Charity Registration No. 1143776 (England and Wales)
JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustee’ Annual Report | 1 - 2 |
| Accountants’ report | 3 |
| Statement of Assets & Liabilities | 4 - 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 - 8 |
JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023
Structure, Governance and Management
The Joint Christian Science Reading Room, whose contact address is: 52-54 King’s Road, Reading Berkshire, RG1 3AA, is a registered charity number 1143776, and is governed by its constitution adopted in February 2013 and last amended in June 2018.
The Trustees act as the Management Committee, which consists of up to ten persons elected annually by the members of the organisation from among their number. During the year to 31 December 2022 the Trustees were:
John Lardge (Chairman) Joanna Bowley Laycock Gay Bryant-Flatt Edwin de Leon Susan de Leon Timothy Twinn Susan Thomas
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
As stated in the constitution, the purpose of the Joint Christian Science Reading Room UK is the public promotion of the practical healing method know as Christian Science, in accordance with the Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA0 It carries this out under the Manual provisions of Article XXI concerning the operation of Reading Rooms. Under this provision it is listed in The Christian Science Journal as a Joint Christian Science Reading Room.
The main activity is the sale and distribution of “Science and Health with key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy and other publications from the Christian Science Publishing Society. This is carried out through the UK Online Reading Room website, books, Christian Science magazines and other products ordered online are mailed to customers in the UK and abroad by the specialist stock-holding firm, My Warehouse. All the stock holding, and sales management is handled by that firm.
The Online Christian Science Reading Room remained open during the lockdown periods in 2021 when other Christian Science Reading Rooms had to close. Being primarily web-based it continues to be open round the clock supporting Christian Science organisations and customers with sales and services. The Trustees employ a salaried Librarian, Administrator, Technical Assistant, and a Digital Services Manager to manage key functions of the Charity. This includes operating the website and acting as an information centre for queries about Christian Science, its publications, and activities, particularly in the UK.
The Trustees use various freelance persons and firms for website maintenance, development, and management. General management functions are carried out voluntarily by Trustees and members. The Trustees have continued to organise the live-streaming of Christian Science lectures and other events, including concerts, when requested by various Christian Science churches and with the approval of the lecturers concerned, who are all member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship. Further top quality equipment was acquired in the year to extend the availability and reliability of the livestreaming and to develop video-making for Christian Science events.
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JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES continued
Advice and support was also provided to any churches wishing to live stream their services during the time that services and meetings in buildings were not possible.
The Trustees also continued to offer export assistance in creating and upgrading websites of individual Christian Science Churches in the UK.
They also continued to otter the installation of remotely managed display screens for windows of Christian Science Reading Rooms. These high quality screens show revolving posters and notices of Christian Science information’s and activities.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
As information and activities of the Charity are clearly displayed on its website, and are available to the public, the trustees are satisfied that they have fully complied with the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The financial affairs of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2023 are shown in the attached Accounts, which have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act 2011.
All donations and contributions to the funds are considered to be “unrestricted” and are recorded as such in the Accounts.
The Trustees, having full consideration of the requirement for charities to hold Reserves Funds, consider that the level of funds at the end of the financial year are appropriate to meet current and future planned activities.
………………………………………………………. ………………………… (For and on Behalf of the Trustees) Date
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JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
ACCOUNTANT’S REPORT
To the members of the Joint Christian Science Reading Room UK
I report on the Accounts of the Charity, registered number 1143776 for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The Charity Trustees consider that an aduit is not required for the year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Act),
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to follow the procedure laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145 (5) (b) of the act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedure undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention, which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the Members have no met the requirements to ensure that:
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proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 130 of the Act); and
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• accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with in accounting requirements of the Act; or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
……………………………………..
Geraldine Coates Accounting Robson House Chapel Street Honiton EX14 1EU
………………………
Date
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JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
| Bank Accounts CAF Current Account Movement in Year Balance C/f CAF ORR Movement in Year Balance C/f CAF Gold Movement in Year Balance C/f Stripe Movement in Year ( Balance C/f Paypal Movement in Year ( Balance C/f |
Closing Balances on Accounts 2023 2023 2022 £ £ £ 4,489 5,610 615 1,722 8,364 147,749 7,590) ( 7,562) 80) - 5,798 147,519 |
2022 £ 1,121 1,107 139,385 28 80 141,721 |
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JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 2023 £ MONETARY ASSETS Value of funds brought forward at 1stJan 20223 141,721 Surplus of Income for the Year (5,798)( Value of funds carried forward at 31stDec 2023 147,519 ======= Represented by: Bank Accounts: CAF Current Account 5,610 CAF ORR 1,722 CAF Gold 147,749 Stripe ( 7,562) Paypal - 147,519 ======= Other Assets Stock at Cost 25,606 Display, Filming & Technical Equipment 77,440 Debtors 1,171 104,216 ======= Current Liabilities Creditors 4,249 4,249 ======= TOTAL ASSETS 255,048 RESERVES Reserves Account 249,250 Total Surplus/(Deficit) for the Year 5,798 255,048 |
2022 £ 162,271 20,550) 141,721 ======= 1,121 1,107 139,385 28 80 141,721 ======= 18,644 69,533 - 88,177 ======= - - ======= 229,898 269,800 ( 20,550) 229,898 |
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Approved by the Trustees on ……………………….. and signed on their behalf by:
…………………………. Trustee
…………………………. Trustee
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JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Online Reading Room Activity | ||||||
| Income: | ||||||
| Online & Sundry Other Sales | 9,135 | 11,339 | 12,449 | |||
| Donations for Google Adwords | - | 155 | 315 | |||
| Donations from Churches | 33,008 | 28,716 | 30,958 | |||
| 42,143 | 40,210 | 43,721 | ||||
| Expenditure: | ||||||
| Stock Purchases | 6,962 | 4,015 | 6,722 | |||
| Google Adwords | 328 | - | 15 | |||
| Employee Salaries & Employer Costs | 64,460 | 50,253 | 29,886 | |||
| Social Media Fees | 100 | 1,813 | 924 | |||
| My Warehouse Charges | 2,605 | 2,310 | 3,427 | |||
| Website & General Running Costs | 1,141 | 2,450 | 2,264 | |||
| Journal Card & Other Advertising | 480 | 344 | 317 | |||
| 76,074 | 61,186 | 43,555 | ||||
| Surplus/(Deficit) | ( | 33,932) | ( 20,976) | 167 | ||
| Livestreaming & Video Production of Events | ||||||
| Income: | ||||||
| Donations from Churches for Streaming Costs |
19,602 | 6,525 | 19,229 | |||
| Expenditure: | ||||||
| Livestreaming Expenditure | 24,262 | 12,353 | 19,581 | |||
| Surplus/(Deficit) | ( | 4,660) | ( | 5,828) | ( | 352) |
| Website Design and Management for Churches | ||||||
| Income: | ||||||
| Fees for Website Creation and Management | 3,181 | 2,175 | 1,750 | |||
| Expenditure: | ||||||
| Development Costs | 722 | 634 | 864 | |||
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 2,459 | 1,541 | 886 | |||
| Reading Room Remotely Managed Display Screens | ||||||
| Income: | ||||||
| Installation Fees from Churches (Incl Mgt Fees) |
3,245 | 23,910 | 16,116 | |||
| Expenditure: | ||||||
| Equipment, Installation & Development Costs |
- | 11,329 | 30,357 | |||
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 3,245 | 12,581 | ( 14,241) | |||
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JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT continued
| Equipment Acquisitions Equipment Purchases in Year General Income & Expenditure Income: General Donations Grants from Trust Brit Interest Gift Aid Refunds Expenditure: Events Meetings Insurance Professional Fees Miscellaneous Mailing & Office Bank Charges Surplus/(Deficit) TOTAL RECEIPTS TOTAL EXPENDITURE TOTAL SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) |
2023 2022 2021 £ £ £ 7,907 11,783 8,735 13,758 8,640 18,774 40,216 14,142 - 1,386 527 16 - 184 696 55,360 23,493 19,486 1,483 15,240 3,493 3,085 1,368 3,147 1,120 1,008 966 1,900 675 277 564 - 990 218 1,083 400 397 204 222 8,767 19,578 9,855 46,593 3,915 9,631 123,530 96,313 100,302 117,732 116,863 112,947 5,798 ( 20,550) ( 12,645) |
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JOINT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE READING ROOM
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT continued
| RECEIPTS Income: Church Websites Donations – General Donations – Google Adwords Donations – Livestreaming Donations – ORR Donations – Trust Brit/ Westminster Gift Aid Refunds Interest Online Sales RR Screens Expenditure: Advertising Church Websites Google Adwords Liberians, Admin & Tech Livestreaming My Warehouse Charges ORR Website Professional Fees RR Screens Running Costs Shopify Fees Social Media Stock & Equipment Equipment Stock Running Costs Bank Charges Events Insurance Meetings Professional Fees Stationery, Postage & Other Miscellaneous TOTAL EXPENDITURE TOTAL SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) Page 8 |
2023 2022 2021 £ £ £ 3,181 2,175 1,750 13,758 8,640 18,774 - 155 315 19,602 6,525 19,229 33,008 28,716 30,958 40,216 14,142 - - 184 696 1,386 527 16 9,135 11,339 12,449 3,245 23,910 16,116 123,530 96,313 100,302 480 344 317 722 634 864 328 - 15 64,460 50,253 29,886 24,262 12,353 19,581 2,605 2,310 3,427 49 1,623 104 - - 360 - 11,329 30,357 1,092 491 1,180 - 336 980 100 1,813 924 94,096 81,486 87,995 7,907 11,783 8,735 6,962 4,015 6,722 14,869 15,798 15,457 397 204 222 1,483 15,240 3,493 1,120 1,008 966 3,085 1,368 3,147 1,900 675 277 218 1,083 400 564 - 990 8,767 19,578 9,495 117,732 116,863 112,947 5,798 ( 20,550) ( 12,645) |
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