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← Christ Church United Reformed Church Chelmsford Charity

2024-12-31-accounts

CHARITY NUMBER 1131065

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

Report and Financial Statements

Year ended 31 December 2024

‘Christ Church: a place which demonstrates God’s welcoming love for all’

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 Christine Sands Corne van Staden Johannes van Staden

to 31 December 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 2024.

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:

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.

Achievements and Performance

Despite being in ministerial vacancy, we continued to hold morning worship each Sunday throughout 2024. We welcomed 19 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. Average numbers in worship fell slightly to 35 though many more than

c

that attended at some time. At the close of 2024 there were 73 Members on the Roll, a reduction of five.

2024 was a year for reflection and discussion on the future of Christ Church’s activities locally and in the wider area. As part of a broader review of the deployment of ministry in the Eastern Synod of the URC, it was proposed that Christ Church should be part of a new grouping of 11 churches to be known as the Chelmsford and SouthWest Essex Mission Partnership. This Mission Partnership was formally agreed in early 2025, and a vacancy declared for a minister to serve the Mission Partnership with particular pastoral care of Christ Church Chelmsford and Ingatestone URCs.

Responding to the challenge to identify a vision for a clear mission to the local community in Chelmsford while caring for the spiritual and pastoral needs of the current congregation, a small group met for six months. The aim was to help the church agree a vision, and to identify ways of revitalising the existing congregation. In July Church Meeting agreed a new mission statement: ‘Christ Church: a place which demonstrates God’s welcoming love for all.’ In August we hosted the exhibition ‘Open to All’ by the artist and theologian Rev Elizabeth Gray-King. This attracted over 80 visitors and generated funds for the Open Table Network of LGBTQIA+ people of faith.

Sue Fleming, our Church Secretary and arranger of worship leaders, continued to give her time generously to youth work. The Youth Club ran most Thursday evenings, Messy Church was held with St John’s Moulsham each school holiday, and the three-day Holiday Club was held in August. We received a Faith in Action award for the pre-loved uniform event held in July. Our third Christmas Fair and tree festival was welcomed by stallholders and members of the community of all ages.

We are grateful for the support and guidance in developing our local mission and in becoming part of the Mission Partnership we have received from our Interim Moderator, Rev Dave Coaker, who took over the role from Rev Barnabas Shin. We also appreciated the support with worship and Bible study from Rev Guy Goodall who has now moved away. Our Premises Management team of six staff continually strive to make the premises a welcoming place for all, and our numerous volunteers provide invaluable input to the life and activities of the church through their time and talents.

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.

Statement of Financial Activities

At the end of 2024, overall assets totalled £714,051, a decrease of £87,106 on 2023. The budgeted items of the General Fund showed a deficit of £42,453 to which there was a budgeted contribution of £22,000 from the Underhill legacy.

Operating income totalled £209,807, an increase of £11,000. This resulted from an increase of over £20,000 from room lettings offset by a fall of £9000 in voluntary giving (we received no legacies, and ad hoc donations fell).

Expenditure overall totalled £298,620, an increase of over £60,000. While spending on centrally funded and local ministry remained steady, the running costs for the premises increased by £14,000 and we started on a programme of repairs and maintenance following the quinquennial survey.

Activity on other funds:

d

Balance sheet

Our holding of CCLA Ethical Investment Fund was reduced in May 2024 by £30,351 to generate working capital. This sale realised a gain of £1075. In November £300,000 of the holding in CCLA Property Fund was sold for reinvestment in more readily accessible funds. This sale realised a loss of £2492. £100,000 of the proceeds was placed in our two interest-bearing accounts, while the remaining £200,000 was held for our account by Synod pending investment equally in two funds in January. Our remaining investments showed an unrealised gain of £3,100 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 £298,544 of which £3,955 relate to restricted funds and £90,177 support the General Fund. Almost all the remainder flow from the unrestricted legacy received during 2015. Cash on deposit and on account totalled £326,432, of which £200,000 was earmarked for investment.

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

e

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 2025

The priorities for 2025 are continuing to discern our mission within the community in Chelmsford, and taking that sense of purpose into our membership of the newly-formed Chelmsford and SouthWest Essex Mission Partnership. We hope and pray that there will be a positive response to the declaration of the ministerial vacancy to serve Christ Church Chelmsford and Ingatestone within that Mission Partnership.

With the Mission Statement agreed in July 2024, we will continue to explore ways of making Christ Church a place which demonstrates God’s welcoming love for all. Part of this will involve linking members of the congregation as church friends for groups which regularly use our premises. We will also explore Inclusive Church as a framework for development, and for potential collaboration with other churches locally.

We will continue with regular church activities, and to support them agreed a budget in December 2024 with a deficit of £46,000 on the General Fund, supported by other resources including the Underhill Fund. We have more to do to implement the recommendations from the quinquennial surveys, but are looking at the same time to improve the accessibility, energy efficiency and overall welcoming environment presented by the entrance area to our worship space. We will invest much of the rent from the former caretaker’s house into installing a ‘green’ heating system for that property, consistent with our aim to be an eco Church.

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 11 March 2025 and signed on their behalf by

SUE FLEMING Chairman

f

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

1

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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 2024
Total funds c/fwd 31 December 2024
£		 General
£
52,966
115,831
5,762
174,559
83
41,964
2,470
155,995
0
200,513
-25,955
8,747
-17,208
419
1,854
-14,935
209,828

194,893
£
Unrestricted Fu		 Designated
£
1,380
980
28,595
30,956
0
0
5,400
88,683
0
nds		 Restricted
Funds
£
3,897
0
395
4,292
0
0
0
20
4,004

4,024
268
0
268
49
102
419
14,869

15,287
£		 TOTAL
2024
£
58,243
116,811
34,753
209,807
83
41,964
7,870
244,698
4,004
298,620
-88,814
0
-88,814
-1,417
3,125
-87,106
801,157

714,051
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
67,462
95,374
35,359
198,195
980
47,844
3,278
179,202
6,379
94,083
0		 237,683
-63,127
-8,747
-71,874
-1,885
1,169
-72,590
576,460

503,870
£		 -39,488
0
-39,488
1,365
-32,311
-70,435
871,592
801,157

(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 2024

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
£
78,821
90,177
168,998
13,196
236
14,861
28,292
2,397
25,895

194,893
£
0
Unrestricted Fu		 Designated
£
0
204,412
204,412
216
299,699
299,915
456
299,459

503,871
£
0
503,871
0
503,870

503,870
£
nds		 Restricted
Funds
£
0
3,955
3,955
326
11,872
12,198
866
11,332

15,287
£
0
15,287
15,287
0
0

15,287
£		 TOTAL
2024
£
78,821
298,544
377,365
13,738
236
326,432
340,405
3,719
336,686

714,051
£
0
714,051
15,287
194,893
503,870
698,763

714,051
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
86,175
627,186
713,361
6,626
705
87,106
94,437
6,641
87,796
801,157
0
194,893
194,893
0

194,893
£		 801,157
14,869
209,827
576,461
786,288
801,157

APPROVED by the Trustees at the Elders Meeting held on 11 March 2025 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 2024

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 2024

General
Designated
£
£
2. DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND GRANTS
FreeWill Offerings(£700 per week;2023 £724)
36,427
0
Cash offerings
2,110
0
Other donations to work of Christ Church
3,883
0
Benevolent fund donations
0
0
Income tax refunds under Gift Aid
10,546
0
Legacies
0
0
Grant from Synod
0
1,380
£
52,966
£
1,380
£
3. TRADING AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Church lettings
113,042
0
Fund raising activities
583
396
Duplicating and office services
236
0
Fairtrade
1,435
0
Minibus use
70
0
Youth work
0
584
Day Centre
0
0
Coffee and other sundry income
464
0
£
115,831
£
980
£
4. INVESTMENT INCOME
Dividends and distributions
5,339
27,553
Bank interest
423
1,042
5,762
£
28,595
£
5. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS
Cost of fund raising
83
0
83
£
0
£
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 £19million, 66% of which
relates to minister costs, and 83% is provided through the Ministry & Mission Fund contributions from churches.
General
Designated
£
£
7. MINISTERIAL COSTS
Expenses of Minister, including visitors
2,470
0
Manse service charges inc insurance
0
0
Manse repairs
0
5,400
2,470
£
5,400
£
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
0
0
5
3469
423
0
0

3,897
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
£
239
156

395
£
0

0
£
Restricted
Funds
£
0
0
0

0
£		 TOTAL
2024
36,427
2,110
3,888
3,469
10,969
0
1,380

58,243
£
113,042
979
236
1,435
70
584
0
464

116,811
£
33,131
1,621

34,753
£
83

83
£
TOTAL
2024
£
2,470
0
5,400

7,870 £		 TOTAL
2023
£
37,624
2,141
6,557
5,471
12,946
1,000
1,724
67,463
90,224
1,650
308
1,691
99
912
0
490
95,374
33,701
1,657
35,358
980
980
TOTAL
2023
£
2,968
-312
622
3,278

5

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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
£
9. PAYMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES AND TRUSTEES*
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs
Total staff costs		 General
£
9,429
24,050
0
99,942
5,182
2,966
0
0
1,435
3,744
0
1,995

148,744
£
816
6,435

7,251
£
93,241
5,476 of which £5
1,510
100,227
Unrestricted Fu		 Restricted
Designated
Funds
£
£
0
0
0
0
83,507
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3,555
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,621
0

88,683
£
20
£
0
0
0
0

0
£
0
£
476 covered by Employers Allowance
nds		 TOTAL
2024
£
9,429
24,050
83,507
99,942
5,182
2,966
0
3,575
1,435
3,744
0
3,616

237,447
£
816
6,435

7,251
£		 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
7,209

No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2023: 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 (2023: nil), neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2023: nil).

No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: nil). The trustees are the key management personnel of the charity

The average monthly head count was 6 employees (2023: 5 employees).

10. GRANTS PAYABLE AND RESTRICTED DONATIONS PASSED ON

Benevolent Fund including appeals
11.TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Brought forward 1 January 2024
Additions in year
Depreciation for year
Carried forward 31 December 2024		 General
Designated
£
£
0
0
0
£
0
£
Prem Magt
Office
Music
£
£
£
1,410
2,542
434
129
0
-121
-1,258
-80
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
TOTAL
Funds
2024
£
£
4,004
4,004

4,004
£
4,004
£
TOTAL
Bus
General
2024

£
£

16,057
65,732
86,175

0
2,195
2,324

-1,784
-6,435
-9,678

14,273
61,492
78,821
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
6,379
6,379
TOTAL
2023
£
95,273
609
-9,707
1,418
1,284
354		 86,175

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 £13,090,039. The organ is insured for £1,134,515, and other church contents are insured for £542,225

CHRIST CHURCH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHELMSFORD

6

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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 2024
Additions
Disposals
Realised gains(losses)
Unrealised gains/(losses) on revaluation
£
14. DEBTORS
Gift Aid Tax recoverable
Benevolent Fund tax recoverable
Voluntary giving 31 December 2023
Rent for rooms
Cash float & sundry dues
Minibus hire
Fairtrade cash
Interest on share sale proceeds
Prepayments
15. CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors payable within one year:
Appeals
Church running costs
Repairs and maintenance
Youth work
Room hire received in advance		 General
£
5,689
22,002
1,102
61,384

90,177
£
99,710
0
-11,806
419
1854

90,177
£
2,688
0
0
8,186
100
0
0
0
2,222
13,196
£
0
2,397
0
0
0
2,397
£
Unrestricted Fu		 Designated
£
8,265
196,147
0
0

204,412
£
522,282
0
-317,154
-1,885
1,169

204,412
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
216
0

216
£
0
0
456
0

456
£
nds		 Restricted
Funds
£
669
0
3,286
0

3,955
£
5,195
0
-1,391
49
102

3,955
£
0
326
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

326
£
866
0
0
0

866
£		 TOTAL
2024
£
14,623
218,149
4,388
61,384

298,544
£
627,187
0
-330,351
-1,417
3,125

298,544
£
2,688
326
0
8,186
100
0
0
216
2,222

13,738
£
866
2,397
456
0
0

3,719
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
43,484
519,601
4,276
59,825
627,186
708,133
0
-50,000
1,365
-32,311
627,187
2,499
498
147
1,080
208
11
68
0
2,115
6,626
1,929
2,522
1,559
250
381
6,641

16. LONG TERM LIABILITIES

Nil

17. DESIGNATED FUNDS

The church operates 5 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 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 2024

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

Balance b/fwd 1 January 2024
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 2024
£
The Repairs and Maintenance Fund expenditure comprised:
Church:
Quinquennial survey reports
Legionella reports
Horse chestnut replacement
LED lighting for hall and rooms
Roof repairs
External signage
Lightning conductor fixing
Fire door retainers
Fire risk assessment
Service contracts and routine maintenance
Miscellaneous
£		 Repairs
Church growth
Music
Underhill
Day Centre
£
£
£
£
£
473
67,028
5,822
499,627
3,510
16,000
0
0
0
0
1,380
396
584
0
451
24
27,078
0
181
559
73
229
0		 TOTAL
2024
£
576,460
16,000
2,360
27,553
1,042
623,416
-94,083
0
-24,747
-1,885
1,169
503,870
£
£
5265
110
25
5,400		 TOTAL
2023
£
616,778
18,000
3,399
28,022
851
18,034
68,434
5,919
527,518
3,510
-88,907
-1,621
0
-3,555
0
100,000
0
0
-100000
0
0
0
0
-22,000
-2,747
575
32
-2,492
0
0
222
12
935
0		 667,050
-40,389
0
-20,000
990
-31,192
29,127
67,610
5,963
400,407
763		 576,460
£
Manse:
1,380
decoration
816
gutter cleaning
282
parking permit
2,056
56,360
3,108
893
834
684
14,987
727
82,127

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 in 1973 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.

Benevolent Fund - established 2023 when the separate Communion Fund was closed. Offerings support those in need within and beyond Christ Church, including money given for specific appeals

18.1 The movements on the Restricted Funds during the year were:

Balance b/fwd 1 January 2024
Investment income
Interest
Donations
Expenditure in year
Realised gain
change in investment value
Balance c/fwd 31 December 2024		 Children/
Thompson
Organ
young people
Benevolent
£
£
£
£
7,525
2290
4,260
794
32
6
201
0
109
35
12
0
0
5
0
3892
7,666
2,336
4,473
4,686
0
-20
0
-4,004
41
8
0
0
16
3
83
0
7,723
2,327
4,556
682		 TOTAL
2024
£
14,869
239
156
3,897
19,161
-4,024
49
102
15,288
£		 TOTAL
2023
£
14,139
226
217
6,526
21,108
-6,400
43
118
14,869

TREASURER'S STATEMENT

I have prepared the accounts on pages 1 to 7 for the year ended 31 December 2024

……………………………………. JANE HUMPHREYS 25th January 2025

Christ Church United Reformed Church Chelmsford Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustee5 of Christ Church United Reformed Church Chelmsford Year Ended 31st December 2024 I report on the financial statements for the year ended 31 st December 2024. Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and E￿MIller The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The trustee considers that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act- and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examiner's Report My examination was carri¢d out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Comtnission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as t￿￿te¢S concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given &8 to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement. Independent ELgminer's Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: ( l ) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 ACL and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been meL or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. PEYTON TYLER MEARS Chartered accountant Middleborough House 16 Middleborough Colchester Essex COI IQT 3rd March 2025.