve the community with funeral services, this year two funerals were held. These services give the Minister and other members of the Church the opportunity to comfort and support the bereaved at difficult times in their lives. We are also available for wedding services, where we are able to celebrate with the couple and their families, but no weddings have been held this year. We seek to draw close to the community in the key events and moments of their lives.

Rushden Mission Church engages in prayerful and financial support for the work of the Luwero Community Projects in Uganda and of Flame International.

The Church has financially supported the work of the local Homeless Night Shelter and by way of gifts of money and food we have supported the local Food Bank.

“Faithful Blend,” our Community Café, meet each Thursday, providing an opportunity for both Church and neighbourhood to come together for company and conversation. A special morning for Macmillan Cancer Support was held and raised £310.

In May about forty adults and children from the Church enjoyed a weekend of teaching, worship, time together and relaxation at Cloverley Hall in Shropshire.

Church Membership is thirty-six, four new members have joined the Church during the year.

Financial Review

The Church seeks to raise most of the funds it needs to conduct its activities from within its own membership and congregation. We are gratefully in receipt of a grant of £5,000 per year, agreed for three years, from the Wesleyan Reform Union of Churches to support the Ministry of the Church, we are currently at the beginning of the final year this arrangement. The final instalment of £1,250 will be received on the 1[st of] July 2025. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year.

ENCCS have contributed £6,941 to the church for their use of the building.

The most significant area of expenditure relates to the employment of our Minister. The role is to lead and co-ordinate the Church's activities including the Sunday Services. He provides pastoral care for the congregation and others. He helps equip and encourage the membership in their life, Christian witness, and service. The Church are delighted that that they have been able to offer our Minister, the Rev David Bracken, an extension to his employment agreement taking it to the 31[st of] August 2030, which David has accepted.

The Church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making grants to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the Church's own charitable purpose.

The Church is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the Church's activities. Many of the activities run with little or no impact on the Church's expenditure, but nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the Church's objectives. The Trustees wish to express their thanks for all the hard work which makes this possible.

The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted, are set out in the accompanying Financial Statements.

The Trustees report a net cash surplus for the year of £5,163. Regular offerings decreased from £31,487 per year to £29,873. Total annual income decreased by £1,715 from £68,635 to £66,920. Total annual expenditure has decreased by £5,413 from £67,170 to £61,757.

The Church Building is now 124 years old and whilst generally in good order there are matters that continue to require attention. The Church is in the process of looking at a refurbishment project to improve the interior condition of the building and furnishings and exploring grant funding opportunities.

The Trustees remain aware that the current level of expenditure is unsustainable beyond the medium term unless offering income can be increased. The grant from the Wesleyan Reform Union of Churches as mentioned above of £5,000 per year and the income from ENCCS gives comfort on this issue.

The Trustees have an established Reserves Policy of holding approximately six months of costs in hand and are satisfied that the unrestricted reserves of £88,770, including £53,405 in Bank and Debtors (including HMRC Gift Aid of £7,703), together with forecasts and projections, are adequate to enable the Church to function and meet its Charitable Objectives. The Church membership is fully aware of the situation, and the Trustees will keep the matter under constant review to prevent the Church from entering a situation where it cannot fully meet its liabilities as and when they fall due. The Trustees will make every effort to take corrective action to improve the ongoing financial situation and thus to maintain an adequately funded operation.

The Trustees have assessed the major risks facing the Church and are satisfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks.

Signed by …………………………………………………………… Date. William John Franklin 24/02/25 Kim Elaine Wilton 24/02/25 Signed by ……………………………………….……………………Date.

On behalf of the Trustees of Rushden Mission Church

RUSHDEN MISSION CHURCH

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1130048

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 OCTOBER 2024

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (including General Receipts and Payments Account)

notes
Receipts:
Weekly offerings
Donations and other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
Share of Sale of Dickins Church
WRU Contribution to Ministers Pension
Grant Income
13
Bandey and Bailey Trusts
11
Interest
Church Holiday
12
TOTAL RECEIPTS
Payments:
Ministry
3
Fixed Assets
7
Upkeep of and improvements to Church & Manse
10
Administration
Donations made
4
Church Holiday
12
Sunday School & Youth Work
TOTAL PAYMENTS
Cash movement for the year
Cash and Bank balances brought forward
Cash and Bank balances carried forward		 2024
29,873
15,043
7,714
0
2,756
7,220
0
449
3,864
66,920
29,492
0
15,155
7,257
5,223
4,213
416
61,757
5,163
38,964
44,126		 2023
31,487
7,609
7,113
0
18,670
0
3,756
68,635
25,408
5,500
19,882
6,188
5,060
4,477
654
67,169
1,466
37,498
38,964

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT THE END OF THE PERIOD

notes
Fixed Assets:
Church Building
7
Manse Building
7
Fixtures & Fittings
7
Total Fixed Assets
Current Assets:
Sundry Debtors
8
Bank & other cash balances
Current Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
9
Total Net Assets:
Funds:
Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds:		 2024
27,849
880
7,107
35,836
9,279
44,126
53,405
(471)
88,770
88,770
88,770		 2023
27,849
880
7,896
36,625
7,961
38,963
46,924
(1,091)
82,458
82,459
82,459

These financial statements were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue

Trustee…………………………………… Trustee…………………………………………..

Signed by Linda Jane Crawley

Signed by David McGrath

Date: 24/02/25

Date: 24/02/25

RUSHDEN MISSION CHURCH

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1130048

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 OCTOBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of accounts:

a) These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis

b) There were no restricted or designated or endowment funds during the year.

2. Donations and other income:
notes
Donations to Church
Special Donations
6
Thank Offering
Other items
Room Hire
3. Ministry:
notes
Minister's stipend
Pension contribution
WRU Pension Contribution
Manse Rates etc.
4. Donations made:
notes
Donations from 10% Fund
5
Special Donations
6
Other Donations		 2024
4,313
1,720
1,370
699
6,941
15,043
2024
22,434
1,561
2,756
2,742
29,492
2024
3,383
1,720
120
5,223		 2023
3,983
1,857
1,235
534
7,609
2024
21,397
1,437
2,575
25,409
2023
3,203
1,857
0
5,060

5. Donations 10% Fund :

The Church intends that 10% of weekly offerings be donated to Good Causes.

notes
Amount allocated not yet donated b / fwd
10% Allocation for year
Less: Donations made in year
4
Amount allocated not yet donated c / fwd		 2024
701
2,987
(3,383)
305		 2023
755
3,149
(3,203)
701

The amounts not yet donated are not designated and could be re-allocated should the Church Meeting so elect.

RUSHDEN MISSION CHURCH

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1130048

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 OCTOBER 2024

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

6. Special Donations Fund:
notes
Amount not yet donated b / fwd
Donations received in year
2
Less: Donations made in year
4
Amount received not yet donated c / fwd
9
7. Fixed Assets:
Church Building and additions at cost brought forward
Additions during year
Church Building and additions at cost carried forward
Manse Building at cost
Fixtures and Fittings
Cost brought forward
Additions during year
Cost carried forward
Accumulated depreciation brought forward
Depreciation for year
Accumulated depreciation carried forward
Net book value carried forward		 2024
0
1,720
(1,720)
0
2024
27,849
0
27,849
880
32,939
0
32,939
25,043
789
25,832
7,107		 2023
0
1,857
(1,857)
0
2023
27,849
0
27,849
880
27,439
5500
32,939
23,069
1,974
25,043
7,896

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Buildings
0% per year
Fixtures and Fittings
Range of 10% - 20% per year
8. Sundry Debtors:
notes
Sundry Debtors
Net Weekend Deposit
HMRC - Gift Aid
9. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Special Donations
6
Holiday Deposits
12
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors and accruals
10. Upkeep of and improvements to Church & Manse
General Upkeep
Repairs and Renewals
AV Installation
Lighting Upgarde
11. L & E Bandey and BaileyTrusts
Balance Brought Forward
Expenditure		 2024
1,457
119
7,703
9,279
0
0
234
237
471
10,291
2,644
2,220
15,155
1,693
0
1,693		 2023
0
7,961
7,961
0
230
442
420
1,092
7,617
1,583
6,920
3,763
19,883
2,231
(538)
1,693

RUSHDEN MISSION CHURCH

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1130048

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 OCTOBER 2024

12. Holiday Deposits

Balance Brought Forward
Holiday Funds Received
Paid
13. Grants
Wesleyan Reform Union of Churches Ministry Grant
Wesleyan Reform Union Audio Visual Grant
Benefact Trust		 230
3,864
(4,213)
(119)
5,000
2,220
7,220		 951
3,756
(4,477)
230
6,250
10,420
2,000
18,670

RUSHDEN MISSION CHURCH

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1130048

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 OCTOBER 2024

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES/ MEMBERS OF RUSHDEN MISSION CHURCH

Report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 October 2024

Charity no: 1130048

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Rushden Mission Church ("the Trust") for the year ended 31 October 2024

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner:

As the charity's 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 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 examiner's statement:

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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the 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 pat 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 to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed by:

Leona Bateman FCCA, ACA

Elsby & Co (Sywell) Limited Statutory Auditors 155 Wellingborough Road Rushden Northamptonshire NN10 9TB

Date: