Inde endent Wesle an Church Hi h S Rushden Nortbgdnts Trnstees, Re rt for the ear ended Oct 31" 2023 The Truste¢s pres¢nt their Annual Rep)rt and accounts for thc 12-month riod up to Oct 31 2023. Charitable Object The charity is governed by a constitution. This was amended in May 1984. and again in June 2008 and Septemtw 2(M)9. Th¢ Objects of the Church are: To advance tIK Chn'stian fvdilh in &cordance with the Confession of Faith in such ways and in such parts of the Unitcd Kingdom (or the world in the case of Mission works) as the Trustees (acting according to the will of God as discerned by the Church Members) from time to time may think fit. To relieve sickness and financial har(t8hip and to promote and preseTve good health by the provision of funds. goods or scrviccs of any kind. including through the provision of advice and SUp)rt in such parts of Uni*d Kingdom or the world as the Tntstees (acting as aforesaid) from time to time may think fit. To advance Christian edwation and purs and promote general charitable purposes consistent with the Chn'stian faith in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom as the Trustees (acting as aforesaid) from time lo time may think fit. The Church oc¢upi¢s premises which are held by the above listed Protty Holding Truste¢s and the Trust is ¢ntir¢ly comptible with the above Objects. Public Benefit The Trustees consider that the activities of the Charity are carried out for the public benefit. In particular, two of the chan'tsbl¢ purp)ses &8 set out by the Charity Commission in its generdl guidance on public benefit arc m¢t'. The advancement of education and The advancement of religion An explanation of these activities is given b¢low in the Section.bJeCtIveS and Activilies" Coronavirus Effeel- During the year. all of our activities ran as norn1. but attendance al our Church Services have still nol returned io pre Covid levels. We do however have a number of children & young tKople who faithfully attend and who are now usually laught in Sunday School as a stngl¢ "all-age" clas5 by a team of teachers who rolat¢ each week. Despite this disaptK)intment, the work of the Church has wntinued with most weekday and week - night me¢tingslactivities in full swing. Throughout the yeaT. our Minister (Rev Phillip Hearson) and his family Iwv¢ again worked hard to lead our Church-life. S¢rvI5 have again been recorded and put on YouTub¢ (as hapned during lockdown periods). w¢ understand that a number of people outside of ow chUh Circle have continued to lune in to watch these. We are indebted to Phil, his wife Ann¢ and their 50n Martyn for their work on this and so many other a5ts of our Church-life" they have worked hard as wsual on behalf of our memtrShlp. anisational Structure and decision-makin roeesyes Members of the Church arc acffpted in accordance with our Constitution. which requires them lo sincerely express their faith in th¢ Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, and to giv¢ evidence of such faith by their life and condud. During the yr covered by this report. one new adult was
accepted into membership. we did howevcr lose three adult members who p8ss¢d away during the year in question, one of whom had served as a Trustee for many years. The Members. Meeting nonnlY takes place four times per year and has the resTX)nsibility for the overall wli¢y of the Church. In accordance with the Consts'luts"on. the Members apwint up to 15 Leaders (Elders) who will concentrate on the SritUal side of Church life. and up to 8 OfTicers (Deacons) who will concentrate on the a(hninistrativ¢ and finala1 aS¢ts of the Church (acting under ihe authority of the Trustees). Our membership reduced during the year of this retK)rt to 39 as at (kt 31 2023. All Members are encouTaged to take an appropriate twt in the spiritual and practical tasks involvcd in the furtherance of tIK charitable objecttve. Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church Members meeting by the Tee$ for guidance, or may be raised by Members for considerntion. Tr Constitution 5Milts decisions to be made at Members, meetings by appropria1¢ majorities. The Church. although indeFKn(knt. is attached lo the Wesleyan Refonn Union of Churches. Objectives And Aetivities In order to achieve the principal objective which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its Memrship and lo th¢ ¢ommunity generdlly. The aim is lo show th¢ lov¢ of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring ppIe inlo a closer relationship with Him &s Living Lord. Our Mission Statement is "S¢cking to love Go& each other, and the wider community - through worship. discipleship, fellowship. rvIce, and outreach- Central io the work and withess of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These take place each Sunday at 10.45am. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised both in the Church and online. The Church has a bSIte at www.weschurchrushd¢n.or As mentioned alK)ve children's probiramme operates durin8 the morning services. The Church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services. ular Churcb- based meetin A men's home-group meeting to plan events for men of all ag¢s and study the Bible on alternate Sunday evenings. During the year these meetings have also focused on topica] discussions and chexkin&T what The Bible says about big questions that all Fwple are asking. One n¢w meeting introduced during the year is a "Zoom" Pray¢r M¢¢ting held on alternate Monday ¢v¢nings. This was intrcd¢d as a way lo Incre our church's r¢lian¢¢ on prayer with our Lord God through our Lord and Saviour J¢sus Christ. Numbers have fluctuat¢d but it has been gyood to pray more regularly. including with som¢ M¢mbeT5 who are unable to attend our Tuesday mornin prayer group due to their work. The Tuesday morning prayer group - where Members join together in one of three homes to pray for the work of the Church. and for situatiOLs & lple in particular n¢¢d - has been running for many years now and is a valuabl¢ v¢hicle for praying for those ID need both locally and in the world as a whole. Regular attendanc¢ is up to eight. A house group meets on Wednesday evenings and this seeks to encourag¢ Munbers to explore tog¢th¢T how to live a Biblical1y-IMs Christian life. and to spend time in PTay¢r tog¢th¢r. The Church also nll the following activiti¢s: _ A short-mat bowls group meets on Tuesday aft¢rn(M)ns. Two youth clubs on Thursday evenings (school years I to 6. and years 7 to I l). Thes¢ have a faithful core attendance. Both groups enjoy discussion times aboui the Christian faith during their ¢v¢ning and as a break in th¢ gam¢s played.
Coff¢¢ mornings on Saturdays The Wednesday morning activity 'Tak¢ a Break" still meets and numbers - Nvhilst varying week- on-week have gradually increased. New frien(Lship5 between our Members and those outside of our Church hav¢ continued lo be fomied. The Church operates systems to ensurc that all wple working with childr¢n and vulnerable people are appropriately vetted with regard io th¢ Disclosure and Barring Servic¢ and Safeguarding Agencies. Achievements and Performanee The Church does not seek to measure its success solely by headcounts of those attending, nor by financial perforniance. but also in less tsngible aaS such as fellowship and encouragemenl. It is appreciated that ih¢se ar¢ difficult to measure. but t Tntstees consider that 2022123 was another positive krIod as far as th¢ life of the Church is conccrn¢<L In addition to our Minister continuing to play a key Fwt in leading and guiding the Church through the year. he has also been involved in taking assemblies at local primary schools on a regular basis.. The Trustees consider ih¢ Church very fortunale lo hav¢ had such a caring and hard-working person as our spiritual leader since 2(K)6. We look forward to the yws ah1 with h]'m still serving as our MiTJister Harvest celebrations took plac¢ in September 2023. and gifts of pr(Klu¢e and monetary donations from this day were given to The Rushden F(M)d Bank. The Church has active Overseas and Home Missions funds - this mon¢y bcin¥ made available by allocating 5 % of church collecttons to ¢a¢h of these. Gifts from ih¢se funds have been sent to various d¢s¢rving causes during the year. including - from Home Missions and The Church's Benevolent Fund a number of l(Kal pIe who were finding the cosi-of-living situation particularly dIl¢u1t. Financial Review The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry out its acliviti¢s from within its own m¢mbershAp and congregation. No wider public apFral was made for funds during the year. Financial Reserves Policy The Church currently has no Reserves Policy. Sale of Chureh building l Future Hall Exlengion Plans The Trustees and Officers hav¢ contiftued to meet to discuss the sale of the church building. The ¢ompany who made the accept offer (&8 included in the Trust¢¢ Annual Rert for the last two years) have been unable to obtsin planning pennission for their propK)s¢d conv¢rsion of our church building and this sale accoTdin8ly ha5 had to Ix abandoned. Th¢ scheme to change and exlend the church h&ll to Provide addilional meeting rmS &nd slorage spac¢ has not yet been put into action du¢ to a lack of finance to pay for th¢ work. The Year Ahead - Although tlK alx)v¢ Church Sale has failed io matuialise. we are hOfUl of getting further offer5 for the building- as evidenced by the other offers which w¢re made when the sale was first advertis¢d. The planned incr¢ase in buffet meals logcthcr in th¢ hall incluthd in last year's Trustee r¢port were all a su¢c¢&s and will be reated in futtwc y¢ars. A full year of activities is planned for 2023124. Contacts with the surrounding px)pulalion is diificult with our premises now being off the High Streel but ideas on overcoming this are currently being planned.
Independent Ex*miDer's Report to the Trustees and memberj of Ru8hden Independent Wesleyan Church This rewrt on the accounts foT the year etkled 31 October 2023. which are set out on the attached pages. Rupective rtsponyibilities of trustees and exgminer As ITUStees of the Church Council you are resTK)nsible for the preparntion of the accounts. The trustees consid¢r that an audit Is noi required for thi's year under scction 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Chanties Act) and that an ind¢pcnd¢nt examination is neede41 It is my reSnSibIlity to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act.. follow the pr(K¢dures laid dowm in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5Kb) of the Charities Act) and Stslc whether particular matters come to my attention. Bagis of Independenl Exgminer'j Report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general diTl10nS given by the Charity Commission. That examination includes a r¢vi¢w of the accounting records kept by the Church Council and a comF4rison of the accounis wilh those records. Il also includes considering any unus1 irnS or disclosures in ihe accounts and se¢king explanations from you concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all Ihe evidence that would required in an audit, and consequenily I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent examiner'j st4temeDt In connects'on wilh my ex8minAtion. no matters have come to my gttenlion.. ( l ) which gives me reasonable cause to believc thal in any maierial restt the requirements lo keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Chan'ties Acl. or lo prepare a¢Unts which accord with the arxountin8 rffords and comply with the requirements of the Charities Aci kovc not IKen meL or (2) to which. in my Opinio attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin8 of the account5 to be reached. R Rawlillgs Denton Tavard Lid 6 la High Street South Rushden Northants NNIO ORA 15 January 2024
Rushden Hi h St Inde ent Wesle an Church tsandPa ments Account for Year ended October 31st 2023 Recei RECEIP Collections 35,.85 Weekly avge £674 Thankofforings - H811 Extn Fund Thankofferings - Illuminate 1,9)8.64 2,048.15 3.9&fj.79 DatiOnS.. general Christmas wd$, Home Missions Funeral .75 28.LX) 217.LYJ 341.75 Legacies & Memorials 1.(X(i.OJ Grft Aid - Church Hall Extension Fund 7.481.72 557. 8,039.68 From Investment Fund.. Stipend S.School pri2eslcosls 2,160. 68.10 2,228.10 Hall income 14,SCQ.50 Sundry.. EasndraiSirvd Mix Sundries Defibrillator 40.91 152.CQ 1.211.sJ) 1.403.91 Third party Christingle, Children's Society Karen Baxter (Wed Followshipl Harvosl - Wer 'd Christmas T$. Ov•rws Missions It's Your Move bcwjks Missionary Box donations Investment Fund MIND from Crafty Crealiong 'r Ambulance Smarti8s appeal NAYC from PTC Christmas Quiz Allsorts Sponsored Child Funeral fees Macmillan coffeo momings 67.CK) 165.IX) 28.CX) 51.Ci) 4.1)XJ.lJ) 153.65 31.CX) 141.05 120.¢XJ 217. 244.20 5.539.90 Oonaiions to Hall Exln Fur#J RethvocJ Bank interest- Chur Hall Extension FuTha 1,109.36 577.CK) 1,686.36 Pantomime ticket Sales 650.00 Wami Space receipts Bowts Club receipts My Christmas Wish recoipts 11XI.00
Kitchen Fund receipts Youth Club Fund receipts Benevolent Fund receipts 505.CKJ 0.00 Total Rocolpts 76,019.34 PAYMENT Minister- Stipond ExFenses Sundry costs IMPS) Pension ¢osts 21.282.75 1.349.CKI 12.00 1,864.24 24.507.99 Manse costs - CourKil Tax Water Insurance Electrical work Themioslat Garage ¢knr replac8rr Carwts Boiler serviang and safety check 2.591.10 474. 290.10 1.1CM).00 180C 1,679.CM) 7,268.20 Hall & Churth Property Costs.. Rolowash se1¢ agreem* Ga$ Electricity W8ler In$uran¢o Boiler SerI0.n9 and repairs Electrical - Lighting Fiffj ext other eqpt serviarvJ Repairs work- Hall replacement dc Waste disposal costs CleanirvJ materials 2.415.71 2,363.23 620.71 2.727.93 1,726.42 3.910.C 165 64 3.582.lJJ 8670 234.21 17,928.55 Asses8m•nt- 114RU HQ 1,517.CQ Donations - WRU Other 1,380. Visiting Ministers 175. S. School - Teaching tooksl Prtt85 68.10 68.10 Third party Chri5tinglg, Childn,$ S¢xiety Karen Baxter {Wed Fellowship) HaN8st- Water Aid Chri51ma$ rs, ¢erSe&S Missions It's Your Move t¥Joks Missionary Box donations Investment Fund 67.¢XJ 165.C(I 28.IXI 51.1)) 4,1)XJ.
MIND from Crafty Creations Air Ambulance NAYC from PTC Christmas Quiz Allsorts Sponwed Child Funeral fees Macmillan coffee momirvjs 153.65 32.1x1 141.05 120.CQ 217.¢XI 244.20 5.508.90 Sundry- Good News paper&How mags Auditor "Il's Your Movo" books Defibrillator Christmas bann8rs Minist&rf$ holiday gift Conference fees Fire Risk Assessment Websit& costs Misc Sur¥Jry Cofonation trrtjoks Copyright Lic8nce New handheld mic 165.co 51.Q) 1,211.IX) 540.CA) 1S$.80 351.76 169.10 171.84 4,763.12 Catering costs Messy Church Warm Space o)sts Other 1.64 143.35 342.44 666.43 Overseas Missionary Fund 1,768.35 My Christm88 Wish vthharawals Benevolent Fund wthdrawals Kitchen Fund withdrawals Youth Club Fund wilhdrawals 540.00 25.ty) 1,274.00 524.99 Total Paymonts 68.503.63
Excess of Irome Balances Broughl Forward.. Nat West Rethod Bank 7.515.71 19.746.91 65.¢XJ1. 84,747.91 Timing Drfference in Payments made to HMRC 28.31 92.291.93 Balances 31st Od 2023 Nal West ReQknJ Bank 17.29).93 75,1. 92.291.93 Bank Balances as atovo Unpaid Invoices 31st 0 2023 Thankoffering lo Illuminate project Due to HMRC Duo from HMRC (Gfft Aid for year} 92.291.93 1.797.LK) -2,048.15 -244.27 7.710.61 99.507.12 Churth Funds Legacies & Memonals FurKI Hall Extension Fund Home Missions Fund Bowls Club Kil¢h6n FurKI Youth Club Fund My Christmas Wish 8enevolenl Fund 55.094.37 14.133.17 26,429.40 788.04 Inueas8 of £815.71 InrAease of £1 OCQ.00 Increas& of £3583.60 Increase of £252.35 Inuease of £100 Decrease of £769 00 Decrease of £524.99 No change Decr&aso of £25 00 Increuo of £4432.67 598.74 1,026.61 836.79 99,507.12
Rushden Independent Wesleyan Church Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31st October 2023 Bank Balance5 Nat West Bank Redwood Bank 17,290.93 92291.93 Debtors- Unpaid invoices Gift Aid for year due from HMRC 1,797.00 7,710.61 Creditor- Due to HMRC Thankofferin8 to Illuminate Project -244.27 -2248.15 Total General Church Funds Legacies & Memorial Fund Hall Extenslon Fund Home Missions Fund Bowls Club Funds Kitchen Fund Youth Club Fund Benevolent Fund 55.094.37 14,133.17 26,429.40 788.04 598.74 1,026.61 836.79 Other Assets Chufch Investment Fund (Accounts shown separately) Pro Church & Church Hall- High Street and ¢een Street Rushden. Northants Manse- 11 South Park, Rushden, Northants ui Church organ Electric piano Loop system PA system in the church Portable PA system Portable & wall-mounted screens Projectors Folding tables and chairs Upholstered chairs Dishwasher Cooker Rotowash floor cleaner
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trusteu and members of Rushden ADdependent Weslyan Church This rep)rt on the a¢counts of ihe Investment Fund for the year enlkd 31 October 2023. which are set out on the attached pages. Respective rejponsibilitiej of trustee8 *nd examiner As trustees of the Church Council you are r¢sp)nsiblc for the pr¢p8ration of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit 15 not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the ChJTiti¢s Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my resnsIbIlity to exarnine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act.. rollow the procedures laid down in tk G¢n¢ral DIrtionS given by the Charity Commission (under seGtion 145(5Kb) of the Charities Act) and state whether paCular matters come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examiner's Report My examination ctirried out in accordance with the genernl directions given by the Charity Commission. That examination includes a review of the accounting ordS kept by the Church Council and a CoMrIson of the accounts with those rccords. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in th¢ accounts and seeking explanations from you conceTning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would IK required in an audil. and COnseqnt]Y I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independenl examiner'g 8latement In connection with my examination. no matters have come to my attenh'on: (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 Charities Act: or to prepare accounts which accord with the &tCOUntin8 Te£or&s and comply wtth the requirements of the Charities Act have not been me( or (2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be dra in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to k reached. H R Rawliftgs Denton Tavard Ltd 6 la High Str¢¢t South Rushden Northants NNIO ORA 15 January 2024
Investment Fund as at 31 st October 2020 altemative ststement of accounts Nominal Market At Cost £ Value £ Value £ 29599.03 24404.39 25781.48 18420.37 16555.90 17350.43 987.36 732.04 785.92 1466.67 1207_77 1216.71 50473.43 42900.10 45134.54 7254.11 7254.11 7254 11 57727.54 501x21 61408.74 m&nts held . Short-tem Medium-lem Long-lemi Lilian Freeman Meal Twst fijnd Total Stock Cash at Bank ri¥in Donations (ir1 Grft-Aid) - prior years this year Ilncl GIft-d refund) Total 16034.71 16034.71 Undislributed interest. dividends & inveStst gainsnosses li LF Fund) pricK years 41870.49 this year -177.&S (B) Total 41692.83 5T127.S4 IA) Istrlbull Interest I dividends (1Ved (incl £60.38 L.F.Fundl G8insl1o0S on maturity of investments Interest Purchased Contribution8 to mini8te¢s slipwKI Auditor Sunday School exFendrture Und18trfbuted Ihl• year 2207.so o.co {c) 7.C6 -2160.C() -70,1)J -68 10 urch alnlLo No stock matured during the y 6% Treasury Stock 2028 3912.94 I n of Total stsrt of Yr Lk)nations, Glft- Inveslrnent Interest Payments End ol yr 111112022 etCceIved recelved rnado 311101 ai 453SJ.65 0. 2147.12 -2230.00 45267.77 -87.C 47.C6 -68.10 8113.93 0.00 3928.12 0.00 504.78 0.00 2207.50 -2385.16 57727.54 General FurKI Less Interest Purchased Lilian Freeman Memorial Fund Special Purposes Fund Youth Holiday Fund Totals 8121.65 3928.12 504.78 57905.20