Minutes of 62[nd] Annual General Meeting of the Trustees of Southcote Family Church, held on Sunday 8[th] June 2025.
The meeting followed the Sunday service and was preceded by a buffet lunch.
Opening Prayer and thought – Norman read Psalm 36:5-10. We are encouraged to have a “right judgement”, in the name of the One God, now and forever. Norman then opened the meeting in prayer.
Present : Norman Lindsey, Graham Edge, Linda Edge, Helmut Haines, Pete Cole, Barry Young and Judi Charters.
Apologies : none, as all were present.
Appointment of Chair and Secretary : as both Norman and Judi were prepared to stand again, and as there were no other nominations, both were re-appointed. Norman was proposed by Pete and seconded by Graham, and Judi was proposed by Norman and seconded by Pete.
Minutes of the last AGM: agreed as a true record.
Matters arising from the minutes : a major change in the running of the church has been the sudden departure of Henry Ohakah, our Pastor, at the end of December. Since that time, the Leadership and Leadership Support Team have managed all the affairs and the running of the church, with support from outside, especially Kennet Valley Free Church, for which we are eternally grateful!
Financial Report : A report from Graham Allen, our Treasurer, clearly shows that the church’s finances are in a healthy state, still enabling us to give around 18% of our income to our regular charitable causes. There is now no Pastor salary to pay out each month, which obviously means our balance should remain healthy.
Leadership Report : Judi and Graham, as members of the Leadership Team, presented the report, outlining how matters have progressed since the departure of Henry –
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There have been adjustments made to the structure of the Leadership, based on skills and abilities. The Leadership Team will now have 5 members and the Support Team 4, utilising to full effect the individual skills of each member and taking into account where each feels comfortable.
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Attendance at Sunday services averages around 30-35 people, with a small number of people coming for a the first time.
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Coffee and Chat on Wednesdays is well attended and much enjoyed.
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Attendance at Friday Prayer Meetings varies, but is still considered an essential part of church life.
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Graham has taken on the task of obtaining visiting speakers for Sundays and the church has benefitted from having a wide variety of messages brought, with different styles of preaching. One or two member of the Leadership Team are beginning to occasionally take on a preaching role.
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Open Church, a comparatively new initiative that takes place once a month, is evolving.
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An Away Day is planned for August, for the Leadership to set a clear vision for the church.
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The Pantry, mentioned in last year’s minutes, has been set up in the church and runs every Tuesday afternoon. After much effort from a few people to prepare the area in the church, the Pantry opened in May. This is proving to be an excellent outreach into the community, and it is hoped that in time it will attract some of its customers into church services and activities. In conjunction with the Pantry, Communicare, a Christian organisation helping people with money issues, form-filling and so on, will be operating from the Pantry. A recently appointed Parish Nurse will enhance all of these ventures by getting to know where the needs are in our community. Torch organisation, another Christian initiative that works in our area to help with practical issues, is attracting volunteers from within our congregation.
60[th] Anniversary : preparations are well underway for the church’s 60[th] Anniversary on 19[th] and 20[th] July. Around 80+ people are expected to attend on each day, with many travelling considerable distances to be with us. The first two Pastors of our church will be playing significant roles in the celebrations. A Cream Tea will be held on the preceding Wednesday, for neighbours of the church.
AOB : none.
Date of next AGM – Sunday 7[th] June 2026.
Reminder of Policy Review Meeting – 25[th] January 2026.
The meeting closed in prayer.
Southcote Family Church 2024/2025 Summary of Accounts at 31 March 2025
Balances
| Co-op Lloyds Lloyds 32 Day Notice Cash Balance at 1 April 2024 Income Expenditure Balance at 31 March 2025 Decrease |
£10,007.34 £2,097.75 £62,234.69 £5.16 £74,344.94 £81,915.69 £38,266.60 £45,837.35 £74,344.94 £7,570.75 |
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Notes
Balance has decreased slightly this month. Major expenditure this month was our annual insurance bill for next year which was balanced by a large regular annual donation from one member and an additional one off donation to be used to help fund our 60th Anniversary Celebrations.
We finish the year, still with healthy reserves overall. Our overall balance is expected to begin to increase again until we recruit a new pastor or something else changes.
All giving received has been donated including the £1000 regular donation split between our four main causes. £450 of gifts for visiting speakers were donated to our causes this year and show in those figures.
Details of in and outgoings for our causes are now shown on a seperate poster size report.
Thank you for your continued financial support, please keep giving what you can; if you are a tax payer please GIFT AID your giving.
Graham Allen
treasurer.southcotefamilychurch@yahoo.com
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Southcote Family Church Income and Expenditure to 31 March 2025
Income
| Income | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Offerings and Gifts | £25,087.65 | ||
| Giving - Gift Aided | £17,474.70 | ||
| Giving - General | £5,202.95 | ||
| Special Gifts | £2,410.00 | of which £1715.00 Gift Aided | |
| Use of Hall | £2,100.00 | ||
| Gift Aid Tax Reclaim | £6,326.11 | ||
| Bank Interest | £1,504.13 | ||
| Mission | £3,248.71 | of which £1936.00 Gift Aided | |
| £38,266.60 | |||
| Expenditure | |||
| General Administration | |||
| Pastor Salary and Tax | £22,500.00 | ||
| Employer Pension | £534.60 | ||
| Visiting Speakers | £840.00 | ||
| Stationery \ Printing \ Licences | £1,796.72 | ||
| Fees, Licences & Subscriptions | £946.72 | ||
| Ministry Equipment \ Training | £850.00 | ||
| Pastoral Care | £604.67 | ||
| Land and Buildings | |||
| Maintenance | £3,871.29 | ||
| Equipment | £1,252.77 | ||
| Insurance | £1,486.33 | Refund | |
| Cleaning | £305.57 | ||
| Utilities | £5,767.80 | ||
| Telephone & Broadband | £921.90 | ||
| Gas | £3,136.53 | ||
| Electric | £1,376.95 | ||
| Water | £332.42 | ||
| Donations to Mission | |||
| Mission | £6,631.50 | ||
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Catering | £146.10 | ||
| Flowers | £100.00 | ||
| £45,837.35 |
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Southcots Family Church Charlty reglstration number 1156292 - UTR 2686924383 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31 March 2025 Unre8trictlve funds 2025 2024 Incoma Offerings and Gifts Giving under Gift Aid Specific Gifts Hire of Hall Bank Interest Income Tax 6,516 21,126 695 2,100 1,504 9,448 24,981 700 1.880 731 £38 267 £ 43 921 Ex nditure General Administratlon Pastor Pension Visiting Speakers Youth Work Stationery I Printing l LiCenS Pastoral Care 22,500 534 31,575 475 880 1,797 605 2,229 1.652 Land & Bulldln costs Premises and Equipment Utilities I Insurance I Cleaning 5,124 7,560 5,279 6,627 Donatlon8 to Mission Various Missions Christmas Appeal 5,881 750 3,079 960 Miscollanoous Sundry Items Catering & Flowers 246 349 Doficlt for the year In accordance with instructions given to me, I have checke¢ without canying out an audit. the above Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 st MarclL 2025, from the records and from inforn]ation given to me. and can confirni that they are in accordance therewith. Tilehurst 23rd May 2025 IL J. Roper Accountsnt