The United Church, Jewry Street, Winchester Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2022
Administratve Informaton
The United Church, Jewry Street, Winchester, is a registered charity, number 1135083. The Church office is located within the Church and the contact details are:- The United Church, Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8RZ; Tel. 01962 849559
The Trustees who have served from 1[st] January 2022 to the date this report was approved were as follows:-
Minister: Rev Timothy Searle
Others: Mrs Christine Cook (until 12[th] March 2023) Mrs Helen McTiffin (until 12[th] March 2023) Mrs Johanna Pellatt Mr Stephen Barber Mr Martin Ramsey Mr Timothy Clifford (until 13 March 2023] Dr John Lander (from 12[th] March 2023)
The Church is in the process of appointing further trustees.
Structure, Governance and Management
The United Church is a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) in which the participating denominations are:- The Methodist Church of Great Britain; and
The United Reformed Church
The United Church is governed by its Constitution, which was adopted on 9[th] December 2009, and amended on 19[th] February 2010 and 21[st] March 2010. The Constitution may be amended at either an Annual or Special Congregational Meeting. The Charity shall be administered and managed by a body of Trustees, consisting of:-
Ex officio Trustees, being the minister of the LEP for the time being; 8 elected trustees elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting; and Not more than 2 co-opted Trustees appointed by the Trustees, until the next annual Congregational Meeting
Elected Trustees shall hold office from the end of the Annual Congregational Meeting at which they are elected until the end of the third such Meeting after their appointment, but shall be eligible for re-election at that Meeting. There are currently no formal policies for the induction of Trustees.
At present the Church Council typically meets ten times during the year and must hold at least two meetings in each calendar year. The Church structure is presently in the process of changing with the formation of a number of Enabling Groups and the substitution of a Leadership Team that will replace the Church Council.
Grants to other charities and institutions are brought to a Church Meeting and agreed by that body.
Objectves and Actvites
The purpose of the charity is to advance the Christian faith, primarily in the community of Winchester and surrounding areas, in accordance with its principles and practices. In achieving its purpose it will engage in a range of activities either on its own or with others, including, but not restricted to:
The celebration of public worship The teaching of the Christian faith Mission and Evangelism Pastoral work, including visiting the sick and the bereaved
The provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for the local community including, but not restricted to, the elderly, the young and other groups with special needs, and The support of other charities in the UK and overseas
This purpose was included in the Constitution that was approved by the Charity Commission.
Review of the actvites and achievements
A worship service, open to the public, is normally held at 10.30 each Sunday. Attendance in Church has increased since Covid restrictions were eased. Use is still being made of Zoom for Church services and some business meetings, but the proportion of face-to-face meetings has increased while making provision for those who wish to remain socially distance and wear face masks. It is intended that the present mix of face-to-face and live streaming services will continue so that communal worship is accessible to those unable to travel to the Church because of, for example, illness and travel difficulties.
The membership of the Church on 31 December 2022 was 137. The change during the year was due to deaths and transfers, offset by the arrival of new members.
As well as teaching the Christian faith, including mission and evangelism, significant public events and facilities provided for the community during the year, examples being:-
The coffee bar open Monday to Friday
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A NHS operated baby clinic on Thursdays for parents with young babies
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Joint working with other churches in the area to provide a chaplaincy service to businesses in the Winchester City Centre
Support for other charities in the UK and overseas, examples being:-
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The Winchester branch of MHA Communities provides support and friendship to older
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people living in their own homes across the Winchester district to help maintain independence, improve well-being, encourage inclusion and reduce isolation. The project included coffee and chat, IT support, mindfulness sessions, art therapy and gentle exercise, all of which are aimed at building confidence and encouraging
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attendees to reengage with their local community in a safe way. The pre-pandemic group activities were reintroduced, including regular exercise, singing and lunch groups as well as “at home” befriending visits.
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Fundraising and increasing public awareness of our specific overseas charities, notably Link to Hope which works with families and the elderly rebuilding lives and communities in Eastern Europe through education and social care initiatives.
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Donations were made to other charities included £1,500 to the Winchester City Centre chaplaincy, and a total of £3,600 to other local charities.
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The “Winchester Churches Christmas Project” provided help at Christmas 2022 to 34 families (53 adults and 57 children) plus 2 single people – a total of 112.
The United Church provides payroll service, and holds funds on behalf of Winchester City Centre Chaplaincy and also contributes towards the costs of the chaplaincy.
Several members of the Church provide support to Syrian and Afghan resettled families. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine the Church started running “Meet and Greet” sessions on Saturday mornings, now attended by people from Ukraine, Iran and Afghanistan. Hot drinks, other refreshments, and many social activities are provided. Up to around 70 in number attend, and the support provided is greatly appreciated.
Various charities and other organisations meet in the Church. These include:-
MHA Communities, Winchester - Singing for Well-Being, Exercise classes, Activity Day, and a Lunch Club Winchester Community Choir Waynflete Singers Winchester Music and Opera Society Blue Apple Theatre Hampshire Music Service Youth Choirs and Wind Ensemble NHS Southern Health Baby and Child Clinic Winchester Learning Disability Service
Financial Review
The original Reserves Policy was approved by the December 2007 Church Meeting, reviewed in 2013 and again at the Meeting on 24[th] November 2019. The present policy is; “To aim to maintain annual average financial assets of approximately 50% of routine annual expenditure, in addition to a Buildings Reserve of £150,000. This proportion to be reviewed within 5 years unless there is an earlier significant change in circumstances.”
The routine annual expenditure of non-restricted funds in 2022 was £152,000, excluding approximately £12,500 of capital expenditure on the Church building, and the refund of an overpayment of a tax refund.
The Restricted Funds do not have a separate Reserves Policy as they are part of the overall activities of the Church and, if necessary, would be supported from other Church funds. As at 31[st] December 2022 the reserves were £185,826; after deducting £150,000, “financial assets” were approximately 24% of routine annual expenditure. In 2022 Unrestricted Incoming Resources increased by 36%, largely due to the lifting of Covid restrictions that enabled hiring and Coffee Bar income to increase. Unrestricted routine expenditure of £180,383 rose by 32%, principally caused by increased salary and utility costs. The net deficit in 2022 was £20, 978 compared with £20,180 a year earlier. Net assets carried forward at 31[st] December were £185,826.
This Annual Report, and the financial accounts for the year to 31 December 2022, were approved at the Church Meeting on 18 June 2023 and signed by the Meeting Chair.
John Lander (Treasurer) on behalf of United Church Winchester Trustees
June 2023
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Exaininer's Report Report to tho tru8teosl members of The Unltod Church, Wlnchostsr On accounts for the year ended 31.12.2022 Charlty no (If any) 1135083 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my èxamination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust.) for the year ended 3111212022. Rosponslbllltles and basls of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparalion of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chartties Act 2011 ("the A¢t'). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5>(b) of the Act. Independent examinefs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no malerial matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (Oth0 dsel8") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord wrth the accounting COrds., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no Goncerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should b8 drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. P188S6 do18t8 lh8 words in tho brackels if they do not &ppty. Slgn6d: Date: 10.03.2023 Name: Roger A Brook8 Relevant professlonal quallflcatlonl8> or body IER Oct 2018