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2024-08-31-accounts

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT, 2023/24

Page 1

CHRISTCHURCH CLARENDON PARK (BAPTIST/METHODIST)

ANNUAL REPORT, YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Administrative information

Christchurch Clarendon Park is a Baptist/Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP), formed in 1992 by the former Clarendon Park Baptist and Clarendon Park Methodist Churches. The church meets in the premises of the former Methodist Church, which were extensively remodelled and refurbished in 1996/7.

We are members of the Leicester Trinity Methodist Circuit (23/7), the East Midland Baptist Association and the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

The address is Christchurch Clarendon Park

105a Clarendon Park Road LEICESTER LE2 3AH

Tel. (0116) 270 5369

Website: www.christchurchcp.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/christchurchcp Twitter: www.twitter.com/christchurch_cp Email: enquiries@christchurchcp.org.uk

General correspondence should be addressed to the Church Secretary:

Mr Chris Whitford, 23 Brinsmead Road, Leicester LE2 3WD

Correspondence concerning the accounts should be addressed to the Church Treasurer:

Miss Jennifer Whillis, 90 St Leonard’s Road, Leicester LE2 1WR

Christchurch is Registered Charity No.1148934.

Risk Assessment and review is carried out by the Finance and Property Team (in respect of buildings and health and safety) and by the Executive concerning the future viability of the Church.

The number of church members at the beginning and end of this period was

31 August 2023 31 August 2024
Baptist 13 11
Methodist 29 27
Joint 37 31
79 69

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT, 2023/24

Page 2

In addition, there are approximately a further 50 people on the community roll and a considerable number of contacts through groups which use the church premises on a regular basis.

The Managing Trustees are the members of the Executive. Ordained ministers in pastoral charge are ex officio members of the Executive. The other members are elected by the Annual Church Meeting. The Trustees have the power to co-opt up to a further four Trustees.

The current Trustees and those who served during the year ended 31 August 2024 are

Mr Mark Asher Mr Alan Stead
Miss Alison Charlesworth Mr Chris Whitford (Secretary)
Rev Kate Cook (until 31 Aug 2024) Miss Jennifer Whillis (Treasurer)
Mr David Eyre Dr Lawrence Whittaker
Rev Andrew Farrington (from 1 Sep 2024)

Independent Examiner

Alison Murray, 184 Howard Road, Leicester LE2 1XL

Bankers

Barclays Bank, 1–3 Haymarket Towers, Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 1WA National Westminster Bank, 1 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6EJ

Aims and organisation

The purpose of Christchurch is to advance the Christian faith primarily in Clarendon Park, Knighton, Knighton Fields and Stoneygate, in the city of Leicester. In achieving its purpose, the Church engages in a range of activities both on its own and with others, as described later in this document. The agreed aims and objectives are the responsibilities of a number of Teams and Committees, especially the Executive, the Mission & Ministry Team and the Resources Team.

During the year, pastoral oversight was provided by Rev Kate Cook, a Methodist supernumerary Presbyter. A Baptist input was maintained by our Associate Baptist Minister Rev John Rackley, who conducted services and gave other input when requested. (From September 2024 pastoral oversight has been provided by Rev Andrew Farrington.)

Public benefit

The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in “The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit” and have regard to it in their administration of the Church. The Trustees believe that, by fulfilling their responsibility to work together with the ministers and co-operate in all matters of concern and importance for the promotion of the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, they provide benefit to the public by:

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT, 2023/24

Page 3

Safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults

There were no serious incidents or other matters relating to Christchurch during the year ended 31 August 2024 which the Trustees should have brought to the attention of the Charity Commission.

Review of significant events, progress and achievements

The number of members has gone down again this year, although the size of the congregation at services remains steady at about 45. Several new people are worshipping regularly with us, who may become members.

Rev Kate Cook left us at the end of this connexional year, and we are very grateful for her leadership over the last 2½ years. In September we welcomed Rev Andrew Farrington as our minister, also serving as the Methodist Circuit superintendent. Revd John Rackley continues to provide valuable service as an Associate Baptist Minister. However there has been no response to the call for a part-time Baptist minister and we are looking for further ways to strengthen our links with the Baptist family.

The pattern of Sunday services is unchanged, with two services a month in the hall and the remainder in the Worship Centre, with a mid-week service fortnightly on Wednesday mornings. Streaming of services on Zoom has come to an end as there’s no longer any demand for it.

Monthly church lunches resumed in January, with four “hosts” (providing the meal) and eight “guests”. Limiting the number to twelve keeps it manageable and provides a space for relaxed conversation, particularly for those who find socialising more difficult.

The Bible study group and the contemporary theology group continue to meet; monthly ‘Prayer Breakfasts’ are held on Saturdays. A series of interfaith dialogues, “A Taste of Faith” was held during the winter. We continue to look for ways to engage with the local community; in Advent the visit by Avenue Road Primary School and the Community Carol Service have become regular events, and the weekly “Christchurch Crafting” is increasing its membership. The church is open to visitors during the twice-yearly Queens Road Fairs and the annual “Ride and Stride”.

Financial review

Following a surplus in 2022/23, we have this year recorded an annual loss. There was a significant increase in expenditure on maintaining the property, with repairs to the heating system making up a large part of this. More expensive fuel contracts increased the amount we spent on gas and electricity.

Thanks to the work of our Lettings Officer, Jean Baxter, we again saw an increase in lettings income which meant that the deficit was much smaller than it might have been given the higher cost of maintaining the building this year.

Reserves Policy

Christchurch seeks to expand its membership amongst all age groups and makes provision for the expected expenditure in maintaining its witness. In common with most UK churches, however, its membership has declined in recent decades.

Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2023/24

CHRISTCHURCH, CLARENDON PARK

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT for the year ended 31 August 2024

Notes
Receipts
Planned Giving
Loose Cash
Donations
Legacies
Interest
Tax recovered
Sundry
Lettings
Benevolence
Collections, etc, for external orgs
3
Sub total
Asset & Investment sales, etc
Total Receipts
Payments
Methodist Circuit
Baptist Ministry, etc
4
Charities
Benevolence
Communication
Utilities
5
Repairs & Maintenance
Sundry
Passed to external organisations
3
Sub total
Asset & Investment purchases
Total Payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
Transfers between funds
Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end		 Unrestricted
Funds, £
Restricted
Funds, £
Total
Funds, £
£
34,793
34,793
2,844
2,844
5,027
5,027
-
-
-
3,056
3,056
10,823
10,823
2,396
5,825
8,221
28,575
28,575
-
-
-
719
719
87,515
6,544
94,059
-
-
-
87,515
6,544
94,059
35,554
35,554
1,593
1,593
4,196
4,196
63
63
1,686
1,686
13,722
13,722
26,091
26,091
6,727
5,468
12,195
719
719
89,570
6,250
95,820
-
-
-
89,570
6,250
95,820
2,055
-
294
1,761
-
63
-
63
85,072
614
85,686
82,954
971
83,925		 Last Year, £
£
39,268
2,956
4,731
-
2,214
12,204
4,227
21,832
-
1,889
89,322
-
89,322
41,214
2,232
4,070
58
2,072
10,578
9,596
7,503
1,889
79,211
-
79,211
10,111
-
75,575
85,686

Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT, 2023/24

ASSETS and LIABILITIES as at 31 August 2024

ASSETS
Cash Funds
Barclays Bank
National Westminster Bank
CFB Deposit Account
Deposits with Baptist Union Corporation
Cash in Hand
Investment Assets
Land and Church Buildings
Note 1.2
Tangible Fixed Assets
Church contents, including furniture, fixtures,
Note 1.3
fittings, computers and other equipment
LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities
Pension Scheme Liability
Note 7		 £
18,900
3,307
33,790
27,928
-
83,925
None
606,381
258,100
None
-		 £
11,115
1,081
36,928
36,447
115
85,686
None
606,381
218,428
None
42,800

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT, 2023/24

Page 7

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - 31 August 2024

1 GENERAL

2 INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS

The following organisations come within the control of the Church Meeting and operate their own independent accounts. Their transactions for the year, which have been independently examined, are summarised below:

Balance Balance
31.8.2023 Receipts Payments 31.8.2024
Junior Church 830 - - 830
Luncheon Club 1,425 2,139 2,492 1,072
Parent & Toddler Group 1,500 410 1,900 10
TOTALS 3,755 2,549 4,392 1,912
3 COLLECTIONS, ETC,
4 BAPTIST MINISTRY, etc
FOR EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
Baptist Pension Scheme
Christian Aid
445
Rev John Rackley
Action for Children
79
Spurgeon's Children's Charity
79
Methodist World Mission
35
5 UTILITIES
BMS World Mission
35
Gas
Methodist Women In Britain
46
Electricity
719
Water
Insurance		 66
1,527
1,593
5,831
3,847
241
3,803
13,722

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT, 2023/24

Page 8

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - 31 August 2024

6 BAPTIST FUNDS

Various Baptist monies are held for the benefit of the church by the East Midland Baptist Trust Company (EMBTC) as Custodian Trustee, and these are set out below:-.

Balances as at 1 September 2023
Interest received
Balances as at 31 August 2024
The figures exclude accrued interest.		 Capital
Income
Total
103,789
75,648
179,437
7,197
7,197
103,789
82,845
186,634

The amount held on Income Account can be used for any purpose agreed by the Church Meeting. Capital Account represents the proceeds of sale of the Baptist manse in 1999 for £99,620 plus surplus on disposal of investments in which the proceeds were originally held. Income Account represents the accumulated interest, etc, since received on the Capital Account.

7 BAPTIST PENSION SCHEME

At 31st August 2023 Christchurch had a potential liability, estimated at £42,800, to the Defined Benefit Section of the Baptist Pension Sheme (BPS).

This liability was not triggered because Rev John Rackley, our Associate Baptist Minister, was an interim member of the BPS.

In early 2024 there were two significant developments:

1) Rev John Rackley attained the age of 75 and was then no longer eligible as an interim member of the BPS. Soundings were made to recruit another interim member, but the developments under 2) below made this unnecessary.

2) Negotiations were concluded whereby the assets and liabilities of the BPS Defined Benefit scheme were acquired by an insurance company and the Trustees of the BPS confirmed that Christchurch Clarendon Park had no future financial obligation to the scheme. Christchurch successfully applied to be discharged from the Defined Benefit section of the BPS.

CHRISTCHURCH ANNUAL REPORT, 2023124 Page 9 Narne of Church CHRISTCHURCH CLARENDON PARK LEP Independent Exarninevs Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination {other than that disclosed below") which give me cause to believe that in. any material respect". the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or 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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I h￿tIhave not" obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finan￿ Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 {ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date. Signature of independent examiner Name of independent examiner Relevant professional qualrfication of independent examiner Name of fim) (where appropriate) Address Postcode ts2 iy Date I delete or circle as appropriate