2023-12-31-accounts

	Charity name	Charity name	ASHFORD COMMUNITY	CHURCH
Other names charity is known by
Registered charity number		(ifany)	1165151
Charity's	principal	address	Francis Road
			ASHFORD
			Kent
			Postcode TN23 7UR

Names ofthe charity tr	ustees who manage	the charity
Trustee name	Office (ifany)	Dates acted ifnot for whole year	Name ofperson (or body) entitled to appoint trustee {Ifany)
Gill Adsett
Ernest Bate
Owen Darling	Chair
Chris Hill
Maureen Hulbert	Treasurer
Susanne Trokhymenko		From 13June 2023to
		present
Priya Mouncher		From 13June 2023to
		present
Brian Carter		From 13June 2023to
		present
Names ofthe trustees for the charity, ifany, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name		Dates acted ifnot for	whole year

Type ofadviser Name			Address
Accountant Roger	Hughes		Wayside,	Forge Hill,	ALDINGTON,					Kent	TN25 7DT
Solicitor			Hallett &Co, 11Bank			Street, ASHFORD, Kent TN23 1DA
Name ofchief executive or names	ofsenior staff		members	(Optional	information)
~ ~
Description ofthe charity's trusts
Type ofgoverning document	Constitution.
How the charity is constituted	Charitable	IncorPorated		Organisation.
Trustee selection methods	Appointed	by	existing Trustees.
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include	We are: members ofthe Evangelical					Alliance
additional information, where
relevant, about:	registered with the Information Commissioner's g. .24400221i ~htt: t . . k											Office
~ policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and	membersof Partnership UK					htt		s:		artnershi			uk.or
training oftrustees;
~ the charity's organisational structure and any wider	subscribers to Stewardship Consultancy htt s: www. stewardshi .o .uk									Helpline about-us			about-us-1
network with which the charity works;	Our Pastor is the leadership		a member ofthe Ashford Pastors' Fellowship core ofChurches Together in Ashford.										which forms
~ relationship with any related
parties;
~ trustees' consideration ofmajor
risks and the system and
procedures to manage them.

Summary ofthe objects ofthe charity set out in its governing	Summary ofthe objects ofthe charity set out in its governing	Summary ofthe objects ofthe charity set out in its governing	Our object isto advance the Christian Faith for the public benefit in accordance with our statement ofbeliefs (see section Fofthis report).	Our object isto advance the Christian Faith for the public benefit in accordance with our statement ofbeliefs (see section Fofthis report).
document
			The Trustees have been conscious ofthe need to carry out our purposes
			for the public benefit and have had regard to the guidance on public
			benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
			We believe that the Christian Faith provides guidelines for living that are
			good forthe individual and for society in general. A Living Faith in	Jesus
			Christ provides the strength and peace of mind to follow these guidelines
			and to live a useful life. ('His divine power has given us everything need for life and godliness. ..' 2Peter 1v3a).	we
			The numbers ofthose attending our Sunday morning service have
			continually been increasing since all Covid restrictions were lifted.	We
			are particularly pleased to welcome families from many different
			ethnicities and allowing us to provide Christian teaching to a thriving
			group ofchildren.
			With an updated audio visual system we reach a wider audience through
			broadcasting our Sunday service livestream on YouTube
			htt s: www. outube. com Ash rdCommuni hurchUK streams
Summary	ofthe main activities		and other meetings via Microsoft Teams, allowing more people to
undertaken		for the public benefit	"attend".
in relation		tothese objects
(include within this section the			We are a church family who care for each other and forthose around us	in the
statutory	declaration that		community. We reach out to bring the Christian message of loving	and
trustees have had regard tothe			caring to our neighbours and more widely in the town ofAshford.	We
guidance	issued by the Charity		proudly proclaim a large 'Try Praying' banner on the front ofour building
Commission		on public benefit)	and distribute free booklets from this national initiative.
			We provide the only Men's Clothing Bank in Ashford and regularly	take
			members donations tothe Ashford Food Bank.
			We support Missionary and Relief Organisations financially and give
			loans or one-off gifts to individuals in need.
			The church buildings are widely used during the week for a wide range of
			church activities and by other organisations. Details ofthe year's
			activities are recorded in Section D.
			During 2023the mezzanine floor in the church housing the sound/video
			desk and the Prayer Room have been completed from the benefit	of
			bequests left tothe church. We have also purchased a new set of	chairs
			for the church and main hall. The chairs replaced have been gifted	to a
			new church set up in the town.

You may choose	You may choose	You may choose	to	include	include	Most	ofthe activities held in our church use volunteers.
further statements,				where		Ashford Borough Council employees use the premises for national and
relevant, about:						local	elections.
~	policy on grant-making;
~	policy programme				related
	investment;
~	contribution		made		by
	volunteers.
Su	mmary ofthe		main
ac	hievements	ofthe			charity	The regular meetings that are held in our church buildings are listed below:
du	ring the year
						~	SUNDAY:
							Between SOand 60people each week meeting in the Main Hall,
							watching in the Middle Hall (for those who wish or need to
							remain socially distanced and "masked"), or joining us on
							YouTube and TEAMS. We continue to broadcast our Sunday
							Services on our YouTube channel. This gives the opportunity	for
							those towatch "live" or "after the event" who have been unable
							to attend the meeting in person. We know for afact that people
							from around the country and abroad take delight in regularly
							watching our services.
							WORSHIP —Praying, singing, preaching and teaching. All these
							are aspects ofour worship on a Sunday. Our beautiful Prayer
							Room is now fully functional- with a powerful Prayer Team who
							are available to meet with people at the end ofthe service. Our
							Worship Team has seen has been strengthened by two new
							singers.
							TEACHING SERIES—The focus ofteaching this year, as already
							seen, has been to face up to "Tough Questions" on what we
							believe sothat we can "stand firm" against the tide ofsocietal
							change which isdemanding that we accept things that we do
							not believe in. This naturally developed, after September, into		a
							series on Jesus' "Manifesto of Kingdom Living" as expounded		in
							the Sermon on the Mount. The year ended with a month-long
							series on "Christmas on Trial- where isthe Hope ofthe
							Nations?"

~	WEDNESDAY:
	WEIGHT.WATCHERS —continue to use our building on	a
	Wednesday morning.
	SUPACOOKS —In co-operation with Ashford Together and
	Pneuma Church, we have set up a basic cooking course	forthe
	needy in the community. Courses, running for 6weeks	at a time,
	have been supported throughout the year.
	HOUSEGROUPS AND MONTHLY SUPERGROUP —We now have 2
	groups —known as "Early Birds" and "Night Owls" that	meet in
	person and online. The last Wednesday ofeach month	has been
	set aside for our "Supergroup" in the church building.
0	THURSDAY:
	BIBLESTUDY —Acommitted group meet fortnighHY face-to-face
	and have enjoyed a number ofstudies as well as social	time
	together.
	The "Ukrainian Singers" have begun to use the church	on a
	Thursday to rehearse their wonderful music.
	East Kent Chorus practice in our building on a Thursday.	Small
	sections ofthe EKChave been using the building to rehearse on

and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God,
7The bodily resurrection ofChrist, the first-fruits ofour resurrection; His ascension to
the Father, and His reign and mediation as the only Saviour ofthe world.
8The justification ofsinners solely by the grace ofGod and faith	in Jesus Christ.
9The ministry ofGod the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance,	unites us with Christ
'through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.
10The Church, the body ofChrist both local and universal, the priesthood ofall believers
given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit's gifts to worship God and proclaim
the gospel, promoting justice and love.
11The personal and visible return ofJesus Christ to fulfill the purposes ofGod who will
raise all people tojudgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed	and eternal
condemnation tothe lost, and establish a new heaven and a new	earth.
trustees declare that they have approved the trustees' report above.
ed on behalf ofthe charity's trustees
Signature(s)	3jf&3v(; g
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary, Chair,
etc)
7P' gfÃfi Wag

Forthe year ended 3	1Decenber 2023
			2023
			8
Income	Dssgnatad Dishing Sank fvgnaated Shoebax Ost Akl trom HMRC interest fscefvsb¹ Oflenngs- Sank Orft sfd oeenngs -Bank not (3;;told Offeringa -Cash - Get Ard Offerings -Cash -not Gift Aid Ofisnngs -Special Odlef chsnty lAcama PeOple m need Rent af chufch tsceftas	100 95 11,747 8 37863 9.102 4,952, 4367 1.965 1.57Q 200 2.vv	74.565	30 9.566 7315 3.117 60
	Accatmtshcy fess Advanisng and PR Churah Aaavrbee -rekashmenfa Cnurch Famsy Ir need Chufctt udkess, water, lght, hea	(480) (1.544) (880) (500) (5.158l		(1.237) (1.430) (630) f2.997) (14)
	Connect Depreciation Designated Ckftrvng Sank thaarnabrm sna pubscsoans thsul'Shoe	(7.993) (62) (166) (1.45Q)		(4,461) (1,269)
	Lfcenca¹es Mrssrahs - Home Missions -Ovemsss Passu ssaehsi-.s Postage Prayer Ream Repars and rnaintansntsr Safeguarding (tnvtyane ct)h0 s	(1,274) (2,878) (5 557) (1.450) (48) (1,317) (10.531) (542)		(4.215) (4,819'l I38) (2,119) (5 824) (332) (404)
	Smss sfaff pment Speakers expenses and gifts StsbauÃy shd phhbhg SubSCripkOns Telephone and rntamet Wages snd seferieS	(89) (6) (150) (451) ( 9.281	(71,815)	(206) (1,523) [2l,6 v (57,314)
Churcn House	Charter House insurance Cnufcn House maintenance Church House Rates Chufah House tliliturs	(252) (96) (1426)	(2.089)	(225) 957).	(2,211)
Nst prafs'pass)
				Page1 of 1

							2023		2022
							E		E
Income		Designated Clothing Bank				100
		Designated Shoebox				95		30
		Giff Aid from HMRC				11,747		9,566
		interest receivable				9		1
		Offerings — Bank Gift	aid			36,728
		Olferings —Bank not Gift			aid	10,037		35,336
		Offerings - Cash - Gift Aid				4,952
		Offerings - Cash - not	Gift Aid			4,367		7,315
		Offerings —Special				1,955		3,117
		Other charity income				1,870		60
		People in need				200
		Rent ofchurch facilities				2,504		3,030
							74,565		58,455
Expenses		Accountancy fees				(480)
		Advertising and PR				(1,544)		(1,237)
		Church Activities - refreshment				(880)		(1,430)
		Church Family in need				(500)		(630)
		Church utilities, water,		light, he		(5,158)		(2,997)
		Connect						(14)
		Depreciation				(7,993)		(4,461)
		Designated Clothing	Bank			(62)
		Information and publications				(57)
		insurance				(1,450)		(1,269)
		Licence fees				(185)
		Missions - Home				(2,878)		(4,215)
		Missions - Overseas				(5,567)		(4,619)
		Pastor expenses				(1,450)		(1,378)
		Postage				(48)		(38)
		Prayer Room				(1,317)		(2,119)
		Repairs and maintenance				(10,531)		(5,824)
		Safegurading (thirtyone			eight),	(542)		(332)
		Small equipment						(404)
		Speakers expenses and			gifts	(89)		(206)
		Stationery and printing				(6)
		Stewardship				(60)
		Subscriptions				(1,634)		(1,523)
		Telephone and internet				(115)
		Wages and salaries				(29,363)		(24,619)
							(71,911)		(57,314)
Church	House	Church House insurance				(252)		(225)
		Church House Rates				(106)
		Church House utilities				(1,635)		(1,987)
							(1,993)		(2,211)
Net profit/(loss)							660		(1,070)