ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, ROMSEY CHARITY
Registered No 1132706
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, ROMSEY CHARITY Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2022
Page 1 – Introduction
The accounts are presented in a format that follows the requirements of the accounting regulations introduced by the Financial Reporting Standard for Charities (SORP FRS 102) with an annual income of less than £250,000 and interpreted, as approved, for religious orders. The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements
Pages 2-5 – Trustees Annual Report
These pages contain the annual report of the Trustees, which cover the following aspects: Administration, Organisation structure, Objectives, Achievements and Financial Review.
Page 6 – Balance Sheet
This page shows the Church’s assets and liabilities. The “tangible fixed assets”, comprising the church, hall, manse and caretaker’s residence, being vested in the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust Limited as trustee, are not capitalized into the accounts
Page 7 – Statement of Financial Activities
This statement is a receipts and payments account and combines all of the Church’s funds together. It shows separate columns for the General Funds, Designated Funds and Restricted Funds, all of which are shown in detail on the subsequent pages.
Page 8 – General Fund
The General Fund represents the funds that can be used for any purpose without restriction. 2022 income/expenditure is compared with that for the previous year.
Pages 9 & 10 – Designated Funds and Restricted Funds
The Suspense Fund is the only Designated Fund. It is the aggregate of bequests and large donations , which do not have any restrictions on their use. The Church is free to bring such resources back into the General Funds if so wished.
Restricted Funds are those that can only be used for the purpose specified at the time the funds were received. They include: the Communion Fund (set aside for the assistance of those in hardship and used at the discretion of the Minister of the Church), the TWW Fund (a bequest by a former organist of the Church for the replacement/refurbishment of the organ), the Organ Fund (also for the replacement/refurbishment of the organ).
Page 11 – Notes to the Accounts
These notes provide technical information about the basis of preparation of the accounts.
Page 12 – Report by the Independent Examiner
This independent examination of the accounts is a requirement of the Charities Act 2011. Whilst less comprehensive than an audit, it is designed to be suitable for an organisation of the Church’s type and size.
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Trustees Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2021
The trustees present the annual report and accounts for Abbey United Reformed Church for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Reference and Administration
Charity name Abbey United Reformed Church Romsey Charity Charity Registration No. 1132706 Contact Address Abbey URC Romsey The Abbey Romsey Hants SO51 8EL www.abbeyurc.org.uk email: revd.mike13@gmail.com
Trustees The list of all trustees who served during 2020 and during 2021 until the date of approval of this report in alphabetical order is as follows:Sarah Beaman Angela Bevan Gillian Coates Howard Coulson Carole Cox Derek Hiscocks Sylvia Anderson-Lewis Mike Perrott Shirley Smith
Minister Mike Perrott Independent Examiner Bell & Co. Chartered Accountants Unit 1(c) Chickenhall Lane Eastleigh Hants. SO50 6PQ Bankers Nat West Bank plc 6, Market Place Romsey Hants SO51 8YS
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Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document
The church is administered in accordance with the Governing Document issued by the United Reformed Church.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
Serving Elders and the Minister are the Charity Trustees. Elders are members of the church who have been chosen to serve because they have appropriate gifts and skills. They are elected by Church Meeting and normally serve between one to three years after which they may seek re-election.
Organisational Structure
All attendees of the church constitute the Church Meeting which meets five times each year. Only church members may vote at the Church Meeting but non-members are welcome to attend. Church Meeting lays down the procedures to be followed, which conform to the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church.
The day to day running of the charity is delegated to the Elders Meeting. The Elders’ Meeting is normally chaired by the Minister and generally meets monthly. The Elders Meeting is responsible for the spiritual affairs within the church as well as day to day operational matters and pastoral oversight of the congregation.
Most affairs are delegated to their respective Committees which meet as required and report back to the Elders’ meeting who consider decisions as requested. Abbey United Reformed Church, Romsey operates in Hampshire.
Objectives and Activities
The objective of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church and has regard to the Charity’s Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The Charity provides regular public worship for all, promoting the Christian faith, teaching the faith to all ages, it offers training, nurture and activities for children and young people. It serves the community, giving pastoral care and support to members and others in need, particularly those in sickness, distress or poverty. It provides premises and resources for community groups and activities.
Achievements and Performance
Life gradually began to establish a new “normal” as the restrictions of Coronavirus were gradually eased and finally lifted, although the changing way of life and loss of members due to the virus meant that we were not able to restore all activities previously held.
Sunday worship is only now held in the church on Sunday mornings, the first Sunday service each month also offering the sacrament of Holy Communion, although a Bible Study is held on zoom on the first Sunday evening of each month and weekly during Lent and Advent. Our shorter monthly communion service in the more informal setting of Abbey Hall Lounge has also resumed. In addition to our Minister leading Sunday and other festival services, worship has been led by lay Worship Leaders and ordained Ministers from within the congregation, other local churches and further afield. We also welcomed speakers from Carers Together in Romsey at our Community Awareness Services, A Rocha to receive a cheque for monies raised by our young people, a representative from Southampton Social Services to receive toys donated by the congregation and
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Amber to receive Christmas bags donated for their clients. Romsey branches of RAFA and the local Air Training Corps. took part in our special Battle of Britain service and members joined with other local churches for the united Remembrance Sunday services in Romsey Abbey and Romsey Memorial Park.
Music to enhance the services has been varied with piano, organ and sung solos adding to the richness of the worship.
For our annual All Souls service, special invitations were sent to those who had lost loved ones in the preceding 12 months and loved ones’ names were read aloud at the service, with the opportunity also being given to light a candle in their memory.
It was good to again hold our traditional Carols by Candlelight service, which was well supported by local dignitaries and the general public.
A number of baptisms, weddings and funerals were held during the year with the Minister also officiating at funerals at the local crematorium and other churches.
Our outreach and youth activities were considered by the respective church groups and close examination was given to whether all could be revived as pandemic restrictions were eased. One of our young people was nominated by the Scouts movement to attend the 2023 Scouts Jamboree in South Korea and the church supported him at several events arranged to help in his fundraising efforts for this.
We were pleased to offer our church facilities for the Romsey Chamber Music Festival in April, with other music groups also making use of the wonderful church acoustics to hold fund-raising concerts for good causes. Abbey Hall and Abbey Hall Lounge was also used by a variety of groups throughout the year.
The church continued to support other worthy causes wherever possible, offering a collection point for stamps used in fundraising by the Leprosy Mission, envelopes for recycling empty printer cartridges to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy and foreign coins for the Children’s Society. With the resumption of serving teas and coffees after the weekly service, money received for this was donated for Commitment for Life, the URC charity linked to Christian Aid. Hampers at the back of church throughout the year gave members a collection point to donate food to both the Romsey Food Bank and the Community Pantry.
Our Harvest Festival goods were also gratefully received by the Community Pantry with the Bring and Share Harvest Supper affording a musical evening for all to enjoy whilst further supplementing our donation to Commitment for Life.
Christmas offered the opportunity for members to send a Christmas card to the whole church, with the savings made then being given to purchase Olive Trees in Palestine. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service collections were given to Crisis.
The church also became established as a Prison Welcome Church and is now included in the Prison Welcome Directory for use by prisoners when they return to the community at the conclusion of their prison sentence.
To help our fellowship keep in touch, help continued to be offered for pastoral care and support through our pastoral networks. The weekly worship sheet for each service, which also included details of forthcoming events, and the monthly church Magazine are both now widely electronically distributed as well as being available in the church, and several local retirement complexes have agreed to accept copies of our Church Magazine for their communal lounges.
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Christmas and Easter cards were also sent to all members aged over 90, residents of the local almshouses and members now living in care homes or isolated at home.
The Fabric of the church buildings, as always, offered its normal challenges and a programme of maintenance is being drawn up to attend to the matters raised in the Synod inspection reports.
Financial Review
T he principal source of income is offerings made at church services and offerings by standing order made by church members and attendees. Gift Aid is also claimed for donations made by taxpayers who have signed Gift Aid forms and the church also claims under the small donations scheme (GASDS)
Total income for the year was £150,429, an increase of £75,261 from 2021. The large difference is due to the receipt of a bequest of £50,000, a donation of £ 20,000 and a further insurance receipt of over £9,000 for the loss of income particularly from reduced letting our church and hall in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid19.
Outgoings increased from £75,460 in 2021 to £96,719 in 2022. The significant difference was due to reduced expenditure in 2021 due to Covid and in 2022 to a general increase in costs, the inspection and repair of culverts and the purchase of a new second hand organ. We must focus on improving our day to day income and make further efforts to reduce costs.
Net fund balances at the end of 2022 were £211,964, an increase of £53,710 from the £158,254 at the end of 2021.
Reserves Policy
We would normally have aimed to have one year’s running costs in reserve but the large legacies and donations we have recently received have put our reserves above this level. The expenditure from reserves of £46,411 in 2015 highlights the need to make provision for future large outlays on our old buildings so the current level of reserves is justified by the obligation we have to maintain and repair the old buildings as well as the running costs to achieve the objectives of the church.
In 2022 the General Fund increased by £50,400 mainly due to the transfer of £60,000 from the Designated Fund as the General Fund has been consistently reducing in each year. The Designated Fund increased by £9,725 and the Restricted Funds reduced by £6,414, mainly due to the purchase and installation costs of the second hand organ from a closing church.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees Report above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:
Signature:
Full Name: Reverend Mike Perrott MA
Position: Minister & Chairman of Trustees
Date:
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ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY
| STATEMENT | OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022 | OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES | 2022 |
| £ | £ | |
| Cash Funds | ||
53,635.40 |
National Savings | 53,685.32 |
| 29,191.87 | National Westminster Current Account | 21,292.84 |
| 1,142.35 | National Westminster Reserve Account | 31,152.06 |
| 4,408.80 | CAF current account | 4,331.78 |
| 88,377.42 | Total Cash Funds | 110,462.00 |
| Investments | ||
39,965.39 |
M&G Charifund at Cost | 39,965.39 |
| (67,290.63) | Market value at 31December | (67,155.09 |
| 30,000.00 | CCLA COIF Ethical Investment at Cost | 60,000.00 |
| (37,036.04) | Market value at 31 December | (61.080.45) |
| 69,965.39 | Total Investments | 99,965.39 |
| Creditors | ||
| (90.00) | Magazine Advance Payments | (261.00) |
| (90.00) | Total Creditors | (261.00) |
| Debtors | ||
| Donations | 730.90 | |
| Electricity refund | 1066.78 | |
| 0.00 |
Total Debtors | 1,797.68 |
| 158,253.81 | NET ASSETS | 211,944.07 |
| REPRESENTING | ||
| 8,216.26 | General Funds | 58,615.90 |
| 127,213.37 | Designated Funds | 136,938.12 |
| 22,824.18 | Restricted Funds | 16,410.05 |
| 158,253.81 | 211,964.07 |
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ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, ROMSEY CHARITY
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 2022
| 2021 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | General |
Designated | Restricted | |
| Funds | Funds | Fund | Funds | Funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| 37,923.52 | Offerings including Gift Aid | 39,662.16 | 39,662.16 | ||
| 11,579.28 | Grants & Donations incl. Gift Aid | 78,958.87 | 8,958.87 | 70,000.00 |
|
| 7,260.81 | Use of Premises | 15,675.36 | 15,675.36 | ||
| 1,014.32 | Fundraising | 3,306.93 | 3,306.93 | ||
| Collections for Others incl. Gift | |||||
| 775.70 | Aid | 2,321.08 | 2,321.08 | ||
| Manse maintenance grant | |||||
| Bank compensation | |||||
| 9000.00 | Insurance claim | 9,251.27 | 9,251.27 | ||
| 6,623.27 | Gain from sale of Charifund Units | ||||
| 991.67 | Interest & dividends | 1.194.06 | 295.36 | 849.75 |
108.58 |
| 75,168.60 | Total Incoming resources | 150,429.36 | 77,149.95 | 70,849.75 |
2,429.66 |
| RESOURCES USED | |||||
| 42,636.00 | Ministry & Mission Contributions | 42,636.00 | 42,636.00 | ||
| 2,683.02 | Other Ministerial | 3,079.47 | 2,701.16 | 378.31 | |
| 23,230.38 | Premises Costs | 36,291.89 | 35,166.89 | 1.125.00 |
|
| 5,445.18 | Other Expenses | 5,646.26 | 5,646.26 | ||
| 775.70 | Donations to Charities | 2,921.08 | 600.00 | 2,321.08 | |
| 690.00 | Piano & Organ | 6,144.40 | 6,144.40 | ||
75,459.78 |
Total Resources Used | 96,719.10 | 86,750.31 | 1,125.00 |
8,843.79 |
| Net Incoming / (outgoing) | |||||
| (291.18) | before Transfers | 53,710.26 | (9,600.36) | 69,724,75 |
(6,414.13) |
| Transfers | 60,000.00 | (60.000.00) |
|||
| Net Incoming/(outgoing) | 53,710.26 | 50,399.64 | 9,724.75 |
(6,414.13) |
|
158,544.99 |
Balances at beginning of year | 158,253.81 | 8,216.26 | 127,213.37 |
22,824.18 |
158,253.81 |
Balances at end of Year | 211,964.07 | 58,615.90 | 136,938.12 |
16,410.05 |
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ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY
GENERAL FUND
INCOMING RESOURCES
RESOURCES USED
| 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Offerings | Ministry | ||||
| Envelopes | 3,857.54 | 4,104.00 | M&M | 42,636.00 | 42,636.00 |
| Standing Orders | 25,963.00 | 25,763.07 | General Ministry | 1,052.12 | 1,169.36 |
| Loose Cash | 872.45 | 2,026.19 | Travel | 1,491.15 | 1,531.80 |
| Income Tax recovered | 7,230.53 | 7,768.90 | |||
| Premises Costs | |||||
| Donations | Manse Utilities | 1,392.08 | 1,446.97 | ||
| Individual & Community | 6,237.68 | 7,480.87 | Manse Council tax | 2,643.82 | 2,511.44 |
| Wedding & Funerals | 2,311.60 | 1,478.00 | Manse maintenance | 100.00 | 0.00 |
| Church Utilities | 1,778.39 | 3,418.97 | |||
| Hall Lettings | 7,260.81 | 15,675.36 | Church Insurance | 4,703.92 | 4,983.36 |
| Church Maintenance | 1,449.00 | 3,139.45 | |||
| Fundraising | Hall Utilities | 2,452.62 | 3,869.50 | ||
| Magazine | 797.32 | 780.98 | Hall Insurance | 1,003.93 | 1,063.57 |
| Other fundraising | 217.00 | 2,525.95 | Hall Maintenance | 1,270.97 | 2,893.46 |
| Caretaking | 3,178.90 | 3,300.00 | |||
| 1 Abbey Water Utilities | 368.63 | 606.78 | |||
| Other | 1 Abbey Water Insurance | 1,051.62 | 1,101.56 | ||
| Insurance claim | 9,000.00 | 9,251.27 | 1 Abbey Water Maintenance | 1,836.00 | 6,831.83 |
| Gain from sale of Charifund | |||||
| Units | 357.60 | 0.00 | |||
| Interest & Dividends | 53.50 | 295.36 |
Other Expenses | ||
| Music | 2,254.65 | 2,369.11 | |||
| Administration & Other | 3,190.53 | 3,277.15 | |||
| Charity Donations | 0.00 | 600.00 | |||
| Total Incoming Resources | 64,159.03 | 77,149.95 | Total Resources Used | 73,854.33 | 86,750.31 |
| Deduct total resources used | 73,854.33 | 86,750.31 | |||
| Net incoming/(outgoing) | (9,695.30) | (9,600.36) | |||
| before transfers | |||||
| Transfer from: | |||||
| Designated Funds | 0.00 | 60,000.00 | |||
| Restricted Funds | 0.00 | 0.00 | |||
| Total Transfers | 0.00 | 60,000.00 | |||
| Net Incoming/(outgoing) | (9,695.30) | 50,399.64 | |||
| Balance in General Reserve | |||||
| Fund at beginning of year | 17,911.56 | 8,216.26 | |||
| Balance in General | |||||
| Reserve Fund at end of | 8,216.26 | 58,615.90 | |||
| year |
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ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY
| DESIGNATED FUND | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | |
| Suspense | Suspense | |
| Fund | Fund | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOMING RESOURCES | ||
| 3,000.00 | Legacies & Donations | 70,000.00 |
| 5,280.50 | Gain from sale of Charifund Units | 0.00 |
| 790.68 | Interest & Dividends | 849.75 |
| 9,071.18 | Total Incoming resources | 70,849.75 |
| RESOURCES USED | ||
| Church organ pipe refurbishment | 1,125.00 | |
| 0.00 | Total Resources Used |
1,125.00 |
| 9,071.18 | Net Incoming / (outgoing) before | 69,724.75 |
| Transfers | ||
| 0.00 | Transfers | 60,000.00 |
| 9,071.18 |
Net Incoming / (Outgoing) | 9,724.75 |
| 118,142.19 | Balances at beginning of year | 127,213.37 |
| 127,213.37 | Balances at end of year | 136,938.12 |
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ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY
RESTRICTED FUNDS
| 2021 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Restricted | Communion | TWW | Organ | |
| Bequest | |||||
| Funds | Funds | Fund | Fund | Fund | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| 775.70 | Collections for Others inc. | 2,321.08 | 2,321.08 | ||
| Gift Aid | |||||
| 30.00 | Donations |
0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 985.17 | Gain from sale of Charifund |
0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Units | |||||
147.52 |
Interest & dividends |
108.58 | 9.56 | 72.06 | 26.96 |
| 1,938.39 | Total Incoming resources |
2,429.66 | 2,330.64 | 72.06 | 26.96 |
| RESOURCES USED | |||||
| 65.90 | Other Ministerial |
195.93 | 195.93 | ||
| 73.85 | Pastoral flowers (net) | 182.38 | 182.38 | ||
| 690.00 | Piano/Organ |
6,144.40 | 6,144.40 | ||
775.70 |
Charity Donations inc gift |
2,321.08 | 2,321.08 | ||
| aid | |||||
| 1,605.45 | Total Resources Used |
8,843.79 | 2,699.39 | 0.00 | 6,144.40 |
| 332.94 | Net Incoming / (outgoing) |
(6,414.13) | (368.75) | 72.06 | (6,117.44) |
| resources before Transfers | |||||
| Transfers | |||||
| 332.94 | Net Incoming/(Outgoing) | (6,414,13) | (368.75) | 72.06 | (6,117.44) |
| Resources | |||||
| 22,491.24 | Balances at beginning of | 22,824.18 | 1,178.54 | 11,597.14 | 10,048.50 |
| Year | |||||
| 26.05 | (inc, piano funds) | ||||
| 22,824.18 | Balances at end of Year | 16,410.05 | 809.79 | 11,669.20 | 3,931.06 |
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ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY
Notes to the Accounts
Note 1 – Accounting Policies
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice – “Accounting by Charities” with the exception of not including non-historic tangible assets.
1. Classification of Funds
Funds are classified according to the manner in which they are permitted to be spent.
The General Fund and the associated General Reserve Fund can be spent generally for furthering the religious and charitable work of the Church.
The only Designated Fund is the Suspense Fund. It is the aggregate of bequests or large donations to the Church that had not specified restriction on their use. This fund is used by the Church for sizable items of activity, which could be identified as being in memory of the donors. These funds can be returned to the General Fund at any time if the Elders or Church Meeting decide.
The Restricted Funds uses are limited to those purposes for which they were given, for example refurbishment of the organ, support of the needy, specific causes.
2. Tangible Fixed Assets
The Church, hall, manse and caretaker’s residence, being vested in the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust Limited as trustee, are not capitalized into the accounts.
3. Investments
Investments are shown at cost and market value at 31[st] December.
4. Income and Expenditure
Income is included as cash when received.
Expenditure is recorded when payment is made.
5. Legacies/Donations
Income from legacies or donations is credited to the relevant fund in the year in which it is received. If not otherwise specified by the testator or donor, legacies are added to the Suspense Fund, donations mainly to the General Fund but on occasions to the Suspense Fund, if in the light of future plans it is deemed more appropriate by the trustees.
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ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY
Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of ABBEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROMSEY CHARITY
We report on the financial statements of the Charity for the year to 31st December 2022 as set out on pages 6
to 10 which have been prepared under the historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out on
page 11.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As described on page 1, the charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements. You consider that the audit requirement of section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state on the basis of the procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5) of the Act whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiners report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 your trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
-
1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
requirements of the Act, have not been met; or
- 2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Bell & Co Chartered Accountants
Date: 14[th] March 2023
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