Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity
Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Contents
Trustee's Report
Independent Examiner's report
Statement of Financial Activities for the year
Balance Sheet
Notes to the Accounts
10-14

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Trnstees Report
Reference and Administrative Details:
Wylde Green United Refonned Church is situated within the West Midlands Synod of the United
Refomied Church.
Wylde Green URC is a charity registered with th¢ Charity Commission (No. 1136135)
The correspondence address: Church S￿retary Mrs Bev Lyne, 7 Cheadle Drive, Birn)ingham B23 5XF
Stru¢tur4 Governance and Management
Constitution
The Church is a constituent part of the United Refornied Church which was formed by Act of
Parliament in l972, as amended in 1981 and 2000. The Governing document of the Wylde Green
United Refonned Church Charity was adopted by the Church, at a Church Meeting on 15th July 2009
and registration with the Charity Commission was forn￿llY confmed on I st June 2010. The pastoral
and financial oversight of the congregation is achieved through the local councils of the Church and the
wider representative councils. These being the elected Elders that fornially meet monthly both as
Eld¢rs of the Church and as Trustees of the Charity and as part of the collective membership at the
Church Meeting, which is open to all persons who have been forn]ally admitted to membership of the
' Church and whose names are on the membership roll. The wider representative councils are the West
Midlands Synod to which the Church is affiliated and the General Assembly of the United Refornied
Church.
Governanee
The Elders meet monthly both as Elders and where financial matters are concerned, as Trustees of th¢
Church and are the principal management committee of the Church, The Elders Meeting consists of the
Minister and of Elders elected by the collective church membership at Church Meeting. The Treasurer
(fonnally known as the Convenor of the Finance Committee) and the Convenor of the Fabric
Committee, if not elected Elders. can attend the Elders Meeting as ex-officio members. Elders serve for
three years and are then eligible for re-election for a further three years, after which they must stand
down for at least a year. The Financial management of the Church is regulated through the Financial
Standing Instructions (or the Financial Constitution), which was adopted by the Church Meeting in
2000 and amended in 2003 and further revised and approved at the Church Meeting in Novernb¢r 2011.
The detailed financial management is delegated to the Finance Committee, working within this
ConstitutiotL The membership of the Finance Committee is made up of officers with particular
responsibilities and representatives of the Trustees and the Church Membership. Due to the size of the
charity. the T￿￿teeS consider that an audit is not required for the 2023 year under section 144(2) of the
Charities Act 201 l and that accordingly only an Independent Examination is needed.
The Church Meeting was held six times in the year, one of which was an AGM. The Church Meeting
endorses (or not) the decisions of the Trustees on Financial matters and regulates and approves (or not)
all other matters associated with the rLmning of the Church. Church Meetings can be attended by
anyone connected with the Church, but voting is restricted to members of the Church.

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
In September 2019 Revd Dr Christopher Dowd was inducted as the Minister of Wylde Green United
Refom]ed Church. He is an enthusiastic Minister with many innovative ideas to help the Church
progress.
Table of Elders
Name
Date Elected
Date
Down
Stood
Office Held
Laura Fowler
Jason Gardner
Jacqui Goring
November 2019
November 2020
November 2020
December
2023
December
2023
Heather Hall
November 2020
Mike Harris
Andrew Hughes
November 2021
November 2020
December
2023
May 2023
August 2023
Leon Karatekin
Samara Knight
Pat Lister
Bev Lyne
Val Madill
Helen Rowe
Kathryn Willis
November 2022
November 2021
November 2020
November 2018
November 2022
November 2022
November 2019
Jt Church Secretary
Jt Church Secretary
Aims and Objectives
The Church operates within the Scheme of Union of the United Reforn]ed Church and the Governing
Document approved by the membership at Church Meeting.
The objectives of the church can be summarised as 'the advancement of religion, but specifically
quantified by the following:
To provide regular public worship for all
To promote the Christian faith
To teach the faith to all ages
To provide training, nurture and activities for children and young people
To serve the community
To give pastoral care and support to members and others in need, particularly those in sickness,
distress or poverty
To provide premises and resources for community groups and activities.

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
The Church's Mission Statement is:
'Making the love of Jesus a reality in the community seven days a week. Reaching out, welcoming in,,
Activities and Performance
The number of church members as at 31 st December 2023 was: l 02.
The number of Junior Church children and young people at the same date was: 27.
During 2023 we continued our church services at I l am on Sunday mornings and we were able to offer
a digital Zoom service for those not able to join us in person. Other services included daily morning
and evening online prayers and our 4.30pm phone in service on Sunday afternoons. Our midweek
prayer lunch on Wednesdays continued to thrive. For those in our fellowship who are not online, we
continued to prepare and deliver a weekly pack, which included daily liturgy, prayers, Sunday sern]on
and prayers for others. Weekly Bible Study continued on line and in person and included people from
as far as Cardiff and Yorkshire. Christian Education continued also with several study days including
theology around the LGBTQ+ community. We held morning Holy Week Prayers and Breakfast at
Easter, and invited the local Ministers from different Christian traditions to lead the services each day.
We also read the Gospel of Mark in its entirety on Maundy Thursday.
It was a great joy to hold Sunday services on the church field. Worshipping God outside for Easter Day
sunrise service, pet service, carols and fireworks etc as well as church fairs.
We continued our social events throughout the year with concerts, films, theatre trips, quizzes, and
fairs. As an expression of our concern for the environment and the fragility of God's creation our
Wylder&Gre¢ner Eco group continued work in preparing our community garden space with a grow to
share ethos and using the LOAF principles of Locally Grown, Organic, Animal Friendly and Fairtrade.
The Eco group also organised several children's Eco sessions during the year to increase awareness and
develop learning and continued the work of increasing the wildlife and diversity on the church field.
We held several events to raise awareness of Fair-Trade issues including a fair-trade breakfast and
autumn coffee morning. In May we joined together to watch and celebrdte the King, s Coronation and
in July we held a very successful 24 hour 'Great Toilet Sit, to raise funds for our Outside Toilet to be
located on the field. We successfully obtsined a grant to sct up an older person chair exercise class to
promote health and well being. It is a popular weekly event and we also enjoy the tea and chat
afterwards! Over the winter months we again offered a warni welcome space where we served
breakfast, board games and prepared crafts and other activities for families to enjoy. We have
continued to decorate our Church doors to share our Christian ethos with our neighbours. Our outside
prayer box continues to be well used by people in the locality, and the prayers forn] part of our morning
worship. Our crafty knitters have continued regular decoration of the post box situated outside our
church and the scenes have included the Coronation, Mothering Sunday and Remembrance Day.
Britwell Fair Trade and Eco Shop CIC continued to run with additions of new Eco Friendly products.
The shop has four charities it supports so any excess funds are attributed to The Fair Trade Foundation,
Climate Coalition, Transforn] Trade and a local community charity. The shop continued to open on
Saturday mornings and also Sunday after the church service. We also were successful in opening after
our university concerts held throughout the year.

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
We are delighted that the Hen Welfare Trust continue to use our field to rehorne hens. This was
arranged three times during 2023.
Following the successful church holidays held over the last few years we travelled this year to
Cambridge, staying in Westminster College. Twelve people travelled from Wylde Green and we were
joined by Rev Dr Janet Tollington who led daily Bible Study.
Our Junior Church was run and co-ordinated by Susan Jones. Junior Church was active on Sundays and
catered for babies through to teenagers. During the school holidays we ran a breakfast and crafts club
for a week, with children from junior church and from our local community The local Infant School
also came and held their Christmas Service in the church.
The Church also has 6 uniforn]ed organisations: A Guide Unit (currently not meeting), one Brownie
pack, one Rainbow Unit, a Scout Troop, a Cub Scout pack and a Beaver Colony. The scouts held their
annual bonfire night fundraising event in November.
We also provided room space for some
Unifornied groups connected to a different church.
Adult Groups and activities which are part of the Church inelude:
A Badminton club, a book group, the Church Choir, Church Band, a Sunday lunch at a local restsurant
for those people who live alone, and family lunches held at the church and in the grounds. We hosted
a monthly film club, and several community Food Courts and began a weekly gentle chair exercise
group. Our Wylder&Greener Eco Group met regularly and took positive actions which gained us a
silver award. We are now working hard to achieve gold status. A variety of other organisations not
directly connected with the Church, use the Church premises each week and pay a rental for their use of
the facilities.
We were very happy to welcome students from Birmingham University to perforni regular Sunday
afternoon concerts and continued to delight in the orchestral concert perfonnances from Enigma Brass,
Sutton Wind Band and the Black Country Big Band.
The church was involved in collections for Papyrus, a young person's suicide prevention charity,
Christian Aid, and supported the Leprosy Mission, Binningham City Mission, a local food bank and St
Basils homeless charity, as well as appeals made by the Disasters Emergency Committee. This year we
paraded the streets in December with the Christmas Santa Float, raising funds for Acorns Children's
Hospice.
st
Our Christmas events and services included Blue Christmas which took place on the 21 of December,
the shortest day of the year, Carols and Fireworks, a community event on the church field, Beer and
Carols which took place at our local Deli shop as well as our regular Christmas Eve, Midnight and
Christmas Day services. The Christmas charities we supported were the Red Cross Gaza Appeal, and
Cherished a local based charity that offers care and support for children and young people.

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Chureh Premises
The condition of the Church, Manse and other associated buildings is of constant concern and a large
part of our annual budget is devoted to the routine repairs, maintenance and upkeep of these facilities.
External contractors were employed to carry out specific duties such as the regular servicing of the fire
system, the heating system and lightning protection.
The Church has been the recipient of a number of bequests and it is the duty of the Eldership to ensure
the responsible use of these funds and as such the Elders have liaised with the Fabric and Finance
Committees in order to discuss and plan how these funds should be used to support the objectives of
the church.
There are two principal concerns that face the Charity on an on-going basis:
The reliability of 'Congregational Giving, as its major income
A fabric 'disast¢r'
The Church has a team whose particular responsibilities are being aware of and implementing the
Health and Safety requirements on the premises. as part of this we are fully aware of the varying needs
of our members and visitors and print the details of the provisions we have for those with disabilities or
special needs at the back of the Church Handbook.
Prepared on behalf of the Trustees by Bev Lyne
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Trustee:
Date:
1ffj/2oZF
1719Izo Ig-
Trustee:
Date:

Wylde Green United Refomwd Church
Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023
Independent Examiner's report to the members of Wylde Green URC
I report on the accounts of Wylde Green United Reformed Church for the year ended
31 December 2023.
Respertlve responslbllitles of trustees and examlner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's
trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities
Act 2011 {"the Charities Act") and that an independent examination is needed.
Basls of Independent examlner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions Biven by the Charity
Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charlty
and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items presented with those records and seeking
explanations from the trustees 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 as to whether the accounts present a true and falr view and the report is
limited to those matters set out in the statement beS0w.
Independent examlner'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 requlrement
(al to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act: and
Ibl to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting record5 and comply with the
accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed on 22 May 2024 by
Roger Monk
Independent Examiner

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2023
General Legacy Peopl¢& Fabric
Total
Funds
Fund
Outreach Projects Funds
Funds
Fund
Total
Funds
2023
2022
Notes
Incoming resources
Congregational giving
Tax recovered
LKttings
Donations and ￿ants
Investment income
Other & Fundraisin8 events
Wedding fees
60,346
16.262
44,434
17,018
1,341
7,084
700
60 J46 69J52
16262
15,402
44,434 35289
17,796 34,814
7,700
lJ41
571
7,084
6,745
7(K
Total incoming resources
147 185
17796 164981 135059
Resources upended
URC disbursements
Salaries. fees & grants
Mans¢ expenses
Church expenses
Fabric committee
General expenses
Subscriptions and
donations
Church life
52,464
23,050
4,232
16,901
24,686
12,837
5,133
52,464
52,464
23,050 24511
4232
3J68
16,901
14,773
62,040
16,753
12,837
10,170
S,133
456
37.354
6,970
6,970
5J58
Total resources expended
146 273
37 354 183 627 128,053
Net incoming l (outgoing)
resources
912
(19558) (18646)
7,006
Fund balanL%s at l January
65,790
82.840 13,399 (19558) 162,029
Fund balances at 31 December
19558
72.840 ￿13 399 il 143J83 162 029
The notes on pages 10 to 15 forn] part of these Accounts.

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Wylde Green United Reforn]ed Church Charity
Balance sheet as at 31 December 2023
TotAI funds
Total funds
2023
2022
Notes
Fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Debtors
7.887
115,306
25,669
148,862
2.292
125,266
37,984
165,542
Cash on deposit
Cash at bank
Creditors.. amounts falling due
within one year
10
5,479
3,513
Net current assets
143.383
162,029
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year
Iyet totsl &&8ets
143J83
162,029
. Reserves
General Funds
76,702
65,790
Legacy Fund
72.840
82.840
People & Outreach Funds
13,399
13,399
Fabric Projects Fund
(19,558)
TotAI re8erve8
143J83
153,582
The notes on pages 10 to 15 fonn part of these Accounts.
Appmved by the Trustees on xx October 2024 and authorised to be signed on their behalf by:
Trustee
Trustee

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Wylde Green United Reformed Church Charity
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023
Accounting Policies
These accounts have been prepared in a￿ordanCe with the Stst¢ment of Recommend¢d Practice 'Accounting by
Charities, issued by the Charity Commissioners and with applicable accounting standards in the United
Kingdom.
The accounts have been prepared on the basis of accruals accounting. Th¢r¢fore income is matched with
associated expenditur¢. In summary. accruals accounting requires that:
income is recognised at the point when it is due to the charity, regardless of whether any cash a&sociated
with th¢ transaction has actually been received and
expenditure is recogmised at the point when the relevant goods and services ar¢ supplied, regardless of
whether or not an invoice has been received or payment has actually been made.
A summary follows of the more important accounting policies, which have been applied consistently.
Tangible fixed assets
Property associated with the charity is vested in URC (W.Midlands) Trust Ltd, the Synod trust body, and cannot
b¢ disposed of without the consent of the Synod Finance Committee. This property is therefore considered
inalienable and no useful purpose would b¢ gained by the inclusion of an amount in the accounts for land and
buildings.
Equipm¢n( furniture and fittings purchased by the charity are treated as outgoing resources in the year of
purchase and ther¢for¢ no amount is shown in the balance sh¢¢t for such items.
Fixed Investments
Investments in government stocks and similar items which are intended to b¢ held for more than one year are
treated as fixed assets. The initial cost of investments is their purchas¢ cost. Investhient$ are valued at market
value at the balance sheet dats. Changes in value during the year are reported in the Statement of Financial
Activiti¢s.
Income from investments is includ¢d, together WAth any recoverable tax elem¢n( as an incoming resource to the
8en¢rdl fund on an accruals basis.
lrfacies
Legacies are treated as income in the year in which they are received. Where a donor has placed Conditions on
the use of a legacy it is set apart from the general funds of the charity and used only for the specific purpose
intended. L¢gacies over £500 received without conditions should be designated to particular reserves in
accordance with th¢ charity's Financi￿ Standing Instructions and Reserves policy.
Ineome Tax recovered
Receipts in respect of T&x claims for Gift Aid donations are treated as relating to the calendar year in which the.
tax year ends i.e. those relating to the t&x year ended 5 April 2023 are included as income in 2023. Similarly,
with regard to claims under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme these are treated as incom¢ quarterly in arrears
i.e. t&x recoverable in this respect up to 30th September 2023. is included as income in 2023.
10

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Reserves
The charity has no endowment or restricted funds at present. Funds apart from the charity's general fund are
established by the Trustccs and Rcserves may b¢ designatcd to those funds in accordance with the charity's
current reserves policy.
Donations and grants received
2023
2022
Genernl Funds
Donations passing through
Mothers & Toddlers Group
Other grants
Book Group
From fomier members
Music Events
Traidcraft
Badminton
Baptism, wedding & funeral donations
Fees donated
Unifornied Organisations
Others inc food court
4,475
1,680
1,578
1,680
50
250
520
1,358
1,500
245
350
220
300
840
Synod ener8y improvement grant
Community garden grant
17796
4300
33,067
4,075
People & Outreach Fund (iDcludey Older
persons actlvity project)
Congregational donations
Field Shed donation from member
' Sutton Coldfield Town Council Grant
647
375
250
3000
3625
1,747
Total
34,814
7,700

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Salaries, fees & grants DRAFT
2023
2022
Wages and Salaries
Ministerfs car and book allowances (after
20 % Synod recovery)
Pulpit & Organist supply
Caretakers, Cleaners and others
Employers. NIC & Pension contributions
55
1.099
160
20,876
1,958
22,802
609
23,050
24,510
Manse expenses
2023
2022
Council t&x (after 200/0 Synod recovery)
Water (after 200/0 Synod recovery)
2,359
549
1,802
228
Repairs & renewals (after £500 Synod
Grant)
1,324
852
4.232
2,882
Church expenses
2023
2022
11,557
5,951
4,941
2,470
720
97
594
Insurance {2023 inc fabric committ¢¢)
Electricity
Water
Rates
Telephone & ￿FI
3.637
1,099
608
16.901
14,773
12

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
Fabric Committee
2023
2022
Church and halls (2023 in¢ insurance)
15,896
7,229
Fabric Projects 2023 energy
improvements
Synod Fencing Grant
Field toilet and community garden
37.354
10,851
(1.327)
8,790
62,040
16,753
Legacy Fund
2023
2022
Total brought-forward
72,840
82,840
Received from Executors
Allocations
Total carried-forward
The L¢gacy Fund holds three unconditional legacies received in 2017 and is used to segregate those funds from
the General Funds of the Charity. In 2022 the Trustees allocated £1 0,000 to 2023 Energy Effici¢n¢y Projects.
Debtors
2023
2022
Lettings
Prepayments
Other debtors
1.448
6.439
573
331
1,883
7,887
2,787
Investments
90 & 35 day Charity deposit accounts are held with the Teachers Building Society standing at £75,0(K)
(2022: £85,000), with a Churches, Mutual Credit Union account having a balancc of £40,306 (2022:
£40,234). A Charities, Deposit Account with CCLA Inv¢stment Management Limited was also hel(L
which was closed during the year (2021: £8).
13

Wylde Green United Reformed Church Annual Report
10 Creditors
2023
2022
Commitment for Lif¢
Utilities
Other Cr￿ltOrS & accruals
Amounts held for Church pU￿Oses.
Choir gown fund
464
2,320
953
2,029
3.450
58
Christmas Collections
3,795
3.795
14