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2024-12-31-accounts

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ST COLUMBA’S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

TRUSTEE’S REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

INDEX

Registered Charity Number 1162065

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ST COLUMBA’S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

TRUSTEE’S REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

TRUSTEES

Sorrel Eyres

Jill Fresen

Jonathan Herring

Kirsten Johnson

Rosemary Knagg

Adrian Moore

David North

Andrew Smith

Gordon Woods

REGISTERED ADDRESS

St Columba’s United Reformed Church

Alfred Street

Oxford

OX1 4EH

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Ian Parkinson

BANKERS

CAF Bank Ltd.

Virgin Money

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ST COLUMBA’S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

TRUSTEE’S REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Charitable Status

St Columba’s Oxford United Reformed Charity is a charity registered in England, number 1162065

Trustees

The Trustees who have held office at any point during the year ended 31 December 2024 and to the date of this report are as follows:

Sorrel Eyres (resigned 15 June 2025) Adrian Moore Jill Fresen David North Jonathan Herring Andrew Smith Kirsten Johnson Gordon Woods Rosemary Knagg Sarah Lacey (appointed 18 May 2025)

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity was established by a governing document (Constitution) adopted on 23 February 2014. It was formed in order to acquire the assets and liabilities of St Columba's United Reformed Church, Oxford, an excepted charity.

Additional trustees may be appointed by the church meeting; all new trustees are offered appropriate training in order to fulfil their role.

Objectives and activities

The object of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public, in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church. It carries out this purpose by providing a place where all are welcome to participate in regular public worship.

The charity serves the whole community by hiring out premises and providing services for a wide range of community groups and activities. It has an active ministry within the LGBT community, which is being developed by the charity's Outreach Worker, and a further ministry to students with an Outreach Worker operated jointly with two other Oxford churches.

Achievements and performance

The charity has maintained a regular pattern of worship and witness to its members and to the wider community, both through worship in the church buildings, and through services and other activities provided online. Numbers participating in regular Sunday worship, notably students and younger people, have held up well, and several House Groups have also met on a regular basis.

Risk management

The principal risks the charity may face are perceived to be inadequate future funding and the possibility of safeguarding issues arising in dealing with children and vulnerable adults.

The Finance and Property Committee regularly monitors the income both from member contributions and from future potential hiring income, as well as keeping a tight rein on premises expenditure; appropriate safeguarding measures remain in place.

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Financial Review

Income for the year included a legacy of £46,500. Income other than this was broadly comparable to the prior year; likewise, expenditure was broadly comparable to 2023 although the maintenance and upkeep of the church building continues to cost significant sums, and a new outreach project to students was started with a committed two, and possible four, year period. This project is joint with two other Oxford churches and involves hiring a new outreach worker.

Voluntary income, mostly from church members, held up well, and income from hirings for the year increased to £69,884 (2023 £56,215)

The Trustees are satisfied that the unrestricted fund balance of £164,002, representing over 12 months of normal expenditure, is more than adequate to underpin future activities, and accordingly that the charity remains a going concern for at least 12 months from the date of signing this report.

Plans for Future Periods

The emphasis of the charity will continue to be on pursuing its charitable objectives, by means of providing public worship and other activities delivered online and/or in the church buildings, sustaining the community of worshippers and developing further its outreach focussed to the wider community.

The charity has also concluded the five-yearly survey of its buildings and Church Meeting has approved a staged plan for carrying out the recommended maintenance and refurbishment.

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under charity law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant information (information needed by the independent examiner in connection with preparing his report) of which the charity's examiner is unaware, and each Trustee has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the examiner is aware of that information.

Independent Examiner

lan Parkinson has signified his willingness to continue in office and a resolution to re-appoint him as examiner will be proposed at the forthcoming annual general meeting.

Approved by the Trustees on 30 September 2025, and signed by order of the Trustees by:

Adrian Moore, Trustee and Joint Church Secretary

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustèes Sl Columba's Oxfofd Unrted Reformld Ch¥rity On accounts for the yoar ended 31 December 2024 Charity no lif any) 1162065 Set out on pages I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the Trust") for the year ended 3111212024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trust88s, you a￿ responsible for the preparation of the accounts In accordance with the requirefflenls of the Charities Act 2011 I"Ihe Act'l. 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 Dir8¢1ion$ given by the Charity Commission under section 1451511bl of the Act. Independent examinofs slatement ross income e cabl lisle "f not applicable. I have completed my examination l confirm that no material matters have me to my attention in connection with the examination lother than that disclosed below") which gives me cause to believe that in, any malersal 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 Fequiremenls Con￿rning the form and conlenl of accounts sel out in the Charities IAccounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and fair, view which is not a matter considereot as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached Please delete the words in the br8ckets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant profe$$ional qualifi¢ationlsl or body lif any): IER Oct 2018

ST COLUMBA’S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Note
INCOME
Voluntary Income
2
Activities for Generating Funds
3
Investment Income
4
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Cost of generating funds
Charitable Activities
5, 6
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
Net Income before Transfers
Other Recognised Gains/(Losses)
Transfers Between Funds
7
Net Incoming Resources After Transfers
Total Funds Brought Forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
125,667
517
126,184
95,732
74,945
3,140
78,086
65,648
1,550
-
1,550
1,110
202,163
3,657
205,820
162,490
-
177
177
-
173,023
541
173,564
161,876
173,023
718
173,741
161,876
29,139
2,939
32,079
614
-
-
-
-
8,588
(8,588)
-
-
37,728
(5,649)
32,079
614
126,275
5,949
132,224
131,610
£164,002
£300
£164,302
£132,224

The accounting policies and notes on pages 7-9 form part of the financial statements.

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ST COLUMBA’S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

BALANCE SHEET AS AT DECEMBER 31 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Current Assets
Debtors
8
Cash at Bank and in Hand
Deposit Accounts
Current Account
Current Liabilities
Creditors: Falling due within one year
9
Net Current Assets
Total Assets
Represented by:
Unrestricted Income Funds
Restricted Income Funds		 2024
£
0
35,848
131,894
2,264
170,006
(5,704)
164,302
£164,302
164,002
300
£164,302		 2023
£
0
35,567
97,163
4,462
137,192
(4,968)
132,224
£132,224
126,275
5,949
£132,224

The Financial Statements on Pages 5 to 9 were approved by the Trustees on 01.05.2025 and signed on their behalf by

Adrian Moore Trustee & Joint Church Secretary

Gordon Woods Trustee & Joint Church Secretary

The accounting policies and notes on pages 7-9 form part of the financial statements.

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ST COLUMBA'S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1a Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the United Reformed Church guidance. The accruals basis of accounting has been adopted, and the principal accounting policies set out below are applied consistently.

1b Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the church in furtherance of its charitable objectives. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor, or contained in the terms of a grant.

1c Tangible Fixed Assets

Freehold property: The Trustees of the church and manse buildings are the URC Wessex Synod Trust who hold them upon trust for purposes connected with St Columba's URC. Expenditure incurred on the church and manse is written off in the year it is incurred.

The insured value of the church buildings (at Alfred Street, Oxford OX1 4EH) is £3,549,329 (2023: £3,348,423).

1d Incoming Resources

All voluntary giving is included in the financial statements for the period in which it is received. Donations under Gift Aid plus the associated tax recovery are recognised as income when the donation is received. Legacies are accounted for when their receipt is certain and can be properly quantified. All other income is generally recognised when it is receivable.

1e Resources Expended

URC Ministry & Mission Fund contribution is paid regularly and is included in the financial statements for the year to which it relates.

Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred and include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. They are allocated to the particular activity to which they relate. Governance costs, if any, represent direct expenditure on the governance of the church, including the production and independent scrutiny of these financial statements.

As most of the management and activity of the church is carried out by volunteers, the intangible cost is not included in the financial statements as this voluntary contribution to the life of the church is incalculable.

1f Taxation

As part of the United Reformed Church, the church is an excepted charity within the meaning of the Taxes Acts. Accordingly it is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income and capital gains received to the extent that such income or gains are applied to exclusively charitable purposes. No provision for taxation has been made in these financial statements.

2 VOLUNTARY INCOME
Offertory
Grants and donations
Legacies
Wes Mem / New Road re Student Outreach
Other
3 ACTIVITIES FOR GENERATING FUNDS
Chaplaincy Fund
Hiring of church buildings		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2024
2023
38,339
0
38,339
45,452
36,309
36,309
39,280
46,500
0
46,500
10,500
4,684
0
4,684
0
-165
517
352
500
125,667
517
126,184
95,732
5,102
3,140
8,242
8,066
69,844
0
69,844
57,582
74,945
3,140
78,086
65,648

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ST COLUMBA'S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2024 2023
4 INVESTMENT INCOME
Deposit interest 1,550 0 1,550 1,110
1,550 0 1,550 1,110
5 RESOURCES USED: CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
URC Ministry & Mission Fund 36,000 0 36,000 34,662
Special Collections and donations 1,247 500 1,747 7,240
Property costs (note 6) 79,163 0 79,163 82,982
Local mission costs 7,997 218 8,215 4,604
TGNC outreach 42,039 0 42,039 32,388
Student outreach (gross) 6,576 0 6,576 0
173,023 718 173,741 161,876
6 PROPERTY COSTS
Major systems renewals 22,087 0 22,087 20,522
Maintenance & utilities 17,776 0 17,776 23,180
Church cleaning & caretaking 14,688 0 14,688 13,117
Manse expenses (gross) 0 0 0 3,029
Church administrator & office expenses 21,367 0 21,367 19,842
Organ and piano 0 0 0 255
Insurance 3,245 0 3,245 3,037
79,163 0 79,163 82,982
7 DESIGNATED AND RESTRICTED FUNDS
Fund name Brought forward Income Expenditure Transfers Carried forward
Unrestricted funds
General 26,258 202,163 173,023 72,605 128,002
Centenary Appeal (des) 12,779 (12,779) -
Buildings (des) 12,824 (12,824) -
Insurance claim proceeds (des) 50,414 (50,414) 0
Emergency Reserve (des) 24,000 12,000 36,000
126,275 202,163 173,023 8,588 164,002
Restricted funds
Burns Night 517 177 (300) 40
Children and Families 237 237
Commitment for Life - -
Chaplaincy 5,712 3,140 541 (8,288) 23
5,949 3,657 718 (8,588) 300

Chaplaincy Fund represents monies collected and set aside for student ministry. It was agreed with the URC in 2013 that this fund would in future be split 60:40 between general funds and student-related ministry in future, with existing funds to be de-restricted; The full cost of our new student outreach project in 2024, £2184, has been charged to the fund. As close to 25% of the TGNC Outreach Project cost as was affordable (£6,104; 2023 £8,097) has been charged against the Fund to reflect the work with studends which is part of that ministry Children & families refers to funds raised by a collection dedicated towards work with children and families. The other designated funds were consolidated and simplified, leaving three months' expenditure in the Emergency Reserve and consolidating all other previously designated funds into the general fund.

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ST COLUMBA'S OXFORD UNITED REFORMED CHARITY

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

8 DEBTORS AT YEAR END
URC Trust (Chaplaincy Fund)
HMRC – unclaimed Gift Aid
Amounts due from hirers
Grants for TGNC outreach project
Legacy due but not paid
New Road / Wesley Mem contribution to student outreach
9 CREDITORS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Utilities
Advance hiring receipts
Organists and preaching fees (Dec)
HMRC (income tax /national insurance)
Agency collections inc. Commitment for Life		 2024
£
0
6,777
1,637
0
26,500
934
35,848
2024
£
795
1,497
300
1,565
1,547
5,704		 2023
£
8,000
9,480
2,577
15,510
0
0
35,567
2023
£
2,205
1,210
227
1,326
0
4,968

10. STAFF AND SALARIES

The church employed 1 full time and 3 part time employees in the year (2023: 1 and 2) on total gross salaries annualised of £81,844 (2023: £51,028).

11. APPEALS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

These are collected and then paid to the organisation concerned together with any Gift Aid claimed. They were as follows:

Commitment For Life
ABCD		 2024
£
1,247
300
1,547		 2023
£
7,240
0
7,240

12. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

None of the church trustees received remuneration from the charity in 2024 (2023: NIL). Three trustees received reimbursement of expenses of £457; there were no minister's expenses as no minister was in post during 2024.

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