STOURBRIDGE NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Trustee Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
Registered Charity No. 1147230
Legal and Administrative Information for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
The Committee is currently constituted as follows:
Officers: President Lynn Edwards OSNU Vice President Roberta Harris Treasurer Robert Dangerfield Secretary Kath Garrad LSSNU Committee: Almoner Hazel Auden Healing Leader Carole Singer Membership Secretary Annmarie Maybury Warden Mark Grazier Committee Member Sue Newman Committee Member Mary Rayner Speakers Secretary: Robert Dangerfield Booking Sitting Secretary: Rebecca Harris Church Address: 49 Union Street Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1PJ Telephone: 01384 825060 Website: www.stourbridgespiritualistchurch.com Email: hello@stourbridgespiritualistchurch.com Bankers: NatWest Bank L77, Merry Hill Centre Brierley Hill DY5 1QQ
Independent Examiners:
Neil Westwood Chartered Accountant 101 Dixons Green Road Dudley West Midlands DY2 7DJ
Trustee Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
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STOURBRIDGE NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Trustees’ Report for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report, along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2025. As previously, we have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in March 2005 in preparing the annual report and financial statements. As previously, the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in this paper and comply with the charities constitution and applicable accounting standards.
Stourbridge National Spiritualist Church was registered as a charity on 14[th] May 2012 under the number 1147230, and became affiliated to the Spiritualists’ National Union in June 1926.
Charitable objectives
The charitable objectives are to advance the religion and the religious philosophy of Spiritualism on the basis of the Seven Principles of the Spiritualists’ National Union.
Financial Achievements and Performance
The statement of financial activities for the year 2025 is set out in the following financial statement. In summary, the incoming resources for the year amount to £48,825, which compares to £63,442 received in 2024, with the major portions coming from collections and donations. The expenditure for 2025 was £49,267, compared to the expenditure of £48,926 in 2024, with the main expenditure being the upkeep and improvement of the building, its interior, and other general running costs. The excess expenditure over income for the year amounted to £442.
Risk management
The trustees of the Church conduct its own review of major risks to which the charity is exposed. These procedures will be periodically reviewed in order to ensure that they meet the needs of the charity and are as follows:
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An annual review of the risks which the charity may face;
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The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified;
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The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should any of the risks materialise.
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statement
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which shows a true and fair view of the charities financial activities during the year and to its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing the financial statement the trustees must follow best practice and:
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STOURBRIDGE NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Trustees’ Report for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply consistently;
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Make judgement and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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Prepare the financial statement on the ongoing concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the project will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable charity rulings and other accounting standards. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Overview
Trustee Report Year Ending 2025
As 2025 concludes, we reflect on the success of Stourbridge Spiritualist Church, this year. May I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the church, as there needs to be a strong team, pulling together to make it happen.
Once again, I give my thanks to Robert Dangerfield who continues to work tirelessly to promote our church activities with endless publicity and dedication to keep a high standard of mediums, sound ambassadors for Spirit and Spiritualism to promote our belief in Eternal Life. Robert is also our Treasurer and many thanks for all the hard work over the year, not only to balance the books for a very busy church, but to make sound investments for the money that members contribute to over the year.
We have also had another excellent Experimental Victorian Evening which proved to be, so we will be looking to create another next year. Likewise, as the trip to Stansted in May was also very popular, we will arrange another one for this year. It has been so valuable to enabe upcoming students to take the platform, giving them confidence and practice, as the mediums of the future, and long may this continue.
Kath Garrad is our Secretary and I would like to recognise the sterling work she continues to do in the background, keeping up with correspondence, the administrative areas for the SNU, and the monumental amount of work she undertakes to arrange for the Annual General Meeting. Again, this is not an easy task but she “just gets on with it”. Many thanks to you, Kath, for your continued support in your role as Secretary and for always offering to help, whatever the job.
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Annmarie Maybury, who qualified last year as a healer (well done for all the hard work it took to pass these exams), is our Membership Secretary and has also helped to run the jewellery counters currently being used by local traders - many thanks to Annmarie.
Mark Grazier has taken on the role of Warden and is doing a great job as he settles into the role - many thanks to you, Mark, for your hard work.
We have also gained some new committee members: Sue Newman has joined us on the committee, and I feel the need for her to know how much we appreciate her enthusiastic approach. She is a great asset to the team, with new ideas and an ability to “get the job done”; she is leading a new beginners awareness group that has proved so successful, it is now at capacity with many thriving students. Sue also gave a very generous donation of new toys that we were able to sell to members for a fraction of the retail cost, and all the money raised has been donated to the church. Thank you, Sue.
Mary Rayner has rejoined the committee and has proved to be a valuable asset as a chairperson for the Monday Services, as well as her invaluable gift as a healer. Thank you, Mary.
This is a good opportunity to thank all the healers who give their time and expertise for the benefit of those who need healing. Can I particularly thank Carole Singer and Graham Dann - Carole for her sterling work as Healing Leader and Graham for his great assistance in Carole’s absence, during her work commitments. May I thank Jenny and Cynthia for being our receptionists and also Tracy Mayers who has joined us as a fully qualified healer, too. Again, many thanks for taking the time to study for this qualification, as I know you have had another challenging year.
Healing is an integral part of our religion and is greatly needed by an increasing number of people; hopefully we can attract more people to come forward to start the training they will need. The Monday and Thursday sessions are continuing well with new people receiving healing, and also gaining an interest in the services, meditation and classes.
Thanks all those who contributed to the continued success of this church, in whatever role or capacity, past and present. Thanks for the tireless work of all our volunteers as receptionists, tea and coffee stewards, giving out hymn books or clearing up after services; we could not do it without you, and you are much appreciated. This includes all the people who have volunteered for the tea roster: Ruth, June, Lawrence, Angela, Cynthia and everyone for always stepping in to help - much appreciated.
The church is continuing to be a success with congregation numbers remaining steady, the groups doing well and building work is ongoing to rejuvenate our premises, for our centenary in 2026. It is important that the church is maintained as a safe and friendly place where everyone can feel at home in pleasant surroundings we can all be proud of.
We have now been asked to host the training of new teachers, and this has proved a great success with four trainee teachers taking final boards in November. The church
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was utilised for the whole weekend to incorporate an additional ten final assessment boards for CSNU and DSNU certificates. The church proved to be a perfect venue and our hospitality was very well received by students and assessors, garnering extra revenue for the church. I was also very privileged to receive a shield for my contribution to education within the Union and I was proud to accept at the SNU AGM in 2025.
We are currently renting out part of the car park as an additional income stream, to improve safety, we have had the lighting in the car park changed to efficient, sensoractivated LEDs. We are also pleased to be a host venue for the local U3A (University of the Third Age), so the social room is now being utilised for the local community.
We must look to the future to maintain the high standards that have been the legacy of the pioneers many of whom have worked so tirelessly in the past to give us the sound foundations on which we serve the members and the Spirit World. We think of Minister Eric Hatton and Heather Hatton, as two of many people who dedicated their lives to Spiritualism and gained the respect of all that knew them, all the people that they helped along the way and all the army of committee and helpers that joined them to make it possible. Sadly, Cissie Shaw was lost to the higher life on 27[th] December after a lifetime of service. We will miss you Cissie, but you have more that earned your place in that higher existence. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants.
We are a religion, a philosophy and a science and we must ensure that the great work that has been done will continue into the next century with new people entering our building and finding answers to questions. We are a safe and peaceful place where the public can explore Spiritualism at their own pace, finding sound knowledge to support their individual needs and aspirations.
As we move into our centenary year, it is our hope that we are able to provide that knowledge and expertise to all that wish to learn, those who seek words of comfort and of words of wisdom and to receive healing, that will bring our church into the twenty-first century as a progressive and thinking person's religion.
At Stourbridge, there is always a safe and friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy, to make friends and to experience the perception and philosophy of life in your own way, enabling a better understanding of this magnificent and everlasting journey of the soul.
Lynn Edwards OSNU (President)
Independent Examiner
Neil Westwood Chartered Account has expressed their willingness to continue as examiners and a resolution for their re-appointment will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
Chairperson: ……………… (L Edwards OSNU)
Date: 20/02/2026
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STOURBRIDGE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Independent Examiners’ Report to the Trustees of Stourbridge Spiritualist Church in respect of the year ended 31[st] December 2025.
I report on the account for the year ended 31[st] December 2025 which are set out on the following pages.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
As trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts 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(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns 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.
N A Westwood Neil Westwood & Co. Chartered Accountants 101 Dixons Green Road Dudley, West Midlands DY2 7DJ
Date: 21/03/2026
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STOURBRIDGE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2025
| Income Church Collections Charity Collections Private Interviews Membership Fees Groups Workshops Church Shop Healing Sessions Sales of Books Donations & Legacies Raffles Coffee Mornings/ Craft Fayre Trip Contributions Mediums’ Books Investment Income Polling & Room Hire Winter Fuel Contributions Gift Aid Psychic News Sales of Toys Car Park Interest Total receipts Expenditure Excess /(Deficit) of income over expenditure Net gains/(losses) on investments Net income/expenditure Gains on revaluation of fixed assets Funds brought forward Funds carried forward There are no restricted or endowment funds. |
Unrestricted funds 2025 2024 18223 18502 70 0 3947 4756 952 882 2200 2144 1163 1994 1278 1106 2032 1897 78 30 313 10193 1333 1267 0 455 1824 1405 0 25 10600 13914 677 740 0 100 0 2922 190 42 227 2007 1711 1325 48825 63442 49267 48926 (442) 14516 2873 1197 2431 15713 - - 1119752 1104039 1122183 1119752 |
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STOURBRIDGE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ended 31 December 2025
| Expenditure Speakers’ Expenses Private Interviews Hospitality Cleaner & Car Park Caretaker Gardening Cleaning Materials/ Supplies Stationery, Printing & Postage Advertising Flowers Repairs, Renewals & Testing Copier Charity Donations Gas & Electric Water Rates Committee Expenses Organist Insurance AFC Coach Trip SNU Healers fees SNU Capitation fees Delegates’ & NP Warden’s Expenses SNU AGM WMDC Trifold Members’ Welfare Telephone/ Wi-Fi Refreshments Raffle Expenses Card Machine Fees Group Leaders’ Expenses Garden Maintenance/ Materials Shop Stock Website & Hosting Workshops Mediums’ Books Hymn Books Psychic News Independent Examiner’s fee |
Unrestricted funds 2025 2024 7140 7129 2360 2980 4106 3093 2500 2400 395 653 163 294 499 492 2036 1667 45 124 12146 14353 42 47 233 0 4170 4273 112 95 1050 750 1315 990 1064 1005 2009 1763 337 301 635 635 406 285 480 632 0 125 243 371 581 448 416 272 477 458 29 20 73 99 196 119 1402 945 1178 1178 810 710 0 25 185 241 11 192 186 49267 48926 |
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STOURBRIDGE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2025
| 2025 Fixed assets Land & Buildings 850000 Furniture, Fixtures & Fittings 5000 855000 Investments Charities Property Fund 222505 Current assets Cash in Hand 0 Unpresented Cheques (70) NatWest Current account 1696 NatWest Business Reserve account - SNU Trust Deposit account 262 SNU Trust Investment account 1404 SNU Trust 1-6-1 account 1000 SNU Trust 1 Year Fixed Rate Deposit account - SNU Trust 2 Year Fixed Rate Deposit account (1) 10000 SNU Trust 2 Year Fixed Rate Deposit account (2) 5000 Hampshire Trust Bank – Easy Access 14386 Redwood Bank – 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond - Redwood Bank – 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond 11000 Total Current Assets 44748 Total assets 1122183 Funds of the Charity Unrestricted funds 990045 Revaluation reserve 132138 1119752 Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: Church Treasurer Church President Robert Dangerfield Lynn Edwards OSNU Date: 20/02/2026 |
2024 850000 5000 855000 219632 24 (125) 1279 65 257 120 1000 5000 0 0 16500 10000 11000 45120 1119752 987614 132138 1119752 |
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STOURBRIDGE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Notes to the Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
1) Accounting Policies
a) Accounting Standard
The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective from 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS102)).
b) Basis
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historical cost except that investments are shown at their market value at the end of the year. The accruals basis has been used and the Trustees present accounts that show a true and fair view of the Church’s financial position and activities.
c) Going concern
Based on the monetary assets and human resources available at 31 December 2024, the Trustees believe that the Church is a going concern.
d) Income recognition
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the Church becomes entitles to the resources, and the trustees are reasonably certain that they will receive the resources; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
e) Expenditure
This is recognised when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arises, where the amount is reliably measurable and it is considered more likely than not that there will be an outflow of economic benefit.
f) Depreciation
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and individually cost at least £1000. The freehold property is shown in the accounts at 2019 values following a revaluation of the property. No depreciation is provided on the buildings because the trustees consider the current residual value of the property in its present condition to be not less than its current value, and in the absence of any evidence of impairment, any depreciation provision would not be material.
2) Taxation
As a charity Stourbridge Spiritualist Church is exempt from Corporation Tax on the income and gains falling within the Taxation and Chargeable Gains’ Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
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