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2022-12-31-accounts

Registered Charity No. 1150685

Expanding God's Kingdom by loving & serving Jesus, each other & our community

Trustees’ Annual Report for 2022

Trustees holding office during the year

Mr D J Carson, Mr J R Pollard (Chairman), Mr P S Standish & Mr G Tither

Bankers: The Co-operative Bank plc, Delf House, Southway, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 6NY

Registered Address: 2 Coralin Way, Bryn, Wigan, Lancashire WN4 0ET

The Beacon Church celebrated its tenth anniversary during 2022, the first Sunday Morning service having been held on 21 October 2012. The church is centred in the town of Ashton-in-Makerfield near Wigan, Lancashire and during 2022 its Sunday worship services have been held at Stubshaw Cross Independent Methodist Church on Bolton Road in the town.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The full name of the charity is The Beacon Church.

The charity was registered in England on 4 February 2013 with registered number 1150685.

It is an unincorporated association and its governing document is its constitution which was adopted on 3 December 2012 (as amended on 5 July 2015 and 22 August 2018).

Church Leadership

James Lycett had been the church’s Associate Pastor since November 2016, having already worked for the church for two years prior to that in a different capacity since November 2014. Having earned his degree in theology at university James spent a number of years in secular employment before feeling called to full time Christian ministry and completing The North West Gospel Partnership’s Ministry Training Course before taking up his current role.

During the year James made the decision to stand down from his role of Associate Pastor with effect from 31 October 2022 in order to take up a senior leadership position with United Beach Missions. A decision was made not to immediately replace James but instead to keep the church’s staffing requirements under review for the time being.

In March 2018 the church invited Antony Billington to be its next Senior Pastor starting in September 2018. As a former lecturer at the London School of Theology and later Head of Theology at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) Antony has brought with him to the role a wealth of experience in teaching the Word of God.

Until October 2022, Antony and James covered the majority of the regular teaching ministry of the church along with providing pastoral support for all those attending. Since November 2022 Antony has covered the majority of the church’s teaching ministry supported occasionally by others in the church.

Alongside his role as Senior Pastor Antony continues to dedicate one day each week to working as a Theology Adviser for LICC, Crosslands Seminary and The Union School of Theology.

The Leadership Team continued to operate as Elders and Deacons in 2022 with Antony as Senior Pastor and James as Associate Pastor meeting with both groups as appropriate. As mentioned above, James left his role of Associate Pastor at the end of October 2022. At the start of 2022, in light of Government advice relating to the COVID-19 pandemic (Plan B), in person church meetings continued to be allowed but with face coverings being worn. This restriction was lifted on January 27[th] and church events returned to operating in the way that they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other members of the Leadership Team each have membership of one of these two groups as follows: -

Senior Pastor: Antony Billington
Associate Pastor: James Lycett – until October 2022
Elders: Glyn Tither
David Case – from May 2022
Deacons: Daniel Carson
Craig Galloway
Chris Gaskell
Joseph Heyes
Phillip Standish

Although these groups meet separately to discuss their respective areas of responsibility the Leadership Team as a whole still continues to meet on a regular basis as necessary and most of the time meets once every month.

Location

The church is based in the town of Ashton-in-Makerfield near Wigan, Lancashire. and during 2022 made use of a number of hired premises for the purposes of the various meetings which were held and the numerous ministries which were in operation as follows:

Building/Venue Usage/Meeting
Stubshaw Cross Independent Methodist Church Sunday Morning Service
Kids’ Church
Sunday Evening Service
Fellowship/Church Meetings
Beacon Beebies
Youth Club
Lighthouse
Connect
Beacon Women
MOACA

For greater detail concerning the various meetings and ministries see later on in this report.

Risk Management

The Church's finances are subject to independent examination. The Trustees comply with Charity Commission advice and directives in the running of the church. The Trustees are satisfied that major risks are being assessed and systems put in place for their mitigation. We have re-assessed our financial position post the COVID-19 pandemic and are satisfied as to our ability to operate as a going concern. The charity did not seek any Government support which may have been available in response to the pandemic. Financially, the church continues to be well supported by those who attend and remains able to meet all commitments.

Following the cessation of the weekly cash collection in 2020, members who previously gave to the church in that way continued to contribute instead by way of monthly standing order. In June 2022, the church purchased a ‘giving station’ which has enabled the receipt of gifts by way of chip and PIN or contactless card payment.

The church is committed to protecting children and any vulnerable adults we come into contact with. As part of this we have developed a policy for the protection of children and vulnerable adults produced with the support of Thirtyone:eight (formerly the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS)). We have Designated Officers and comply with the Code of Practice set out by Thirtyone:eight in matters of confidentiality and safe keeping of records. During 2022, all paid workers and volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults received specialist safeguarding training.

We comply with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to those with disabilities and make every effort to be inclusive of anyone, whatever their disability. Access to all of the premises which we hire for our various meetings and other ministries is at ground level and accessible for wheelchairs.

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

Objectives and Activities

Charitable Objects

The charity's principal objective and activity continues to be the promotion of Christianity and the teachings of the Bible. This objective is met through the operation of a church and its associated activities such as Sunday services (both morning and evening), house groups and other Bible study groups for adults, a Sunday school (‘Kids’ Church’), missionary trips and support of missionary organisations, community evangelism, weekly clubs and activities for children of all ages and a monthly club for those with disabilities.

Further charitable objects of the church are the relief of sickness and financial hardship and the promotion and preservation of good health and also the advancement of education. One way in which the first is met is through a ministry which the church operates which provides meals to those who have just come out of hospital or are otherwise recuperating from illness and their families, including new parents following the birth of their children.

Following the closure of The Pantry Café, at Stubshaw Cross, in December 2021,the work continued through the work of Ashton Pantry which is based at St Thomas’s Church of England church in Ashton-in-Makerfield in which several members of the church congregation continue to be involved.

The second further charitable object of advancing education is met principally through the provision of a Sunday School (‘Kids’ Church’), which in 2022 resumed meeting in person (see below) but also through the Lighthouse, Youth Club and Ignite groups and the studies which take place during the week in the house groups, including the Beacon Women and MOACA Bible study groups.

Public Benefit

The church Trustees can confirm that they have given due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in accordance with Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006. Significant activities that the church undertook during the year that demonstrate public benefit are set out on the pages that follow.

The church seeks at all times to ensure public benefit and accordingly: -

Significant Activities

The church runs a range of activities for all ages at The Beacon Church.

In January 2022, the Prime Minister announced that the COVID-19 measures put in place at the end 2021 in England were to be lifted. As a result the church reverted to meeting in person in the way that it had prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The church continued to stream services via the Zoom video conferencing platform for those who chose to stay away due to health concerns or who were unable to attend for other reasons.

• Sunday Morning Services

In 2022 the Sunday morning services ran from 9:45am to roughly 11:00am every week. Typically, the music group led the congregation in songs appropriate for all ages, announcements regarding the church’s activities were shared, the congregation were led in corporate prayer and a portion of the Bible read and expounded upon by the speaker for that day. Before and after the service there was an opportunity for people to meet together to talk and encourage one another. Antony Billington and James Lycett were the primary speakers at the morning services until James left his position as Associate Pastor at the end of October 2022 after which Antony was the primary speaker.

• Sunday Evening Services

Since September 2015 (apart from at certain times during the COVID-19 pandemic) the church has held Sunday evening services running from 7pm to around 8pm. The evening services are primarily aimed at adults with a greater focus on prayer and praise and expounding the teachings of the Bible. The third Sunday evening service of the month is normally a Breaking of Bread service which, along with the Breaking of Bread element of the morning service which would usually take place on the first Sunday of the month, allows people the opportunity to break bread together in this way on roughly a fortnightly basis.

• Kids’ Church

‘Kids’ Church’ is the name given to the Sunday school through which the church offers a programme on a Sunday morning catering for children from age 2 upwards. The classes are run by regular volunteers from the congregation and seek to teach the children the truths of the Bible in a fun and interactive way.

Kids’ Church meets in person during the Sunday morning service.

A crèche area is provided for parents of children under the age of 2 to take their children and play along with other babies and toddlers whilst listening to the meeting via live link.

• House Groups

These groups are held at various times throughout the week and all who attend the church are encouraged wherever possible to attend one. They represent an opportunity to meet with other Christians in a relaxed setting for discussion based upon the teaching which was given in the Sunday morning service and also for prayer and to allow time for those attending to get to know one another better.

House group meetings run on three nights a week: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. leaving Thursday night free in order to accommodate any other meetings within the church.

• MOACA

This is a group where older men from within the church congregation can meet together twice weekly to discuss the Bible and pray in a relaxed setting.

At the start of 2022, the group reverted to meeting in person following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the option to join the meetings on Zoom for those who chose to stay away due to health concerns or who were unable to attend for other reasons.

• Beacon Women

A women’s group which meets once a month or on other occasions either for Bible study or for social events.

• Beacon Beebies

The toddler group ‘Beacon Beebies’ has been running since January 2013. Since that time numbers have grown from between 18 and 20 children attending to between 20 and 30 children each week, plus their parents/careers. Those attending this group are regularly invited to other events and activities taking place within The Beacon Church including all age services, carol services, Easter services and holiday clubs for older siblings and their wider family. One way in which this group is used is to get to know people within the local community in a relaxed environment. There is no cost to attend Beebies, although a donations pot is put out by the coffee hatch to cover the cost of the drinks, toast and other resources used.

From 17 March 2020 onwards and for all of 2021 this group’s meetings were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2022 the group reverted to meeting in person.

• Lighthouse

Lighthouse has been running since September 2018, replacing the previous club which was called Beacon Kids. It has the aim of teaching the children the truths of the Bible and the Christian faith in a relaxed environment with ample opportunity for fun and games along the way.

The club is open to all children in the area, is organised and run wholly by volunteers from the church and is provided free of charge.

From 17 March 2020 onwards and for all of 2021 this group’s meetings were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2022 the group reverted to meeting in person.

• Youth Club

This is a club for young people of secondary age which again is co-ordinated and organised by regular volunteers from the congregation. A typical week includes games followed by a short talk designed to explain the truths of the Bible and what Christians believe.

From 17 March 2020 onwards and for all of 2021 this group’s meetings were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2022 the group reverted to meeting in person.

• Ignite

Ignite is a club which is run for young people from the age of 14+ (Year 9+ at school) and which during 2020 met on Friday and Sunday evenings in leaders’ homes as well as during the Sunday morning service. The club provides an opportunity to socialise and for those attending to get to know one another better and also a teaching and discussion time through which the truths of the Bible and the Christian faith and their practical application are taught in a way which is most relevant to the issues concerning young people of that age.

At the beginning of 2021 these meetings took place online using the Zoom video conferencing platform as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, however this group has now resumed meeting in person. In February 2022 the group reverted to meeting in person.

• Connect

This is a group for those with additional needs and their families or carers which normally meets once a month on a Saturday evening. There is a group of between 20 and 30 with a range of disabilities and the aim is to make sure that all feel welcome and included in the programme.

Over the course of the year there are a range of activities on offer, and it is intended that the programme be varied each month. Sometimes the meeting is a games night with suitable activities, there are also craft, musical and photographic evenings.

The aim of the group is to present the Christian message in a way that is understandable for those who might not find church teaching accessible and so wherever possible a speaker is invited who is able to do a short talk for this purpose.

From 17 March 2020 onwards and for all of 2021 this group’s meetings were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2022 the group reverted to meeting in person.

•

‘Mobile Meals’ (Meals for the families of those recuperating from illness or the birth of a child)

This is a ministry whereby a team made up mostly of members of the church congregation prepare and deliver meals to those who are suffering with or are recovering from the effects of illness, or an operation or following the birth of a child, and their families. Amongst the recipients

of these meals some have been families who regularly attend the church; however many have been those from outside the church whose need has been identified to the team and in this way the church has been able to show compassion to many who are not themselves Christians as a practical outworking of our Christian faith.

• Compass

Compass operates a weekly drop in “surgery” at the home of the church’s Senior Pastor for asylum seekers in the local area to seek help with various things which, being new to the UK, they might encounter difficulty dealing with on their own e.g. completion of forms etc. Those involved seek to provide help in whatever ways they can whilst forming lasting connections with those who attend.

Volunteers

The charity's different activities are run almost exclusively by volunteers from the church. Almost all of the activities run at The Beacon Church would not be possible without the input of volunteers on a weekly basis.

Staff

During 2021 the church had two staff members, our Associate Pastor James Lycett and Antony Billington, our Senior Pastor. In October 2002 James Lycett stood down from his role as Associate pastor to take up a senior leadership position with United Beach Missions and has not been replaced, pending discussion on the future staffing structure of the church.

Financial Review

The church Trustees have been encouraged that the level of giving over this year has increased from 2021, despite the expected impact following the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall giving totalled £60,171 which when added to tax/top-up payments of £11,949 reclaimable/claimable under the Gift Aid scheme and Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) and deposit interest received of £137 gives total income for 2022 of £72,257. Giving to the church under the Gift Aid scheme, excluding special collections for specific purposes, totalled £45,971 before tax reclaims, gifts qualifying for a top-up payment under the GASDS totalled £1,745 and ordinary offerings (those not made under the Gift Aid scheme) totalled £12,455.

These figures represent an almost 18% increase in income compared to 2021. and, despite funding the salaries of two full time pastors for nine months of the year, the church was still able to meet all of its financial commitments for the year and ended the year having generated a surplus of £4,213. Giving for 2022 included one-off gifts from families within the church totalling £7,560 (2021: £11,000). Excluding these particular gifts, regular giving increased by almost 29% compared to 2021.

Regular giving under the Gift Aid scheme increased by a third in 2022 as compared to 2021. At 31 December 2022 Trustees’ funds stood at £103,974 (2021: £99,761). The Trustees are satisfied that the funds held should be sufficient to meet any immediate contingencies that may arise. The Trustees consider it prudent to retain a certain level of funds in reserve at all times and that this should be at least sufficient to cover running 6 months’ costs i.e. around £35,000 (based on current commitments to staff salaries/stipends).

With regard to the additional reserves which are being held the Trustees will in due course consider the best use of these funds. However, at the current time it remains a possibility that the church may seek to purchase premises of its own should the opportunity arise or undertake improvements or alterations to hired, leased or shared premises and this impacts upon the amount of reserves which may reasonably be required to be held going forward. In particular the church’s relationship with Stubshaw Cross Independent Methodist Church is such that it seems only a matter of time until it

may be appropriate to spend some of these funds in helping develop their premises for the better use of the church and the advancement of its charitable purposes.

The church increased its missionary support in 2022, committing to spend around 11% of its regular annual income supporting missionaries, missionary organisations and projects.

Donations were made to the following charitable organisations / missionary work during the year:

. .

The Trustees have resolved to accept the accounts of the church for 2022 as a true record and approve their submission to the Charity Commission in due course.

The Trustees consider the financial position to be satisfactory.

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law.

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the charity’s constitution require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice); make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

................................................ J R Pollard – Chairman

................................................ D J Carson – Treasurer

Registered Charity No. 1150685

Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2022

INCOME 2022
2021		 2022
2021
Balance brought forward at 1 January 2022
Ordinary Offerings - Regular
- Exceptional
Gift Aid Offerings - Regular
- Exceptional
GASDS Offerings
Tax Reclaimable under Gift Aid Scheme
Tax Reclaimable under GASDS
Special Collections - Ordinary
Special Collections - Gift Aid
Bank Interest Received
TOTAL AVAILABLE INCOME
EXPENDITURE		 £
£
£
£
99,761
99,766
10,625
12,601
1,610
11,000
39,901
29,799
6,000
-
1,745
-
11,500
7,461
436
-
71,817
60,861
270
50
20
231
137
72,244
165
61,307
172,005
161,073
2022
2021
Venue Hire & Shared Premises Costs
3,233
1,861
Salary Costs
49,584
48,641
Insurance
378
350
Equipment
2,754
(74)
Refreshments
554
141
Kids' Church
769
486
Clubs for Children, Youth and Adults with Additional Needs
159
379
Beacon Women
83
340
Child Protection
240
1,695
Support for Missionary Work
7,600
5,119
Advertising and Evangelistic Literature & Materials
519
10
Fellowship Teaching Materials & Books
359
510
Elders' Gifts
223
684
Other Sundry Expenditure
1,589
1,170
TOTAL PAYMENTS
68,044
61,312
Balance carried forward at 31 December 2022
103,961
99,761
Financial Position at End of Year
2022
2021
Debtors / Accrued Income
Prepayments / (Accruals)
Cash at Bank
Cash at Building Society
Total Trustees' Funds
Total Income for the Year
Less: Total Expenditure for the Year
Net Surplus/(Deficit) for the Year		 11,916
7,508
(5,452)
(1,423)
14,678
10,995
82,819
82,681
103,961
99,761
72,244
61,307
68,044
61,312
4,200
(5)

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Beacon Church

(Registered Charity No. 1150685)

I report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act), instead that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

I have completed my examination and confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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.

Name: Julie Davies-Brown

Relevant professional qualification or body: ACA, CTA

Address:

Date: