## City Church Chester Report and Accounts Year ended 28 February 2025 1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk ## **CITY CHURCH CHESTER** ## **YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025** ## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE City Church Chester 11 Sheldon Avenue Vicars Cross Chester CH3 5LF GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated 2012, amended October 2014 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1159254 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Jonathan Keegan MANAGING THE CHARITY Matthew Chilvers Luke Cassell Phil Jones BANKERS HSBC INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA, CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB ## **INDEX** Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Page 2 Independent Examiner's Report Page 3 Receipts and Payments Account Page 4 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 5 Notes to the Accounts Appendix Trustees' report Page 1 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** ## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF** ## **CITY CHURCH CHESTER** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of City Church Chester ('the charity') for the year ended 28 February 2025 on pages 3 to 5 following. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. 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 order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ## Archie McDowall Archie McDowall (Jul 21, 2025 12:07 GMT+1) Archie McDowall BA, CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB Date: Jul 21, 2025 Page 2 ## **CITY CHURCH CHESTER** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT** ## **YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025** |Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations, legacies and grants
Gift aid receipts
**_Total receipts_**
**Payments**
2
3
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Net
of
receipts
/
(payments)
before
transfers
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken by others
Payments
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken directly|General
Funds
£
20,826
3,925
24,751
24,751
23,568
5,928
29,496
29,496
(4,745)
1,000
-
(5,745)
10,859
5,114|Restricted
Funds
£
4,712
4,712
4,712
-
7,403
7,403
7,403
(2,691)
1,000
(1,691)
1,665
(26)|2025
£
25,538
3,925
29,463
29,463
23,568
13,331
36,899
36,899
(7,436)
-
(7,436)
12,525
5,088|2024
£| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||28,305
4,770| |||||33,075| |||||| |||||33,075
| |||||20,242
10,817| |||||31,059
| |||||| |||||31,059| |||||2,016
-| |||||2,016
10,509| |||||12,525| The notes on page 5 form part of these accounts. Page 3 ## **CITY CHURCH CHESTER** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** ## **YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025** |General
funds
£
**A Cash funds**
Cash at bank
5,017
Petty cash
97
**5,114**
**B Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
2,134
**2,134**
**C Liabilities**
Fee for Independent Examination
936
**936**
**D Assets retained for charity's own use**
Equipment
Current values have been estimated by the trustees.|Restricted
funds
£
26
-
-
**26**
**-**
325
**325**
-
**-**|2025
£
4,991
97
**5,088**
2,459
**2,459**
936
**936**|2024
£| |---|---|---|---| ||||12,428
97| ||||**12,525**| ||||3,580| ||||**3,580**| ||||912| ||||**912**| ||||Current
value
£| ||||14,000| ||||14,000| ||||| The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf > by J Keegan date Jul 11, 2025 -------------------------------------------J Keegan (Jul 11, 2025 11:58 GMT+1) ------------Jonathan Keegan The notes on page 5 form part of these accounts. Page 4 ## **CITY CHURCH CHESTER** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025** ## **1 Accounting policies** The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs. |**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Rent
Pastoral Services (Note 4)
Insurance
Support services
Church activities
Repairs, maintenance and equipment
Independent examination
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Organisations:
Avail Grace
Mission Life Grace
Homeless Drop in
Les Wheeldon
India Mission
Rora Christian fellowship
Campbell Hall Repairs
Other organisations < £1,000
Ukraine Offering - Baptist Church of Poland
Individuals|General
funds
£
5,920
8,960
402
1,757
4,079
1,538
912
23,568
1,200
1,200
1,100
-
1,000
1,000
240
-
188
5,928|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
180
412
2,511
3,500
550
-
250
7,403|Total
2025
£
5,920
8,960
402
1,757
4,079
1,538
912
23,568
1,200
1,200
1,280
412
3,511
1,000
3,500
790
-
438
13,331|Total
2024
£| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||5,310
7,520
321
1,877
3,616
698
900| |||||20,242| |||||1,200
1,200
625
1,353
-
-
-
478
500
5,462| |||||10,817| ## **4 Transactions with related parties** The charity does not have any employees. Matthew Chilvers, a Trustee, was paid a consultancy fee of £8,960 (2024: £7,520) for Pastoral Services. This payment is permitted by the Charity's governing document. No amounts were paid, or are payable, to any other trustee or to any person connected to them. ## **5 Movement of funds** |General funds
Restricted funds
One Way Mission: Les Wheeldon
Campbell Hall Repairs
Foodbank Fund
Teen Challenge
Offering for India
Other
Total funds|Balance at
29 Feb 2024
£
10,859
-
-
15
550
850
250
1,665
12,524|Receipts
£
24,751
412
2,500
-
-
1,650
150
4,712|Payments
£
(29,496)
(412)
(3,500)
-
(550)
(2,511)
(430)
(7,403)
(36,899)|Transfers
£
1,000
-
-
1,000
-
-
1,000
-|Balance at
28 Feb 2025
£
5,114
-
-
15
-
11
-
30
-| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||26
-| ||||||| |||29,463|||5,088| The One Way Mission: Les Wheeldon is funds restricted for a gift from the One Way Mission to Les Wheeldon for his visit to Finland to visit the one way Mission The Campbell Hall Repairs funds are funds donated towards the repairs needed on Campbell Hall The Foodbank Fund is funds donated for use by the Foodbank Teen Challenge is funds restricted for use of Teen Challenge general charitable fund Offering for India are donations which are restricted for the work of Geoff Brown in his support of the Indian Pastors network. Other restricted funds are for smaller donations given for specific charitable purposes Page 5 ## **Trustees’ annual report (including Directors’ report) for the period** **From: 1[st] March 2024 To: 28[th] February 2025** **Charity name: City Church Chester** ## **Charity registration number: 1159254** ## **Objectives and activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|(a) Advancement of the Christian faith
for the benefit of the public in
Chester, the UK and the world as the
Trustees see fit
(b) Advancement of the education of the
public in the Christian faith in
Chester, the UK and the world as the
Trustees see fit
(c) To relieve persons in need
financially, physically or mentally in
Chester
(d) To promote other charitable
purposes beneficial to the community
and the public generally| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The current activities of the Charity in
relation to the Objects are:-
(a) Maintaining a place of Worship and
weekly worship meetings fully open
to the public. Meetings are held on
Sunday mornings at Campbell
Community Hall and during the week
in people’s homes. Sunday School
and creche are also run weekly to
serve the children of the church and
the public.
(b) Preaching and proclaiming the
gospel of Jesus Christ and engaging
in evangelism and missionary
activities. This is outworked through
outreach events and one on one
relational evangelism
(c) Providing pastoral care to those
attending the church and giving| |||spiritual and practical help to such
persons and members of the public.
The Elders of the church provide this
along with those running Student
Work for the pastoral support of
students at Chester University. One
of the Elder’s also chairs the
Advisory Committee for the CU along
with other church leaders in Chester.
(d) Providing financial or practical help to
people suffering from financial need
or the effects of sickness or disability.
This happens as and when the
Trustees see fit.
(e) Providing facilities for members of
the church and the public with the
object of improving their health
and/or quality of life. This happens
specifically at Homeless Drop and
visiting parisoners.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|In planning the activities the Trustees have
applied the guidance on Public Benefit
issued by the Charity Commission.| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment |||| |---|---|---| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Volunteers form an integral part of the work
of City Church Chester. There are no
employees of the Charity and all activities
happen as a result of the dedication and
commitment of members of the Church who
act as Volunteers in multiple areas of the
Charitable work. This includes volunteers in
the areas of:-
•
Sunday School,
•
Homeless ministry,
•
Pastoral Team,
•
Welcome Team,
•
Tech Teams,
•
Women’s & Men’s Bible Study
Leaders,
•
Community and church Lunches,
•
Foodbank Co-ordinators,
•
Children’s Buddys,
•
Administration; and
•
Worship teams.| |Other||| ## **Achievements and performance** |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|(a) The Charity income for 2024-25 was
£29,463.00 including restricted gifts.
This was a small reduction on the
previous year but the charity is
maintaining itself and there are no
concerns as to the ongoing capacity
of the charity.
(b) We are continuing to welcome new
church members and baptising new
christians
(c) There are two Sunday School groups
2-6 year olds and 6 upwards.
(d) The Charity still gives to the local
foodbank weekly and is in good
contact with the local foodbanks
maintaining a list of the most required
items.
(e) The giving to Missionary’s abroad
continued this year to India and the
Avail Missionaries in Thailand.
(f) The giving to those in financial
hardship has also increased
specifically to Teen Challenge.
(g) The Homeless drop in continues to
be very well attended and there are
many volunteers from City Church
who help with this.
(h) Connect Groups and Community
groups continue to thrive and an
extra day time group has been
started.
(i) In terms of worship, City has
connected with another church in the
City to host Joint Worship evenings
on Sunday evenings. This has been
a great display of unity in the city
(j) An evangelistic event is planned with
Rico Tice in June of 2025.| |---|---|---| **----- Start of picture text -----**
(k) We are planning to welcome other
missionaries from the Avail charity
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Para 1.41
Achievements against
objectives set
Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set
Para 1.41
Investment performance
against objectives
**----- End of picture text -----**
## Other ## **Financial review** |**Financial review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The total funds held at the end of the year
are £ 5,088.00 . The Trustees intention is to
continue to use the general funds that are in
excess of the reserve to increase giving to
missionaries and missional work in Chester,
Nationally and abroad.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The reserves are held to be able to give to
various national, international and local
charitable causes as and when required.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|The Charity keeps a reserve of £2,500.00
and has never gone below the reserve
amount since the reserve was made. This
reserve has been reviewed and is being kept
at £2,500.00 for the next year.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|There are various monthly outgoings such
as rent, website etc that must be paid every
month so a reserve is required in the event
that the monthly giving dropped dramatically
for some reason in order that those
contracts/leases could be paid as required
until the contract/lease could be ended.| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|There are no concerns in this respect. If any
issue arise the Trustees will deal with the
uncertainty as it arises.| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Para 1.47 The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) Para 1.46 Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted Para 1.46 A description of the principal risks facing the charity Other ## **Structure, governance and management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document:
for example,trust deed,
memorandum and articles of
association etc|Para 1.25|Trust deed dated February 2012 as
amended by deed dated October 2014| |How is the charity
constituted?
for example limited company,
unincorporated association,
CIO|Para 1.25|Trust deed| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutionalprovisions e.g.|Para 1.25|Every Trustee must be appointed for a term
of three years by a resolution of the Trustees| election to post or name of passed at a special meeting (under Clause any person or body entitled 15 of the Trust Deed) to appoint one or more trustees **----- Start of picture text -----**
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and Para 1.51
training of trustees
Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works
Para 1.51
Relationship with any related
parties
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Reference and administrative details** Charity name **City Church Chester** Other name the charity uses **-** Registered charity number **1159254** Charity’s principal address **11 Sheldon Avenue, Vicars Cross, Chester, CH3 5LF** ## **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)**
1 Matthew Chilvers
Chair
2 Jonathan Keegan
3 Luke Cassell
4 Phil Jones
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Matthew Chilvers|Chair|||| ||Jonathan Keegan||||| ||Luke Cassell||||| ||Phil Jones||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| |**Director name**|||||| |**N/A**|||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| **Director name N/A** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**| |---|---| |**N/A**|| ## **– Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others N/A** Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details **-** ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including directors’ report) above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors** **Signature(s)** P Jones (Jul 14, 2025 07:11 GMT+1)P Jones J Keegan (Jul 11, 2025 11:58 GMT+1)J Keegan Jonathan Keegan **Full name(s)** Philip Jones **Position (for example** Trustee **Secretary, Chair, etc)** Trustee **Date** Jul 11, 2025