## **SOUTHERNHAY** UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
## Registered Charity No 1130547
FINANCIAL REPORT 2023
## **Index**
Report of Independent Examination Summary Statement of Financial Activities 1 Balance Sheet 2 Summary of Financial Activities A. Incoming Resources 3 B. Resources Expended 4 Movement of Funds 5 Details of Special Causes 6 Notes 7
## **Southernhay URC Trustees at 31. 12. 23**
Diane Burch, Juliet Campling, Alastair Logan, Wendy Milne, John Scarfe, John Thorndyke (Until March 2022)
## **Treasurer’s Report**
The total income for 2023 is slightly greater than in 2022, with freewill giving & lettings slightly increased from 2022.
Expenditure is significantly reduced in 2023 as no major repairs or renovations were undertaken in 2023.
Looking ahead we can expect a significant increase in costs of energy.
Dick Gray
13[th] March 2024
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **SUMMARY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
## **FUNDS**
|**2022**
**TOTAL**
**General**
£
£
72,228
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
77,949
(see page 3)
92,847
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
76,923
(see page 4)
20,619
-
Surplus/Deficit for the year
1,027
83,801
TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS B/FWD
57,422
(see page 5)
63,182
TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS C/FWD
58,449
4,601
Special Category Ministry Account
4,601
(see notes on page 2)
**67,783**
TOTAL FUNDS HELD
63,050|**Designated Restricted**
£
£
-
1,303
-
1,262
-
41
3,219
2,540
3,219
2,581
3,219
2,581
**2023**|**TOTAL**
£
79,252
78,185
1,068
63,181
64,249
4,601
**68,850**|
|---|---|---|
Page 1
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
||**2022**|**2022**||**2023**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£|||£|
||||**DEPOSITS**|||
||149||COIF Deposit Account|156||
||51,874||COIF Ethical Investment Fund|58,793||
||5,266||NatWest Reserve Account|7,660||
||500||NatWest Current Account|500||
||-||URC SW Synod deposit|1,743||
|-|6
||Outstanding payment|-||
||10,000||Outstanding credit|||
|||**67,783**|||**68,851**|
||57,422||**FUNDS AND RESERVES**
General Purpose
Accumulated Fund|58,449||
||3,219|57,422|Designated Buildings Funds
Buildings Fund|3,219|58,449|
||2,347|3,219|Restricted Funds
Healing Fund (Noblet)|2,347|3,219|
||193|2,540|Special Causes|234|2,581|
||4,601|63,181
4,601|**TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS**
Special Category Ministry Account (see note be|4,601|**64,249**
4,601|
|||**67,783**|**TOTAL FUNDS HELD**||**68,851**|
|||NOTES|The Special Category Ministry Fund is a restricted fund completely|||
||||separate from the funds of the Church. It is currently in abeyance|||
||||as there is no one in post.|||
Page 2
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|**General Designated Restricted TOTAL**
£
£
£
£
£
£
**A. INCOMING RESOURCES**
**1. OFFERINGS**
14,702
Monthly Standing Orders
15,712
15,712
1,229
Weekly Envelopes
-
-
1,841
Loose
2,791
2,791
1,263
Other Donations by Members & Frien
1,621
1,621
3,973
Gift Aid claimed on the above
4,407
4,407
23,007
**2. DESIGNATED & RESTRICTED INCOME**
-
Buildings Fund
-
-
400
Contact Centre Reserve
-
-
-
Healing Fund
-
-
821
Special Causes (Collected)
1,303
1,303
73
Gift Aid to Special Causes
-
-
1,294
**3. USE OF BUILDINGS**
16,119
Standard Lettings (net)
18,808
18,808
892
Contact Centre (net)
-
-
1,700
Church Groups
1,700
1,700
50
Other Users
195
195
639
Coffee Concerts
916
916
11,616
Ground Rent (Berkeley House - net)
9,100
9,100
31,016
**4. WEDDINGS & FUNERALS**
-
Fees
970
970
-
Offerings at Weddings & Funerals
-
-
-
**5 OTHER INCOME**
-
Legacies, etc
-
-
-
Cash Box (inc People & News)
-
-
277
Refunds
-
-
-
Sundry Receipts
-
-
-
ManseCouncil Tax and Water Rate
-
-
7,038
Manse Rent
8,660
8,660
220
ECC Chaplaincy (net)
200
200
433
Miscellaneous income
351
351
8,903
Grants
3,755
3,755
-
COIF Investment Gain
6,919
6,919
40
Interest
103
103
Interest of URC SW Synod deposit
68
68
Adjustment to include Synod funds
1,675
1,675
16,911
**72,228**
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
**77,949**
**-**
**1,303**
**2022**|**2023**
£
24,530
1,303
30,719
970
21,730
**79,252**|
|---|---|
Page 3
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**TOTAL**
£
£
£
£
£
£
**B**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
1
**CHURCH EXPENSES**
29,427
**Ministry & Mission**
27,613
27,613
-
Travel Expenses
1
14
14
108
Manse Telephone/Broadband
408
408
-
Books
-
-
-
Stationery
-
-
723
Other Expenses (inc Laptop)
81
81
-
Tax/NI
497
497
1,510
Visiting Preachers
1,135
1,135
1,107
Organists
1,100
1,100
Wedding fees
245
245
32,875
2
**CHURCH & HALLS**
6,506
Caretaker
5
7,457
7,457
3,049
Repairs and Maintenance
2
6,502
6,502
5,306
Heat and light
5
5,167
5,167
412
Water Charges
710
710
484
Telephone and WiFi
5
511
511
-
Lightning Conductor
158
158
1,095
Fire extinguishers
5
1,236
1,236
6,189
Insurance
6,559
6,559
1,176
Organ and Piano Repairs
2
448
448
13,690
Equipment
5,522
5,522
292
Cleaning materials
5
383
383
38,199
3
**MANSE**
5,671
Repairs
2
6,459
6,459
716
Insurance
727
727
234
Council Tax and Water Charges
1,014
1,014
440
Gas and Electricity Charges
-
7,061
4
**OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE FUND**
408
Resources
196
196
38
Flowers and Gifts
200
200
-
Web Site
318
318
638
Photocopying
672
672
414
Refreshments
10
10
546
Secretarial Expenses
455
455
334
Subscriptions & Licences
777
777
125
Donations
4
350
350
-
ECC Chaplaincy
4
-
6,728
COIF Investment loss
-
2,031
Rent review
-
11,262
5
DESIGNATED/RESTRICTED FUNDS
-
Buildings Fund
2
-
-
2,539
Contact Centre Reserve
-
50
Healing Fund
-
860
Special Causes
4
1,262
1,262
3,449
**92,846**
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**76,923**
**-**
**1,262**
**2022**
**Footnotes**|**2023**
£
31,093
34,653
8,200
2,977
1,262
**78,185**|
|---|---|
The footnotes refer to Synod designated 'Deductible' Items of Expenditure:
1. Ministers' Car Costs (Total £0) 2. Repairs & Decorations (Total £2049)
3. Capital Works & Projects (Total £0) 4. Benevolent Gifts (Total £860)
5. Expenses incurred in respect of Lettings (see page 3)
- (Total £12588 of which 45% claimed = £5665 representing 36% of total letting receipts of £13216)
Page 4
**SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **MOVEMENT OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|**General Purpose**
Accumulated Fund
Totals
**Designated Buildings Funds**
Buildings Fund
Totals
**Other Designated Funds**
Contact Centre Reserve
Totals
**Restricted Funds**
Healing Fund (Noblet)
Special Causes
Totals
**TOTALS FOR CHURCH FUNDS**
Special Category Ministry Acc
see note 1 on page 2
**TOTALS HELD**|**Balance**
**Receipts Gift Aid Interest Payments**
**Balance**
**01.01.2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**31.12.2023**
£
£
£
£
£
£
57,422
73,372
4,407
171
76,923
-
58,449
57,422
73,372
4,407
171
76,923
-
58,449
3,219
-
-
-
-
3,219
3,219
-
-
-
-
3,219
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
2,347
-
-
-
-
2,347
193
1,303
-
-
1,262
-
234
2,540
1,303
-
-
1,262
-
2,581
**63,181**
**74,675**
**4,407**
**171**
**78,185**
**-**
**64,248**
4,601
-
-
4,601
**67,782**
**74,675**
**4,407**
**171**
**78,185**
**-**
**68,849**|
|---|---|
Page 5
**SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **DETAILS OF SPECIAL CAUSES FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|Commitment for Life
Christian Aid
St Petrocks (Coffee)
DEC
Ukraine
Open Table
Advent special|Balance
01.01.2023`
£
71
66
56
0
0
0
0
**193**|Collected
2023
£
80
62
527
151
285
77
121
**1,303**|Gift Aid
Paid Out
Balance
2023
2023
31.12.2023
£
£
£
0
-75
76
0
-62
66
0
-488
95
0
-150
1
0
-285
0
0
-77
0
0
-125
-4|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**0**
**-1,262**
**234**|
Page 6
## **NOTES**
**1. Accounting Policies.** These Annual Accounts for Southernhay Church aim to comply with the provisions of the Charities Act 1993. This Act was passed with the aim of bringing about greater openness and transparency in the financial affairs of all charities. The regulations prescribe certain rules, procedures, and format to ensure compliance, and these have been adopted here.
The Statement format is taken from the Charity Commissioners’ Guidance literature and working definitions of the fund types as follows:
- **(a) General Purpose Funds** may be used for any legitimate activity of the church without constraint.
- **(b) Designated Funds** are funds which are held for the general purposes of the church but which have been separately ‘designated’ for specific purposes. They are funds which could be reallocated back into General Funds at any time if so decided by the Church Meeting.
- **(c) Restricted Funds** have specific purposes from which monies may not be diverted and may have been established by Legacy or Deed.
The Annual Accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis. Any material expenditure paid after the year end will be included by way of a note to the accounts (there is none for 2023).
**2. Depreciation Policy.** All new items of equipment procured are written off in the year of purchase. As a result such items are not part of the Fixed Assets of the church and depreciation does not apply.
**3. Employees of the Local Church and their Remuneration.** There are no employees; the Church contracts out caretaking to a self-employed operator.
**4. Local Trustees’ Expenses.** No expenses were paid to any members of the Elders’ Meeting or the Finance and Fabric Committee except in the form of direct reimbursement of sums actually incurred and paid on behalf of the church.
**5. Insurance.** Church and hall premises at Southernhay were insured in 2023 as follows:
||Church Premises|£ 14,208,222|
|---|---|---|
||Contents|£ 323,505|
||Business Interruption|£ 300,000|
|||---------------|
||Total|£ 14,831,727 (2022 £11,450,135)|
||The Cover for the manse at 6 Hill Close was:||
||Buildings and Contents of Common Parts £425,895||
||Contents|£ 13,831|
|||--------------|
|Total||£ 439,726 (2022 £400,035)|
**6. Local Funds not under Church Control.** The Treasurer is aware of the existence of small funds which fall within this category. Contributions are not received from the church nor are these funds subject to Church Meeting control. As a consequence, and with the agreement of the independent examiner, they have been excluded from the above Accounts.
Signed: Date: 12/3/2024
Dick Gray, Church Treasurer
Page 7
## **Southernhay United Reformed Church**
## **Financial Statements for Year Ended 31[st] December 2023**
I report on the financial statements of Southerhay URC for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Respective responsibilities**
The church is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and considers that the audit requirement of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under Section 43(7)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions of the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
## **Independent Examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination of the church funds, nothing came to my attention which gave me cause to believe otherwise than that the financial statements accord with the accounting records of the church, and that those records satisfied the requirements of the Act. I am not aware of any matter to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Ian Harrison
12[th] March 2024
Name and address of the Independent Examiner:
Ian Harrison 21 Barton Close Exton Exeter EX3 0PE
## **SOUTHERNHAY** UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
## Registered Charity No 1130547
FINANCIAL REPORT 2023
## **Index**
Report of Independent Examination Summary Statement of Financial Activities 1 Balance Sheet 2 Summary of Financial Activities A. Incoming Resources 3 B. Resources Expended 4 Movement of Funds 5 Details of Special Causes 6 Notes 7
## **Southernhay URC Trustees at 31. 12. 23**
Diane Burch, Juliet Campling, Alastair Logan, Wendy Milne, John Scarfe, John Thorndyke (Until March 2022)
## **Treasurer’s Report**
The total income for 2023 is slightly greater than in 2022, with freewill giving & lettings slightly increased from 2022.
Expenditure is significantly reduced in 2023 as no major repairs or renovations were undertaken in 2023.
Looking ahead we can expect a significant increase in costs of energy.
Dick Gray
13[th] March 2024
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **SUMMARY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
## **FUNDS**
|**2022**
**TOTAL**
**General**
£
£
72,228
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
77,949
(see page 3)
92,847
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
76,923
(see page 4)
20,619
-
Surplus/Deficit for the year
1,027
83,801
TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS B/FWD
57,422
(see page 5)
63,182
TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS C/FWD
58,449
4,601
Special Category Ministry Account
4,601
(see notes on page 2)
**67,783**
TOTAL FUNDS HELD
63,050|**Designated Restricted**
£
£
-
1,303
-
1,262
-
41
3,219
2,540
3,219
2,581
3,219
2,581
**2023**|**TOTAL**
£
79,252
78,185
1,068
63,181
64,249
4,601
**68,850**|
|---|---|---|
Page 1
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
||**2022**|**2022**||**2023**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£|||£|
||||**DEPOSITS**|||
||149||COIF Deposit Account|156||
||51,874||COIF Ethical Investment Fund|58,793||
||5,266||NatWest Reserve Account|7,660||
||500||NatWest Current Account|500||
||-||URC SW Synod deposit|1,743||
|-|6
||Outstanding payment|-||
||10,000||Outstanding credit|||
|||**67,783**|||**68,851**|
||57,422||**FUNDS AND RESERVES**
General Purpose
Accumulated Fund|58,449||
||3,219|57,422|Designated Buildings Funds
Buildings Fund|3,219|58,449|
||2,347|3,219|Restricted Funds
Healing Fund (Noblet)|2,347|3,219|
||193|2,540|Special Causes|234|2,581|
||4,601|63,181
4,601|**TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS**
Special Category Ministry Account (see note be|4,601|**64,249**
4,601|
|||**67,783**|**TOTAL FUNDS HELD**||**68,851**|
|||NOTES|The Special Category Ministry Fund is a restricted fund completely|||
||||separate from the funds of the Church. It is currently in abeyance|||
||||as there is no one in post.|||
Page 2
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|**General Designated Restricted TOTAL**
£
£
£
£
£
£
**A. INCOMING RESOURCES**
**1. OFFERINGS**
14,702
Monthly Standing Orders
15,712
15,712
1,229
Weekly Envelopes
-
-
1,841
Loose
2,791
2,791
1,263
Other Donations by Members & Frien
1,621
1,621
3,973
Gift Aid claimed on the above
4,407
4,407
23,007
**2. DESIGNATED & RESTRICTED INCOME**
-
Buildings Fund
-
-
400
Contact Centre Reserve
-
-
-
Healing Fund
-
-
821
Special Causes (Collected)
1,303
1,303
73
Gift Aid to Special Causes
-
-
1,294
**3. USE OF BUILDINGS**
16,119
Standard Lettings (net)
18,808
18,808
892
Contact Centre (net)
-
-
1,700
Church Groups
1,700
1,700
50
Other Users
195
195
639
Coffee Concerts
916
916
11,616
Ground Rent (Berkeley House - net)
9,100
9,100
31,016
**4. WEDDINGS & FUNERALS**
-
Fees
970
970
-
Offerings at Weddings & Funerals
-
-
-
**5 OTHER INCOME**
-
Legacies, etc
-
-
-
Cash Box (inc People & News)
-
-
277
Refunds
-
-
-
Sundry Receipts
-
-
-
ManseCouncil Tax and Water Rate
-
-
7,038
Manse Rent
8,660
8,660
220
ECC Chaplaincy (net)
200
200
433
Miscellaneous income
351
351
8,903
Grants
3,755
3,755
-
COIF Investment Gain
6,919
6,919
40
Interest
103
103
Interest of URC SW Synod deposit
68
68
Adjustment to include Synod funds
1,675
1,675
16,911
**72,228**
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
**77,949**
**-**
**1,303**
**2022**|**2023**
£
24,530
1,303
30,719
970
21,730
**79,252**|
|---|---|
Page 3
## **SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**TOTAL**
£
£
£
£
£
£
**B**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
1
**CHURCH EXPENSES**
29,427
**Ministry & Mission**
27,613
27,613
-
Travel Expenses
1
14
14
108
Manse Telephone/Broadband
408
408
-
Books
-
-
-
Stationery
-
-
723
Other Expenses (inc Laptop)
81
81
-
Tax/NI
497
497
1,510
Visiting Preachers
1,135
1,135
1,107
Organists
1,100
1,100
Wedding fees
245
245
32,875
2
**CHURCH & HALLS**
6,506
Caretaker
5
7,457
7,457
3,049
Repairs and Maintenance
2
6,502
6,502
5,306
Heat and light
5
5,167
5,167
412
Water Charges
710
710
484
Telephone and WiFi
5
511
511
-
Lightning Conductor
158
158
1,095
Fire extinguishers
5
1,236
1,236
6,189
Insurance
6,559
6,559
1,176
Organ and Piano Repairs
2
448
448
13,690
Equipment
5,522
5,522
292
Cleaning materials
5
383
383
38,199
3
**MANSE**
5,671
Repairs
2
6,459
6,459
716
Insurance
727
727
234
Council Tax and Water Charges
1,014
1,014
440
Gas and Electricity Charges
-
7,061
4
**OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE FUND**
408
Resources
196
196
38
Flowers and Gifts
200
200
-
Web Site
318
318
638
Photocopying
672
672
414
Refreshments
10
10
546
Secretarial Expenses
455
455
334
Subscriptions & Licences
777
777
125
Donations
4
350
350
-
ECC Chaplaincy
4
-
6,728
COIF Investment loss
-
2,031
Rent review
-
11,262
5
DESIGNATED/RESTRICTED FUNDS
-
Buildings Fund
2
-
-
2,539
Contact Centre Reserve
-
50
Healing Fund
-
860
Special Causes
4
1,262
1,262
3,449
**92,846**
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**76,923**
**-**
**1,262**
**2022**
**Footnotes**|**2023**
£
31,093
34,653
8,200
2,977
1,262
**78,185**|
|---|---|
The footnotes refer to Synod designated 'Deductible' Items of Expenditure:
1. Ministers' Car Costs (Total £0) 2. Repairs & Decorations (Total £2049)
3. Capital Works & Projects (Total £0) 4. Benevolent Gifts (Total £860)
5. Expenses incurred in respect of Lettings (see page 3)
- (Total £12588 of which 45% claimed = £5665 representing 36% of total letting receipts of £13216)
Page 4
**SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **MOVEMENT OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|**General Purpose**
Accumulated Fund
Totals
**Designated Buildings Funds**
Buildings Fund
Totals
**Other Designated Funds**
Contact Centre Reserve
Totals
**Restricted Funds**
Healing Fund (Noblet)
Special Causes
Totals
**TOTALS FOR CHURCH FUNDS**
Special Category Ministry Acc
see note 1 on page 2
**TOTALS HELD**|**Balance**
**Receipts Gift Aid Interest Payments**
**Balance**
**01.01.2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**31.12.2023**
£
£
£
£
£
£
57,422
73,372
4,407
171
76,923
-
58,449
57,422
73,372
4,407
171
76,923
-
58,449
3,219
-
-
-
-
3,219
3,219
-
-
-
-
3,219
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
2,347
-
-
-
-
2,347
193
1,303
-
-
1,262
-
234
2,540
1,303
-
-
1,262
-
2,581
**63,181**
**74,675**
**4,407**
**171**
**78,185**
**-**
**64,248**
4,601
-
-
4,601
**67,782**
**74,675**
**4,407**
**171**
**78,185**
**-**
**68,849**|
|---|---|
Page 5
**SOUTHERNHAY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXETER**
## **DETAILS OF SPECIAL CAUSES FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|Commitment for Life
Christian Aid
St Petrocks (Coffee)
DEC
Ukraine
Open Table
Advent special|Balance
01.01.2023`
£
71
66
56
0
0
0
0
**193**|Collected
2023
£
80
62
527
151
285
77
121
**1,303**|Gift Aid
Paid Out
Balance
2023
2023
31.12.2023
£
£
£
0
-75
76
0
-62
66
0
-488
95
0
-150
1
0
-285
0
0
-77
0
0
-125
-4|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**0**
**-1,262**
**234**|
Page 6
## **NOTES**
**1. Accounting Policies.** These Annual Accounts for Southernhay Church aim to comply with the provisions of the Charities Act 1993. This Act was passed with the aim of bringing about greater openness and transparency in the financial affairs of all charities. The regulations prescribe certain rules, procedures, and format to ensure compliance, and these have been adopted here.
The Statement format is taken from the Charity Commissioners’ Guidance literature and working definitions of the fund types as follows:
- **(a) General Purpose Funds** may be used for any legitimate activity of the church without constraint.
- **(b) Designated Funds** are funds which are held for the general purposes of the church but which have been separately ‘designated’ for specific purposes. They are funds which could be reallocated back into General Funds at any time if so decided by the Church Meeting.
- **(c) Restricted Funds** have specific purposes from which monies may not be diverted and may have been established by Legacy or Deed.
The Annual Accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis. Any material expenditure paid after the year end will be included by way of a note to the accounts (there is none for 2023).
**2. Depreciation Policy.** All new items of equipment procured are written off in the year of purchase. As a result such items are not part of the Fixed Assets of the church and depreciation does not apply.
**3. Employees of the Local Church and their Remuneration.** There are no employees; the Church contracts out caretaking to a self-employed operator.
**4. Local Trustees’ Expenses.** No expenses were paid to any members of the Elders’ Meeting or the Finance and Fabric Committee except in the form of direct reimbursement of sums actually incurred and paid on behalf of the church.
**5. Insurance.** Church and hall premises at Southernhay were insured in 2023 as follows:
||Church Premises|£ 14,208,222|
|---|---|---|
||Contents|£ 323,505|
||Business Interruption|£ 300,000|
|||---------------|
||Total|£ 14,831,727 (2022 £11,450,135)|
||The Cover for the manse at 6 Hill Close was:||
||Buildings and Contents of Common Parts £425,895||
||Contents|£ 13,831|
|||--------------|
|Total||£ 439,726 (2022 £400,035)|
**6. Local Funds not under Church Control.** The Treasurer is aware of the existence of small funds which fall within this category. Contributions are not received from the church nor are these funds subject to Church Meeting control. As a consequence, and with the agreement of the independent examiner, they have been excluded from the above Accounts.
Signed: Date: 12/3/2024
Dick Gray, Church Treasurer
Page 7
## **Southernhay United Reformed Church**
## **Financial Statements for Year Ended 31[st] December 2023**
I report on the financial statements of Southerhay URC for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Respective responsibilities**
The church is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and considers that the audit requirement of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under Section 43(7)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions of the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
## **Independent Examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination of the church funds, nothing came to my attention which gave me cause to believe otherwise than that the financial statements accord with the accounting records of the church, and that those records satisfied the requirements of the Act. I am not aware of any matter to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Ian Harrison
12[th] March 2024
Name and address of the Independent Examiner:
Ian Harrison 21 Barton Close Exton Exeter EX3 0PE
## **Southernhay United Reformed Church**
## **Financial Statements for Year Ended 31[st] December 2023**
I report on the financial statements of Southerhay URC for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Respective responsibilities**
The church is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and considers that the audit requirement of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under Section 43(7)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions of the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
## **Independent Examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination of the church funds, nothing came to my attention which gave me cause to believe otherwise than that the financial statements accord with the accounting records of the church, and that those records satisfied the requirements of the Act. I am not aware of any matter to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Ian Harrison
12[th] March 2024
Name and address of the Independent Examiner:
Ian Harrison 21 Barton Close Exton Exeter EX3 0PE