UNION CHURCH & COMMUNITY CENTRE, CROUCH END (Baptist /United Reformed) ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31" December 2024 Presented to the Annual Meeting of the Church on Sunday 13° July 2025 Union Church is a group of Christians who worship and work together to reflect the love of God by serving the community and supporting the Church worldwide. Union Church and Community Centre is a Local Ecumenical Partnership. Union Church and Community Centre, Crouch End Weston Park, Crouch End, London N8 9PX Registered Charity 1150944 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES The Deacons as Charity Trustees present their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31" December 2024. The report and accounts are presented to the Annual Meeting of the Church on 13" July 2025. INTRODUCTION On 2nd May 1974, the members of Park Chapel United Reformed Church and members of Ferme Park Baptist Church, believing that it was God's will that they should do so, resolved that the work and witness of the two churches should be, and should continue to be, integrated so that the members of the two churches should live, work and worship as one community: Union Church. In 2003, the name was changed to 'Union Church and Community Centre, Crouch End, (Baptisuunited Reformed) to better reflect the community involvement of the church. AIM AND PURPOSES The purpose of the Church and Community Centre, Crouch End is to advance the Christian faith in Hornsey, and the wider community, in accordan￿ with the principles and practices of the Baptist and United Reformed Church denominations. As Trustees, we have the responsibility of working with the Minister and congregation in promoting the work of the Church and Centre; the Mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical; and for the safe operation and maintenance of our properties. Page 2 of 10 ACTIVITIES We are committed to encouraging as many people as possible to worship in the church and to enable wide use of the community centre for social groups and lettings. We maintain an overview of worship and church group activities and aim to see that services are welcoming and include contributions from the diversity of congregation attendants. When planning its activities for the year, the Deacons would consider the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advan￿rnent of religion. We try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of the community through: Worship and prayer" learning about the Gospel, developing our knowledge and trust in Jesus, and serving the community. ii. Provision of pastoral care for members, friends, ￿ntre users and people living in the immediate vicinity of the church. iii. Missionary and outreach work. To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church and Community Centre. LErriNGS The Church and Community Centre hired out their buildings on a regular basis to the following groups: 1) Parenucarer and Toddler Activities: The 3-2-1 Club run by Union Church. 2) Early Years Education: Little Tree Montessori Nursery School (Leaseholder). 3) Family Support Groups LB Haringey Children's Centre, West Locality Area Haven {SEN children and their parentslcarers) Page 3 of 10 4) Children's Parties: There was an increase in the number of parties held here this year. The Lower Hall within the community centre hosted 34 children's parties, a 13 % increase on the 30 children's parties held here in 2023. 5) Support for Adults: AA (Sunday Group) Al-Anon Family Group Family Constellations Workshops Rethink Mental Illness 6) Wellbeing Classes (for adults): Gestalt Yoga Holistic Yoga National Childbirth Trust {BarneUEnfieldlHaringeyrrottenham) Women's Circle 7) Wrap-Around and After-school Care: North London Drama Kids (formerly Helen O'Grady Drama Academy) Joy Mandarin Academy Kumon (Hornsey) Study Centre Perform Private music tuition Stagecoach 8) The Arts: North London Conservatoire l North London Colourstrings North London Symphony Orchestra 9) Interests and Community Groups: Ballroom dan￿ practice Crouch End Festival Chorus LB Haringey Public Consultation Meetings Hornsey Historical Society Meetings of residents of local Housing Associations Maya Waldman's Singing Workshops Page 4 of 10 Sewing Group (for adults) Songworks Community Singing Group Vintage & Collectables Fair 10) Churches meeting here: Church of God World Fellowship (Hornsey) London Life Vineyard (Crouch End) Cornerstone Church 11) U3A Crouch End & District groups: Geology. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Ethnic Minority Focus. 12) Fundraising Events: TearFund Weston Park Primary School's PTA OBLIGATIONS OF MINISTRY and ACHIEVEMENTS 2024 was a relatively quiet year for Union Church. There were no big setbacks or major progressions. The year began with 14 members, 4 regular non-member attendees and a few visitors. It ended with the same numbers. Attendances were regularly made by five members of Stroud Green Baptist Church (SGBC). Union Church and SGBC are still exploring the idea of uniting as one church but did not progress very far with this during the year. Various meetings were held, with both diaconates and with members, plus the opinions of all members of both churches being sought. This has been going on for too long and a decision must be reached soon. It appeared that the main sticking point is still forms of worship. It is recognised that the churches worship differently on Sunday mornings. Some deacons and members felt that as Christians worshipping the same God, it really ought to be possible and manageable to Page 5 of 10 work out a reasonable compromise that would enable both churches to become a stronger congregation witnessing to Christ in North London. The deacons met regularly during the year and dealt successfully with the increasing number of in-house repairs, decoration and renovations required in the three buildings we own. These are the Church and Community Centre. 143 Ferme Park Road (which houses Little Tree Montessori Nursery and a tenanted flat), plus the Manse at 53 Rokesly Avenue which is also tenanted. The power of prayer has amazed and encouraged Christians throughout the centuries. Pentecost or Whitsuntide has recently been celebrated and if the first Whitsun or the Church's first birthday had not happened, this report would not have been written, Union Church and SGBC would not exist and the people of the UK might still be heathens. However, Union Church IS still here and hopefully, will still be here in 10, 20, 30, 40........years' time. The big Church and Community Centre at the corner of Ferme Park Road and Weston Park must make its presen￿ felt if it is to survive. What did Union Church do for the community of Crouch End in 2024? The church doors were opened every second Sunday for a servi￿. This mitigates against people turning up randomly on a Sunday when the worship is at SGBC. The 3-2-1 Carer and Toddler Club opened on 3, then 4 momings each week during term time. Run very ably by Paulette Wolfe, this is the nearest to outside ministry done by Union Church. The children's Christmas parties, occasionally visited by Santa Claus, are always well attended and all the families are invited to everything happening here over the festive period. The church has held an aftemoon Carol Service in mid-December for many years now, targeting families who live locally. These ServI￿S used to be very well attended. In 2024, the few attendees were all church members. This was very Page 6 of 10 disappointing. Much thought needs to be given as to how we can share the love of God at Christmas time. During 2024, two other churches asked to use our premises for their worship on a Sunday. First was the local London Life Vineyard Church (LLVC) who moved in downstairs on Sunday, 16th June. The new arrangement has caused few problems for the church as a whole but the church Caretaker has had to deal with a fairly numerous group who do not always leave the hall in his prefe￿ed manner. This is an ongoing issue which the deacons are trying to resolve. After a 5 -month trial period, their usage of the building was confirmed. Soon after the arrival of LLVC. the Cornerstone Church (CC) came knocking on our door. It was a large French-speaking Congolese church which needed to move out from its Kings Cross location as, after over 20 years since its inception by Reverend Patience Mbakadi, the membership had moved out from its original location. Our regional minister, Reverend Josh Kane, seemed to think that by moving here, both Union Church's problems of low numbers and generally elderly members and, Cornerstone's of being a big church in the wrong place could be solved. So CC moved in, upstairs, on September 15" With permission, they upgraded our AVA equipment, giving us (theoretically) a wonderful new and expensive system. The main problem with it has been that, by the end of 2024, no one had ever been available to teach the few technophile members of Union Church how to use it. Not many members of Union Church and SGBC have been able to sample the services offered by their new neighbours which is rather sad as a merger with both was being talked about. Back to more joyous events..... The Hornsey Group of Churches organised a few events during the year. There was an Act of Witness outside Sainsbury's on Hornsey High Street on Good Friday. Three one- Page 7 of 10 day Children's Holiday Clubs were held at Campsbourne Church; they were not very well attended and were over-staffed. Pentecost was celebrated with a gathering beside the old St Mary's Tower leaving one person present to mutter thus. If the apostles had run into a hidden and empty park containing one solitary ediface on the day of Pentecost to share the Good News, then likely as not, the church would not have had a birthday to celebrate! In November, the third Tearfund Quiz was held here. It was a well attended event with £564 being raised for the Fund. This was an increase of £160 from the previous year's efforts and so that of Year 2025 must look to even greater proceeds. The Christmas Carols,sung outside Sainsbury's again were well attended and accompanied by a small Brass Band. People hung about to listen and join in. Again, it was cold. LLVC and the CC have brought some new life to our building. They welcome all age groups, have Glasses for children and helped out with two special events in December. Firstly, on Saturday 12°, Vineyard hosted an amazing party to which everyone and anyone was invited. There was a jazz band, loads of lights, free mulled wine, refreshments to be paid for, Christmas craft stalls, much jollity and carol singing. Many people came along and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. -This is what church ought to be like" said one merry partygoer. Soon after the successful Jazz evening, Kate Salinger and Sue Griffin from LLVC created a Christmas Carol Service involving children from the LLVC and Cornerstone churches. This epic, fully-costumed Nativity Story acted by the children took place the week before Christmas. As an organiser of this event, I can stste that I was extremely disappointed to see only 5 people from UC and SGBC amongst the gathered masses. UC was positively heaving with members of Vineyard and Cornerstone. Page 8 of 10 Shortly before Christmas, a group of singers, mainly from UC, went to the Great Northern Railway Tavern to sing carols and encourage the families that had gathered in the garden to sing with us. Apart from it being rather a cold night, the singing sent well and we enjoyed a very good time, no doubt helped by the rather large glasses of mulled wine we were each given on arrival. It had been decided to hold our Christmas Day Lunch and Party and plans went ahead. In addition to invitations sent to prospective guests, an advertisement was placed on the Facebook page of Crouch End Appreciation Society. Christmas Day DID happen in the usual UC manner with thanks going to Margaret Hervie, Paulette Wolfe, Dewight Wedderburn and Luke Griffiths working extremely hard in the run up with many volunteers to ensure that it did. About one hundred (100) meals were served. a thre&course menu ably cooked by our old Secretary, Robert Gregory. He travelled up from Ramsgate to ensure that the meal was cooked to everyone's satisfaction. Huge thanks are due to Kate Salinger, Dewight Wedderburn and Emily Salinger who ensured that all went well on Christmas Day and a great time was had by all. Funding was provided by Homsey Parochial Charities to help make the event a reality, with Dunn's Bakery and Waitrose (Crouch End) predominantly helping out with groceries. Donations were also re￿iVed from three members of the community to help pay for taxis to bring guests to the church and take them home at the end of the afternoon. This year's event was bigger than the last. The whole event was ably supported by 19 volunteers on Christmas Eve and 23 volunteers on Christmas Day including some from Cornerstone Church. There is now a well-practised number of volunteers on Christmas Eve who make short work of peeling vast numbers of potatoes, parsnips, carrots and sprouts. During the second week of December. 3 volunteers expertly wrapped the gifts Page 9 of 10 we had acquired for our guests. Each year, our guests receive a present. For some of them it would be the only present they would receive at Christmas time. Union Church is very blessed with having all these volunteers and we truly appreciated each person. And so the church year ended. No one had joined our church, no one had died. UC ticked on. But things were happening that hadn't been a year ago so maybe progress was being made. 2025 will show if any fruit has been borne by the events of 2024. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Union Church and Community Centre, Crouch End is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, and the London Baptist Association. The Church is a member of the United Reformed Church of England, Wales and Scotland, within the District of Central and North London of the Thames North Synod. STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT On 25th April 2010, the Annual General Meeting of the Church and Congregation and Joint Council adopted a new constitution provided for it by Churches Together North Thames, our sponsoring body, in order to meet the requirement of the Charity Commission, that the Church become a separate, registered charity and the application process initiated. In October 2012, it was found that the registration was not complete and the process was re-started. The charity registration was completed on 25th February 2013. TRUSTEES The Trustees elected in April 2010 were appointed to serve for a three-year term with a restriction that, having served continually for a period of 6 (six) years, they should take a sabbatical break. The current Deacons will continue in office. The Deacons serving as Charity Trustees are Kate Salinger Elected 29th April 2010 Page 10 of 10 Peter Gilbert Elected 5th May 2019 Co-opted as a Deacon on 11 Ih June 2023 Co-opted as a Deacon on 26" February 2023 Paulette Wolfe Dewight Wedderburn STAFFING Particular thanks are also due to our staff: Paulette Wolfe (Play Worker: 3-2-1 Carer & Toddler Club) Margaret Hervie (Office & Lettings Administrator) Peter Kenyon (Finan￿ Officer) Luke Griffiths (Caretaker) Janice Twiselton (Organist) All our staff work to the benefit of the Church and Community Centre. We are very fortunate in having each one of them. The Church owes all of them a debt of gratitude. Approved by the Trustees on and signed on their behalf by Catherine. A. Salinger (Secretary) Date: Signed by: Attached: Financial Statement for the year ended 31 st December 2024 Page 11 of 10 Page 1 ## **UNION CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE, CROUCH END** ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT** **----- Start of picture text -----**
This Year Last Year Year
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2024 2023 2022
Note Funds £ Funds £ Funds £ Total £ Total £ Total £
RECEIPTS
Church Members' Offerings 2,748 2,748 2,487 2,618
Fund Raising and Donations 1,408 1,408 2,615 382
Monies Raised for Outside Causes - - 587 6
Legacies Received 7,540 7,540 26,250 10,013
Property - Church/Hall Users 37,812 37,812 35,643 40,971
Property - Lettings 82,920 82,920 76,248 58,129
Deposit Account Interest 1,126 1,126 520 6
Mothers' & Toddlers' Club 8,539 8,539 285 958
Sundry Income 2,104 2,104 8,427 5,188
Total Receipts: 144,197 - - 144,197 153,062 118,271
PAYMENTS
Ministry 1,892 1,892 1,620 6,839
Mothers and Toddlers 7,685 7,685 5,674 4,051
Church Running Costs 77,201 77,201 66,182 65,248
Programme Activity Costs 1,511 1,511 2,256 832
Support of Outside Causes 304 304 557 -
Maintenance of Church Buildings 45,231 45,231 19,161 13,220
Maintenance of Investment Property 10,961 10,961 12,373 19,005
Sundry Expenditure 1,030 1,030 1,212 906
Total Payments: 145,815 - - 145,815 109,035 110,101
NET RECEIPTS / (PAYMENTS) (1,618) - - (1,618) 44,027 8,170
TRANSFERS between funds - -
Change in investment values 235 235 11,800 (18,200)
CASH FUNDS b/fwd 1 January 207,720 207,720 151,893 161,923
CASH FUNDS c/fwd 31 December 206,337 - - 206,337 207,720 151,893
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Monetary Assets
Cash 43 43 72 126
Bank Current Account 5,262 5,262 3,735 15,450
Deposit Accounts 61,711 61,711 64,827 9,032
Synod/Baptist Trust Deposits 139,321 - - 139,321 139,086 127,285
Total monetary assets 206,337 - - 206,337 207,720 151,893
Other assets
Gift Aid Recoverable
Other Monies due to Church
Insurance prepaid
Assets used for church purposes
Buildings under statutory trusts Church buildings and manse
Church Contents Furnishings and equipment
Liabilities
Independent Examination
Opus Energy
Scottish & Southern Electricity
APPROVED by the Trustees on and signed on their behalf by
____________________________________ (Print Name) _______________________________________ (Signature)
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Independent examiner's report on the accounts** ## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Union Church and Community Centre, Crouch End **On accounts for the year** 31[st] December 2024 **Charity no** 1150944 **ended (if any)** **Set out on pages** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31/12/2023** . ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** - As the charity's trustees, 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. **Independent examiner's** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to **statement** my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 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. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Date: 27/06/2025
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Signed: Name:** David Watts FCA **Relevant professional** ICAEW **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 47 Topsfield Parade London N8 8PT **Oct 2018** 1 **IER** ## **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). **Give here brief details of** N/A **any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . **Oct 2018** 2 **IER**