OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

← St. Stephen's Church, Middleton

2025-06-30-accounts

St. Stephen's Church (Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion) High Street, Middleton, Manchester, M24 6DX. Registered Charity Number 1171467 Trustees Annual Re th ort to 30 June 2025 Until 3, February 2017 St. Stephen, s Church was a constituent part of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion charity. reference 23?674. On the 3, February ?017 the church was separntely registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), reference 1171467. th This report including financial statements covers the year from I" July ?0?4 to 30 June 2025, the seventh full year of the charity. Aims and Ob. ectives The objects of the CIO for the public benefit are to advance the Christian faith, in accordance with the statement of beliefs, in Middleton, Manchester and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the charity trustees may from time to time think fit. The CIO is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of the worshipping community at St. Stephen's. When plannin8 our activities for the year we have considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit. In particular we try to enable people to live out their faith as part of the community throu8h: Worship and prayer Teaching and development of their knowledge and trust in Jesus Provision of pastoral support Missionary and outreach work Working with children To facilitate this work we maintain the fabric of the church buildings. Achievements and Performance Ministry Pastoral duties up to the I" November 20?5 were undertaken by the church leadership. Durin8 the year the church carried out a recruitment process , culminating in the appointment of Mr Alex Calo as part time Pastor of the church on l November 2025. Sunday Worship The church has been open for worship on every Sunday during the year. Numbers attending services have been relatively stable during the year. Guest speakers/lay preachers and members of the congregation lead the teaching within the church. The trustees and church family pass on their thanks for this valuable and spirit-led teaching. Mid-week Meetings The monthly coffee and chat meeting has continued during the year. There is a weekly prayer and bible study meeting again led by church members. The weekly Good News Club for children aged 4 to I I has continued during tenn time with up to 12 children attending. This is

a session of bible teaching, games and crdft activities, generally led by members of the church fellowship. Ecumenical and Local Mission The church fellowship is very aware of the need to maintain and improve links to the local community, both within the geographical area of the church and the wider church community in Middleton. The church continues to support the Middleton Central Food Bank. The church fellowship has a policy of making the church hall available for as much use as possible. The main reason for this is for the church to be seen as being used as part of the community, but it also raises some income for the church. During the year the hall continued to be used as a polling station, and a local church group, Grace Fellowship Manchester has used the premises on Sunday afternoons. Middleton Brass Band, Middleton Music Society, and Middleton Art Society ajso make use of the church hall. External Mission The fellowship continues to support the wider mission of the body of Christ. The church tithes all voluntary giving, which is used for the support of external Christian charitable work. The main recipients were the Sierra Leone Mission, the Missionary arm of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion and the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion Home Mission Fund. Additional gifts were made to Tear Fund, Evanbielical Alliance and Middleton Food Bank. 200th Church Anniversary Celebration th During year the church celebrated the ?00 Anniversary of the church forniation as part of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion , when the original church building was built in 18?4. A number of well supported activities took place in the early part of the year, which Ih culminated in our Church Anniversary weekend of the l ?th113 October ?0?4. Volunteers The church fellowship cannot function without the assistance of volunteers. As we are a small fellowship virtually all members contribute in some way to the running of the church in a voluntary capacity. Property The church continues to maintain a church worship centre and hall, together with a manse property which is currently rented out until required by a resident minister. FinAncial Review Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £33,100.90, after £1696.29 was transferred into the Tithe account (?0?4 - £271fv1.46 and £1,640). Restricted funds of £?,647.? I were received, including the transfer from unrestricted funds (2024 - £2,3?1.83}, the remainder being predominantly for the church flower fund and external charities. There was a reduction in payments during the year, with total payments of £13,430.59 (2024 19?39.37. The main reason for this was the letting of the church manse. with significant expenditure in ?024 on preparin8 the property for lettin8, and a reduction in energy costs. The net result for the year was an excess of income over expenditure of £25,940.61, (2024- £9,?80.09) taking into account outstanding tax refunds and interest. The unrestricied assets

balance at the year-end was £102,899.16. Of this £55,000 has been designated for the support of future paid ministy, as current income will be insufficient to cover this, and £40,000 for the provision of necessary repairs to the church, as the church needs internal and external redecoration, new windows and the heating system is over 50 years old. At the year end there was £659.?6 held as restricted funds for church organisations, £3,744.82 in the Tithe fund and £780.00 of donations and legacies held for specific purposes. Reserves Polic It is the church policy to maintain an unrestricted balance of six months unrestricted expenditure or £6,000 whichever is greater to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. The balance of £7,899.16 is close to the target. Administrative information The church is situated at High Street, Middleton, Manchester M?4 6DX, and is a mernber of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. The church is a registered CIO since 3, February 20) 7. The Trustees that have served during the year a￿ :. Mr Graham Squibbs Chair Mrs Margaret Dixon Mrs Marrie Haworth Miss Alison Wood. Statements During the year there have been no serious incidents or loss of funds that would pose a serious risk to the Charities beneficiaries, resources or reputation. Declaration I declare that this is a true report and in my capacity of Chair of Trustees l am authorised to sign it on behalf of the Trustees. Name.. Graham A. Squibbs Signature: Ih Date: 13 March 2026

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of St. Stephen's Church. Middleton On accounts for the year ended 30TH June 2025 Charlty no (If any) 1171467 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3010612025. Responslbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). l ￿port in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examlnerfs statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned. Date: 1310312026 Name: Anthony Clarkson Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (If any): Address: 55 Todmorden Road. Littleborough. Rochdale, OL15 9EA