HOPEFIELD EVANGELICAL CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22
Please note that the annual report, that covers 2021/22 as been produced during the ‘Covid crisis’ which continued for the majority of this financial year. This involved some alterations to normal procedures etc. We will revert fully to normal procedures as government guidelines dictate.
AIMS AND PURPOSES
Hopefield Evangelical Church trust has the responsibility of co-operating with the church elders, Malcolm Allan and Jeffrey Smith in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic and social.
The Trust is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church building and its surrounding grounds. The trust oversees that due care is undertaken for public use of the building, and the people using it. This, for example, includes proper insurance policies, policies on fire prevention and protection, regular DBS checks on those in positions of responsibility and adhering to general health and safety requirements.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The Trust is committed to enabling, as many people as possible, to worship at our church and facilitate the growth in their Christian faith; it is also committed to proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ to all who wish to listen. The Trust maintains an overview of activities within the framework of the church and is available to the church elders for advice, guidance and encouragement.
When planning our activities for the year, the elders and the Trust (of which they are part), have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of faith. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their lives by faith in an extra-ordinary God.
We endeavor to do this by worship and prayer, learning of Bible truths through teaching and group studies, developing knowledge and trust in Jesus Christ, provision of pastoral care for both members, non-members, missionary, and outreach work. Our activities are fully inclusive of all ages within the church family.
To facilitate this work, it is imperative that we maintain the fabric of the church building and its surrounding area. Within 2021/22, some of these activities were disrupted by Covid-19, but we have, continued our activities.
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ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and Prayer
The Trust is keen that we offer a range of services during the course of the year, and that our congregation, and visitors to our church find it to be beneficial, spiritually fulfilling and uplifting. Our main Sunday service includes worship incorporating music, times of open prayer, the sharing Christian experience, Bible teaching and communion.
This is also enhanced by mid-week meetings for fellowship and prayer, both in the church building and within House-groups.
Covid 19 made some of our services impossible initially, resulting in changes to normal practices. Covid 19 has affected some of our times of worship and prayer, particularly regarding sharing fellowship during and after services. During 2021/22 these were re-implemented as far as the law permitted.
Bible teaching and study
The main Sunday service includes a Bible teaching session, delivered by invited speakers from both within the church fellowship and outside. Children have their own Junior Church during this time, led by an enthusiastic team of church member volunteers.
Weekly Bible study groups are also held to develop members’ understanding of their Christian faith and develop application to everyday living. These groups include a weekly Men’s Bible Study Group, a fortnightly meeting for Ladies to share in Bible discussion and fellowship and one house group held in the home of a church member. A daytime Bible Study Group provided on Wednesdays to include those members who find difficult to attend in the evening.
When unable to meet, Bible teaching and children’s activities have been produced on line.
Pastoral Care
Both members and non-members of the church are welcomed to request pastoral care from the elders and/or their representatives. This sometimes takes the form of a home visit. Infirm members of the fellowship receive regular home visits from the elders, who encourage visits from other members of the fellowship as well. Financial, social and material help is provided as appropriate. This includes, for example, provision of meals for those who are unable to provide for themselves and financial help in times of material difficulty.
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Missionary and outreach work
The church supports several individuals and organizations working abroad. During this year, gifts were sent to church communities, in the Ukraine via members of the church who in the past visited them. We also support Bible translation work in Papua New Guinea.
The church supports the annual Christmas Shoebox appeal through Samaritan’s Purse.
A number of social events are held during the year to introduce friends and families to our activities.
We normally hold a summer fete and a “Carols & Cocoa” family afternoon just before Christmas. Money raised by our events is then donated to the work the of Mercy Ships (deploying hospital ships to poor countries), Samaritan’s Purse (Christmas parcels to children in need), and Bluebell Wood Hospice etc..
Before COVID we also visited a local Care Home for Senior Citizens, providing an informal Christian Service monthly, it has not been possible to reinstate this as yet.
Information about our church and activities is also advertised via our website, Facebook and what app groups.
Fabric of the church building
The Trust has encouraged members to get involved with the gardening work around the church, with outstanding results.
Hymns and sermon information are projected onto a screen, and relayed into our back room for those looking after young children. Television/video access is also available for Junior Church sessions.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Total income during the year amounted to £32676.00 The balance at the end of the financial year amounted to £27905.40. Gift Aid claimed during the year 2021/2022 amounted to £5,307 however this is not reflected in the figures above as it was not received until May 2022.
The church made gifts to several individuals and organizations including visiting speakers (to offset expenses), Bluebell Wood Hospice, Samaritan’s Purse, a church community in Ukraine and families in the locality with a variety of difficulties.
Salaries
The church pays a salary (currently £12,000) to Jeff Smith for his work in leading the church congregation and £6,000 to his wife Christine Smith for her support in enabling that work to be
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done efficiently. A committee of four people (Trust Chairman, Trust secretary, Church treasurer and a Church member) reviews these salaries as to need and affordability. Church members give by means of weekly collections and bank standing orders. An envelope scheme is available for those who wish to gift aid their gifts without using standing orders. This is the only source of income for the church.
RESERVES POLICY
There is always sufficient cash at the bank to meet at least one calendar month of expenses and the building is in the ownership of the Trust with significant equity.
VOLUNTEERS
Other than Jeff and Christine Smith, who receive partial salaries, all work carried out by members of the church is done on a voluntary basis. The church would cease to function were it not for the time and effort put in by the majority of its members. We believe the church to be an organization set up for the benefit of members and non-members.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Trust appoints further trustees as the need arises. There are currently seven trustees. The Trust endeavors to maintain the numbers of trustees of at least seven.
The Trust is responsible for the fabric of the building and supporting the spiritual and pastoral guidance of the church through its eldership.
The Trust holds its AGM after the accounts for each financial year have been published, and meets at other times if the needed. It needs to be stressed that six of the trustees are regular, committed church members who meet each other on a weekly basis as a result. One is a regular visiting speaker on out teaching program.
APPROVAL OF REPORT
This report has been approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by the Chairman. Steven Broadhead (Trust Chairman)
Signature:
Date 02/11/2022
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Hopefield Evangellcal Church (Charity Number 1138773) Flnanclal Staternent for the year endlng 31st March 2022 2021-2022 2021>2021 Income Regular & Sunday Collections 29,787.00 24,812,06 Min15try (Special Collections) Ukraine 'Fiver-a-month' 249. 2.640.IXI 1,235.00 Gift Aid 6,316.25 Total Income 32,676.00 32,363.31 Expenditure Salaries and Nl 18,C(IlJ.00 18,OCQ.LK) Speakers / Mission 550.1x1 700.00 Gifts 3,970.00 2,125.00 Ukraine'Fiver-a-month' 4,500.00 1.420.(M) Junior Church Bibles. Book5 & Tracts 1.463.30 242.56 Repair5 & Renewals 2.234.20 4,110.11 Insuran 963.C6 922.49 Light, Heat & Water 4,687.31 1,142.89 Ground Rent io. io. Audio / Visual / IT 782.59 405.37 Licences. Fees & Subscriplions 688.58 647.18 Miscellaneous Expenses 276.84 Summer Fete Refreshments 643.86
Cleaning 317.51 Total Expenditure 38.492.90 30.319.95 Net Income -5,816.90 2,043.36 Accumulated Fund Balance brought fornvard 33.722.30 31.678.94 Add income forthe year -5,816.90 2,043.36 Balance carried forward 27,905.40 33,722.30 Represented by: Uncleared amounts 3,437.00 306.70 Balance at Bank 24,468.40 33,415.60 Approval of Account The above Income and Expenditure Account has been approved by the trustees and si8ned on their behalf by Mr Steve Broadhead - Trust Chaimian zz
MAWat)N IAr t J FCCA