## **KINGSTON NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT ON 2023 CHURCH ACTIVITIES**
## **(PREPARED AS PART OF THE AGM HELD ON 7 APRIL 2024)**
1. THE DIVINE SERVICE HELD ON SUNDAY MORNINGS
2. THE MONDAY EVENING OF MEDIUMSHIP SERVICE
3. THE HEALING SESSIONS – Ann Morrice, Healing Leader
4. THE TUESDAY EVENING CLOSED DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE – Ann Blackmore
5. THE WEDNESDAY GUIDED MEDITATION EVENINGS – Cherry Srinaganand
6. THE ADVANCED MEDIUMSHIP DEVELOPMENT CLOSED CIRCLE – Lorraine Gilbert-Gray
7. THE THURSDAY CLOSED GROUPS – Bernadete May
- a. Blue Light Circle
- b. Inspirational Writing Group
8. THE OPEN SPIRITUAL AWARENESS CIRCLE – Lesley Hamilton
9. EXPLORING HOLISTIC HEALING – Ann Morrice
- 10.SATURDAY MORNING PRIVATE READINGS – Catherine Rumsey
- 11.THE OPEN PLATFORM FOR STUDENT MEDIUMS – Lesley Hamilton
- 12.THE CLOSED TRANCE GROUP – Bernadete May
- 13.THE ALMONER’S REPORT
- 14.Report on CHURCH MAINTENANCE
- 15.Report on CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
## **1. THE DIVINE SERVICE HELD ON SUNDAY MORNINGS**
Sunday divine service is held every week from 11am to 12.15pm.
They are a lovely way to start the week, allowing a chance of quiet contemplation, to hear the Medium’s address, and witness a demonstration of mediumship. A different medium is booked each time and rarely do they need to cancel. We are fortunate and grateful to the mediums who serve this church. The number of people attending has reduced significantly since covid restrictions lifted early 2022. During the pandemic, up to 25 people attended each week; these days attendance has been as low as six but is usually about 13. Attendees tend to be regulars and appreciate the chance to talk to the medium or committee after the service.
## **2. THE MONDAY EVENING OF MEDIUMSHIP SERVICE**
This service is held every Monday evening from 7.30 to 8.35pm.
The congregation usually numbers between 25 to 30 but has been as many as 40 and as low as 12. This service is popular, attendees impressed with the mediumship tell and invite their friends. Although there are a fair number of regulars, there are many new faces every week.
## **3. THE HEALING SESSIONS – Ann Morrice, Healing Leader**
Held Monday between 8.45pm and 9.15pm; Wednesday 2pm to 4pm
We have four approved Healing Mediums working in the church, including David Patten who received his approved status in August 2023.
There are currently two Trainees working towards their Accreditation and all are doing very well, setting up the healing space, doing reception and healing. Healing takes place on a Wednesday afternoon between 2pm and 4pm and on a Monday, after the service, starting at 8.45pm through to 9.30pm. Wednesday healing has been very busy and we are seeing even more patients on a Monday when the Healing Mediums give group healing.
We are very grateful to Lynne Barlow who has been working as Healing Receptionist on busy Wednesdays which really helps the Healing Mediums to work with more patients.
## **4. THE TUESDAY EVENING CLOSED DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE – Ann Blackmore**
This circle is held every Tuesday from 7.30 to 9pm.
There have been many changes in the Circle over the last year. People joining and leaving. It would seem that there is not enough commitment at the moment. Those that have stayed though are progressing well. Denise has really been a dedicated student and is now more than capable of running the Circle when I am unable to come up.
Due to rising costs, I am going to step back and not come up for one week a month for a while.
## **5. THE WEDNESDAY GUIDED MEDITATION EVENINGS – Cherry Srinaganand**
Held of the third Wednesday of the month from 7.30pm to 9pm.
Overall, in terms of attendance, the Meditation Evenings have not attracted large numbers of attendees. The average number over the year 2022, was 4. I put this down to the fact that meditation nowadays does not generate the same interest as it once did due its widespread popularity. A lot of people feel that this is something that they can practice from the comfort of their own home. In fact today, there are many Apps that deliver Guided Meditations. However, my Meditation sessions do not focus solely on guided meditations; that aspect is only a part of it, comprising around 40 to 50 per cent of the evenings' content. I start the evening with a light-hearted discussion on a spiritual subject during which attendees' comments and views are invited. I have always had encouraging discussions and sharing of experiences. Following on from that, I facilitate a guided Meditation connected with the subject discussed lasting for about 30 to 40 minutes. The verbal feedback I get from the attendees has always been positive and generous.
## **6. THE ADVANCED MEDIUMSHIP DEVELOPMENT CLOSED CIRCLE – Lorraine Gilbert-Gray**
Held on the 2[nd] and 4[th] Thursdays of the month, from 7.30 to 9pm.
## This circle has ceased for the time being due to lack of numbers.
2022: This circle has been amazing, and it is a pleasure to lead; all attendees have made progress and over the next year, will be able to extend their work for the spirit world. Attendance has at times been variable, generally due to illness or holidays. But the group has always been very positive.
## **7. THE THURSDAY CLOSED GROUPS – Bernadete May**
## **Blue Light Circle**
Held on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Thursdays of the month, from 5.30 to 7pm.
By members request, we reverted to the original name of the group. We have interesting sessions that comprise attunement to Spirit, meditation, mediumship, reading and discussing spiritual books and subjects raised by the members. Currently, we are reading the teachings of Ramadahn, spiritual guide to the medium Ursula Roberts. We also work sending out absent spiritual healing.
## **Inspirational Writing Group**
The Inspirational Writing Group, running since June 2017, is held on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Thursdays of the month, from 7.30 to 9pm.
This group focus on personal spiritual development. Aimed to help those who wish to practise Inspirational and Automatic Writing and Inspirational Speaking.
Attendees are committed to attend the meetings on a regular basis. No writing experience is necessary to join this group, however an awareness of Mediumship is recommended. Members are encouraged to widen their persona; spiritual development by reading and researching on Spiritualism.
The standard of the members’ inspirational writings is excellent. I have been encouraging the members to organise their messages in a formal manner so they can either be published or read on different occasions such as on Sunday services.
Members:5. New members are welcome.
## **8. THE OPEN SPIRITUAL AWARENESS CIRCLE – Lesley Hamilton**
This circle is held on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Fridays of the month, between 7.30 and 9pm - doors are locked at 7.30pm sharp.
Attendance is much better than this time last year, so that’s good. I enjoy watching people develop very much. Hopefully numbers will keep going up or maintain a good level. Thank you to the committee for their support in times of sickness.
## 9. **EXPLORING HOLISTIC HEALING – Ann Morrice – 2022 Report Repeated**
The first talk on Exploring Our Spirituality was held on Friday 25th September 2015 when Bernadete May, our current President gave a talk on ‘Two hours of Spirituality’.
Since that time, the church has hosted various speakers, healers and artists who have given much in the way of educating people in the spiritual way of living.
Events held in 2022 included a talk by Martin Thomas and demonstrations by the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary, a talk on the history of our Church by Ann Morrice and a new and exciting Gong and crystal bowl sound healing evening.
Events for 2023 will have a new direction. As Kingston Church is a healing church, events are being planned with a focus on healing therapies.
The talks are now held on the last Friday of alternate months (from March 2023) and cost £7 payable at the door.
## **10. SATURDAY MORNING PRIVATE READINGS - Catherine Rumsey**
Held periodically on a Saturday between 10.30am and 2pm Three private reading sessions were held during the year and were fully booked.
## **11. THE OPEN PLATFORM FOR STUDENT MEDIUMS – Lesley Hamilton**
Open Platform is held on the first Saturday of the month, between 2 and 4pm. So far this year, the Open Platform has been well attended. Again this is a pleasure seeing people develop. It does require some patience when people have developed bad habits. Constant reminding and repetition. Hopefully this will achieve the goals of those who attend. Once again thank you Cathy who is a pleasure to work with. 😊 ditto
## **12. THE CLOSED TRANCE GROUP – Bernadete May**
Held on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Saturdays of the month, from 11am to noon.
This group focus on trance mediumship development. It was created by medium Gerrie Chaney, who for personal reasons has withdrawn from the group.
All the mediums truly appreciate each meeting as an opportunity to further their Trance Mediumship development. The discussions after each meeting are enlightening. M
Members:6. Sorry no vacancies at present.
## **13. THE ALMONER’S REPORT**
We keep the Church Healing Book and those named who are in need of absent healing are rad out at the Sunday and Monday services.
Departed Friends during 2023 include :
Maureen & Peter Garrow – Burial of Ashes on 24/2/23
Lily Jenkins
Barbara Walker-Gilbert
## **14. Report on CHURCH MAINTENANCE**
In January 2023 the Church frontage was resurfaced after years of huge puddles whenever it rained.
The new overhead heaters were installed in January 2019. Whilst jolly efficient, they are also powerful at 3KW each and sometimes too hot. A quotation to install switches to individually control each heater was obtained during 2022; work was undertaken in March 2023.
The Church overhead lighting circuit was replaced as it was shorting, sometimes leaving the church without lighting
Other electrical work: 5-year electrical inspection, remedial work and upgrade to meet current standards.
Plans for 2024: Replace frontage fencing and gate.
## **15. Report on CHURCH MEMBERSHIP**
Thank you everyone for retaining your church membership, without you, Kingston Church would cease.
At the end of 2023 there were 5 life members, 28 full members and 23 associate members.
Three members passed to Spirit and three members did not renew. Pleasingly, eleven applications for membership were approved.
## **OTHER REPORTS**
We very much hope that Mandy Wortham from Gravesend Church is able to be here today as the Area Warden for the East London District Council. Alan Seymour, formerly of Croydon Church, held this position before retirement in 2021. The Area Warden and Church Warden undertake an annual inspection of the church to ensure that proper procedures and safety checks are in order.
Our Church Warden is Desmond Borland and has held this position for some years.
**We thank all those members, volunteers and group leaders/facilitators, who do so much to keep our lovely church open.**
## **KINGSTON NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH**
## Charity Registration No.: 1160074
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Note**
**2023**
**2022**
Collections:
£
£
Sunday
2552
2382
Speakers Fees
Weekdays
3905
3419
Office
Healing
2103
1254
Postage,Phones,Sum-Up & Sundries
Others
**1**
5053
7619
Heating, Lighting & Cleaning
13613
14674
Insurance, Water, Fire Security
Donations/Funerals
1240
3372
Maintenance incl.Forecourt 2023
Speakers Donations
631
678
Advertising & Website Costs
Conservation Fund
2124
171
SNU: Members & Healing Fees
Gift Aid
3298
Flowers, Garden & Tree Costs
Bazaar
1624
Ukraine Charity Night
Literature
**2**
355
394
Membership Fees
604
439
Social Events
**3**
40
-143
Other Income - 2 SNU Grants
2250
25779
19585
Interest
COIF CD Fund
243
53
**Income less Expenditure**
26022
19638
**BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**
**FIXED ASSETS**
**Notes**
Buildings (Insurance Value)
Fixtures & Fittings
**CURRENT ASSETS**
COIF Charity Deposit Fund
NatWest Bank Acount
SumUp
Cash
Kitchen, Cleaning Stock
**3,5**
Insurance, Water Rates, & Fire Security
**6**
**LESS LIABILITIES**
Heat & Light creditors
**5**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**REPRESENTED BY:**
Accummulated Funds b/f
2023 Income less Expenditure
Acummulated Funds c/fwd|**Note**|**2023**
**2022**
£
£
4589
5299
344
396
612
701
2503
3606
1828
1524
12968
191
451
490
438
455
360
828
-
540|**2022**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**4**
**5**
**6**
**7**
**8**
**9**
**10**|||
|||24093
14030
**1929**
**5608**||
|||26022
19638||
|||**2023**
**2022**
£
300000
300000
100
100|**2022**|
|||300100
300100||
|||5802
5559
19959
18277
53
0
50
50
70
70
243
286||
|||26177
24242||
|||-144
-138||
|||-144
-138||
|||||
|||326133
324204||
|||324204
318596
**1929**
**5608**||
|||326133
324204||
I certify that these Accounts represent a true state of affairs and agree with the Acounts, Bank Statement Statements and Documentation presented to us.
Date:
R. Owen-Jones
**KINGSTON NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH**
## **THESE NOTES ARE PART OF THE**
|note 1
note 2
note 3
note 4
note 5|Other Collection
Meditation & Awareness Circles
Spiritual Development Circles
Open Platforms
Workshops/Friday Talks
Readings
Philosophy Groups
Special Evenings
Florencio Anton
Ukraine Charity Evening
Ancestral Healing
Dominic Boag x 2
Literature
Books, Papers & Magazines
received
Books, Papers & Magazines
paid
Social Events
Fayres & Raffles
received
Social Tea / Open Day
received
Kitchen Costs
Kitchen Stock
12/31/2023
Kitchen Stock
Postage
paid
Telephone & Mobile
paid
Sum-Up Card Charges
paid
Sundries
paid
Heat & Light
paid
Heat & Light accrual
add back
Electricity Creditor
12/31/2023
Gas Creditor
12/31/2023
Electrical inspection
Cleaning
Stock of Paper Towels & materials
add back
Stock of Cleaning materials as at 31/12/23|**2023**
704
1671
321
581
1235
14
528
5053
640
-285
355
124
-84
10
-10
40
68
279
81
184
612
1312
-138
106
38
912
273
-60
60
2503|**2022**
684
2206
282
1483
915
217
540
306
986|
|---|---|---|---|
||||7619|
||||646
-252|
||||394|
||||54
36
-253
30
-10|
||||-143|
||||356
286
48
11|
||||701|
||||2220
-197
138
0
1405
-20
60|
||||3606|
## **KINGSTON NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH**
## **THESE NOTES ARE PART OF THE**
|note 6
Insurance
paid
Insurance
pre-paid
2024
Insurance
add back
2022
Water Rates
paid
Water Rates
pre-paid
2024
Water Rates
add back
2022
Fire Security costs
paid
Fire Security costs
pre-paid
2024
Fire Security costs
add back
2022
note 7
General Maintenance
Forecourt Resurfacing 2023
Electrical Works
Boiler Service
(Jan 2024)
note 8
Advertising
Website & Facebook
note 9
SNU Members fees
SNU Healing fees
note 10
Flowers
paid
less donations received
Garden
paid
less donations received|**2023**
1457
-128
118
155
53
173
-115
115
1828
876
8040
4052
12968
330
121
451
280
158
438
360
360|**2022**
1283
-118
101
85
-53
38
173
-115
130|
|---|---|---|
|||1524|
|||111
80|
|||191|
|||390
100|
|||490|
|||290
165|
|||455|
|||16
-2
850
-36|
|||828|
|**2023 Income**
**CC AR**
from bal sheet
Sunday
Weekdays
Healing
Others
Don/Funerals
Speakers
Conservaton dons
Gif Aid
Bazaar
Books
PN
Membership
Social Events
SNU grants
COIF|**1**
**2**
**3**
**4**
**5**
**Investments**
**Other**
2552
3905
2103
5053
1240
631
2124
3298
1624
351
4
604
40
2250
243
26022
**Donatons &**
**Legacies**
**Charitable**
**Actvites**
**Other Trading**
**Actvites**|
|---|---|
||18707
5053
1975
243
44
26022|
KINGSTON NATIONAL SPIRITUALIST CHURCH
Charity Regislra*"on No.: 1160074
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT8 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
INCOME
EXPENDrniRE
2023
Nots
2023
20
Collections..
Sunday
Weekdays
Healing
Others
2552
3K15
2103
5053
13613
1240
631
2124
3298
1624
355
604
40
2250
25779
2382
3419
1254
7619
14674
3372
678
171
Speakers Fees
4589
5299
Postsge,Phones.SunFUp & Sundries
Healing. Lighting & Cleanirvj
Insurance. Water, Fire Security
Ma5ntenance ind.Forecourt 2023
Atherbsing & Website Costs
SNU". Members & Healin9 Fees
Flowers. Garden & Tree Costs
Ukraine Charrty NNJht
612
2503
1828
12968
451
438
360
701
3606
1524
191
490
455
828
540
DwalionslFUrIS
Speakers Donations
Conservation Fund
Grfl Aid
Bazaar
Literature
Membership Fees
Social Events
Other Income- 2 SNU Grants
10
394
439
-143
19585
24093
14030
InEerest
COIF CD Fund
243
26022
53
1%38
Income less EXpendIrn
1929
26022
S608
19638
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023
2023
2022
FIXED ASSETS
Buildings Ilnsurance Value}
Fixbjres & Fittings
Notes
300000
100
300100
300000
100
300100
URRENT ASSETS
COIF Charity Deposit Fund
Natwest Bank Acount
&JmUp
Cash
tchen. Cleaning Stock
In$urance, Water Rates. & Fire Secuiity
5802
19959
53
50
70
243
26177
5559
18277
50
70
24242
LESS LIABILITIES
Heat & Light creditors
-144
-144
-138
-138
TOTAL NET ASSETS
326133
324204
REPRESENTED BY:
AuMMu1a1ed Funds blf
2023 Income less Expendrture
Acummulated Funds clfwd
324204
1929
326133
318596
5608
324204
I certrfy that these A¢unts repsent a true state of aflairs and agree vthh the Ac(wJnts, Bank Statement
Statements and DCrJJMentatn presented to us.
Date..
R. OheJOnes