2024-03-31-accounts - Swansea Evangelical Reformed Church

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period Period start date Period end date 01 04 2023 31 03 2024 From To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name

Swansea Evangelical Reformed Church

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) ~~i~~ 1158205 Charity's principal address Mary Cave Centre Brondeg Manselton, SWANSEA Postcode SA5 8P7

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
PhilipO’Brien		2/07/2019 onwards
Rhian Newton		01/08/2022 onwards
Elan Edry		01/08/2022 onwards














~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser	Name Address	Name Address




Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Swansea Evangelical Reformed Church Constitution 2014 Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) As a charitable trust. How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Nominated and elected by Church members at Church meeting Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

To advance the Christian religion in the City and County of Swansea and Neath and Port Talbot County Borough Council areas, for the benefit of the public through the holding of preaching services, prayer meetings, lectures, and producing and/or distributing literature on the Christian faith.

To advance such charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as the trustees see fit from the time that Swansea Evangelical Reformed Church was constituted to:

 Provide a place of worship for the Church members and the general public

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Hold scheduled meetings which include preaching services, prayer meetings, and lectures, etc
Produce and/or distribute literature which teach the Christian religion
Outreach into the community individually and collectively, bearing the Christian witness through true evangelism

We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

The second general object is included to allow the delivery of secular charitable activities should future need be identified in the local area. No activities are currently planned but if need does arise the Trustees will ensure that all activities are wholly charitable and in the public interest. The essential purpose of the church is the advancement and promotion of the Christian religion. This benefits the public by:

Confirming Christian people in their faith from across the denominational spectrum, through sound conservative and reformed doctrine by open preaching rallies and Christian conferences.
Summary of the main  Providing a place for worship services for those who wish to activities undertaken for the attend thereby encouraging Christian living and witnessing. public benefit in relation to  Supporting the moral and spiritual improvement of society which these objects (include within benefits the wider community. this section the statutory  Enabling Christians to be effective members of the community. declaration that trustees have This helps people spirituality and also provides a moral and had regard to the guidance ethical framework to live by. This moral and ethical framework issued by the Charity offers benefits to wider society, as well as provides individual Commission on public comfort solace and sense of purpose. benefit)  Presenting in complete openness, with no restrictions on who attends, meetings where the doctrines and tenets of the Christian religion are presented.
Contributing to the moral and spiritual education of children.  Contributing to the good mental and physical health of the church and society fostering composure in the face of ill health.
Providing comfort to the bereaved.

We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

We have provided a place of worship for the Church members and the general public at the building formerly known as the Mary Cave Centre.

We have held scheduled meetings on the Lord’s Day and weekly Prayer & Bible study meetings. All services are held in person as well as being live streamed via the church YouTube account. In addition, we hold a Friday night fellowship meeting for all ages on alternate weeks; this primarily takes place on the Zoom application but also meets at two venues where attendees can join together. There are occasions when outdoor activities occur in place of the Zoom meetings, e.g. fellowship walks. By live streaming our meetings we ensure we meet the needs of the vulnerable, elderly and infirm and any others who are unable to attend in person.

Following damage to the church building December 2022, Sunday services were provided via alternative accommodation, which was also accessible to members of the public. A return to the church building took place on 1[st] September 2023, with all renovations complete.

The venue for our annual Church trip held on 15[th] July 2023 was Brecon Cathedral and included a talk about evangelical witness within the surrounding area over past years. The Church Christmas meal was again held at the Glyn Clydach hotel on 2md December 2023 with the Rev David Pfeiffer providing a short gospel message. Both events are also open to members, non-members and the general public.

We are involved with and support the work of the Christian Worship Publishing Trust which was established in 2005 with the objective of creating a new hymn book designed to provide traditional, reverent hymns for worship in the 21[st] century. The church is involved in the work of the Trust through participation in its Committee. A few church members were able to attend the trusts annual conference held in Birmingham on 22[nd] and 23[rd] March 2024.

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Section D Achievements and performance

We also support Christian Worship Camps (for young people aged 11+ and young adults 18+) which are held in the summer.

As a church we support the Salisbury Reformed Seminary, which is based at premises connected to Emmanuel Church, Salisbury and provides training with a reformed, conservative and evangelical doctrinal basis. As of January 2024 one of our church members is a student at this seminary.

We have produced and distributed literature on the Christian faith, to teach and to enhance knowledge of the Christian religion. A number of tracts have been produced and we maintain a website, www.swanseaevangelicalchurch.com/ and as previously mentioned a YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@swanseaevangelicalreformed5876. This contains videos of our Lord’s Day meetings.

There has been outreach into the community both individually and collectively, bearing the Christian witness through true evangelism. Invitations have been distributed alongside door-to-door visitation. Open air preaching has been undertaken on a regular weekly basis in Swansea City Centre.

There are worksheets available for children to complete during the morning service. There is also a weekly witness at a local Care Home. Since November 2023 a once weekly coffee morning has been established which is open to members and non-members, in particular a warm welcome is extended to those people residing in the local area. The church building is open for two hours during this period and a short evangelical message is provided.

As of March 2024 church membership stood at thirty five.

Section E Financial review

At present the Trustees do not have a reserves policy.

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

Details of any funds materially There are none. in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

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investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)
Full name(s)		Rhian Elen Newton
Position (eg Secretary, Chair,		Trustee
etc)
Date		24/9/24

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Swansea Evangelical Reformed Church Flnancial Statements year ended 31 March 2024 General Fund$ Réstrirt•d Fund 2024 Toial 2023 Total Receipts and payments account for the year Recelpts Voluntary Income Planned gIn9 Loose collettlons Glfts Other Interest - HMRC Tax refunds Insurance daim Loan 39,270 8,065 2,900 2,153 429 20,580 51,808 39,270 34,870 8,065 7,976 3,340 5,440 2,153 1,470 429 20,580 51,808 10,q53 10,000 Investment Income Total Receipts Payments Salary and pension Payroll costs Expenses Supply (vlsltlng mlnlsters etc) Gifts Insurance utilities Building malntenan Flood damage cGrv Installation Chalrs Hall hlre Outreach Other expenses Church actlvlties Loan repayment Telephone Total Payments 35,655 35,655 34,769 880 305 1,467 2,226 16,540 53,042 800 305 800 1,467 827 2,226 2,316 16,540 14,470 53,042 10,953 2,976 2,483 1,950 7,585 3,300 571 1,602 2,422 7,585 3,300 571 1,602 2,422 8,670 1,985 Net (paYMents)IreIpts for the year Bank and deposit balances at beginnlng of year Bank and deposlt balances at end of year

Swansea Evangelical Reformed Church ststement of Assets and Liabilities for the year ended 31 Marth 2024 Gwèrnl Restrlcted Funds Funds 2024 Total 2023 T+Jtal Cash Funds Bank balances other Monetary Assets Gift Aid receivable Assets retslned for Church use Building - The Mary Cave Centre Llabllities Creditors - New loan reditors - Loan for building Outstanding (10,000) ?7,950) (10,000) (10,000) {37,950) (37,950) Net Assets Approved by the Swansea Evangellcal Reft)rmed Church on 081 oq.[............. ... ................................................ Date and slgned on Its behalf by Name Signature SLAfJ &Qfty Name Signature

Swansea Evangelical Refornied Churth Notes to the Financial Statsments Year ended 31 March 2024 l. Accounting Pollcles The accounts (financlal statements) have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis under the historlcal cost conventlon with Items recognlsed at cost or transattion value unless Otherwlse stated In the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The flnancial statements have been prepared In accordantr with the Statement of Recommended Prattice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing thelr accounts In accordan with the Flnancial Reportlng Standard applicable In the UK and Republic of Iland {FRS 102) - effectlve I january 2022 {Charltles SORP) (FRS 102) and the Flnancial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the Unlted lfjngdom and Republlc of Ireland (FRS IQ2) sectlon IA, Srnaller Entities and the Charitles Act 2011. Fund Accountlng. Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the church in furtheran of its charltsble objectives. ReStrId funas represent funds whicn may be expendea. only on those restricted objects provided wlthln the terms of the fund. Any funds remalning unspent at the end of the year are carrled forward as a balan on that fund. Incoming Resour. Are all accounted for gross. Planned giving collections and donatlons are recognised when reived. All other income Is generally recognlsed when Ft is recelved. Resources Expended. All other expenditure is generally recognlsed when It Is paid. As most of the management attlvty of the church Is carried out by volunteers, this Intsng5ble cost Is not induded In the financial statements as thls voluntsry contributlon to the use of the church Is Incalculable. rch es Mary Cave Centre, Walters Stree¢ SvRnsea, SA5 8PZ.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE MEMBERSITRUSTEES OF SWANSEA EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCH I report to the Church Trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responsibilitles and basls of report As the thurch Trustees you are responsible for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance with the requlrements of the Charities Act 2011 Cthe Act?. I report in respect of my examlnation of the Church accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examlnatlon I have followed all the applicable Directians given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent Examiner's Statement I have a)mpleted my examlnatlon. I confirm that rK) materlal matters have come to my attention In connectlon with the eAamlnatlon glvlng me cause to belleve that In any materlal respect: l) accountjng records were not kept In respect of the Swansea Evangellcal Reformed Church as requlred by section 130 of the Act. or 2) the accounts do not accord wlth those records. I have ne COnrnS and have come across no other matters in connectlon with the examinatlon to whlch attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Slgnature: Date: 09 Qoa+ Name: Ellzabeth Truman Quallficatlon: FCA Name of firm: Harris Bassett Ltd Chartered Accountants Address,. 19 Murray Street Llanelli Camarthenshlre SA15 IAQ