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← Christ Church United Reformed Church Chelmsford Charity

2023-12-31-accounts

CHARITY NUMBER 1131065

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

Report and Financial Statements

Year ended 31 December 2023

‘Christ’s Church alive in our community’

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD 164 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0AW Charity Registration No. 1131065

Reference and administrative information

Trustees:

Margaret Atkinson Sue Fleming Jane Humphreys Jean McAslan to 31 December 2023 Helen Poulter to 23 March 2023 Christine Sands Corne van Staden from 1 January 2024 Johannes van Staden from 1 January 2024

Bankers: National Westminster Bank

High Street Chelmsford

Independent Examiner: Peyton Tyler Mears 16 Middleborough Colchester CO1 1QT

Church Officers:

Chairman Sue Fleming Secretary Sue Fleming Treasurer Jane Humphreys

b

The Trustees present their report and the examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Structure, Governance and Management

Christ Church Chelmsford is a Church within the Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church which is constituted under the United Reformed Church Act 1972 as amended by the United Reformed Church Act 1981 and the United Reformed Church Act 2000. The United Reformed Church Act 1972 is considered to be the Governing Document, in particular Parts I and II of the Schedules to the Act.

The Minister and serving Elders of Christ Church act as its trustees. They act in accordance with the constitution agreed at the Annual Church Meeting on 29 April 2018. The number of serving Elders is normally to be set to represent 10% of the number of those on the Roll of Members. Service is normally for no longer than 6 years. For each election, held every two years, nominations are sought from among those on the Roll of Church Members who may or may not have previously served as Elder in Christ Church or in another Church of the United Reformed Church. Elders elected for the first time are ordained to the role of Elder at the beginning of their period of service. All Elders are inducted at the beginning of each period of service.

The Elders are supported by two Committees:

and receive regular reports from[1] :

All major policy decisions are taken in principle, and expenditure approved in principle, by the Elders before being put to the meeting of Church Members. In common with the practices of the United Reformed Church, the Church Meeting is the ultimate decision-making body of Christ Church.

The key management group within the church structure is made up of the Minister, the Church Secretary and the Treasurer. The first of these is remunerated by the denomination centrally at the same rate as all stipendiary ministers of word and sacrament serving the denomination. When no Minister is appointed to serve at Christ Church the Elders elect one of their number to be Chairman. The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer offer their services in a purely voluntary capacity.

The Elders normally meet 8 to 10 times a year to review the activities of the church and to receive reports (normally on a quarterly basis) from the supporting committees. Recommendations are made to the Church Meeting which normally meets six or seven times a year.

Aims and Objectives

Christ Church Chelmsford exists for the public worship of God according to the principles and usages of the United Reformed Church. It believes that the priorities for the life of the congregation and its outreach in the local community should be preaching/teaching and spiritual direction, youth and children’s work, pastoral care, and Church growth.

The strategy for achieving these aims and objectives is to hold regular services together with a wide range of activities throughout the week to support people of all ages experience the love of God and grow in the faith. The Trustees review the aims, objectives and proposed future activities on a regular basis.

1Legacy Management Group did not meet in 2023

c

Achievements and Performance

Despite being in ministerial vacancy, we continued to hold morning worship each Sunday throughout 2023 other than Christmas Eve. We welcomed 17 people to lead worship, were grateful to 3 people who regularly supported congregational singing on the organ or piano, and sampled the Sunday worship from the URC. The very small team of people able and willing to operate the AV system and sound system transformed the experience. Numbers in worship fell slightly to 35-40 though many more than that attended at some time. At the close of 2023 there were 78 Members on the Roll, a reduction of eight.

In March Helen Poulter stood down as a serving Elder for family reasons, and Jean McAslan completed her period of seven years’ service (this time, extended due to the pandemic) in December. We are so grateful for all that they have brought to the life of Christ Church, and wish them rest and renewal in the months and years ahead. At the Elders Election held in the autumn Corne and Johannes van Staden were elected to serve from 1 January 2024.

At the end of March we said farewell to our Youth Pastor, Jonathan Fowler, and wished him well as he took up a new post in Scotland. Sadly this also led to the closure of the Toddlers Group as Christine and Veronica felt unable to continue without one or more younger adults to share the leadership. We thank them for their many years of happy service to young families. Somehow Sue found time and energy to lead Messy Church at Christ Church, plan and run Holiday Club for three mornings in July for 20 children (with welcome support from Nicola Grieves, CYDO), and keep the small Youth Group active on Thursday evenings. Sue also ran our first Messy Vintage sessions designed for older folk, and once again master-minded a successful Christmas Fair.

Our premises continue to be highly valued as a place to meet, with around 30 groups regularly hiring space for their activities. An arrangement for CHESS to make the Farthing Hall a key location for their weekday support activities for homeless people was not successful, though through CHESS we now host Advance Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education (‘Advance’ – a charity run by women for women) one day a week. Our halls are also home to 25[th] Chelmsford Scouts, and Rainbows, who are always welcome to our services, particularly at Harvest and Gift Day. This intense use of our premises for both church activities and hirers would not be possible without our Premises Management Team of five part-time staff, including, from January 2023, Julie Nguyen in the role of office administrator and bookkeeper. We are also grateful to the many volunteers who provide support in a variety of ways.

As we seek to discern the way forward for Christ Church, we have appreciated the support given to us by three ministers in particular. The Rev Guy Goodall, with the agreement of the Methodist Church, has led three series of Bible studies, provided pastoral care, and led worship. The Rev Barnabas Shin took up the role of Interim Moderator in September, taking early steps to get to know the Elders and the congregation so that he might help guide us through the period of vacancy. Andy Drake, an ordained Baptist minister currently working as CEO of YMCA Essex, facilitated our Awayday in October. He helped us to identify that, at present, we have the people and the resources to change course and grow as a church, but the next five years will be critical.

Financial review

Financial Statements

The financial statements, including the notes, have been prepared in compliance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS102). The analysis of income and expenditure reflects the classification of activities, together with costs relating to administration. The church does not sell goods or services, nor are there any other trading activities.

d

Statement of Financial Activities

At the end of 2023, overall assets totalled £801,157, a decrease of £70,435 on 2022. The budgeted items of the General Fund showed a deficit of £49,309 to which there was a budgeted contribution of £20,000 from the Underhill legacy.

Operating income totalled £198,195, a decrease of £25,000, mainly accounted for by the 2022 total including an insurance payment of £23,115 for business disruption due to Covid-19 during 2021. The fall in numbers of Church Members and regular worshippers was reflected in lower voluntary giving, but income from lettings recovered to pre-pandemic levels (with the exception of the lightlyused Farthing Hall). We received a grant of £1724 from Synod for the final six months of employing our Youth Pastor. We were also very grateful to receive a legacy of £1000 from George Brown who died aged nearly 101 in May 2022, not long after transferring his membership from Great Baddow URC.

Expenditure overall totalled £237,683, a fall of over £28,000. Spending on budgeted items increased by over £18,000 as we increased our commitment to the Ministry and Mission Fund by nearly £6000, and faced increases in almost all running costs due to the increased cost of living. Ministerial expenses fell by £4000 as we were in vacancy.

Activity on other funds:

Balance sheet

Our holding of CCLA Ethical Investment Fund was reduced in May 2023 to generate £50,000 for working capital. This sale realised a gain of £1365. Most of the cash is held in interest-bearing accounts with Redwood Bank and NatWest. Our remaining investments showed an unrealised loss of £32,000 for the year.

Reserves policy

General unrestricted funds are required to cover the regular planned activities of Christ Church including support of the Ministry and Mission Fund. The policy is to hold sufficient cash on deposit to cover three months’ expenditure, and to hold medium term investments to cover one full year’s expenditure. At the year end Christ Church held investments of £627,186 of which £5,196 relate to

e

restricted funds and £99,709 support the General Fund. Almost all the remainder flow from the unrestricted legacy received during 2015. Cash on deposit and on account totalled £87,106.

Investment policy

Christ Church acknowledges the heritage of assets from congregations of past years, and recognises that there is a responsibility to the worshipping community of the future, whatever form that may take. Where Christ Church holds financial assets beyond what is required to meet the policy for expenditure on the restricted and unrestricted funds, we will normally seek to preserve the value of that capital for future generations.

Investments other than the cash deposits to cover three months’ expenditure will normally be entrusted to the URC (Eastern Province) Trust to manage on our behalf in accordance with that Trust’s financial policy. That Trust seeks to achieve as high an income as possible, subject to protecting the capital value of the funds against inflation. The investments are a mix of fixed interest and equity marketable securities. None of the investments should support practices which are against the church’s conscience to the extent that they are against the conscience of Christians following the Ethical Investment Guidelines approved by the URC General Assembly from time to time.

Risk management

The Elders keep under review the ability to finance the agreed activities of the Church, and the risks presented by externalities such as changes to the regulatory framework relating to the management and use of the Church buildings complex. The most significant risks relate to the loss, either for a short or a long period, of key people, the majority of whom are volunteers.

Among the key risk controls used by the charity are:

Through the risk management process established for the charity, the Trustees are satisfied that the major risks identified have been adequately mitigated where necessary. It is recognised that systems can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance that major risks have been adequately managed.

Plans for 2024

The priority for 2024 is to continue the process of discerning what sort of church we should be for the future. In a follow-up to the October Awayday, we have consulted the congregation about how to use the resources we have (people, money, premises) and in particular the scope for serving the local community with a mission. The challenge from the second Awayday, facilitated by Andy Drake in January, was to decide by July on a vision for a clear mission while caring for the spiritual and pastoral needs of the current congregation. Christ Church should then take this clarity of vision into talks with other URCs about forming a Mission Partnership within Eastern Synod.

We will continue with regular church activities, and to support them agreed a budget in December 2023 with a deficit of £45,000 on the General Fund, supported by other resources including the Underhill Fund. We have used the Underhill Fund to make major improvements to the premises since 2015, as well as investing in people. We are nevertheless aware of a growing number of potentially expensive maintenance issues as our buildings are now over 50 years old. To help

f

assess them we will commission a quinquennial survey, and then prioritise action, taking into account affordability and our vision.

In agreeing this report, the Elders, as trustees of the charity, have paid due regard to the guidance from the Charity Commission in respect of public benefit.

Approved by the Elders at the meeting on 5 March 2024 and signed on their behalf by

==> picture [358 x 195] intentionally omitted <==

SUE FLEMING Chairman

g

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

1

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Note
INCOME FROM:
Donations, legacies and grants
2
Trading and other charitable activities
3
Investment income
4
Total
EXPENDITURE ON:
Expenditure on raising funds
5
Expenditure on charitable activities:
URC Ministry & Mission Fund
6
Ministerial costs
7
Costs of church activities
8, 9
Grants payable and restricted
donations passed on
10
Total
Income/(expenditure) before transfers
Transfers between funds
17.1
Net income/(expenditure)
before other recognised gains and losses
Realised Gains/(losses) on investments
13.2
Unrealised Gains/(losses) on investments
13.2
Net movement in funds
Total funds b/fwd 1 January 2023
Total funds c/fwd 31 December 2023		 General
£
59,212
93,699
6,043
158,953
520
47,844
2,656
139,875
0
190,895
-31,941
2,000
-29,941
332
-1,237
-30,847
240,674
209,827
£
Unrestricted		 Designated
£
1,724
1,675
28,873
32,272
460
0
622
39,306
0
Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
6,526
0
443
6,969
0
0
0
21
6,379

6,400
569
0
569
43
118
730
14,139

14,869
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
67,462
95,374
35,359
198,195
980
47,844
3,278
179,202
6,379
237,683
-39,488
0
-39,488
1,365
-32,311
-70,435
871,592

801,157
£		 TOTAL
2022
£
71,833
108,413
42,918
223,165
2,468
41,964
11,178
201,426
8,843
40,389
0		 265,878
-8,116
-2,000
-10,116
990
-31,192
-40,318
616,779

576,461
£		 -42,713
0
-42,713
-12,911
-99,080
-154,704
1,026,297
871,593

(Note 17) (Note 18)

The notes on pages 3 to 7 form part of these financial statements

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

2

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

Note
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
11, 12
Investments
13
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
14
Stock (Fairtrade)
Bank and cash balances
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors payable within one year
15
NET CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
16
Total assets of the charity
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Restricted income funds:
18
Unrestricted income funds:
General
Designated
17
Total Unrestricted
Total funds of the charity		 General
£
86,175
99,709
185,884
6,069
705
20,073
26,847
2,903
23,943
209,828
£
0
Unrestricted		 Designated
£
0
522,281
522,281
0
55,989
55,989
1,809
54,180

576,461
£
0
576,461
0
576,461

576,461
£
Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
0
5,196
5,196
558
11,044
11,602
1,929
9,673

14,869
£
0
14,869
14,869
0
0

14,869
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
86,175
627,186
713,361
6,627
705
87,106
94,438
6,641
87,796

801,157
£
0
801,157
14,869
209,827
576,461
786,288

801,157
£		 TOTAL
2022
£
95,273
708,132
803,406
10,302
454
60,247
71,003
2,816
68,187
871,593
0
209,828
209,827
0
209,827
£		 871,593
14,139
240,674
616,778
857,453
871,593

APPROVED by the Trustees at the Elders Meeting held on 5 March 2024 and signed on its behalf by

SUE FLEMING

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

3

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1a. Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice:Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015 - FRS102) issued by the Charity Commission, the Charities Act 2011, and the United Reformed Church guidance. The accruals basis of accounting has been adopted, and the principal accounting policies set out below are applied consistently.

1b. Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are general funds available for use at the discretion of the church in furtherance of its charitable objects. Designated funds are sums set aside out of general funds for specific designated purposes. They can be transferred back to unrestricted funds at any time

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor, or contained in the terms of a grant.

Christ Church has no endowment funds

1c. Tangible Fixed Assets

Freehold property: The Trustees of the church buildings are the URC Eastern Province Trust who hold them upon trust for purposes connected with Christ Church URC Chelmsford. Expenditure incurred on the church buildings is written off in the year it is incurred.

Equipment: Depreciation is applied in a straight line over a period of 5 to 30 years, according to the nature of the asset, calculated to write off the assets over their estimated useful lives. Assets with purchase value below £100 are not capitalised but written off as expenditure

Investment assets: These are stated at mid-market values on the balance sheet date. Changes in valuation over the year are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

1d. Incoming Resources

All voluntary giving is included in the financial statements for the period in which it is received. Donations under Gift Aid plus the associated tax recovery are recognised as income when the donation is received.

Legacies are accounted for when their receipt is probable and can be properly quantified. All other income is generally recognised when it is receivable.

1e. Resources Expended

The URC Ministry & Mission Fund contribution is paid regularly and is included in the financial statements for the year to which it relates.

Resources expended are recognised in the period to which they are incurred and include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. They are allocated to the particular activity to which they relate. As much 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 voluntary contribution to the life of the church is incalculable.

1f. Taxation

As part of the United Reformed Church, the church is an excepted charity within the meaning of the Taxes Acts. Accordingly it is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income and capital gains received to the extent that such income or gains are applied to exclusively charitable purposes. No provision for taxation has been made in these financial statements.

4

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

General
Designated
£
£
2. DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND GRANTS
FreeWill Offerings(£724per week;2022 £814)
37,624
0
Cash offerings
2,141
0
Other donations to work of Christ Church
6,535
0
Benevolent fund donations
0
0
Income tax refunds under Gift Aid
11,912
0
Legacies
1,000
0
Grant from Synod
0
1,724
£
59,212
£
1,724
£
3. TRADING AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Church lettings
90,224
0
Fund raising events
887
764
Duplicating and office services
308
0
Fairtrade
1,691
0
Minibus use
99
0
Youth work
0
912
Day Centre
0
0
Coffee and other sundry income
490
0
Insurance payment for business disruption
0
£
93,699
£
1,675
£
4. INVESTMENT INCOME
Dividends and distributions
5,453
28,022
Bank interest
589
851
£
6,043
£
28,873
£
5. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS
Cost of fund raising events
520
460
£
520
£
460
£
6. MINISTRY & MISSION FUND
The church contributes to the central URC costs of training and providing ministers (including the centralised
payment of stipends, pension contributions and other benefits for ministers), running the denomination, and
the wider mission of the national church. This annual budget amounts to some £20million, 82% of which
relates to minister costs, and 87% is provided through the Ministry & Mission Fund contributions from churches.
General
Designated
£
£
7. MINISTERIAL COSTS
Expenses of Minister, including visitors
2,968
0
Manse service charges inc insurance
-312
0
Manse repairs
0
622
£
2,656
£
622
£
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
0
0
22
5471
1,034
0
0

6,526
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
£
226
217

443
£
0

0
£
Restricted
Funds
£
0
0
0

0
£		 TOTAL
2023
37,624
2,141
6,557
5,471
12,946
1,000
1,724

67,462
£
90,224
1,650
308
1,691
99
912
0
490
0

95,374
£
33,701
1,657

35,359
£
980

980
£
TOTAL
2023
£
2,968
-312
622

3,278
£		 TOTAL
2022
£
42,357
1,743
4,101
8,878
11,048
0
3,707
71,834
79,550
2,588
294
1,333
0
648
13
871
23,115
108,412
42,284
634
42,918
2,468
2,468
TOTAL
2022
£
4,772
2,131
4,275
11,178

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

5

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

8. COSTS OF CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Church costs:
Insurance
Utilities
Buildings maintenance
Premises management
Communications costs
Music
Equipment (not capitalised)
Children & young people
Fairtrade
Minibus
Day centre
Other running costs
£
indicates depreciation included
Support costs:
Governance costs
Depreciation of furniture and equipment
Interest on loan
£
9. PAYMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES AND TRUSTEES*
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs
Total staff costs
£		 General
£
8,774
17,074
0
91,054
5,489
3,256
60
0
1,691
4,109
0
1,159

132,666
£
780
6,429
0

7,209
£
90,067
5,580 of which £399
1,669

97,316
Unrestricted Fun		 Restricted
Designated
Funds
£
£
0
0
0
0
24,996
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12,462
21
0
0
0
0
1,000
0
848
0

39,306
£
21
£
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
£
0
£
6 covered by Employers Allowance
ds		 TOTAL
2023
£
8,774
17,074
24,996
91,054
5,489
3,256
60
12,483
1,691
4,109
1,000
2,007

171,993
£
780
6,429
0

7,209
£		 TOTAL
2022
£
7,664
15,193
36,792
77,556
7,666
2,988
0
34,629
1,333
4,336
0
3,892
192,049
720
7,527
1,131
9,378

No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2022: nil)

Eligible Christ Church employees have been enrolled in the NEST pension scheme since February 2017 The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with Christ Church in the year (2022: nil), neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2022: nil).

No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2022: nil). The trustees are the key management personnel of the charity

The average monthly head count was 5 employees (2022: 7 employees).

10. GRANTS PAYABLE AND RESTRICTED DONATIONS PASSED ON

Appeals and special offerings
Communion Fund
11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Brought forward 1 January 2023
Additions in year
Depreciation for year
Carried forward 31 December 2023		 £ General
Designated
£
£
0
0
0

0
£
0
£
Prem Magt
Office
Music
£
£
£
1,565
3,801
514
0
-155
-1,259
-80
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
TOTAL
Funds
2023
£
£
6,379
6,379
0
0

6,379
£
6,379
£
TOTAL
Bus
General
2023

£
£

17,841
71,552
95,273

0
609
609

-1,784
-6,429
-9,707

16,057
65,732
86,175
£		 TOTAL
2022
£
3,451
5,392
8,843
TOTAL
2022
£
104,244
1,903
-10,874
1,410
2,542
434		 95,273

12. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS - continued

For the reasons stated in Accounting Policy note 1c, the church buildings are not tangible fixed assets of the church. For insurance purposes

the church buildings are valued at £11,687,486. The organ is insured for £1,012,959, and other church contents are insured by the church for £505,818

6

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

13. INVESTMENT ASSETS
13.1 The investment assets held at the balance
sheet date comprise:
COIF Ethical Investment Fund
COIF Property Fund
Charifund income units - Thompson grave
Charifund income units - general
£
13.2 The movements on investments over the year were:
Brought forward 1 January 2023
Transfer of assets
Additions
Disposals
Realised gains(losses)
Unrealised gains/(losses) on revaluation
£
14. DEBTORS
Gift Aid Tax recoverable
Appeals tax recoverable
Fuel deposit held by Tesco
Voluntary giving 31 December
Rent for rooms
Cash float & sundry dues
Minibus hire
Fairtrade cash
Refund of manse expenses
Prepayments
£
15. CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors payable within one year:
Appeals
Church running costs
Repairs and maintenance
Youth work
Room hire received in advance
Interest on loan
£
16. LONG TERM LIABILITIES
Loan from URCEPT November 2016 (to 2026)
Repayment of capital
Balance outstanding 31 December 2022		 General
£
16,914
21,897
1,073
59,825

99,709
£
102,756
10,000
0
-12,141
332
-1237

99,710
£
2,499
0
0
87
1,080
208
11
68
0
2,115

6,069
£
0
2,522
0
0
381
0

2,903
£
Unrestricted Fun		 Designated
£
24,577
497,704
0
0

522,281
£
598,793
-10,000
0
-36,309
990
-31,192

522,282
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
£
0
0
1,559
250
0

1,809
£
0
0
0
ds		 Restricted
Funds
£
1,993
0
3,203
0

5,196
£
6,584
0
-1,550
43
118

5,195
£
0
498
0
60
0
0
0
0
0
0

558
£
1,929
0
0
0
0

1,929
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
43,484
519,601
4,276
59,825

627,186
£
708,133
0
0
-50,000
1,365
-32,311

627,187
£
2,499
498
0
147
1,080
208
11
68
0
2,115

6,627
£
1,929
2,522
1,559
250
381
0

6,641
£
0
0
0		 TOTAL
2022
£
88,298
554,191
4,379
61,264
708,132
1,034,720
0
-214,596
-12,911
-99,080
708,133
2,367
566
100
0
4,244
100
0
564
514
1,848
10,303
1,010
307
425
0
1,074
2,816
214,253
-214,253
0

17. DESIGNATED FUNDS

The church operates 6 Designated Funds with the encouragement of Church Meeting:

Repairs and maintenance - established and used to fund the proper maintenance of the buildings and property, and to ensure that funds are available on a long term basis to deal with expensive work without distorting annual figures. Funded by provision from the general fund, and exceptionally by the Underhill legacy Church growth fund - established in 2005 to support and encourage the growth of the people of the Church rather than its property Music fund - established initially by legacy, now supported by donations and, when appropriate, by transfer from the general fund. Its purpose is to ensure that funds are available to develop the music in Church. Underhill fund - established in 2015 to manage and deploy the legacy from Irene Underhill Jubilee fund - established 2020 to manage the celebrations for the first 50 years of Christ Church and any projects arising. Closed 2023 balance of £907 transferred to Repairs Day Centre Fund - holds residual monies from running of Day Centre lunches (suspended 2022)

7

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2023

17.1 The movements on the Designated Funds during the year were:

17.1 The movements on the Designated Funds during the year were:
Balance b/fwd 1 January 2023
Transfer from general fund
Receipts
Investment income
Interest
Expenditure in year
Transfer between Designated funds
Transfer to General Fund
Realised gain
change in investment value
Balance c/fwd 31 December 2023
£
The Repairs and Maintenance Fund expenditure comprised:
Church:
Security lighting
Plant room clearance
Horse chestnut removal
Service contracts and routine maintenance
Miscellaneous
£		 TOTAL
Repairs
Church growth
Music
Underhill
Day Centre
Jubilee
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
839
63,295
5,508
535,720
4,510
6,905
616,777
18,000
0
0
0
0
0
18,000
0
764
2,636
0
0
3,399
112
1,049
63
26,798
0
0
28,022
41
713
97
0
0
0
851
18,992
65,821
5,668
565,154
4,510
6,905
667,049
-19,621
-1,308
0
-12,462
-1,000
-5,998
-40,389
907
0
0
0
0
-907
0
0
0
0
-20,000
0
0
-20,000
195
682
46
67
0
0
990
0
1,832
108
-33,132
0
0
-31,192

473
67,027
5,822
499,626
3,510
0
576,459
£
£
Manse:
£
1,316
plumbing repairs
560
1,415
garden work
42
3,474
parking permit
20
12,257
537

19,000
622		 TOTAL
2022
£
748,519
21,000
6,949
37,067
300
813,835
-80,252
0
-15,000
-12,911
-88,894
473
67,027
5,822
499,626
3,510
0		 616,778
£
Manse:
1,316
plumbing repairs
1,415
garden work
3,474
parking permit
12,257
537

19,000

18. RESTRICTED FUNDS

The church accounts include 4 Restricted Funds, where the monies can only be used for the specific purpose for which they were entrusted to the church. These monies are not at the disposal of the Church Meeting for any other purpose, and represent:

Organ fund - initially established and funded from a legacy, now supported by donations and fund-raising. Its purpose is to support long term major repairs and development of the organ (routine maintenance is met by the general fund)

Thompson grave maintenance - the terms of the legacy stipulated that £2000 must be retained to maintain the grave Children and young people fund - established in 2014 from the specific bequest of Irene Underhill and the residual amounts of the Forbes Fund and the Youth Events Fund to provide a single fund to support work with children and younger people.

In 2023 the separate account for offerings to the Communion fund was closed. Offerings to support those in need within and beyond Christ Church are now held in the Benevolent Fund. This includes monies previously shown as Appeals

18.1 The movements on the Restricted Funds during the year were:
Balance b/fwd 1 January 2023
Investment income
Interest
Donations
Expenditure in year
Transfer between Restricted Funds
Realised gain
change in investment value
Balance c/fwd 31 December 2023		 Children/
Thompson
Organ
young people
Benevolent Communion
£
£
£
7,112
2184
4,174
0
669
66
14
146
0
150
50
17
0
0
22
0
6241
263
7,328
2,270
4,337
6,241
932
0
-21
-6,379
932
-932
33
10
0
0
164
31
-77
0
7,525
2,290
4,260
794
0
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
14,139
226
217
6,526
21,108
-6,400
0
43
118

14,869
£		 TOTAL
2022
£
15,385
289
93
5,427
21,194
-6,353
0
0
-703
14,138

TREASURER'S STATEMENT

I have prepared the accounts on pages 1 to 7 for the year ended 31 December 2023

…………………………………….

JANE HUMPHREYS 30th January 2024

Christ Church United Reformed Church Chelmsford Independent Examiner'5 Report to the Tru5tee5 of ChrLSt Chureh Unlted Reformed Church Chelmsford Yekr Ended 31st Deecmber 2023 I report on the financial statements for the year ended 315t December 2023. Respective Re5pon5ibilitie5 of Trustee5 and Examiner The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the finAncial statements. The trustcc considers ihat an audit is not rcquiTcd for this year under se¢lion 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and ihat an independent examination is needed. l is my responsibility to exainine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act. to follow the procedures laid down in thc gcncral Dir¢ciions given by the Charily Commission under section 145(5)(b) of tlie 201 l Act,. aiid to slate whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Ind¢pendent Fxaminer's Rcport My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Chariiy Coininission. An examination includcs a review of the accounting records k¢pt by thc charity and a comparison of the accoiints prese.nte.d wilh Ihthse. recnrdf. It also iiicludcs consid¢ration of any unusual it¢ms or disclosures in the accouiits and sceking explanations from you trustc¢s ¢oncerning any such mall¢rs. The proc¢dur¢s uiidertaken do iiot provide all th¢ evidence thal would be rcquired in <in audii and Consequcnily no opinion is given as to whcther the accounts present a 'iru¢ and fair view, and ihe report is limiicd to thosc mailers set out in the next statem¢nl. Indcpendent ExAmlner's Statement In conncction with my examination, no matter h&$ come to Iny all¢ntion.' {1) which gives me reasonable cause to b¢li¢ve that in any material rcsp¢ct the requirements.. to kccp accounting records li) accordan¢c with section 130 of th¢ 2011 Act. and to prcpare accouiits which accord with the a¢¢oiiiiting rccords and comply with ihe accounting rcquiremci)Is of the 201 l Act have not bccn met, or {2) to which, in my opinion, attention Should be drawn in order to enable a proper under5¢anding of the accounts lo b¢ reached. PEYTON TYLER MEARS Chartered accountant Middleborough House 16 Middleborough Colchester Essex COI IQT 19111 March 2024.