2021-12-31-accounts - Guildford United Reformed Church Charity

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ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS

For the YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 FOR

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Registered Charity Number: 1130808

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

CONTENTS OF THE ACCOUNTS For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

	Page Number
Annual Report and Accounts	2 - 5
Independent Examiner’s Report	6
Receipts & Payments	7
Assets & Liabilities	8
Notes to the Financial Statements	9 - 11

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Name and Registered Number of Charity

The Charity is known as “Guildford United Reformed Church Charity”. Its registered number is 1130808.

Administration and Management of Charity

The charity is administered by the Trustees of Guildford United Reformed Church who represent the members of the Church and are the Minister of the Church and elected Elders of the Church.

Appointment of Trustees

The Trustees are all appointed by Church Members at the Annual General Meeting of the Church or at a specially called meeting of Church Members. In the case of the Elders they are appointed for three years and may be elected to serve for a further three years before retiring for at least one year and, in exceptional circumstances, for a further year, except for the Church Secretaries and Church Treasurer for whom there is no time limit. Any Minister remains in situ after the call to the pastorate until he or she leaves to join another pastorate, resigns or retires.

Scope of Report and Accounts

This report and the annexed accounts relate to the operations of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2021.

Governing Document

The Charity operates under the 1972, 1981 and 1990 United Reformed Church Acts of Parliament.

Name of Trustees

The Trustees serving for the full year were: Mrs A Chase, Mr I Cornish, Mrs F Dorling, Mr R M Dunnett, Mrs W A Dunnett, Mr A Green, Reverend W C Hawkins, Mr I Hitchcock, Mr H T Jones, Miss A Marshall, Ms H Smith

The following Trustee served for lesser periods as stated: Mr G Baxter (19 April - 31 December), Mrs L E Robey (1 January – 19 April)

Principal Address

83 Portsmouth Road, GUILDFORD, GU2 4BS

Other Relevant Organisations or Persons

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Mrs Nicola Willshire ACIE Accounting Services (Guildford) Limited 61 Fairlands Avenue Fairlands Guildford GU3 3NB

BANKERS

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill WEST MALLING ME19 4JQ

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

NARRATIVE INFORMATION

Origin and Historical Review

The Church was formed in 1662 in Guildford as a Free Church initially worshipping in Black Horse Lane and then in Chapel Street. It became a Congregational Church in about 1706. The Church moved to North Street in 1865 and to its present site in Portsmouth Road in 1965.

When the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church in England united in 1972 to become the United Reformed Church, Guildford Congregational Church became Guildford United Reformed Church.

Mission and Objective

Our mission is to share God’s love in the community. We aim to be an open, welcoming Christian Church serving one another and our neighbours, working for justice and peace in God’s world.

The Elders are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of the community which uses our premises. The Elders maintain an overview of worship and make suggestions on how the many groups that are involved in the life of the church can participate in our services. Our worship puts faith into practice through prayer, scripture, music and sacrament.

The Elders have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion when planning activities to enable anyone to live out their faith as part of our community through:

Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus. Provision of pastoral care for people connected with the church. Missionary and outreach work.

To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the church building.

Achievements and Performance

Worship and Prayer

Family worship is normally held every Sunday morning except on the last Sunday of most months when an informal all-age service is held in the afternoon. With the Covid situation services were just live-streamed until Easter and at the very end of the year, but for the rest of the time the church was open for worship with services continuing to be live-streamed as well as being available as a recording. The average attendance in church has been just under 30 with an unknown number joining online. Messy Church is normally held on the first Saturday of each month, online for the first few months of the year but in person since, with an average attendance of about 35. An in-person summer children’s Holiday Club for about 30 children was held in August. Since the early autumn there has been an Open Table (LBGT+) service on the first Sunday afternoon of each month as part of our commitment to being an Inclusive Church.

As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief, give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and commend the person to God's keeping.

Pastoral Care

Through a network of pastoral visitors, regular care is maintained for those associated with the church. During lockdown contact was maintained by phone and newsletter. Contact has also been maintained with others who would normally have attended church activities.

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

On two Saturdays every month the Church has continued to run the only Contact Centre in Guildford to enable children whose parents have split to meet the non-resident parent.

With the advantage of a resident caretaker the church has never fully closed and has been able to offer its premises for, amongst other things, a collection point for food bank donations and to various social need groups including about a dozen 12-Step groups.

Mission and Evangelism

Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. We have again made donations to Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy and Cherry Trees (a local organisation providing a safe place for children with disabilities,) both in part through another Christmas Tree Festival which was successful despite limitations due to Covid. We have also raised sizeable sums for Christian Aid, mainly through the URC’s Commitment for Life project, and we also let a large number of charities to use our premises either free or at reduced rates.

Ecumenical Relationships

The church is connected with many other churches in the town through the Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy, usually. We have especially close links with a local Anglican church, St Nicolas’ and hold a number of joint services and study groups. We are involved in the local Inter-Faith Forum and also welcome a Muslim group for their daily prayers.

Children and Families Worker employed jointly with St Nicolas’ Church Guildford

The worker continues to have a major impact on both churches which are increasingly doing things together especially, but not exclusively, activities with children and young people.

Community Worker

Having a Community Worker has enabled much more support to be given to those linked with the church than would have been possible with a not-so-young congregation.

Application of Income

The Church’s income is used for the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church.

In addition to this the premises of the Church are used by numerous local and national organisations, many of them charities in their own right.

Reserve Policy

The Trustees having considered the needs of the Church into the future feel that a General Fund reserve of approximately one half of one year’s expenditure is a reasonable reserve to aim for, with the Designated Long Term Maintenance Fund providing a reserve of about £80,000 for significant maintenance costs which arise from time to time, especially given the size and age of the building.

Review of Year’s Activities

During the year eleven meetings of Trustees have been held together with six meetings of Church Members, including the Annual General Meeting.

Financial Review

As last year the accounts are presented on a receipts and payments basis and this report is confined to an overview of the financial performance in the year under review and of the position at 31[st] December 2021.

The opening balance at 1[st] January 2021 on the General Fund including investments was £97,038. Receipts were £207,952 (2020 £161,557). Payments were £172,386 (2020 £165,334) plus transfers to designated funds of £23,350 (2020 £19,500).

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

There was a positive movement on General Fund investments during the year of £22,836. These resulted in the Fund increasing by £35,053 to £132,090.

The opening balance of the Long Term Maintenance Fund was £78,581. £3,897 was spent and £10,400 was transferred in from the General Fund with a carried forward balance of £85,084.

The opening balance of the Children & Families Worker Fund which receives equal income from St Nicolas’ Church and Guildford URC was £93. It had income of £13,681 plus a transfer in of £12,950 and made payments of £26,680 with a carried forward balance of £44.

The opening balance of the Restricted Funds including investments was £37,597. Receipts amounted to £7,396 and payments to £6,322. There was a positive movement in investments during the year of £3,223. These activities resulted in the balance being increased by £4,297 to £41,894.

Balance Sheet

Total net assets at 31[st] December 2021 were £259,112, an increase of £45,803 on the value at 31[st] December 2020.

Conclusion

The Trustees are of the opinion that the Charity’s finances are sound and that, despite, the significant drop in income as a result of Covid there are more than sufficient funds to cover several years even if the reduction in income from activities generating it continues.

This annual report was approved by the Trustees at a meeting on 8[th] March 2022

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE ACCOUNTS

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

Charity Number: 31130808

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Foundation”) for the year ended 30[th] December 2021, which are set out on pages 7 to 11.

Responsibilities and basis of report:

As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with 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,:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 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 by the Independent Examiner dated: 22[nd] February 2022

N.M.Willshire

Mrs Nicola Willshire ACIE Accounting Services (Guildford) Limited 61 Fairlands Avenue Fairlands Guildford GU3 3NB

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ 39,147 143 - 8,240 - - 40,154 300 2,251 13,557 38 192 857 13,200 4,221 98,848 - - 7,147 - 731 2 - 1	2021 Total Funds £	2020 Total Funds £ 36,372 9,183 37,596 11,059 14,841 62,277 7,368 43
	39,290

	8,240

	42,705

	13,787

	18,278

	98,848

	7,878

	3
207,952 13,681 7,396	229,029	178,739

- - -	-	-

207,952 13, 681 7,396	229,029	178,739
51,308 - - 7,597 1,597 - 68,419 5,235 582 31,914 23,745 - - - 4,990 13,148 - 750		50,358 9,522 66,392 54,941 3,176 18,128
	51,308

	9,194

	74,236

	55,659

	4,990

	13,898
172,386 30,577 6,322	209,285	202,517

35,566 (16,896) 1,074	19,744	(23,778)
(23,350) 23,350 - (73,099) 78,674 13,657		- 43,010
	-


	19,232


(£60,883) £85,128 £14,731	£38,976	£19,232

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABLILTIES As at 31 December 2021

General Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ (75,936) 85,128 - - - 803 5,177 - 4,217 19,849 - - - - 9,671 27 - 40	2021 Total Funds £	2020 Total Funds £ 6,059 691 6,019 6,848 9,440 175
	9,192

	803

	9,394

	19,849

	9,671

	67

£(50,883) £85,128 £14,731	48,976	29,232

(10,000) - -		(10,000)
	(10,000)
£(60,883) 85,128 £14,731	£38,976	£19,232
94,713 - - 98,260 - 27,163		83,537 110,540
	94,713

	125,423

£192,973 - £27,163	£220,136	£194,077

£132,090 £85,128 £41,894	£259,112	£213,309

All the Charity’s activities are classed as continuing.

There are no liabilities or tangible assets of any value.

The Notes on Pages 9-11 form part of these accounts
These Accounts were approved by the Trustees at a Meeting on 8[th] March 2022

Trustee Name	Signature	Date
Revd. W C Hawkins	W C Hawkins	8thMarch 2022
R M Dunnett	R M Dunnett	8thMarch 2022

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Scope and basis of the financial statements

The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable for charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective 1 January 2020).

1.2 Fund Accounting

General and Designated Funds are available for use at the discretion of the church in furtherance of its charitable objectives. Restricted funds are subject to restrictions on the expenditure imposed by the donors or contained in the terms of a grant.

1.3 Incoming Resources & Resources Expended

All voluntary giving and other income are included when received. All expenditure is accounted for when made. As most of the management and activity of the church is carried out by volunteers, this intangible cost is not included in the financial statements as this contribution to the life of the church is incalculable.

1.4 Tangible Fixed Assets

Freehold Property The owner of the church and manse buildings is the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust Limited (Charity 282729) which holds them on trust for purposes connected with Guildford United Reformed Church. Equipment The cost of new furniture and equipment is written off in the year of purchase.

1.5 Employees

Average number of employees in the year: 3 (previous year: 3)

2. DONATIONS, LEGACIES & GRANTS RECEIVED

David Williamson Trust Emmaus (Moss Trust) John Beane's Charity CIO Scutt & Durrant Trust CIO URC Wessex Synod(Community Worker) XY Strings & Music Society Donations for Development For AV(incl. £5,000 Wessex Synod) Legacies Miscellaneous donations	General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ 194 - - 350 - - 13,365 300 - 10,000 - - 5,500 - - 650 - - 220 - - 7,850 - - 200 - - 1,825 - 2,251	2021 £ 194 350 13,665 10,000 5,500 650 220 7,850 200 4,076	2020 £ 303 - - 10,000 5,167 600 2,280 - 15,000 4,246
	£40,154 £300 £2,251	£42,705	£37,596

3. ACTIVITIES GENERATING INCOME (General Fund only)

Use of rooms Car park licence fees	2021 3 61,138 37,710	2020 £ 38,306 23,971
	£98,848	£62,277

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

4. MINISTERIAL COSTS (General Fund only)

Ministry & Mission Fund Manses running expenses less Synod allowance Car running costs & travel Ministerial expenses Pulpit Supply	2021 £ 44,484 5,269 (802) 1,474 626 257	2020 £ 44,484 2,920 (371) 770 1,824 730
	£51,308	£50,357

5. CHURCH RUNNING COSTS

Administration & Office Gas and electricity Insurance, council tax, water Premises maintenance Cleaning Contract AV Project Publicity Other running costs	General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ 3,839 1,338 582 15,204 - - 9,514 - - 11,317 3,897 - 10,848 - - 13,976 - - 72 - - 3,649 - -	2021 £ 5,759 15,204 9,514 15,214 10,848 13,976 72 3,649	2020 £ 6,088 12,107 9,414 25,002 9,354 0 544 3,883
	£68,419 £5,235 £582	£74,236	£66,392

6. DONATIONS AND GRANTS MADE

Challengers Cherry Trees Christian Aid Commitment for Life Christians Against Poverty(Westborough) Guildford Action Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy Malawi Nurse’s Training Médecins Sans Frontières (UK) Oakleaf Salvation Army Food Bank Misc. small donations Previous year’s special donations	General Fund Restricted Funds £ £ 400 - 800 - 345 - 6,030 - 975 - 300 - 2,500 - 1,000 - 275 - 300 100 110 - 113 650 - -	2021 £ 400 800 345 6,050 975 300 2,500 1,000 275 400 110 763 -	2020 £ - 900 85 6,700 1,000 956 3,000 - - 500 1,260 1,111 2,716
	13,148 750	13,898	18,228

The Church offers free or reduced rates for room use to charities and community organisations which in the year amounted to at least £25,000 (2020: £24,000)

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2021

7. FUNDS

7.1 Description

Designated Fund

Children & Families Worker Fund For joint worker with St Nicolas’ Church, Guildford Long Term Maintenance Fund For occasional major items of maintenance and renewal

For occasional major items of maintenance and renewal becoming increasingly needed on a fifty year old building.

Restricted Funds Organ Fund Music Society

For major repairs or alterations to the organ For the spread of the appreciation of music

7.2 Cash Movement of Funds

Balance as at 1 January Income during the year Transfers in during the year Expenditure during the year Transfers out during the year Balance as at 31 December	Designated Funds Children & Families Worker Long Term Maintenance Fund £ £ 93 78,581 13,681 - 1295 0 10,400	Restricted Funds Music Society Organ Fund £ £ 10,171 3,486 6,665 731 - -
	, 26,724 88,981 26,680 3,897 - -	16,836 4,217 6,322 - - -
	£44 £85,084	£10,514 £4,217

The Organ Fund also had investments valued at £27,163 making its total value £31,380

8 INVESTMENTS

General Fund Restricted Funds £ £ 170,137 23,940 - - 22,836 3,223	2021 £ 194,077 - 10,9943	2020 £ 205,071 - (10,994)
£192,973 £27,163	£220,136	£194,077

£59,900 £13,149	£73,049	£73,049

Values are at the mid-market rate at the close of business on the charity’s Balance Sheet date. There were no purchases during the year. At year end values 49.1% of investments were in M&G Charifunds and 50.9% in the CCLA COIF Ethical Investment Fund.

TRUSTEES
9.1 One trustee was paid £500 for maintaining the church garden under an agreement made well before he became a trustee. Four trustees were reimbursed for receipted expenditure.
9.2 Trustees Indemnity Insurance is included at no extra cost in the church’s insurance policy.