Countess Free Church, Ely
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation )
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
Address: 10 Chapel Street, Ely CB6 1AD Charity Number: 1166937 Bankers: Lloyds Bank PLC
Independent Examiner: Paul O'Brien
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statement of the trust for the period
1 July 2024 - 30 June 2025.
Status
The Charity was incorporated on 5 May 2016 and registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the charity number 1166937. The charity is one of the churches of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion.
Trustees
The trustees are recognised by the membership, in roles of Minister, Elder or Deacon. The current trustees are:
Satyajit Deodhar Minister / Elder (Started September 2024) Helen Atkinson Elder Graham Jarrett Deacon Dawn Maclure Deacon Philip Murfitt Deacon Emad Youssef Deacon Susanne Jessop Deacon (Started April 2025) Stas Vetoshkin Deacon/ Treasurer (Started April 2025)
Objectives
The objects of the CIO for the public benefit are to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs appearing in the Schedule hereto in Ely, Cambridgeshire and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the charity trustees may from time to time think fit.
Countess Free Church, Ely
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Activities
Rev. Satyajit Deodhar joined the leadership team as minister mid-August 2024.
During the year the church has continued in its purpose of worshipping God and serving the local community. This works out through the church-based ministries of Two by Two, Rich Tea Community, and Dads n Kidz as well as members’ involvement in Ely CAP Debt Centre and the Recovery Cafe. The church has continued to support and host the wider activities of Ely Foodbank. A survey of volunteer hours contributed to the local community revealed that over 50 adults regularly volunteer their time and well over 100 people-hours are invested weekly in serving those in need in Ely as a result.
A new ministry was launched in June 2025 pioneered by Rev Deodhar and a team of church volunteers. A ‘Chill and Chat’ café was opened weekly on Friday mornings to create a welcoming space for anyone from the local community to drop in, share refreshments and chat. It also hosts IT support, signposts to other services and a prayer room is available. In discussion with members of the local district council, the cafe will develop into one of the designated ‘warm space’ centres in the autumn term 2025. We pray this will be a place of connection for people which can demonstrate Jesus’ love in action.
The membership of the church has remained stable with two new members joining, balanced by others leaving as they moved away. Baptisms have included two young people journeying forward in their faith. Cate Allen completed her placement (with stipend) for the church in August 2024. We celebrated with her in June 2025 as she was ordained as a Baptist Minister in a service led by the Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Gale Richards. In April 2025, Cate was appointed as Heart and Soul Chaplain at Fulbourn Hospital and ministers there during the week and for 3 in 4 Sundays a month.
Regular free-will giving to our General Fund was maintained across the year. Some savings which accumulated in 2023-24 (when the church did not pay a ministerial stipend during the inter-regnum) were used to support relocation costs for the new minister. Additional costs were budgeted for in the year 2023-24 to allow manse refurbishment – interior decoration – and also external repairs of windows of the manse and church. Payment of these bills in the financial year 2024-2025 led to a reduction of the renovation fund of around £8000. The General Fund closed the year £6,500 lower than 2024 with a balance just over £55,500.
We maintained the same lettings level for the premises (£10,318), which helped us cover maintenance expenses for the manse and church building. Across the year operational costs were well controlled, with the church benefiting from pre-existing fixed-rate energy contracts for both church and manse buildings. These contracts ended in February 2025 and the church will budget for a higher cost going forward.
During the year, there were no significant building works, only minor repairs and modest improvements. The JM – Pioneer Fund was used for the Minister in Training placement until the end of August 2024. The Church continues with a monthly commitment of £200 from the fund until August 2026 for Karl and Karen’s pioneer work on the New Lubbesthorpe development, where they are building community and a new expression of church.
The Communion Fund continues to support those in difficult times or circumstances, with over £1,700 having been spent on 'blessing people' throughout the year. Our support for CAP continued and together with individuals' gifts, the Church transferred over £3,500 to St Marys Church for use in the local CAP Debt Centre. Our support of other charities which share our aim of advancing the gospel in the UK or abroad continued, totalling over £7,720. This represents 12.3% of the regular General Fund giving & linked gift aid, and thus above our target of 11%.
Countess Free Church, Ely
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Serious Incidents
The Trustees confirm that there are no serious incidents to report regarding operations in the period 24-25.
Risk Analysis and Reserves Policy
The Trustees confirm that major risks to which the Charity is exposed are reviewed regularly. The Charity aims to hold unrestricted reserves sufficient to cover between 4 and 8 months of normal ministry expenditure, which at current estimates equates to between £28,000 (4 months) and £56,000 (8 months). This level of reserves also provides the Church with enough money to cover monthly giving and expenditure cash flow variations, and sufficient levels to cover unforeseen additional ministry expenditure. The lower amount would also cover obligations in the event of sudden unplanned closure. Currently, our General Fund amounts to approximately £55,578, comfortably at the upper end of the Charity’s need.
Rev. Satyajit Deodhar Mr Stanislav Vetoshkin Dr Helen Atkinson (Minister/Elder) (Treasurer) (Elder)
Countess Free Church, Ely
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE COUNTESS FREE CHURCH, ELY
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the period ended 30 June 2025, which are set out on page 5 & 6
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Paul O'Brien – Independent Examiner
Countess Free Church, Ely
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Countess Free Church Ely - 1166937
Statement of Financial Activities
For the period from 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Prior year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | funds | funds | total funds | ||
| Income and endowments from: | ||||||
| Donations and legacies | 69,419 | 2,044 |
- | 71,464 | 71,321 | |
| Other trading activities | 10,318 | - |
- | 10,318 | 10,981 | |
| Investments | 1,706 | - |
- | 1,706 | 1,689 | |
| Income from charitable activities | 2,219 | - |
- | 2,219 | 2,692 | |
| Other income | - | - |
- | - | - | |
| Total income | 83,663 | 2,044 |
- | 85,707 | 86,683 | |
| Expenditure on: | ||||||
| Raising funds | - | - |
- | - | - | |
| Expenditure on charitable | ||||||
| activities | 89,914 | 8,473 |
- | 98,387 | 57,384 | |
| Other expenditure | - | - |
- | - | - | |
| Total expenditure | 89,914 | 8,473 |
- | 98,387 | 57,384 | |
| Net income / (expenditure) resources before | ||||||
| transfer | -6,251 | -6,429 |
- | -12,680 | 29,298 | |
| Transfers: | ||||||
| Gross transfers between funds - in | 14,610 | 9,300 |
- | 23,910 | 22,450 | |
| Gross transfers between funds - out | -22,810 | -1,100 |
- | -23,910 | -22,450 | |
| Other recognised gains / losses | ||||||
| Gains/losses on investment assets | - | - |
- | - | - | |
| Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's | ||||||
| own use | - | - |
- | - | - | |
| Net movement in funds | -14,451 | 1,771 |
- | -12,680 | 29,298 | |
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||||
| Total funds brought forward | 77,587 | 30,4689 |
- | 108,056 | 78,758 | |
| Total funds carried forward | 63,136 | 32,240 |
- | 95,376 | 108,056 |
Notes on page 7
As at
As at
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown
Countess Free Church, Ely
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Countess Free Church Ely - 1166937
Balance Sheet (Summary)
| 30/06/2025 | 30/06/2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets | ||
| - | - | |
| Current assets | ||
| Debtors | 495 | 459 |
| Cash At Bank And In Hand | 94881 | 107597 |
| 95376 | 108056 | |
| Liabilities | ||
| - | - | |
| Net current assets less current liabilities | 95376 | 108056 |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 95376 | 108056 |
| Liabilities | ||
| - | - | |
| Total net assets less liabilities | 95376 | 108056 |
| Represented by | ||
| Unrestricted | ||
| Unrestricted - General Funds | 55578 | 62045 |
| Designated | ||
| Designated - Children and Young | ||
| People | 1109 | 1013 |
| Designated - Renovation | 5741 | 14033 |
| Designated - World Vision | 707 | 497 |
| Restricted | ||
| Restricted - Christians against | ||
| poverty | 524 | 735 |
| Restricted - Communion | 759 | (249) |
| Restricted - JM Pioneer | 30593 | 29434 |
| Restricted - Rich Tea Community | 364 | 549 |
| Fund Totals | 95376 | 108055.79 |
Notes
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Debtors – represents one lettings invoice not yet paid from the financial year (24-25) and three lettings in credit.
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Cash at Bank and in hand – there were no uncleared cheques as of 30th June.
Countess Free Church, Ely
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Countess Free Church Ely - 1166937 Statement of Financial Activities
For the period from 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
Notes for Statement of financial activities:
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There were no special grants received by the Church during this year
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Expenditure on charitable activities includes £27388 on stipend costs and £1,678 on manse utilities. These costs are for the employment of the Satyajit Deodhar as a paid trustee as per the provisions of the Charity constitution.
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Expenditure on charitable activities includes £7873 on material & labour supplied for redecoration manse, window repair, new curtain and carpet fitting, £7150 on material & labour supplied for church redecoration.
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Relocation expenses: £5773 includes relocation and labour fee, new furniture for the manse
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown
Countess Free Church, Ely
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