ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
for the year ended 31 December 2020
TRINITY CHURCH, NORTH FINCHLEY (BAPTIST/UNITED REFORMED CHURCH)
Registered Address
15 Nether Street London N12 7NN
Charity Registra�on Number 1164151
Trustees
The Revd Paul Mar�n Miss Lynn Harvey (Secretary) Mr Ian Anderson (Treasurer) Mrs Sandra Anakwa Mrs Ann Doyle Mr David James Ms Ezza�Khoobiari Mr Ratna Pradhan
Mr Ibrahim Rahimi Mrs Pamela Sharpe Mr John Stewart Mrs Susan Stewart
Property Trustees
URC Thames North Synod Trust St Paul’s United Reformed Church Newton Road Bayswater London W2 5LS London Bap�st Property Board Unit C2, 15 Dock Street, London E1 8JN
Bankers
Na�onal Westminster Bank plc North Finchley (B) Branch 786 High Road N12 9QT
Independent Examiner
Behnaz Raya�ACCA Expert Accoun�ng & Finance Ltd 71-75 Uxbridge Road Aurora House London W5 5SL
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Annual Report for 2020
The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2020.
Charitable Object
The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document which states that the principal purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Chris�an faith according to the principles of the Bap�st and United Reformed Church denomina�ons to include the celebra�on of public worship, the teaching of the Chris�an faith, mission, evangelism, pastoral work, the provision of facili�es with a Chris�an ethos for the local community and the support of other chari�es in the UK and overseas.
The Church is a Single Congrega�on Local Ecumenical Partnership. It occupies premises which are held by the URC Thames North Synod Trust, and are the subject of a Church Sharing Agreement, enabling the premises to be used by the Local Ecumenical Partnership.
Organisa�onal Structure and Decision making processes
Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Cons�tu�on. The members Mee�ng normally takes place six �mes each year and has responsibility for agreeing the overall policy of the church.
In accordance with the Cons�tu�on, the members appoint up to ten Trustees, who are known as elders. In addi�on to this the minister (who is also appointed by the church members) also serves as a trustee. The trustees are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and prac�cal tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objec�ve.
The cons�tu�on gives the trustees the power to co-opt up to four addi�onal trustees, but they have not enacted this power during the period of this report.
Relevant ma�ers may be submi�ed to the Church mee�ng by the Trustees for guidance, or may be raised by members in Church mee�ng for further considera�on by the Trustees. Though the Cons�tu�on permits decisions to be made at Church mee�ngs by appropriate majori�es, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
Objec�ves and Ac�vi�es
In order to achieve the principal objec�ve which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of ac�vi�es both to its membership and to the community generally.
Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Chris�an worship. These services take place each Sunday at 11 am. There is a programme of ac�vi�es for children during the Sunday services. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to a�end any of these services.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately ve�ed with DBS checks and are trained in safeguarding procedures.
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The church sees a major part of its mission as providing facili�es for local community groups in its premises through the week. The church has been successful in a�rac�ng a wide range of groups into the church premises, offering a wide provision of services and ac�vi�es to the wider community.
The church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and is sa�sfied that the ac�vi�es outlined above clearly demonstrates that the charity is providing a benefit to the public.
Review of the year
Plans for 2020 went ahead as usual in January and February but the rest of the year was a �me of change and uncertainty. The Covid coronavirus pandemic affected the whole world with government restric�ons and lockdowns intending to lessen its effects.
Our priori�es were to follow government regula�ons and guidelines from our Bap�st and United Refomed Church denomina�ons to ensure the safety of those using our premises when restric�ons allowed, and to maintain contact with our members and congrega�on.
Worship and Spiritual
Services were held throughout the year. From lockdown on 17[th] March services were delivered on Zoom, an internet pla�orm, and when we returned to church the services con�nued to be livestreamed on Zoom for those unable to a�end in the building.
This was a challenge as we embraced the technology and how to reach those not on the internet. Our minister changed the monthly CrossTalk magazine to a weekly le�er, and a full transcript of the service and sermon were circulated to those not on the internet.
The format of services changed – shorter in length; hymns but no singing; more emphasis on prayer and reflec�on. Our friends from St Margaret’s URC shared with us un�l the autumn when they returned to their newly renovated church building. Zoom allowed us to reconnect with ex members and others from local churches unable to connect with their own church during lockdowns.
The two Bible study groups – for Farsi or English Speakers – were amalgamated in March on Zoom. Regular prayer mee�ngs were held and a special weekly reflec�on during Advent.
Our planned service for the 40[th] Anniversary of the forming of Trinity Church was postponed as were believers’ bap�sms.
Pastoral and Social
In February we held a social event open to anyone. Three couples opened their homes and hosted A�ernoon Tea for any wishing to a�end and was successful. A quiz evening was held on Zoom in May where each round was contributed by different people and this worked well.
Elders’ monthly mee�ngs changed to weekly ones in March to monitor the covid situa�on and to create a risk assessment for when we returned to the building to ensure the safety of those on the premises.
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To keep in contact with the congrega�on Elders each had a list of people to contact by phone, email or le�er on a regular basis. Those a�ending church via Zoom were able to see each other at the end of the service. This has been appreciated most by those having to self - isolate. The Zoom facility allowing people to chat in smaller groups was u�lised.
The congrega�on were challenged to ‘be crea�ve’ and contribute to the services over Christmas. There were contribu�ons from all ages including sugges�ons of prayers, poems, reflec�ons, cra� and art which were all used over the Christmas period.
Junior Church and Crèche
The children have not met since March. The children, their parents and leaders had a ‘virtual picnic’ in the autumn on Zoom with games and a ‘bring your own’ picnic. Advent calendars were distributed to all the children at Christmas.
Ecumenical
Churches Together in Finchley (CTiF) organised and wrote five studies for Lent on the theme ‘Pu�ng God first in daily living’ and was hosted by our church. This was well supported during the three studies we were able to hold.
CTiF held prayer mee�ngs on Zoom .
The minister and Church secretary represented the church at mee�ngs of Thames North Province URC Synod and London Bap�sts (formerly London Bap�st Associa�on).
Mission and Evangelism
The use of the church centre was restricted, but when open we sought to provide a safe environment for staff and users, following our own covid precau�ons and ensuring groups had their own risk assessments.
We supported Water Aid through their ‘Jars of Change’ Lent appeal.
Our usual prac�ce of giving the gi�s at Harvest to Homeless Ac�on in Barnet and Christmas gi�s for the children of refugee families through Barnet Refugee Service were imprac�cal. We gave a financial contribu�on in lieu of gi�s.
We supported Pathway, a local Chris�an group taking assemblies and running clubs.
We promoted the sale of fair trade goods to premises users with a stall selling Traidcra�goods during Fair Trade Fortnight. At Christmas members were encouraged to buy goods through our church representa�ve.
We wish to put on record our thanks to our minister, Rev Paul Mar�n, for his leadership through this difficult and challenging period. He has worked �relessly to provide encouragement and support through the worship, prayer mee�ngs and Bible studies. He has enhanced these by the crea�ve use of Zoom technology.
We also wish to put on record our thanks to our Church Secretary, Lynn Harvey, whose workload has also increased substan�ally during this past year. Lynn, among other things, has had many more mee�ngs to minute; has co-ordinated the elders in keeping in touch with the members; and has helped to plan and prepare for our safe return to the buildings.
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Building Redevelopment
Plans were being put in place to undertake phase one of the building redevelopment programme during the summer of 2020. The uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic meant that this work had to be postponed un�l 2021.
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation and from income from hiring the church premises. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year.
The year proved to be extremely challenging financially for the church. With the closure of the church for significant periods of the year, income from offerings was reduced (£12,189 – – 2020; £17,088 2019). More significantly, income from hiring our rooms fell from £113,319 in 2019 to £59,110 in 2020, a reduction of £54,209.
The church benefitted greatly from the government’s furlough scheme, receiving £14,045 for staff placed on furlough during the year. In order to balance our books, the church had to draw £50,000 from the funds held in trust for the church by the URC Thames North Synod Trust.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies ad‐ opted are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
The accounts show that there was a deficit for the year of £6,955.
The Trustees are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves at the end of the financial year, together with ongoing income anticipated, to enable the church to function effect‐ ively in the coming year.
The Trustees have made an assessment of the major risks facing the church, and are sat‐ isfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks.
Lynn Harvey (Secretary)
Ian Anderson (Treasurer)
Paul Martin (Minister)
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A IDdependent Examiner s Report R•port to th• trubt•••l m¢mb•rn of Trinty Chuffjb NcXh FirKhl8y On accounts th• y8ar 31° 0mber 2020 Charlty no lif any) 1164151 S•t outon pag I to the trustees on my ey3mtrnatK)n of the ¢OUnts ofthe ¢)ve chaiity llhe Tmst'l lor the year end 31112Q020 Rfj8pon•lblllOM •nd b•¥i• ol r•port A8 the c8rty3 trugleeg. you S resp)nsbkn for the pryr8tion dth• accounts in acex)r(lan¢e with rBouiremen¢s ol the Charr1 A£t 2011 I rÈrAt in rÈspgrt of my eywnination of th8 Trusfs ac(18 carried (xrt uThYef ge)n 145 01 the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinatK, I have folluwed al the applicable Directh)ns gNen by tr£ Chath Commission untler 3ectN)n 14515llbl of the Act. Indendent tThe charity's g$3 income exceed £250,000 l am qtHlif•d to •xamln•fs statèmént uNlertakg the eXamall( by being a q11 member of linsert nane of 8N)1¢8bk h.sied tojyjl. Delete I l rfnol app1LaIe. I hove ttjmpleted my examin8tion. I confirm that no mateFial matters ha comg to my aitentiMI in nnec(Kn wth the exammatstrn (other that disd01 bgkNT"} mthich gives me CaUBe to le1 that in, Y mater1 resp•ct." the aCCoLtil9 e0rd3 weie not kept in 8¢X¥>Wttsro lti 130 of Ihe Charities Act., ¢x the acwunts dwj not with gc¢ounlvig w¢¢xd$', or the accDunts not oJmpty with Ihe 4Jplicable rw4uirements concemiTrJ Ihe fo and contonl of acCjnIS sel out in the ChArilio6 (Accwnts 8nd Report$l ReaulglKJns 2CM)8 other than any requlrement Ih8t lh& ac¢ourrt$ 9T• a'true and faif ¥iv44 which iy ncrt a matter Cons¥ler1 as rort of an ndepeThent exam1Tn. I heve no ¢on¢em8 and have wme 8¢fOs5 no other matters in conn th the exam#iatKJn io whith attention Shk1 be dr•vn Ihis ieport ¢yder lo enab a proper und8rstandirKJ ol the acwunts be re8. . Plo8se IYelet& the in Iho brackets rflh0yL not apply. Slgnod: Name: Behnaz Reygb" Rol•v•nt prof•ukThl quallflcatSon(sl or body ACCA IER Oct 2018 Page 6
(If any): Expert Aetwntwig & FirAnce Ltd 71- 75 Uxtswjge Road, AurorB Hou8e, Lcrtcffj SSL Section B Disclosure Oiiiy COThPiete If tfiE exaiiiiib¢i Iieeos hNJhliy+il i114ler1 matsrs ot (see CC32. IndependerLI examirbali¢M of chartty aonIs.. de¢lln9 and guKlance IDrex•nknern). Giv• Iwg Imlef detsM3 of y items that th• •xamin•r wishes to dlsclo•e. Oct 2018 Page 7
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