2023-12-31-accounts - Guildford United Reformed Church Charity

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ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS

For the YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

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 2023

	Page Number
Annual Report and Accounts	2 - 5
Independent Examiner’s Report	7
Statement of Financial Activities	8
Balance Sheet	9
Notes to the Financial Statements	10 - 13

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

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 for another pastorate or retirement.

Scope of Report and Accounts

This report and the annexed accounts relate to the operations of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2023.

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: Mr G Baxter, Mr R M Dunnett, Mrs W A Dunnett, Mr A Green, Reverend W C Hawkins, Miss A Marshall

The following Trustee served for lesser periods as stated: (1 Jan - 5 Mar) Mrs A Chase, Mr I Cornish, Mrs F Dorling, Mr I Hitchcock, Mr H T Jones, Ms H Smith (from 5 Mar) Mrs H M Davies, Miss A Marshall

Principal Address

83 Portsmouth Road, GUILDFORD, GU2 4BS

Other Relevant Organisations or Persons

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

BANKERS

P. Chamberlain FCA CAF Bank Ltd Chamberlains Accountancy 25 Kings Hill Avenue Elm House, Tanshire Park Kings Hill Shackleford WEST MALLING Elstead ME19 4JQ GU8 6LB

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

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

Guildford United Reformed Church is an open and inclusive Christian community.

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. Mission 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. Services continue to be live-streamed as well as being available as a recording. The average attendance in church has been around 30 with an unknown number joining online. Messy Church is normally held on the first Saturday of each month, with an average attendance of about 35. A children’s Holiday Club for about 60 children was held in August. There is an Open Table (LBGTQ+) 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.

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.

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

The church is a collection point for food bank donations and home to various social need groups including about fifteen 12-Step groups. During winter months the church has been open weekday mornings under the Warm Welcome/Warm Hub project

Mission and Evangelism

Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. The church has 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 successful Christmas Tree Festival. The church also raised money to pay for the training of some nurses in Malawi through links with an ex-member as well as sizeable sums for Christian Aid, mainly through the URC’s Commitment for Life project. A large number of charities 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. There are especially close links with a local Anglican church, St Nicolas’ with which we 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

Initially the minister and others carried on the joint work, before a new appointment was made in April with the post split 75% with us and 25% with St Nicolas’ although the cost of joint activities is split equally. She has run monthly Messy Church with growing numbers, another very successful joint Holiday Club in July and a monthly group for 11-16 year-olds, as joint activities, as well as various groups in our church for younger children.

Community Worker

Community work has continued with an increasing emphasis on support for those with dementia and their carers through weekly sessions with a mixture of musical activities, games playing and informal coffee and chat as well as a monthly lunch club, open to a wider range of older people. There was also a two-day Holiday at Home in August and a one-day one in December both for around 50 people. Ways of widening our community outreach are being investigated.

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 £100,000 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.

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

Financial Review

As this year’s income exceeds £250,000 the accounts are on an accruals basis unlike in the past few years when they were 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 2023.

The opening balance at 1[st] January 2023 of all funds was £273,339 (General & Designated Funds £236,355 Restricted Funds £36,984). The closing balance was £943,833 (General & Designated Funds £904,759, Restricted Funds £39,074).

The very large increase in the overall balance was almost entirely to a completely unexpected and very substantial legacy from the survivor of a couple who were married in our church in 1966 but appear to have had no contact since. The major part (£380,000) was received in the autumn. An additional amount of £270,000 was received in February 2024 and has been treated as an accrual of income in these accounts. Whilst the church decides how to put this to best use, a designated “Legacy” fund has been created.

The opening balance of General Fund was £135,670, with income of £225,377, expenditure of £198,004, gain in investments of £6,351 and transfers of £5,000 to the Long Term Maintenance Fund and £14,750 to the Children & Families Worker Fund. These all resulted in the Fund increasing by £13,974 to £149,644.

The opening balance of the Long Term Maintenance Fund was £100,084. There was no expenditure and £5,000 was transferred in from the General Fund with a carried forward balance of £105,085.

The opening balance of the Children & Families Worker Fund which receives income from St Nicolas’ Church and Guildford URC was £601. It had income of £7,169 plus a transfer in of £14,750 and made payments of £22,489 with a carried forward balance of £31.

The new Legacy Fund just has the £650,000 previously mentioned.

The opening balance of the Restricted Funds including investments was £36,984. Receipts amounted to £8,125 and payments to £8,371. There was a positive movement in investments during the year of £2,336. These activities resulted in the balance being increased by £2,090 to £39,074.

Balance Sheet

Total net assets at 31[st] December 2023 were £943,833, an increase of £670,494 on the value at 31[st] December 2022.

Conclusion

The Trustees are of the opinion that the Charity’s finances are sound.

This annual report was approved by the Trustees on 13[th] April 2023

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

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 2023

Charity Number: 1130808

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Foundation”) for the year ended 31st December 2023, which are set out on pages 8 to 13.

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: 26[th] April 2024

P J Chamberlain

P. J. Chamberlain FCA Chamberlains Accountancy Elm House, Tanshire Park Shackleford Elstead GU8 6LB

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

STAEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ 44,656 548 - 11,138 - - 33,979 650,560 3,747 12,538 - 110 2,556 6,061 3,254 110,223 - - 7,907 - 747 2,380 - 267	2023 Total Funds £	2022 Total Funds £ 43,609 9,266 33,541 11,536 14,609 117,323 8,474 260
	45,204

	11,138

	688,286

	12,648

	11,871

	110,223

	8,654

	2,647

225,377 657,169 8,125	890,671	238,618
52,239 - - 13,650 2,519 - 69,364 1,602 682 41,366 18,020 - - - 6,099 21,385 348 1,590		52,448 11,500 65,522 51,515 5,539 17,010
	52,239

	16,179

	71,648

	59,386

	6,099

	23,323
198,004 22,489 8,371	228,864	203,534
		(20,857)

6,351 2,336	8,687

33,724 634,680 2,090	670,494	14,227 -
(19,750) 19,750 -
	-

13,974 654,430 2.090 135,670 100,685 36,984		14,227 259,112
	670,494






	273,339

		£273,339
£149,644 £755,115 £39,074	£943,833

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

BALANCE SHEET As at 31 December 2023

General Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ (97,937) 105,115 645 59,676 380,000 12,264 65 - 40 181,841 - 26,125 10,493 270,000 -	2023 Total Funds £	2022 Total Funds £ 21,207 52,722 131 199,279
	7,823

	451,940

	105





	207,966







	280,493
		£273,339 -
£154,138 £755,115 £39,074	£948,327

(4,494) - - - -
	(4,494)


	-

£149,644 £755,115 £39,074	£943,833	£273,339

All the Charity’s activities are classed as continuing. There are no liabilities or tangible assets of any value.

The Notes on Pages 10-13 form part of these accounts
These Accounts were approved by the Trustees on xx[th] April 2024

Trustee Name	Signature	Date
Revd. W C Hawkins	W C Hawkins	13thApril 2024
R M Dunnett	R M Dunnett	13thApril 2024

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

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 2022).

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. The church has no endowment funds.
1.3 Incoming Resources & Resources Expended

The accounts are produced on an accruals basis, so income is recognised when receivable and expenditure is recognised when the liability is incurred. In previous years, due to the charity being smaller, the accounts were produced on a receipts and payments basis, and the comparative figures are shown on that basis. 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 Investments

Investments are stated at mid-market value and are considered to be current assets rather than long term investments.

2. DONATIONS, LEGACIES & GRANTS RECEIVED

Badminton Club Bowls Club David Williamson Trust Emmaus – The Moss Trust John Beane's Charity Scutt & Durrant Trust St Nicolas 9th Guildford Scouts URC Wessex (Community worker) XY Strings & Music Society Legacies Miscellaneous donations	General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ 600 - - 500 - - 356 60 - 700 - - 17,598 500 - 8,430 - - 250 - - - - - 1,100 - - 1,000 650,000 3,445 - 3,747	2023 £ 600 500 416 700 18,098 8,430 250 - 1,100 651,000 7,192	2022 £ 600 500 328 - 14,199 8,500 250 2,000 1,300 - 5,864
	£33,979 £650,560 £3,747	£688,286	£33,541

3. ACTIVITIES GENERATING INCOME (General Fund only)

Use of rooms Car park licence fees	2023 £ 91,240 18,893	2022 £ 78,512 38,811
	£110,223	£117,323

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

4. MINISTERIAL COSTS (General Fund only)

Ministry & Mission Fund Manses running expenses less Synod allowance Car running costs & travel Ministerial expenses Pulpit Supply	2023 £ 44,180 5,729 (311) 1,539 1,028 74
	£52,239

5. CHURCH RUNNING COSTS

Administration & Office Administrator costs Gas and electricity Insurance, council tax, water Premises maintenance Cleaning Contract Publicity Other running costs	General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ 7,150 1,602 682 825 - - 16,773 - - 7,959 - - 14,983 - - 16,730 - - 226 - - 4,718 - -	2023 £ 9,434 825 16,773 7,959 14,983 16,730 226 4,718	2022 £ 6,286 304 13,571 10,342 16,250 14,316 357 4,096
	£69,364 £1,602 £682	£71,648	£65,522

6. DONATIONS AND GRANTS MADE

Cherry Trees Cheryl King Trust Christian Aid Commitment for Life Christians Against Poverty (Westborough) DEC Appeals Guildford Action Guildford Town Centre Malawi Nurse's training Médecins sans Frontières Oakleaf Misc. small donations	General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ 2,130 48 - - - 490 6,260 - - 2,100 - - 1,000 - - - - - 500 - - 3,680 - - 3,280 - - 900 - - 500 - - 1,035 300 1,100	2023 £ 2,178 490 6,260 2,100 1,000 - 500 3,680 3,280 900 500 2,435	2022 £ 640 500 1,340 1,920 2,250 3,285 500 3,000 500 - 500 2,575
	£21,385 £348 £1,590	£23,323	£17,010

The Church offers free or reduced rates for room use to charities and community organisations which in the year amounted to at least £26,000 (2022: £26,000)

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) For the Year Ended 31 December 2023

7. FUNDS

7.1 Description

Designated Funds

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. Temporary fund for large legacy until its use is decided

Legacy Fund

Restricted Funds

Organ Fund Music Society

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

7.1 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 Balance as at 31 December	Designated Funds Children & Families Worker Legacy Fund Long Term Maintenance Fund £ £ £ 601 - 100,085 7,169 380,000 - 14,750 - 5,000	Restricted Funds Music Society Organ Fund £ £ 8,910 4,285 7,176 949 - -
	22,520 380,000 105,084 22,489 - - - - -	16,086 5,234 8,371 - - -
	£31 £380,000 £105,085	£7,715 £5,234

The Organ Fund also had investments valued at £26,125 making its total value £31,359

8 DEBTORS & CREDITORS

8.1 Debtors and accrued income

Room lettings Insurance pre-payment Accrued Legacy Income	General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds £ £ £ 7,615 - - 2,878 - - - 270,000 -	2023 £ 7,615 2,878 270,000	2022 £
	£10,493 £270,000	£280,493

8.2 Creditors

Car park rent prepaid Glencross cleaning Electricity/Gas Other	General Designated Restricted Fund Funds Funds £ £ £ 1,418 - - 1,081 - - 1,783 - - 1,224 - -	2023 £ 1,418 1,081 1,783 1,224	2022 £
	£4,494 - -	£4,494

GUILDFORD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

9 CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND

General Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds	2023	2022

£ £ £	£	£
(97,937) 105,115 -	7,178	20,149
- - 645	645	1,059
12,692 380,000 5,234	397,926	12,928
46,984 - -	46,984	31,982
- - 7,030	7,030	7,811
65 - 40	105	131
£(38,196) £485,115 £12,949	£459,868	£74,060

10. INVESTMENTS

VESTMENTS
Value at 1stJanuary Gain/(Loss) in year Value at 31stDecember Historical Cost at 31stDecember	General Fund Restricted Funds £ £ 175,490 23,789 6,351 2,336	2023 £ 199,279 8,687	2022 £ 220,136 (20,857)
	£181,841 £26,125	£207,966	£199,279

	£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 or sales during the year. At year end values 48.0% of investments were in M&G Charifunds and 52.0% in the CCLA COIF Ethical Investment Fund.

11. TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES

11.1 Five trustees were reimbursed for receipted expenditure.
11.2 Trustees Indemnity Insurance is included at no extra cost in the church’s insurance policy.
11.3 Average number of employees in the year: 3 (previous year: 3)