Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
A. Reference and Administration Details
The church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) called Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church, registered charity number 1170625.
This report covers the period from 1-Aug-2023 to 31-Jul-2024.
The address of the Church is The Street, Kirby-le-Soken, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex CO13 0EE.
The managing trustees of the charity are:
| Mrs Sandra Stevens | Trustee |
|---|---|
| Mr Keith Munford | Elder |
| Mrs Maralyn Lamont | Trustee |
| Pastor Peter Law | Pastor |
| Mr Peter Millist | Elder |
| Mrs Christine Cooper | Trustee |
All the trustees served for the whole year.
The Pastor is the only permanent employee of the charity. For all its other activities, the church relies on willing volunteers who give their time as and when they are able. Volunteers include members and regular attenders.
The Church is affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC).
The Church bankers are Barclays Bank PLC and Saffron Building Society. Professional advice is received from WRS Limited (Insurance Broker), Christian Safeguarding Service (Child Protection) and FIEC.
B. Structure, governance and management
Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church began in 1968 as a Charitable Unincorporated Association. A new Charitable Incorporated Organisation was set up in 2016 and the church transferred to this on 28 February 2017. At the same time the building was purchased by the church and links with its previous owners were severed.
The church’s governing documents are its Church Constitution and Handbook that were adopted by the members on 13 November 2016 and accepted by the Charity Commission on 8 December 2016, when the CIO was registered.
The Church welcomes into membership anyone who satisfies the requirements specified in its Constitution and Handbook. Members have voting rights and decisions by the membership are made in accordance with the requirements set out those documents.
The Trustees are appointed by the church members in accordance with the governing documents. The Pastor is appointed indefinitely. In August 2024, Keith Munford was reappointed to serve for five years, and Peter Millist was reappointed for two years. The other three managing trustees were elected in June 2023 to serve for a three-year term.
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The trustees aim to meet monthly to (a) discuss the way forward and make recommendations to the membership and (b) to transact the business of the Church in line with the decisions taken by the members of the Church at general meetings which are held quarterly.
The Trustees have reviewed and updated a number of policies during the year, particularly those related to financial reporting, safeguarding and first aid. The Trustees will continue to work on reviewing and updating policies during the coming year.
Training has been completed by all who deal with food preparation, or work with children or vulnerable adults.
C. Objectives and Activities
The purposes of the Church are the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively in Kirby-le-Soken and the surrounding neighbourhood, and such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the members of the Church in general meeting, further the work of the Church.
To achieve these purposes, the Church holds a number of regular meetings and activities which members of the public are welcome to attend. Every Sunday the church meets to worship God and proclaim His Word. Sunday School is now available for any children who attend the Sunday morning service and broadcasting the Sunday services online is now a regular feature, used frequently by people who are unable to attend the meetings in person. In addition, there is a weekly meeting for prayer and Bible Study, a mums and toddler group during term time and a coffee morning through most of the year. During the summer we hold special events, such as Songs of Praise and Harvest Thanksgiving services. In addition to these public meetings, smaller groups meet from time to time for studies tailored to particular needs eg when preparing for baptism, and a number of ladies meet regularly for fellowship and bible study. We make these activities known through a variety of communication tools, leaflets, invitation cards, email notifications, website and social media, plus personal invitation.
D. Achievements and performance
The Church seeks to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the neighbourhood through the services and other activities and again this year there has been a noticeable growth in our membership and in the diversity of our congregations. A baptism service brought much joy to all and resulted in enquiries from others interested in knowing more. The regular activities mentioned above have seen fluctuation in numbers, as a normal part of the changes in life eg as children move on to begin their schooling and as elderly ones are less able to travel but we have also welcomed new people and the summer activities for Harvest and Songs of Praise have provided opportunities for special meetings and meals, which have been very well attended.
Further improvements have been made to the building: the heaters have been replaced, painting and decorating has been carried out and repairs to the roof and other general maintenance activities completed.
During this year, the church gave serious consideration to replacing the Sports Hall, because of its age and deterioration. Architects’ plans were drawn up and builders and demolition experts were consulted for estimated costs. In the months that followed, funds were given to cover most of the costs, and it was agreed that we should apply for planning permission. Demolition of the old structure was completed, and planning permission was granted.
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Missionaries and representatives of several organisations have visited during the period and the church has been pleased to help support them. Speakers have come representing Daylight CPT, AsiaLink, SASRA, AEM and NTM.
E. Financial review
The Church is supported entirely by voluntary contributions (mostly made by standing order) and is grateful to those who give of their time and money to support the work. The accounts cover the year from 1-Aug-2023 to 31-Jul-2024.
Over the year receipts were £139,335 which was 91% higher than last year. £82,540 of the income (59%) was specifically donated to the building fund. Expenditure was £74,842 (down 4%). The end of year balance was £134,746 which is 92% higher than last year.
The general fund stands at £12,135 which is in line with the policy to have between two and four months expenditure in reserve. 10% of the general offerings and credits are transferred each month into both the missionary and building funds.
The Pastoral support fund, which is now closed to new income, stands at £17.9k. Over the year £8.4k has been transferred from the pastoral support fund to the general fund to help to pay the Pastor’s stipend. This transfer of £700 a month is expected to continue for the next two years until the fund closes with a balance of zero. It is expected that the general fund will be able to support the pastor’s stipend from that time without extra subsidy.
As part of our wider ministry, donations of £10,415 have been made over the year to support various missionaries, churches and mission organisations including EMF, NTM, One Mission, Daylight CPT, AEM, AsiaLink, SASRA, CFL.
The funds are held in accounts at Barclays Bank and at Saffron Building Society. There are small cash funds used by the coffee morning and Mums & Toddler group.
A monthly stipend is paid to the Pastor. No other payments have been made to trustees during the year apart from reimbursement of expenditure.
The Building Fund has a balance of £104,443 which should cover the cost of removing the old, dilapidated sports hall and replacing it with a new hall of similar size during the second half of 2024. It is anticipated that by the end of the project, the Building Fund balance will be close to zero.
F. Declaration
I declare, in my capacity of charity trustee, that:
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the trustees have approved the report above: and
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have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.
Christine Cooper 25/10/2024 Signature ___ Date ______ Christine Cooper (Trustee)
Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church is a charitable incorporated organisation (registered charity n umber 1170625)
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Kirby-Le-Soken Evangelical Church The Street, Kirby-le-Soken, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 0EE Church Accounts 2023-24
Receipts and Payments Accounts Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church for the period from 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2024
Section A Receipts and payments
| 2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
|---|---|---|
| A1 RECEIPTS | ||
| Offerings and Donations | £129,154.60 | £65,772.10 |
| Legacies | £0.00 | |
| Tax reclaimed | £8,581.54 | £6,902.86 |
| Interest | £1,599.31 | £222.53 |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £139,335.45 | £72,897.49 |
| A3 PAYMENTS | ||
| Activities | £2,756.02 | £2,070.04 |
| Donations | £10,415.00 | £8,100.00 |
| Ministry | £36,648.13 | £33,667.01 |
| Building upkeep | £25,022.64 | £11,672.65 |
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | £74,841.79 | £55,509.70 |
| Receipts less payments | £64,493.66 | £17,387.79 |
| A5 Transfers between funds | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| A6 Cash funds last year end | £70,252.37 | £52,864.58 |
| Cash Funds this year end | £134,746.03 | £70,252.37 |
18-Sep-2024
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Kirby-Le-Soken Evangelical Church The Street, Kirby-le-Soken, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 0EE Church Accounts 2023-24
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| 2023/24 | 2022/23 | |
|---|---|---|
| B1 Cash funds | ||
| Cash held by Treasurer | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Cash held in Coffee Morning float | £177.61 | £62.11 |
| Cash held in Mums & Toddler float | £22.08 | £25.37 |
| Barclays Bank Accounts | £20,664.28 | £6,878.11 |
| Saffron Building Society Accounts | £113,882.06 | £63,286.78 |
| TOTAL | £134,746.03 | £70,252.37 |
| Representing balances on the following funds | ||
| Church General Fund | £12,135.01 | £17,631.09 |
| Missionary Fund | £82.00 | £536.00 |
| Building Fund | £104,443.33 | £25,711.80 |
| Pastoral Fund | £17,886.00 | £26,286.00 |
| Coffee morning fund | £177.61 | £62.11 |
| Mums & Toddler fund | £22.08 | £25.37 |
| TOTAL | £134,746.03 | £70,252.37 |
| B2 Other Monetary assets | None | None |
| B3 Investment Assets | None | None |
| B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use | ||
| shown at insurance value | ||
| Church building and land | £825,925 | £754,959 |
| Chapel Contents | £39,175 | £38,980 |
| TOTAL | £865,100 | £793,939 |
| B5 Liabilities | None | None |
| Signed on behalf of all the trustees | ||
| K.C.Munford | 18/09/2024 | |
| Signed: _______ | Date: _______ |
Keith Munford (Treasurer)
Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church is a charitable incorporated organisation (registered charity number 1170625)
18-Sep-2024
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Kirby-Le-Soken Evangelical Church The Street, Kirby-le-Soken, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 0EE Church Accounts 2023-24
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Kirby-le-Soken Evangelical Church for the year ended 31 July 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
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 Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection 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.
Simon Nobbs 02/11/2024
Signed: ___ Date: ____
Name Simon Nobbs Retired Treasurer Prettygate Baptist Church
18-Sep-2024
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