Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024
Aims and purposes
The aim of the church (as set out in its Constitution) is to bring glory to God and advance the Christian faith by strengthening the personal faith and witness of its members and by communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to other people in the locality and beyond.
In fulfilling this aim the Church, in prayerful submission to the authority of Scripture, endeavours to:
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pursue the worship of God, centred on the preaching and teaching of the Bible;
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cultivate a caring fellowship that encourages and builds up its members;
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share the good news of Jesus through local outreach and by supporting missionary work further afield; and
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demonstrate the love of God by meeting needs in the local community.
Objectives and activities
The trustees have considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
The church is committed to encouraging and enabling as many people as possible to worship with us and become part of the church family in order to grow in the Christian faith. The church is also committed to providing pastoral care and support for its members and others with whom it has connections. In addition the church seeks to undertake appropriate mission and outreach work in its locality and to support through prayer and finance mission and outreach work in other parts of the world.
The church operates from a building in Newhall Street, Princes End, Tipton. In order to facilitate the work of the church through its various activities, to create a welcoming environment and to honour God, the church seeks to maintain the fabric of the building to an appropriate standard.
Achievements and performance
Worship, Bible study and Prayer
Sunday morning services followed teaching series on the books of 1 Corinthians, Jonah, Psalms and John with separate short series around Easter and Christmas. Numbers remained relatively strong at this service and we were pleased to welcome many visitors, some for whom we have provided a place of sanctuary for a short period of time and others who have chosen to settle with us and have become regular attenders. The monthly evening service continued as did a prayer meeting on Zoom on two other Sunday evenings per month. Sunday morning services continued to be live streamed allowing access to services for those who are housebound, those who are unable to attend on a particular Sunday for whatever reason and those who might find the church via the internet.
We continued a monthly prayer day with morning and lunch time prayer sessions on Zoom and en evening session both in person and on Zoom. Generally speaking this worked well and provided an increased opportunity for participation.
Midweek meetings (Grace Groups) also continued across the year and saw an increase in those attending. Most of these were in person groups with one evening Zoom group for those less able to travel.
During 2024 two members died and five new members joined the church. At the end of 2024 membership stood at 54.
The church continued to employ a full-time Staff Elder (who worked alongside the other Elders in leading and developing the work of the church) and a part-time church worker whose role is focussed on ministry to the elderly, discipling women in the church and building contacts with families connected to the church.
Church building & Manse
Only minor repair, maintenance and decoration works were undertaken on the church building across the year as required. A major project was undertaken at the manse (8 Prospect Street) which is part owned by the church in the form of a single storey extension at the rear of the building plus full kitchen refurbishment
Children and Youth work
The church Boys’ Brigade company with Girls’ Association (3[rd] West Bromwich) continued to be very active in 2024. Numbers remained strong with about 45 children and young people in the age range 5-18 years taking part in weekly activities. The Company played a full part in activities organised by the Wolverhampton Battalion of which it is a part.
Stay and Play
Our stay and play group for pre-school children and their carers also functioned as normal across the whole year during term time with up to 20 children taking part each week.
Older people
The ministry for retired people, Daybreak, became further embedded in the life of the church during 2024. Meeting twice each month the group aims to provide fellowship, support and spiritual input for older people. The group had between 15 and 25 people attending sessions across the year.
Community involvement
A small team continued to provide monthly services at a local care home, Bloomfield Court which were appreciated by the residents who attended.
We were again able to undertake Christmas carol singing at our local Asda store giving out invitations to our Christmas services.
Financial Review
Total income for the year amounted to £126,182. Expenditure totalled £125,088 giving a surplus for the year of £1,094.
Offerings amounted to £61,900 compared to £54,701 in 2023. The Gift Aid tax reclaim was £10,329 an increase of around £1,000 over the previous year.
Reserves Policy
The Elders seek to maintain reserves in the order of one year’s expenditure to allow for the loss of offertory income for whatever reason, to provide for major repair or maintenance costs and to ensure sufficient funds to maintain and potentially expand pastoral ministry. At 31 December 2024 unrestricted reserves stood at £52,700.
Volunteers
The church expresses its thanks to the many volunteers who assist with all aspects of the church’s work and without whom many church activities simply would not take place.
Structure, governance and management
The church is a charitable incorporated organisation (registered charity number 1162960) governed by a Constitution registered with the Charity Commission on 3 August 2015 as amended in 2021 and 2023.
Church members elect Elders who are responsible for the day to day management of the church and as such are charity trustees. Responsibility for certain key decisions such as calling a pastor or approving major work on the church building rests with the whole church membership in general meeting. The Elders who served during the year were:-
Mr T Ambrose
Mr P Watts (Secretary and Treasurer)
Mr B Turner Mr D Hardway
Administrative information
The church is situated at Newhall Street, Princes End, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 9HL.
The correspondence address is 3 Waring Close, Princes End, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 9NW.
P WATTS
Secretary
GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH ANNUAL AccouKfs FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY 2024- 31 DECEMBER 2024 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTivrriES INCOMING RESOURCES Unr••trlct•d R•*trlct•d Endowm•nt Total Funds funds fund$ th1$ ygar Total last year Offerings Donations Gift Aid rafunds Interest Other income Subscriptions 61,900 3.240 10.065 61,9CKI 54,701 3,159 9,100 1,793 2,990 1,698 1.405 264 10.329 43,186 1,596 2.982 44,782 2,982 Totsl incoming resourc88 119,935 6,247 126.182 73,441 RESOURCES EXPENDED Staff costs Evangelism Sunday ministy DonationslFees Administralion Propety costs Miscellaneous 45.478 1.169 650 7.930 1,914 60,829 2,735 45,478 1,169 650 9.677 1,914 60,829 5,371 43,912 2,042 1,747 9,510 2,480 9,698 3,478 2.636 Totsl resources expended 120.705 125,088 71,120 Net incoming(outgoing) Resources (770) 1,094 2.321 Total fund• brought forward Total funds carrlod forward 237,100 236,330 3,959 6,823 241,059 242,153 238,738 241,059
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Roport to the trustaesl membors of Grace Community Church On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Chartty no (If any) 1162960 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (he Trust") for the year ended 3111212024. Responslbllltles and As the charty trust88s, you are responsible for the Pfeparation of the baglg of r•port accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (he ACV). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts Caled out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Acl. Indopendent I have complet8d my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examlnerfs stat•mont Gome to my attention { l in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.: the accounting records w8r8 not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act.. or the accounts did not accord with th8 aoUntIng records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements oncErning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf vlew which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no conMS and have com8 across no other matters in cOnction with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delele th8 words in the brackets if thgy do not apply. Slgned: Dat8: 9 141302S Name: i uRIIL-ri Relevant professlonal quallficatlon(s) or body (if any): Address: Ilo FRftLQ Wf*Y TIPIQ EST 3[)u¥5 DY4 (JLIL October 2018 IER