## **CREDITON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH** **ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** **Charity Registration Number: 1175015** ## **CREDITON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS' REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CREDITON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH** We report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages 2 and 3. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiners** As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of s144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under s145(5)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to our attention. ## **Basis of independent examiners' statement** Our 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 we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent examiners' statement** In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention: - a) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: - i) to keep accounting records in accordance with s41 of the Act; and ii) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or - b) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Stapletons Chartered Certified Accountants 4 Market Street Crediton Devon EX17 2AJ 20 October 2023 ## **CREDITON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH** Page 1 ## **STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** |**Income**
Collections and offerings
Government Grants
Rent
Parking
Community support award and grant
Outreach
Legacy
Interest
**Expenditure**
Salaries
Pastoral and ministry expenses
Light, heat and water
Administrative expenses
Repairs and renewals
Insurance
Fees and donations
Youth and children’s work
Training
Refreshments
Lee Abbey
Outreach (Net expenditure)
Sundry expenses
Bank charges
**Deficit/Excess Income over Expenditure**|**2022**
**£**
89,873
-
31,605
230
-
-
-
163
**121,871**
77,844
2,234
9,830
2,475
10,659
3,990
7,347
1,757
3,057
1,062
692
1,525
409
125
**123,006**
**(1,135)**|**2021**
**£**
100,648
4,766
21,991
460
4,800
102
320
8| |---|---|---| |||**133,095**
76,716
1,352
7,019
1,898
4,108
3,361
5,726
1,549
992
358
-
-
1,829
-| |||**104,908**| |||**28,187**| Page 2 ## **CREDITON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH** ## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022** |**Current Assets**
Current account
Deposit account
Debtors
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
**Net Assets**
**Represented By**
General fund
Causeway fund
Manse repair fund
Puppet fund
**Total Funds**|**2022**
**£**
14,483
80,004
22,040
**116,527**
(4,065)
**112,462**
102,746
1,219
8,497
-
**112,462**|**2021**
**£**
14,539
69,841
41,463| |---|---|---| |||**125,843**
(5,070)| |||**120,773**| |||103,881
1,452
12,771
2,669| |||**120,773**| Page 3 THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES AND USAGES FOR THE TIME BEING OF CONGREGATIONALISM AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN THE FOUNDATION TRUSTS. THE CHURCH MAY ALSO ADVANCE EDUCATION RELIEVE NEED AND CARRY OUT OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. ## Report for Chari-es Commission for year ending 2022. Crediton Congrega-onal Church Nr 1175015 Since the end of the COVID pandemic restricHons the church has run normally with services and other acHviHes. The live streaming of Sunday meeHngs and Church (business) meeHngs has conHnued to enable those to parHcipate who are unwell, on holiday or housebound. This year money has been spent on a replacement sound desk and camera system to ensure the quality of the relaying of our services. Our sermons are also posted on YouTube. Hard copies of sermons and weekly newsleUers are available. Our Christmas service in the town square was aUended well by church and community and was followed up by another service in the square at Easter. We held our Funday in the park again in the Summer, an event for families with food and acHviHes at no cost to our guests. We aim to bless our community and offer a welcome to all our church events. Going out of the church building is seen as very important by church members. their Carers Group grew in number (and noise) and the Adults needed their own space. This group has been popular with the town and several of the older people have begun to come to church on Sundays. They enjoy the companionship of others and are supported by volunteers who bring refreshments, games, and quizzes. A short Easter service was held aXer a lunch for this group and a similar service was also held for the Causeway (learning disabled) weekly group. Community Lunches served monthly are popular. We had was a sense that aXer Covid, people were more open to a new start and were recepHve to greater spiritual input. Other regular events started this year were “Warm Spaces”, and a weekly ConversaHon café for Ukrainian refugees, their hosts, and supporters. Both were hosted by church volunteers. During the year several new appointments were made. Our wonderful Administrator of 6 years reHred and was replaced by someone with 6 years on the Leadership Team. Our Youth worker became our Associate pastor, with a more strategic oversight of Youth work and Children’s ministry, an increase in his preaching and support for Life Groups. In October he also undertook a survey of all using the building which has been useful in planning. A new Kids’ club started, and the Youth Club conHnued to grow. A long- serving officer was succeeded by a new Secretary. Our Treasurer has opted to conHnue in this post. In the light of there being so many volunteers and users of the church, AcHon on Safeguarding is a high priority. A member of the leadership team, who is on the board of trustees, and who has significant professional experience of this work, was appointed as Lead officer working alongside our appointed DSO. New procedures and paperwork were put in place and communicated via training sessions to all relevant people in March. A Code of Conduct was issued to all for their assent. Health and Safety Policies and procedures were updated and communicated. The Church membership was consulted about a proposal for the Leadership team to take part in “Lead Academy” a two-year development programme for church leaders held in Andover. The aim is for Churches interested in growth, to get together to share experience and best pracHce and, with the help of experienced coaches and mentors, to arHculate the best way forward for their own church. It was agreed to fund this, as Hme away from the everyday issues to think and plan was viewed as essenHal. AXer their first weekend away the church meeHng had the opportunity to discuss the Sigmoid Curve and look at the opportuniHes and barriers to growth that we face. This year we had a survey done of our Buildings by our Insurance Company. We had already idenHfied that the main church windows and the Chimneys on the Manse need major aUenHon and no other items idenHfied in the survey gave any cause for concern. Outside the remit of our insurance, we installed acousHc “clouds” in the Karis Hall, our main funcHon room, making it far more usable. Church MeeHngs were held in February, April, June (including AGM for 2021) September, and November. Number of church members: 93 Number of adherents: 50 (?) Signed James Gregory , Chair of Trustees. ## **CCC SURVEY** During October, we surveyed the church community. To help us focus the quesHons a liUle, we idenHfied three groups – regular Sunday aUenders, Sunday guests and mid-week aUenders. ## **SUNDAY ATTENDERS** - 68 responses - 75% of people have been part of CCC for more than 5 years, 5% less than a year - Most people come here from other churches, but 20% were not church aUenders before us - People are involved in the life of the church: - 60% are members - 70% are in a lifegroup and/or have joined a team - 90% give regularly - 40% of people haven’t invited anyone to anything in the last year. But that means 60% of people have, with 10% inviHng 5 or more people - We’re two-thirds female, two-thirds married, and 80% are over 50 years old ## **MID-WEEK GROUPS** - - - 70% don’t go to church, here or anywhere else - ‘probably’) - 50% are interested in gesng more involved (although not all have the Hme) - Mid-week people are mostly female (85%), with a more even spread of age and status (although 50+ and married are sHll the two largest groups) ## **WHAT DOES THIS TELL US?** There’s some really good news here. The numbers suggest a healthy community, with a lot of people staying and growing into the church family, with enough newer people to imply growth. And whilst most people come from other churches, a good number either found faith here, or found faith and then found us appealing enough to try. We’ve got a good level of involvement in church life (although its likely that people who are involved are also more likely to fill in surveys, so we should take this with a pinch of salt). We’re also generally good at inviHng people, but not brilliant. Some of us are, some of us clearly finding it more difficult, and that’s something to explore further. people who join us mid-week have no ‘Sunday church’ connecHon, and it’s encouraging that they choose to join us anyway. Even more encouraging is that almost all of them would invite other ‘nonchurch’ people to CCC events.