FARNHAM UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY (Number 1138055) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the Year Ended 31 December 2023 This report is submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting by Charities (2005), applicable to charities preparing accounts on a receipts and payments basis. ## ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Farnham United Reformed Church (FURC) is a local church within the United Reformed Church in Great Britain and is part of the Wessex Synod of the United Reformed Church. The church is located at South Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QU. Since 1 September 2018, FURC has operated jointly with Farnham Methodist Church (FMC) as a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership, known as The Spire Church Farnham (SFC). Under this arrangement, FURC is a connected charity with FMC and SFC, with all three sharing an identical board of trustees. Trustees (1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023): - The Revd Philip Simpkins - The Revd Dr Michael Hopkins - Mr Roy Beard - Mr Roy Davenport - Mrs Sue Dawson - Mr Stephen Dobbs (from 1 September 2023) - Mrs Valerie Jarvis - Mrs Margaret Johnson - Mrs Alison Noakes - Miss Ann Pook - Mrs Heather Richards - Mr Ian Sargeant - Mr Nick Savill - Mrs Janet Stone - Mr David Tropman (from 1 September 2023) - Mr Roger Verster (from 1 September 2023) The church building at South Street, Farnham, and the manse at 23 Hillary Road are vested in the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust Ltd. and held for the benefit of FURC under the trust provisions applicable to United Reformed Church properties. The charity's trustees are responsible for managing these two properties. ## STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT Since 1 September 2018, Farnham United Reformed Church has operated as part of The Spire Church Farnham, a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership with Farnham Methodist Church (a charity excepted from registration). All worship and daily activities are jointly conducted by the two churches through The Spire Church Farnham. While FURC and FMC remain separate legal entities, they share a common membership roll and have formally delegated all governance responsibilities to The Spire Church Farnham. The trustees of The Spire Church Farnham are also the trustees of the funds of FURC. ## OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Farnham United Reformed Church, through The Spire Church Farnham, has the following objectives: To help people experience the love of God through Jesus Christ. The trustees are aware of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit and have adhered to it in the administration of the church. The trustees believe the church benefits the public by providing opportunities and resources for public worship, pastoral care, and spiritual, moral, and intellectual development. These services are extended both to the congregation and to the wider community, promoting Christian values and service, which in turn benefits individuals and society as a whole. ## REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS Throughout 2023, the church continued to provide public worship, preach the Gospel, and administer sacraments. Key activities included: - Regular study groups. - Pastoral care provided by ministers and others. - Active participation of church members in community service, both within and outside the church. - The Spire Coffee Bar and various groups for toddlers, children, young people, and adults, open to all members of the community. - Rooms made available for community use when not required for church activities, with users contributing towards church running costs. Charges in the coffee bar were kept low to encourage community engagement, Christian fellowship, and fundraising for charitable causes. - Creation of a welcoming hub for visitors, enhancement of premises, and engagement with the cultural life of the community to promote spiritual values. - Continued collaboration with other local churches, especially those in Farnham, as well as regional Methodist and United Reformed Churches. Significant progress was made on the Pilgrim Project, aimed at refurbishing and developing the church building. Fundraising activities are ongoing, and donations and grants are being sought to support the project. ## FINANCIAL REVIEW The church's accounts for the year show a surplus of £18,640, compared to a surplus of £49,972 in the previous year. This report was approved by the trustees at their meeting on 18 September 2023. Two trustees were authorised to sign the accounts and report on behalf of the board. Philip Simpkins (Minister) Alison Noakes (Church Secretary) CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Farnham United Refornied Church Charity On accounts fortho yèar ended 31 December 2023 Charity no (if any) 1138055 Set out on pages 3&4 Iiemember to Inciuoe the page numbers of 8ddiiional sheelsi I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust.) for the year ended DD I M PI,. ,. YYVY. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Act.). I feport in respect of my examination of the Trust's a¢counts carried out under section 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(51{b) of the Act. I hav8 completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me Cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statsment I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 2J2 Name: Michael Williamson Relevant profosslonal qualificationls) or body (if any): Address: 8 Glynswood, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4TN IER October 2018 Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of Gharity accounts. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here bvlef dotalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES Farnham Unlted Refomied Chur¢h Charlty 1138055 Receipts and payments accounts For the perlod from 01-Jan-23 To 31-Dec-23 CC16a Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Totsl funds Last year to th• n••rv4t toth• n••mi£ to th• nvareit£ tt¥ th• v•rn•t£ tothè n•ar•tst £ Al R•e•ipts Givino lo Gener81 Funds Sales ol Refreshm&ni$ & Sundry G(x)d& Gran15 ITOM Spiie Church & Oit*rs Fundraising Events (nell IniÈresl Use of Premises Ins Compen8alion aus￿e￿& Intetrvp Donalbns and Tax R&funds 4.799 76.678 1.690 4,JlS 3,815 37.S07 8,375 13.174 76,578 14,16¥ 10h40 71.990 01.B74 2,B80 8,997 1,007 30,174 1.261 12.479 8.045 2.028 37,007 Sub totai(Gross income forARJ 127,784 28,• IM.700 178.161 A2 Asset and Inv•$tment sal￿, 188e table). Sub total 127.784 28.925 1M.709 178,151 A3Pa ments Purchase of Cafeteria sup￿les eic Gr8nts to Spire Church Famham Chaiitable Oonaiions Office & Admin Expenses Mainl. Church Prpoerty inc Insuiance mis￿l￿neouS Project CDsts Fufidraising Costs 26.165 25.16S 17,416 70,000 1,270 1,026 22,402 1,250 1.677 17.901 1,250 1.770 17,901 1,993 1,993 16,P65 Sub total 135.983 13•,069 128.179 A4 A88et and Inve8tm•nt pur¢h•$¢•, l$¢e tsblel Sub total 135,983 2.086 138,015 128.17• Net of recelpts/(payments) AS Transfers b•￿eell funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds thls y•8r •nd 18,64 19,97 18.840 49.97 IER October 2018 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to ne•r••t£ Re¥tn"ct6d fund¥ to Marnsi£ Endowment funds to noarn8t £ Categortes Detall* 81 Cash funds Bank Balatxes & De￿lS 114.330 143277 Total cash furn*s 114,330 143.277 4ccLwrfi)) Ai'reJTrDiil ￿... Unre¥tricted funds to no4r¥¥t£ Restricted lundg to Mar88t£ Endowment funds to no4rn8t£ Detsils Fund to whlch Co•t lopllon•ll c￿rrent valu• onal Fund to whl¢h t bvk)n CurMntvalu• n8 Detai18 Co•t loptlonwl B4 A88ets retalned ft)r the Charty's own use Fynd to whkh Amount d¥J• Wh•n du• onal D•la51$ 85 Liabiliti•s S¥ned by one or hvo trust888 on bghatt of all the trustee5 Date of roval SSgnalure Print Name LISOfrJ L ILI3124 October 2018 IER