FARNHAM UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY (Number 1138055)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
This report includes information required by the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting by Charities 2005 as applicable to charities entitled to prepare accounts on the receipts and payments basis.
ADM'NISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Farnham United Reformed Church is a local church of the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, and is a member church of the Wessex Synod of the United Reformed Church. Farnham United Reformed Church is situated at South Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QU. Since 1 September 2018 it has operated wholly in conjunction with Farnham Methodist Church as a Local Ecumenical Partnership, known as The Spire Church, Farnham.
The Charity Trustees who served from 1 January 2022 - 31 December 2022 are: The Revd Philip Simpkins The Revd. Dr Michael Hopkins Mr Roy Beard Mr Alan Crook (resigned 31 August 2022) Mr Roy Davenport Mrs Sue Dawson Mrs Jane Foxwell Mrs Valerie Jarvis (appointed 1 September 2022) Mrs Sue Lang (resigned 31 August 2022) Mrs Helen McConnell (resigned 31 August 2022) Mrs. Alison Noakes Miss Ann Pook Mrs Heather Richards Mr Ian Sargeant Mr Nick Savill Mrs Margaret Johnson Miss Frances Skerratt (resigned 31 August 2022) Mrs Janet Stone
The Church building at the junction of South Street and Victoria Road, and the Manse at 23 Hillary Road, are vested in the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust Ltd. as trustees and held for the benefit of Farnham United Reformed Church in accordance with the trusts applicable to United Reformed Church properties.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Since 1 September 2018, Farnham United Reformed Church formed a Local Ecumenical Partnership, called The Spire Church Farnham, with Farnham Methodist Church (a charity currently excepted fromregistration). All worship and day-to-day activities have been handled by the two churches working together in The Spire Church since that date. Farnham United Reformed Church and Farnham Methodist Church both continue to exist as legal entities, but they share a completely common membership roll, and all their governance responsibilities have been formally delegated to The Spire Church. The trustees of The Spire Church are also trustees of the general funds of Farnham United Reformed Church. since 2020 a process of consolidation and simplification of funds and accounts began.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The Spire Church, through which Farnham United Reformed Church operates, expresses its objectives thus: The Spire Church exists to help people experience the love of God through Jesus.
The trustees are aware of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in "The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit" and had regard to it in the administration of the Church. The trustees believed that, the Church provided benefit to the public by providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for the congregation and for anyone else who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers; promoting Christian values and service by members of the congregation to the community, for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
During the period of these accounts public worship was offered, the Gospel was preached, and the sacraments administered.
Study Groups took place.
Pastoral care was offered by the Ministers and others.
Members of the Church served the Community in a wide variety of roles, both within and beyond the Church.
The Spire Coffee bar and groups for toddlers, children, young people and adults, are open to everyone. Rooms were made available for community use when not required for church use, requesting contributions towards the running of the Church to cover costs. Likewise charges in the coffee bar are kept as low as possible to encourage community use and fellowship as well as covering operating costs and making donations to other charities.
We have sought to improve our welcome to people, to enhance the premises, and to engage with the cultural life of the community to promote spiritual values.
We continued to work with all other local churches, specifically other churches in Farnham, and local Methodist and United Reformed Churches.
Plans for the refurbishment and development of the building, known as the Pilgrim Project, have developed considerably.
The coronavirus pandemic had a major effect upon the work of the charity during much of the year.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
During the period, the Accounts show that the church had a surplus in its funds of £49,973, compared to a surplus of £45,418 the previous year. Because of the consolidation of funding into the Spire Church, while these accounts are wholly accurate, they only show a part of the operation of what in practice is a combined entity in which the surplus in these funds covers a deficit in other funds.
This report was approved by the Trustees at their meeting on 18 September 2023 and authorised two trustees to sign off the accounts and report.
Michael Hopkins Minister
Alison Noakes Church Secretary
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Farnham United Reformed Church Charity On accounts for the year ended 31 DeGember 2022 Charity no lif any) 1138055 Sot out on pages 3&4 Iremember lo incliide IM pag& numbeis irf addit31 8118elsi I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('Ihe Trust.) for the year ended DD I MM I YYYY. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation ba818 of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under sertion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5}(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below "} in connection wrth the examination which gives me Gause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting record5 were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concems and hav8 come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please elele the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signod: Date: Name: Michael Williamson R818vant professional qualification(s) or body lif any): Address: 8 Glynswood, Famham, GU10 4TN IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independenl examination of charily aGcounts.' direGtions and guidan for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES Farnham United Rgfom)od Church 1138055 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from 01-Jan-22 31-Dec-22 To Section A Receipts and payments Unr•stri¢tgd funds Rg¥tricted fund$ Endowment funds Total funds Last year to the nÈart#t to thè rarest£ to the nearest £ tothe noar88t £ tothe nearest £ Al Recgipts Givifig lo Gener81 Funds S81&s0l Refreshments & Sundry G(xS Grants from Spire Church & Others Fundr2i$in9 Events Interest Use of Premises Insurance Compen5atyon for Business Inierwptson Donations. Grsnts & Tax Refunds Sub total(Gross income for AR) 61,83S 61,874 2,850 3,648 576 30,174 tO,1SS 19,339 29,138 31,097 5,798 14 11,604 61,074 2,850 8,997 430 30,174 1,261 1.261 s,000 2N12 182.218 1S.k34 17¢lJl 144N01 A2 Asset and Investment sales, Isot tablel. Sub total 102,218 15.934 174101 144,401 A3Pa ments M8inlen8n¢e of Ministry IrL Manse Costs Purchase ofcafelerkq Suwies & Sundry ExpÈnses Grant lo Spire church Farnham Charitable Donations Office & Admin Mainl of Church Propety Inc Insuran Miscellaneou5 Project Costs Fundraing Costs 17,416 70,000 1,270 17.418 70,000 1,270 1.026 22,402 8,675 15,000 83 561 12,044 22,402 16,065 16,06S 58,761 Sub total 111030 19,149 128,179 A4 A¥$et and investment purchases, (see table) Sub total 112,030 16,149 118.179 98.984 Net of rnceiptsl{payments) A5 Transfers beeen funds A6 Cash funds last yèar Cash funds this year end .21 49,97 72,340 11fj,653 188,993 235,968 143,626 189. CCXX R1 a¢Unts ISSI 261cer2023
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted tunds to nearest £ Restricted fLbnds to n&ar&stf Endowmènt fund¥ to nearost £ Categorles Det8lls 81 Cash funds Bank Balances & Deposits 122,529 116.438 Total Cash funds 123.529 116,438 iagtee bance& te¢eipts 2n¢ payments Unrestricted funds to rrest£ Restricted funds Endowm8nt funds to rest£ to n•arg8t £ Details Fund to whlch 8S5el bèlon Currènt v•luo Cost Iopiionall Details 83 Invo$tmont assets Fund to which a55•t belon CurreDt value Cost loptionall Detalls B4 Assets retained for the charity's own usg Fund to which ro18tÈs Amount due When duo on•1 Dptails B5 Liabiliti08 Dale of roval Signed by one or tsvo trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name SoTrJ L fvJ0A 2616122 2610612023 CCXX R2 a¢counts ISSI