## Trustees Annual Report ## for 2024 ## **Trustees Introduction** ## **“We are here to worship God, to serve the community and bring others into a relationship with Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit** This is the mission statement of Ormskirk Street URC and says in few words what we are about. We adopt the church reports and add what we need to make clear – what guides us in the way we carry out our mission. We are now much more inclusive but have followed the community involvement of our forefathers. They concentrated on educating the children in the community by founding a Sunday School which was for adults and children because few were formally educated. Now we continue to offer worship as our primary purpose but now involve ourselves working in the community for its benefit. Both require us to actively pursue a safeguarding policy. The minister and all serving elders are trustees and have continued to update their DBS checks and regularly update their training. The URC has resolved that now minister and elders require intermediate safeguarding training. This will be provided by the Synod through its recently appointed safeguarding officer. The trustee/elders meet ten times a year and at each meeting address a finance report and are pleased to report that we have no concerns and we receive an update at each meeting We have has an ‘eco-group’ for some time and we have slowly begun to implement an eco-policy by updating heating, lighting and actively encouraged energy saving. We are currently considering the installation of solar panels on our considerable roof area and energy-saving measures. In accordance with Charity Trustee Regulations - We have no concerns to report. ## **Ministers Report - 2024** Our synod theme for last year, continued with ‘Talking Faith’ – i.e. how we communicate the gospel to each other and to the community around us. Many of our events and activities have been about doing just that. ## _**People**_ Sadly, last year, we lost some of our long-standing members- all faithful examples of how to communicate the gospel in their lives. We remember :- - Bill Wilcock - John Glover - May Latimer - Marian Wright We mark their passing and give thanks for their lives and their example. John and May were able to celebrate attaining their centuries, before their death, and we give thanks for their long, rich and fulfilling lives. One other achievement was that Rhona completed the Stepwise basic foundation course, receiving her certificate. Another way of exploring how to communicate our faith. ## _**Events and activities**_ Many of our events and activities have been planned with the intention of connecting with those around us and sharing the good news of Jesus- communicating our faith. - Lent and Easter saw us uniting with our friends at St Thomas, Lowe House and St Julie’s to share a Taize service together as a witness to our unity in Christ. - We planned our hot cross bun giveaway, which was again successful, with lots of passersby receiving the gift of a hot cross bun, palm cross, Easter card, etc and hot drink as well as a balloon for the little ones. All well received. - For harvest this year, a ‘traditional’ harvest service was planned with lots of seasonal produce brought for a really colourful display in church. The service was led by the Moderator and the produce went to the Salvation Army and other local recipients. - Once more as we approached Christmas, we worked alongside St Helens Youth Brass Band who led our advent service allowing us to connect with them. - Later we held another Christmas jumper carol service with lunch afterwards. Cards and posters invited all to join us. ## _**Connecting with young people**_ - As in previous years we had the privilege of spending time with children from Queens Park school in Experiencing Easter and Experiencing Harvest events. - Our church was invited to the Education Sunday service at school in October to which some of us were able to support. - This year we made some changes to the start of the Christmas Tree festival holding it in the afternoon which meant friends from our memory café were able to attend and Queen Park school choir opened the festival and were a great success. (walking down from school in the rain to sing for us!). - This year also saw plans for a summer play session which due to unforeseen issues, we postponed to October half term. Volunteers came together from a number of churches to share activities with primary age children here at Ormskirk St, led by Steven Mitchell the URC youth enabler. A good time was had by all. ## _**Other activities and events**_ - 2024 also saw a number of events to connect with other, other opportunities to communicate our faith. These included - The Warm hub to which several people returned at the start of the year. - Our memory café continues to build relationship with those who attend. - Our eco group also demonstrates another way the church communicates its faith- caring about Gods world and the environment. - Cath held a ‘Prayers for peace’ session in March last year as the church prayed for the ongoing situation in Gaza and beyond. ## _**Nurturing our faith**_ - To help us explore questions of faith, we held a ‘Hope Explored’ course in January 2024 both at Rainford and at Ormskirk Street, running for three weeks. - We continued exploring our faith with a Lent bible study course shared with St Helens network of churches using resources from Embrace- the charity which supports projects in the middle east. - Regular bible studies also took place in the home of one of our members. ## _**Synod**_ - In May, the synod held a day entitled ‘Mersey does Mercy’ in which we thought about our global relationships and how we might connect globally. Many churches to commitment for life and speakers from Christian aid attended. - A few members attended an online course entitled ‘Mental Health first aid’ to enable us to support those we come into contact with who need mental health support. - And one of our members attended a ‘Walk through the bible’ event at Warrington exploring the new testament. ## _**Thankyou’s**_ Finally, I want to thank our Church Secretary, Our Treasurer and Elders for all their faithful and diligent service over the past twelve months. Not forgetting all those who hold roles within the church – and those who exercise their own ministry in different ways – I think of the coffee bar, lunch club, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, memory café, social events, concerts, fellowship group, prayer time, bible study group, those who create PowerPoints and operate screens, our organist, those overseeing stewardship and care of the building, and all the other ministries within our fellowship - together we are the body of Christ. So, another year of diverse events and activities, yet hopefully with an intentional theme of sharing the good news of Jesus, ‘Talking faith’ not just with our mouths but with our lives. May God continue to bless us and grow us as we seek to do his will. Your friend and minister, Cath ## **Church Secretary’s Report 2024** My thanks to Cath for her excellent and comprehensive report of the last year at Ormskirk Street URC. I don’t think there is a lot for me to add. I wasn’t around much during this year due to the illness of our oldest son Ian. He went into hospital on 22[nd] February and after 5 hospitals and 15 hospital beds he came home on 2[nd] October. Most of my time during this period was spent hospital visiting and I drastically cut down my involvement at church. I was there on a Sunday to make sure the service went smoothly, I attended Elders and made sure that Elders, the church meeting and everything was running smoothly, and I kept on with the Rainbows. There is nothing like the enthusiasm of young children to lift your spirits. I, and my family, would like to thank everyone for their prayers during this period, and also your continuing prayers for us. We felt buoyed by your prayers and also saw the improvement in Ian as the days went on. He has achieved so much more than what was expected from his initial prognosis. It is good to see prayers answered. God is good! Some items that are not mentioned elsewhere are - Elders Elections. Copeland Knight , Monica Mason, Donald Swift and Ian Thomas were all re-elected as Elders. I thank them for their continuing service and dedication to this church. - After much discussion a new notice board was put up outside opposite the road crossing where it is easily seen. - Rev Bill Fraser took our service on Father’s day and posed the question “Can Fathers have a cake as well as mothers.? The answer was yes . Thanks to Anne Lenton for baking and decorating it, and thanks to Neville Hardman for cutting it. - A Film Night/Afternoon was started. I would like to thank everyone for the support during what has been a difficult year. On a personal note. after listening to God’s calling to follow though I had no idea what to, I decided to do the URC Stepwise course Faith-Filled Life. I was due to have the second session days after Ian was taken ill. I thought carefully and decided to carry on doing the course. It gave me a focus outside of the hospital. I am glad I carried on . It has been a tremendous help to me during the year as well as changing my thinking and enabling me to become a better disciple. My thanks to Bill Fraser for being my mentor and the support he gave me throughout the course. ## **Rhona Newby** ## **Afternoon Friendship Group Report 2024** The Afternoon Friendship Group was formed when it was decided to amalgamate the Mixed Fellowship and The Afternoon Fellowship. We meet on a Tuesday afternoon (normally the third Tuesday in the month) We start at 2.00pm, we are entertained by an invited speaker, we then adjourn for a cup of tea, biscuits, sometimes even cake, we have a small raffle, continue our chat, then disperse at 3.00 – 3.30pm. We are not a Constituted group in the sense that we do not have a membership list, everyone is welcome. We do not have a fee, all we ask is a small donation for refreshments and invite you to participate in our raffle. We aim to give our Speakers a small donation for their chosen Charity as our thanks to them for their time and trouble in preparing their presentation to us. Nonetheless, we do hold an Annual General Meeting just to ensure that we have people to help with the various small tasks needed to keep the group going. I think that I can confidently say that we are a happy group, who enjoy our time spent together and leave with a smile and take with us some new knowledge about the Speaker’s subject and the Speaker themselves. This last year we have had a diversity of Speakers, from Glen Rickard (Chaplain, Wigan warriors RLFC) David Bill (Water Aid Ambassador) our own friends Mrs Eileen Dry, Reverend Bill Wright, Mrs Monica Mason and David and Pat O’Neill. Our congregation has a wealth of talent and knowledge for we have also been had the pleasure of being addressed by Mrs Betty Guest, Reverend Heather Gabbott, Mr Ian Thomas and Mrs Margaret Bellis. It always interests me that people we “rub shoulders with” on a regular basis have such interesting stories to tell of themselves and of their life experiences. An added bonus is that we are invited to join with the Luncheon Club for our December meeting, so we always share an enjoyable meal together. A warm welcome is offered to all who would like to come to any of our meetings. Jdp ## **Eco Group Report 2024** The Eco group has met on 3 occasions since this time last year. It can be reported that our carbon footprint has been reduced due to the change in the supplier of gas and electricity, which gets its electricity from renewable sources. The thermostat on the first floor was moved to make the system more effective. The group met with Richard who is the chair of the synod eco group. He has suggested among other things that we complete the questionnaire for the eco church award scheme. This has still to be done. A suggested link with John Moore’s University students to undertake a survey and make recommendations has not developed. The group also agreed an eco-policy for the church and this was agreed at the church meeting in February. David and Ian have attended, via zoom, several synod eco group meetings. We are awaiting the report of the survey undertaken by an energy usage consultant firm, which has been asked to give advice on the best steps to take forward. The surveyor did comment that the church had been kept in good condition and its heating systems kept up to date. However, it would appear that the current system which was installed when the church was built - the radiators and pipe work etc. – would need replacing sometime in the next 10 – 15 years and this would be costly. Ian Thomas Chair – OSURC Eco group ## **Lunch Club and Catering Annual Report for 2024** The Lunch Club returned after the Christmas break on 10[th] January with an average of 22 members present and continued fortnightly with a break for summer. Thank you to our helpers including Rhona, Pam, Ann (Roby), Anne (Lenton), Sheila Cleworth and Sue Black. Members of the group with regular additional help from Jean Mill and Joan Reakes and Monica Mason have served teas, coffees and light refreshments for concerts on Saturdays. The group with additional helpers catered for afternoon tea on 28[th] May. We lost three of our senior members – Bill Wilcock on 5[th] May, May Latimer on 10[th] October and a memorial service for John Glover on 14[th] November. On each occasion we had additional help to cater for the events. We also help provide refreshments for the Memory Café and this is a big part of our fellowship and this year included a full afternoon tea kindly donated by a well-wisher. After 32 years I have decided to retire and thank Rhona for taking on the Lunch Club. Throughout the time, I have received wonderful support, had a great time and I am sure Rhona will also receive the same support. Thanks, and best wishes Sylvia Swift ## **Report of the Oversight and General Purposes Group** ## **2024 Annual Report** During the Year the usual routine Inspections have been carried out together with minor repairs undertaken as follows: Routine Inspections & Repairs - Fire Extinguishers situated around the building received their annual check, one required to be replaced. - Repairs carried out to the Main Entrance automatic door operation. - Intruder Alarm, Fire Alarm were serviced twice during the year along with the Emergency Lighting, a number of luminaries were replaced due 3 hour test failure. - Lightning conductor system was inspected and tested and certification issued. - The Lift received its twice yearly service - Heating System – The boilers received an annual service and satisfactory certification issued. - The monitoring stat for the first floor meeting rooms was re-sited from rooms 1 & 2 and placed in room 4. - Portable Appliance Testing – has been carried out External Signage – The notice board was re-sited from by the flag pole to the wall by the small gate entrance to the car park, having been replaced by a new welcoming sign. Main Kitchen –The hot water boiler failed and a new one installed. Mersey Synod – In March Synod representatives visited the church holding their monthly meeting and to enable them to carry out a building inspection. Church Insurance Renewal – Our long term agreement with our insurer was due to expire in 2025 and they offered to arrange to have a free survey and valuation of the church. The survey also required certain documentation to be made available: Electrical Installation Test Certificate Gas Safe annual inspection Certificate(s) Fire Alarm & Emergency Lighting - Any servicing agreement and evidence of inspections - / testing etc Fire Extinguisher annual testing certificate by a competent person. Fire Risk Assessment and Annual reviews Lightning Conductor - Annual Inspection Certificate Lift LOLER Inspection records & Maintenance Records PAT testing certificate evidence of inspections/testing Intruder alarm details, servicing and any monitoring arrangements CCTV - general details Health and Safety Risk Assessment and annual reviews Safe Guarding policy Asbestos Register / copy of Asbestos management survey. Details of any lettings / hire of the building and a copy of the Hire Agreement. I am pleased to report that church surveyed extremely well and has again been granted a longterm undertaking with our Insurer who have recommended a small increase in valuation from £7,397,500 to £7,559,000. ## Manse Inspection We are required by Synod to carry out an annual inspection of the Manse regarding maintenance and up keep. A number of double glazed units were identified as having failed and they have since been replaced. Major Repairs – which are still ongoing is the problem we experienced with the block paved walkway from the car park to the pavement sinking has found to be the result of a broken drain. On behalf of the Care & Oversight Group ## **– Social Group Annual Report January December 2024** The Social group continue to meet with Mrs Joan Reakes as our Chairperson. We constantly seek to provide activities to extend the fellowship of the Church for we see our raison d’etre to be adding to the Church family life, not as a finance raising venture. We do often make a small profit from the generous donations of all who come to our activities, for we usually have raffles which helps, any monies we do raise goes into Church funds. Although we have had another successful year we have been unable to arrange a day trip, as many of you have requested. The challenge we have is the cost of coach hire, this added to buying a meal makes a day trip too expensive. We do, as a Social Group Committee, believe that it is important that we all have a meal together on our day out, rather than let people “fend for themselves” so this adds further challenges to our planning. We did arrange two trips, both of which became overly expensive, one was a return visit to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, the other was a day out to Keswick. Sadly we had to postpone these due to the cost deterring members. Nonetheless we continue to look for activities and diversions. Should anyone have any suggestions please let us know, we will happily follow up your ideas. Having said all the above, I believe that we had another good year. May was the month in which we held our Afternoon Tea. A good time was enjoyed by all and we had the pleasure of being entertained by Norman Lea who enthralled us with his own poetic journey through life and changing times. Sadly his wife Steph was not well, for they had been ‘booked’ to sing to us, however Norman rescued the afternoon for us. July was the month of our annual Garden party at the home of Mrs Joan Reakes. Again another highly successful event. Sadly this is to be the last Garden Party at Eccleston Gardens, for Joan has now removed to pastures new. Many many thanks Joan for hosting this event for the last 10 years. October was the planned outing to Keswick which, sadly, had to be cancelled. November saw a new diversion for us, we were entertained by the Merseyside Trio, all the members had been members of famous Merseyside Groups in their heyday. We had a full enjoyable evening of Rock and Roll. This went down so well and was enjoyed by so many that a repeat booking was requested. December we once again went to The Mercure for our Christmas Meal. Another successful event and one that has become a fixture on our events calendar. Thank you to all who have helped us in the past year, I hesitate to name you should I leave anyone out, but to those who have helped with the catering, with preparing for the events, with doing all those small, unseen yet necessary things that are done, thank you. Our biggest thank you goes to you, Church members, your family and friends, to those people who use our building and others who support us, who help us come together in friendship and fun thereby helping us to grow as a family and as a Church. Joan Reakes Social Group members Joan Reakes, Jean Mill, Margaret Bellis, Kathleen Knight, Sylvia Swift, Joan Peet, John Peet. For 2025 we are pleased that Norma Naylor and Yvonne Fletcher have also joined this Committee. ORMSKIRK STREer UNrrED REFORAIED CHURCH. SThELENS INCOME & EXPENL)rruRE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 2024 INCOME Direct GivlNJ Endowment and Inveslment Bank Inte￿ Capttal Grft Fund Inlemal D￿ationS Use of Rooms Other In(xm6- Coffae Other In¢￿)Me- Olher Sp8cial Appeals :_ I¥￿Ime 20Z3 50.739 50.506 1,201 409 7,696 300 42.437 1,915 9,624 8,510 1.200 51283 2.374 1.750 1,750 771 ExpEND￿uftE Ministy Wkler Work Church Em￿r￿Se5. Wag8s and UbTr Church Expenses- Olher Items Fabric Maintenanc8- Church Fabric Maintenan(%- Manse T24.242 114.088 33.139 2.503 67,524 18,002 11.2 33.034 2.419 58.652 18.809 13.893 500 127.307 132,964 Net surplus of IExpgndilw•l Ovw Inco GENERAL RESERVE BaLanc8 at 1 January Surplus of IE¥pendllure) (Y¥er IrKxxne 8.722 13.219 43,546 8.722 34.824 64,132 13219 50,913 Nort R•eurring Expendi￿￿# New Chairs Coffee Maehine Water Boilers Cross 2945 1260 1169 1993 Balan￿ at 31 D￿ber 7,367 34.824 43.&16 BALANCE SHEEf Af DECEMBER 2024 A%%ETS 2024 2023 Cash at 88nk l Brokers HSBC Depostt AC￿U￿t Investec HSBC Petty Cash Cash 47,561 664 8.557 150 25 56,957 2,833 14.240 150 23 60.630 REPRESEKllNG B￿cEs ON THE FOLLo￿NG FUIIDS General Resetve Musi¢ Fund Youth and Edutstion FUTr 88nevolent Fund Capital Grft Fund Orga# Fund AfteM0￿ Fellowship Spectfic Grant for expe￿￿￿ not inwrr¥J until 2025 Suspense Ac¢w 34.824 647 5,270 1.281 2.833 7.fj91 347 5.0 2.737 60.630 43,546 532 6.224 1,210 4.434 347 ,957 ORMSKJRK STREET UNfTED REFORMED CHURCH. sfHELENS 1. Church premis¢s at Ormskirk St Helèn5 Valued frjr insurdnc8 during 2024 at £7.397,5Crt) 2. Stock held for ￿pits1 and other purposes and valued at 31 Dècember 2024 2023 CorwTatÈ Bon(ls UK Equty"es Property BorKJ Inten78tional EqvitsÈs 54.766 42,922 10.989 116,947 30,174 254,998 51,942 69,477 11.737 86,780 32,482 252,418 AJI of Ihe above syoperties are vested unrt￿ Rel￿[￿￿ Church (MerseyPro￿ncel T￿￿t knmtsd 3. Organ. furnlture and equipmort in Ghuw¢h prwnises Valued for insurance d￿n9 2024 at£1.587.428 4. Members and *4Yhernnts Number of merr?￿r$ Number OfAdherents 65 10 75 69 10 79 2024 2023 S. Spe¢lal Appeals Gaza Appeal christs.an Ajd wil￿w￿rIx)k Hosplce Naz3relh House Young Carers MND F(XKf Bank 371 271 195 118 417 1.750 These Acwunts were ag￿￿j by ￿ Ekkn ￿ 7 May 2(Y25 771 C Knight- T￿su￿r R NevA)y. Church Secretary ORMSKIRK STREEf UNtrED REFORAIED CHURCH, SThELENS end•nt Examlnerfs Repwt Report to thè Tmstees of Om)skirk Str•et United Refonned Church. St Hel•ns {Charlty Number 1145831) on the knounts for the year•nd•d 31 Dèc•mber 2024 set out on pag8$ 1 to 7 I report to the trust8es on mye¥AminalK)n (rfthe acxxyJnts of0* above dwity fthe TrLtsf) forlhe year 8ndÉd 31 De¢etnber 2024 Responslbilit1•5 and bath of As th8 chanty trustee5 01 the Trust. yw are re¥th$1b￿ lor the prèpwzlion ofthe accounts in ac¢(th*)¢e with the ￿uire￿8nts of the chall￿e$ 2011(￿ A￿1. I r*F