2024-12-31-accounts - Farnham United Reformed Church Charity

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FARNHAM UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY (Number 1138055) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

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 2024 – 31 December 2024):

The Revd Philip Simpkins
The Revd Dr Michael Hopkins (to 28 February 2024)
The Revd Wayne Hawkins (from 01 March 2024)
Deacon Joy Everingham (from 01 September 2024)
Mr Roy Beard
Mr Roy Davenport
Mrs Sue Dawson
Mr Stephen Dobbs
Mrs Caroline Gaines (from 20 October 2024)
Mrs Valerie Jarvis
Mrs Margaret Johnson
Mrs Alison Noakes
Mrs Dawn Pilkington (from 01 September 2024)
Miss Ann Pook
Mrs Heather Richards
Mr Ian Sargeant
Mr Nick Savill (to 31 August 2024)
Mrs Janet Stone
Mr David Tropman
Mr Roger Verster

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 2024, 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. Due to rising costs and the timescale the project has been subdivided into nine phases with the aim of phases 1-3 being completed by the end of 2026.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The church's accounts for the year show a surplus of £263 compared to a surplus of £18,640 in the previous year.

This report was approved by the trustees at their meeting on 16 July 2025. Two trustees were authorised to sign the accounts and report on behalf of the board.

Philip Simpkins (Minister) Alison Noakes (Church Secretary)

ffi CIIARITY TOMMI rOR EN6LAI{D AND s$lohr WAtT$	Farnham United	Farnham United	ReformedChurch	ReformedChurch	ReformedChurch	'!138055
	Recei	andpayment$aeceq.imts						ee,t&a
	Fortheperiod from	01-Jan-24			To	31-Dee-24
	UnrestrictedRestricted funds funds				Endowment funds	Total funds		Last year
	to thenearest€	to the nearestf			to the nearest{	to the nearestt		to the n€are$i{
A1
Giving to General Funds	4,686			5,870		10.556		13,174
SalesofRefreshments & Sundry Goods	74,485					?i	tos	?5,578
Grants from Spire Church & Others								'14,ts*
Fundraising Events(net)	4,010			6,735		1*.715		10,440
lnterest	4,553			2,760		7,313		5,841
Use of Premises	35,758					36.?58		aaar.7
lns Compensation Business lnterruptn
Donations and Tax Refunds
Subtotal(Gross incomeforAR)	124,491		15,360			13$,656		'156,?C9
A2Asset and investment sales,
(seetable).
Totalreceipts	rewt	re			reL--."*:r,s-j			ffi*tr"ti
A3 ents
Purchase of Cafeteria Supplies etc	27,727							25,155
GrantstoSpire Church Farnham	63,0s0					63,050		9C,&00
Charitable Donations	1,233							'!,250
Olfice&Admin Expenses	911			86			!i97	1,77G
MarntChurch Prpoerty inc insurance	44,066					44.iii*		17,901
I\,4iscellaneous
Project Ccsts				2,520		1.3.U		1,9S3
Fundraising Costs
Subtotal	136.987			2,606		410	Ee ?
A4Asset andinvestment
purchases,(seetable)
Subtotal
Totalpayments Netofreceipts/(payments) A5Transfersbetweenfunds	lre r@	l-T;aq 12,758.41				'13!!	irii:i .Iil,	18.64{ i3*,t61i
A6Cashfundslast year end
Cashfundsthis year end			12,75t				?d3	,S.tl4

			Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
t'.-,-,------ .-r,-".- r"$1<;rj\t!2r,;:7			funds	funds	funds
			to nearest€	nearest€	to nearestf
BlCashfunds			101,835	156,036
	Total	cashfunds	101,835	156,036
	(xoree balances lvithreceiplsand payments
		account(s))
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
			funds	funds	funds
	W*t.ailx		tonearest€	tonearestf	tonearest€
B?OtX':ermonetary assets
			Fund towhich asset	Cost (optional)	Current value
El3lr:ve*tmcntassets
			Fundtowhich asset	Cost (optional)	Current value
E4Assetsretainedforthe
charity'sownu$e
			Fund towhich	Amountdue	When due
E5L!abilities
Signedbyoneor twotrusteeson behalf of all thetrustees	Signature		Print Name		Dateof
	lcz**(,	**sg	l4n: e,g&€c16I./f		w *l'zE
			frr-lSo"",(-*,\j,glfrld.&S		rl+'f:s

ffi CIIARITY TOMMI rOR EN6LAI{D AND s$lohr WAtT$	Farnham United	Farnham United	ReformedChurch	ReformedChurch	ReformedChurch	'!138055
	Recei	andpayment$aeceq.imts						ee,t&a
	Fortheperiod from	01-Jan-24			To	31-Dee-24
	UnrestrictedRestricted funds funds				Endowment funds	Total funds		Last year
	to thenearest€	to the nearestf			to the nearest{	to the nearestt		to the n€are$i{
A1
Giving to General Funds	4,686			5,870		10.556		13,174
SalesofRefreshments & Sundry Goods	74,485					?i	tos	?5,578
Grants from Spire Church & Others								'14,ts*
Fundraising Events(net)	4,010			6,735		1*.715		10,440
lnterest	4,553			2,760		7,313		5,841
Use of Premises	35,758					36.?58		aaar.7
lns Compensation Business lnterruptn
Donations and Tax Refunds
Subtotal(Gross incomeforAR)	124,491		15,360			13$,656		'156,?C9
A2Asset and investment sales,
(seetable).
Totalreceipts	rewt	re			reL--."*:r,s-j			ffi*tr"ti
A3 ents
Purchase of Cafeteria Supplies etc	27,727							25,155
GrantstoSpire Church Farnham	63,0s0					63,050		9C,&00
Charitable Donations	1,233							'!,250
Olfice&Admin Expenses	911			86			!i97	1,77G
MarntChurch Prpoerty inc insurance	44,066					44.iii*		17,901
I\,4iscellaneous
Project Ccsts				2,520		1.3.U		1,9S3
Fundraising Costs
Subtotal	136.987			2,606		410	Ee ?
A4Asset andinvestment
purchases,(seetable)
Subtotal
Totalpayments Netofreceipts/(payments) A5Transfersbetweenfunds	lre r@	l-T;aq 12,758.41				'13!!	irii:i .Iil,	18.64{ i3*,t61i
A6Cashfundslast year end
Cashfundsthis year end			12,75t				?d3	,S.tl4

			Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
t'.-,-,------ .-r,-".- r"$1<;rj\t!2r,;:7			funds	funds	funds
			to nearest€	nearest€	to nearestf
BlCashfunds			101,835	156,036
	Total	cashfunds	101,835	156,036
	(xoree balances lvithreceiplsand payments
		account(s))
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
			funds	funds	funds
	W*t.ailx		tonearest€	tonearestf	tonearest€
B?OtX':ermonetary assets
			Fund towhich asset	Cost (optional)	Current value
El3lr:ve*tmcntassets
			Fundtowhich asset	Cost (optional)	Current value
E4Assetsretainedforthe
charity'sownu$e
			Fund towhich	Amountdue	When due
E5L!abilities
Signedbyoneor twotrusteeson behalf of all thetrustees	Signature		Print Name		Dateof
	lcz**(,	**sg	l4n: e,g&€c16I./f		w *l'zE
			frr-lSo"",(-*,\j,glfrld.&S		rl+'f:s