Mustard Seed Evangelical Church
Elder/Trustee Report 2023
At the Members meeting on 23[rd] March 2022, half the membership resigned and left the meeting due to being prevented from closing the CIO underpinning the Mustard Seed Church.
To comply with the Church Constitution and Handbook, together with the requirements of the CIO, it was necessary to appoint Acting Elders, Acting Trustees and a leadership committee.
There was no handover of information whatsoever but despite the difficulties, our Lord provided our every need.
The scope of this report is up to 30[th] March 2023.
The Leadership committee met every week at the outset, with the aim of reopening the church on 17[th] April 2022. The church was cleaned and prepared and the heating system was set to work.
The Lord blessed us and the church re-opened on Resurrection Day (17[th] April) with a congregation of over 40! We were greatly encouraged by two young families joining the service and have been coming regularly since then.
A retired pastor, known to the church, kindly offered to help by preaching for five weeks from the start. This proved popular and he continued through the summer together with visiting speakers and missionaries. He subsequently volunteered to be our pastor from October for the next 18 months until Easter 2024.
Tragically our secretary, Geraldine Parkyn, passed away in January '23. She was a prime mover in establishing the church and has been greatly missed by us all. The Deacon took over the task of arranging visiting speakers and the Treasurer took on the secretarial duties until such time new members can assist with the workload.
The music and video technicalities were overcome and suggestions from Emmanuel Bodmin Church to use a software package ‘iSingWorship’, has proved invaluable.
The hearing aid magnetic loop did not work with the transmission of the video/audio for worship This has since been investigated and rectified.
The cross, banners and Pastor history boards have all been reinstated, having been removed by the previous pastor.
The electrical installation tests have been carried out and approved along with portable appliance tests.
The fire extinguishers and equipment have been certified, (a new Co2 extinguisher was installed to replace one that was out of date).
Smoke detectors, heat detector and CO detector (all linked) have been installed and are tested weekly.
Disabled toilet alarms along with emergency lighting is also checked weekly.
The church flat responsibility has continued and the necessary gas and electricity certification obtained and the boiler serviced.
A new mustard seed church sign has been put on to the entrance window over the entrance doors.
The Parlour is still being used by the Food Bank and during the winter they started using the lower hall as a ‘warm place’ - and a drop-in centre called ‘Warm and Toasty’ Mon – Fri 10am to 4pm.
This continued as the ‘Open Doors Community Hub’ throughout the spring and will continue through the summer. They are supporting the community by offering free food, a place to meet others, providing activities and Citizen’s Advice Bureau consultations to deal with benefits and numerous other issues causing stress in the community.
The lower hall is also used Friday evenings by Alcoholics Anonymous.
Aside of the regular Sunday service, the church started an evening service, once a month, throughout the winter. The second Tuesday of each month hosts a prayer meeting and a regular ‘Life Group’ started every Tuesday evening to discuss the sermon of the previous Sunday service, chaired by our pastor.
As the initial problems are being overcome and the church is once again established in the area, membership is increasing. We are looking at how the Mustard Seed can move forward and hope to inject new ideas incorporating the needs of the congregation and spreading the work load. We will also be reviewing some of the church policies.
The Lord has certainly kept His hand on His church and we are excited at the way it is moving forward. We are confident He will continue to bless and lead us in the coming weeks/months and years.
1.
THE MUSTARD SEED EVANGELICAL CHURCH
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT – YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 2023
| INCOME Property Rental Income Offerings & Covenants Donations incl Hall Missionary Gifts etc Other Income Interest Received TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Repayment of Donations Cheque Payment to Maurice Wright Pastor Expenses & Salary Missionaries, Charities & Speakers Repairs & Renewals (incl Sound Eqpt) Sundries, Cleaning, Books & Music Licences Water Rates Insurance Light & Heat Let Property Expenses TOTAL EXPENDITURE SURPLUS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE BEFORE TRANSFERS BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Fund - 2023 2022 Building Fund £ £ £ £ 6600 - 6600 6600 6591 - 6591 2820 1400 - 1400 751 371 - 371 - 168 - 168 - 608 - 608 16 |
|---|---|
| 15738 - 15738 10187 |
|
| - - - 600 - - - 1000 930 - 930 3659 1665 - 1665 80 2049 - 2049 297 1201 - 1201 64 232 - 232 69 1045 - 1045 945 2425 - 2425 1555 770 - 770 1000 |
|
| 10317 - 10317 9269 |
|
| 5421 - 5421 918 238300 - 238300 237382 |
|
| 243721 - 243721 238300 |
2.
THE MUSTARD SEED EVANGELICAL CHURCH
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st MARCH, 2023
| FIXED ASSETS – Tangible The Mustard Seed Let Property CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank and in Hand CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS Financed by : Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds – Building Fund |
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Fund - Building Fund |
Total Total 2023 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| £ £ 68496 - 117284 - |
£ £ 68496 68496 117284 117284 |
|
| 185780 - |
185780 185780 |
|
| 58581 - |
58581 53058 |
|
| 58581 - |
58581 53058 |
|
| 640 - |
640 538 |
|
| 57941 - |
57941 52520 |
|
| 243721 - |
243721 238300 |
|
| 243721 238300 - - 243721 238300 |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS
Report to the Trustees/Members of The Mustard Seed Evangelical Church
On Accounts for the year ended 3 1 0 3 2 3 Set out on pages 1 & 2
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the Accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act, and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
a) Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act
-
b) To follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act, and
-
c) To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 you as 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 material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
1) The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
-
2) The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
3) The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view, which is not a matter considered as part of the independent examination.
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.
| Signed Name Professional Qualification Address |
21stSeptember, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Farr | |||
| FCCA | |||
| 52 Fore Street, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 7AJ | |||