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

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