## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
**Charity Registration no. 1176710**
## **Annual Report and Accounts**
## **31 December 2025**
Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church
25 Main Avenue Enfield EN1 1DJ www.bhpurc.org.uk
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report and Accounts 2025 Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Annual Report of the Trustees**|**2**|
|**Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees**|**13**|
|**Receipts and payments account**|**14**|
|**Statement of assets and liabilities**|**15**|
|**Notes to the accounts**|**16**|
_1_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
The Trustees (who are the Elders) have pleasure in presenting their report and the examined financial statements of Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church (“the Church”) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
## **1. Reference and Administrative Information**
## **1.1 Charity Name and Number**
Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church (Registered Charity No. 1176710) is a Church in Enfield, North London. The Church was established in 1887.
## **1.2 Affiliations**
The church is part of the Enfield and East Hertfordshire Local Area Group of the Thames North Synod of the United Reformed Church.
## **1.3 Principal Address**
Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church, 25 Main Avenue, Enfield EN1 1DJ.
## **1.4 Trustees**
The Trustees (who are the Elders) who served during the year or who were serving at the date of this report were:
Holding Trustee: URC Thames North Trust Managing Trustees: Lynda Cook Elder & Secretary (term finished 31[st] December 2025) Martin Hamblin Elder & Treasurer Andrew Caddies Elder
## **1.5 Professional Advisers and Agents**
The principal professional advisers and agents employed by the Church as at the date of this report are as follows:
Bankers The Co-Operative Bank Plc P O Box 250, Delf House Skelmersdale WN8 6WT Independent Stephen Hendy Examiner Data Developments First Floor, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT
_2_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **2. Structure, Governance & Management**
## **2.1 The Governing Documents**
The activities of the Church are overseen by the Elders’ Meeting of the Church in accordance with the trusts distilled from The United Reformed Church Acts (1972 and 1981) and Scheme of Union (1972), and are supplemented by the rules of the Church (dated 1994).
## **2.2 Trustees**
The Church has two classes of trustees as follows:
## **2.2.1 Managing Trustees**
Those members of the Elders’ Meeting of (Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church) who are qualified to serve as charity trustees are collectively the Charity Trustees of the Charity and are appointed and shall act in accordance with the procedures for the time being laid down by the Church Meeting of (Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church) which shall be in conformity with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church. Elders are elected by the Church Members and serve for a period of three years. An Elder may be elected to serve for further terms of three years. After nine years continuous service an Elder shall not be eligible for election until one year has elapsed.
The Elders meet at least 4 times per annum to discuss a full range of matters relating to finance, fabric, general administration, the implementation of the church constitution, pastoral matters and responsibility for the keeping of the church membership roll.
None of the Church’s officers receive remuneration from the church.
The induction process for any church member newly-appointed to the Elders comprises an initial meeting with the Minister(s) or Secretary and receipt of copies of:
- the Church Constitution
- the most recent financial statements
- the Charity Commission’s guidance ‘The Essential Trustee’.
## **2.2.2 Holding Trustee**
The holding trustee is responsible for holding the Church’s land and buildings under the trusts declared in Schedule 2 of the United Reformed Church Act 1972 (as amended by the United Reformed Church Acts 1981 and 2000) and those held on other specifically declared trusts.
## **2.3 Church Members**
Church Membership is open to those who make a declaration of faith in accordance with the statement concerning the nature faith, and order of the United Reformed Church and section 21, Schedule A, of the Scheme of Union and have their membership application accepted by the Church Members’ Meeting.
Church Members share in the responsibility for the finances, administration, maintenance and activities of the church and elect the Elders. Church Members meet at least three times per annum for business meetings, and receive reports from the Elders.
_3_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **3. Objectives, Activities & Strategies**
## **3.1 Objective**
The object of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church. This is achieved through its activities and the facilities offered to the community by its building, and described more specifically in its mission statement as: Growing Christians through worship, fellowship and witness.
## **3.2 Activities**
Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church is an urban, multi-ethnic, community church, with a membership of 25 plus 10 regular adherents. Sunday worship has average attendance of 19 with over 55 attending special services such as Brigade Enrolment and Christmas. Our services are also live streamed each week via our YouTube channel enabling those who are unable to attend in person to take part in worship either live or at a time suitable to them. An average of 16 people watch part of our YouTube services each week.
The Elders have given due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The Elders believe that the Church provides benefit to the public by:
- providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for the congregation and for anyone else who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers;
- promoting Christian values and service by members of the congregation to the community, for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole;
- providing facilities for local charities to promote their organisations;
- providing resources and facilities for use by the local community.
During the year the Church continued to carry out the following activities in order to promote the Gospel in the local neighbourhood:
- Sunday Morning Worship
- Special Services
- Boys Brigade
- Girls Brigade
- Bible Study
- Book Club
- Baby and Toddlers
- Coffee Time
- Gifts to those in need
_4_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **4. Achievements and Performance**
## **Minister’s Report**
2025 has been a continued time of making sure we are compliant with our policies. The most recent drive has been around risk assessments.
There seems to be a closer sense of working together between the three churches in the pastorate without compromising each church’s uniqueness.
We have seen a continual flow of new people visiting our church with some people returning occasionally. There is also continued commitment from our regular church family which is wonderful.
Our individual groups within the church continue and I have been in contact with most of them regularly. I have continued to concentrate on building up the relationships within the church groups, for example the Thursday morning coffee group, over this past year, so that people can really get to know me.
In March, with financial support from Enfield council, the church put on a free Fun Day which was extremely well supported by the community. We had over 350 people come through the gates to enjoy the various inflatables, craft, games and refreshments. We felt this should continue as a yearly event and that we should encourage people to let us contact them as a follow up.
Over the Lent period I appreciated the help of Lisa Hamblin, when we did a short course on the benefits to others and self around generosity.
The annual jumble sale was organised by 2nd Enfield Boys Brigade who continue to meet weekly on a Monday evening during term time. We have been overjoyed that some of our older teenagers have stayed on as young leaders.
I went to this year’s Isle of Wight BB camp in August and was welcomed wholeheartedly into the camp. This welcome and acceptance was shown with buckets of cold water! There was a lot of fun shared and the younger boys were cared for by the older boys which was lovely to see.
The church continues to enjoy the recent redecorations and how our discipleship space has been established, thanks to the support of Revd. Eddie Boon. The Elders and preachers now pray in this space before the weekly service rather than going into one of the back rooms.
Sadly, we have had a couple of funerals of those connected to the church which brings sorrow but we were particularly thankful to be able to scatter the ashes of one member after one of our joint services. It was a moment when the pastorate could support the church member’s relative, who goes to one of the other churches in the pastorate, as one church family in an act of togetherness.
We had the pleasure of hosting a wedding of a couple with close connections with Boys Brigade and the church. The church was filled with such joy and the service was led by Revd Martin Legg with me assisting, as he had baptised the bride when she was a baby and was asked before I was called as minister.
The work around our carbon footprint continues with the church being chosen as one of four churches for a pilot scheme in Thames North Synod. The eco-team are looking at ways in which the building can become more ecoefficient and eco-friendly.
The year has concluded with our usual Christmas community carol events. There were four very successful evenings when the BB band played around the streets of Bush Hill Park. These evenings ended with hot dogs and hot chocolate. A couple of BHP members supported Christ Church musically at their Christmas tree festival Carol service, which was appreciated by all.
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
We enjoyed the BB and GB Nativity play based on a grumpy inn keeper who sends numerous unexpected visitors ‘round the back’ of his inn but who finally finds joy himself because of the birth of baby Jesus. Our year ended with our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services concluding with a joint service at Christ Church.
It’s been a busy year but we are seeing green shoots of growth not just in numbers but in our own discipleship. Thanks to everyone in BHP’s church family for all they do. Here’s to 2026 in eager anticipation of what God has in store for us at BHP URC.
God bless, Ruth.
## **Ruth Dewis**
## **Secretary’s Report**
2025 continued to be a steady year for Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church with the leadership of Reverend Ruth Dewis now well established. Ruth and her husband Stuart have been fantastic additions to our Church family and we look forwards to continuing our work together into 2026.
The Church and premises continue to be in constant use by our church groups and a variety of community groups. This footfall continues to be a great opportunity to help our Church engage with the local and wider community with the prayerful hope that we can encourage them into the church. This increasing usage of our assets allows us to be financially stable.
In March we had a community fun day, supported by the local council, and over 350 people attended. In April Ruth ran a Youth Alpha for the Senior Boys Brigade members. In June we had a Joint Pastorate prayer weekend at Lancaster Road.
The Church is always delighted to support our youth organisations and has been grateful that the Boys Brigade company are still growing in numbers, though the Girls Brigade is seeing a fall in numbers due to families moving away from London.
Numbers attending worship have been very slowly rising and it has been a delight to welcome a variety of new people attending worship.
## **Lynda Cook**
## **Book Club**
There are still only three of us but we continued to meet at the local Dunelm café to chat over the latest chosen book except for a couple of times when we met at the home of one member after she sustained fractures.
Over the year we read: An anatomy of a scandal by Sarah Vaughan; An unwanted inheritance by Imogen Clark; Before the swallows come back by Fiona Curnow; The Crash by Kate Furnivall; A long petal of the Sea by Isobel Allende; The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier; The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods; The Devil’s Bargain by Stella Rimington; Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza; The Last Secret by Pippa Latour; Death on Skye by Aline Templeton and A Bird in Hand by Ann Cleeves.
## **Sylvia Page**
## **Boys Brigade**
We started the session in September 2024 and it ran until August 2025. We had seven members in the Anchor boys, 11 members in the Junior section and 25 members in the Company section.
During the year there were lots of competitions that we took part in, including the Swimming Gala, Athletics competition, 5-a-side football competition, Hare & Hounds races, bowling competition and laser quest competition. In addition, the Anchor Boys all took part in the colouring competition.
On Monday evenings the Junior section and Company sections met for a range of activities that cover lots of different topics and themes, but generally fell into one of six areas: "crafts"; "skills"; Adventure"; "community"; "Fitness" and "faith".
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
During the summer months all three sections moved into the summer session, which means the activities are more adventure based and often involve games and sports over the park or trips to activity centres. We took the boys to a high ropes course, zip line centre, canoeing centre, trampoline park, rock climbing centre, plus arranged lots of our own outward-bound activities in the local forest including bridge building, orienteering and wide games. Also, during the year we ran a number of fundraising events including a quiz night and a jumble sale, to raise money to help towards the costs for summer camp and running the company.
In February/March 2025 up to eight of our Senior boys attended a 5 week Youth Alpha course led by Ruth.
In June 2025 we took six of our Senior boys on a sailing trip on the Norfolk Broads. During the trip the boys stayed on board their own 1950’s sailing boat, sleeping in small births and cooking all their own meals on board. During the day, qualified skippers instructed the boys on how to sail a boat. The trip was a great success and gave the boys a unique experience and showed them something completely new and exciting.
At the end of July 2025, we ended the session by taking 17 very excitable lads away for a week-long summer camp at Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight. We camp in traditional white canvas ridge tents and keep the boys busy from dawn till dusk. This year it was a very hot camp, which meant we had plenty of reasons for some good old water fights. Our theme for this year’s camp was Star Wars.
At the end of the session in August 2025, eight of our Senior boys reached the end of their time in the company. I am very pleased to say that six of those boys returned as young helpers as we started the new term in September 2025. All existing members have returned. The current boys are very committed to the company and we have very good support from the parents. Plans are now well underway for lots of activities, trips, and camps in 2026.
**Andrew Caddies**
## **Coffee Time**
We met on a Thursday morning about 10:30 – 12:00 on the second and fourth of each month. With coffee and/or tea and cake/biscuits up to ten of us chatted, discussed and enjoyed time with church friends. We even occasionally enjoyed a quiz to test our knowledge. Halfway through the year it was decided to rename to Coffee Time and meet every Thursday morning. Thoughts of helping those with dementia and their carers did not materialise but the weekly meeting continued.
For Advent we installed the Christmas decorations. We also prepared home-made decorations for a tree at Christ Church for their Christmas Tree Festival. This was fun, if hard work for others with little or no craft talent. It was well received and our tree came fourth out of around a dozen in the competition. We intend to continue to meet weekly hoping more will join us.
**Sylvia Page**
## **Community Focus Group**
In 2025 we completed the refurbishment of the church lounge and prayer area. New furniture, lights and artwork where installed. The project is now complete, and the focus group will now meet to plan the next project. An ongoing theme for the group is community outreach and trying to engage with local community. In March 2025 the church ran a community fun day, which involved the entire church congregation. We hired in lots of inflatables, ran multiple craft session, had a magician and also ran a family bingo session.
The day was a great success and very well attended with over 350 local people coming along during the afternoon. The plan is to repeat this project in March 2027.
**Andrew Caddies**
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **Eco Church**
An Eco Church group restarted meeting in 2025 after a lack of focus. The A Rocha Eco Church award has updated its criteria for each award and we now do not meet the criteria for bronze. The questionnaire gives you help for improving in all areas, this is what the Eco Church group are now working on.
We are also working with Thames North Synod who have arranged an Eco Feasibility Report. We look forward to continuing to worth through this with the Synod and hope this will form the basis to begin reducing our carbon footprint and energy use.
During 2025 we sent 3.02kg of cheese wrappers and 4.22kg of biscuit & snack wrappers for recycling via Terracycle. In 2026 we will only be able to accept bread packaging and biscuit & snack wrappers, you can take your cheese and snack wrappers to supermarkets for recycling. Full details of our recycling programmes can be viewed at https://bhpurc.org.uk/community/recycle/
## **Lisa Hamblin & Stuart Dewis**
## **Girls Brigade**
It was not such a good year for us this year. Three of our girls have moved away from London, so numbers have reduced significantly. Also, age and ill health are catching up with our leaders.
I have the help of four ladies, Chris Hall, Sue Stubbs, Victoria Thompson and Margaret Trevallion and I am grateful for their support.
With our WhatsApp group we stay connected with the parents and exchange news and meeting details.
In truth we are prayerfully considering if we will be able to continue for much longer, with training for church work and training for the brigade being duplicated, and age and infirmity catching up with us all proving to be too demanding.
## **Lynda Cook**
## **Informal Cinema Group**
There were far fewer visits this year. Prices had risen so much we were more selective but did see ‘Downton Abbey-The Grand Finale’ and some made a visit to Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar for Christmas Memories.
It is uncertain how long our local Cineworld will stay open but we will meet when we can combining with a meal or coffee and chat before or after.
## **Sylvia Page**
## **Prayers**
Prayers relating to individual, local, national, international and environmental topics are requested via the Church WhatsApp Group. A monthly prayer plan is published in our Newsletter, a prayer is included in our Sunday news sheet and prayer topics are regularly shared on the Church Facebook page. As a congregation, along with the other churches in our Pastorate, we join in the ‘Leading your church into growth’ prayer, before each act of worship, and church/elders’ meetings.
## **Martin Hamblin**
## **Overseas Sponsorship**
We support the charity Beyond Ourselves, who work in Zambia partnering with community schools; empowering their senior leadership teams to run their schools more effectively. They also have ongoing feeding programmes at their partner schools which provide a hot meal to each school child every school day.
They also develop education resources with local specialists and are working with the Zambian Ministry of Education to train teachers in the Jolly Phonics literacy programme.
Beyond Ourselves also promotes the dignity and well-being of the girl-child by partnering with schools to teach girls about their identity, worth and significance in God by facilitating Dignity Days and the Cherished Dignity
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
mentoring programme as well as sexual health training.
Through the McCabe Educational Trust, we also supported the Al-Shurooq School for Blind Children in Palestine. The school provides total care and education for children aged from two upwards, who are brought to them. Some pay a small contribution towards their upkeep, as their families are able, but many are from very poor families or have been abandoned. The focus is on rehabilitation and integration into the local community. In the face of numerous challenges, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza, lockdowns, and the imposition of multiple checkpoints between cities, they remain dedicated to the mission of ensuring that blind children have access to the education they rightfully deserve.
## **Martin Hamblin**
## **Toddlers Group**
This was a challenging year running Toddlers on a Wednesday morning because the numbers were so few. Under school age the children are accompanied by parents, grandparents, or child-minders. It would appear that the children of this age group are just not in Bush Hill Park.
I was so pleased to have the help of Alison, and Chris.
We had up to ten children most weeks mainly with three child-minders but this only lasted until the summer break as one of the child-minders retired. Since September there have usually only been six or seven children but it is so good to see them grow with confidence.
Closure has been discussed but we feel this is part of the mission of the church. We know that child-minders are excluded from some of the Toddler Groups in Enfield and it is good that we can provide for them a large hall and different toys as they care for their charges and they learn to mix with others.
**Sylvia Page**
_9_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **5. Financial Review**
## **5.1 Financial Activity and Financial Position**
The Church is funded by the freewill offerings of members and others in attendance and also by income generated by the letting of the church premises.
The Receipts and Payments Account and the Statement of Assets & Liabilities can be found on pages 14 and 15 respectively. The Church’s net cash increased by £28,183 during the year (2024 – decreased by £16,291). The Statement of Assets & Liabilities shows total assets of £606,726 (2024: £550,556) and total liabilities of £nill (2024: £nill).
Included in cash are amounts totalling £6,082 (2024: £5,564) which are restricted. These monies have either been raised for, and their use restricted to, specific purposes, or they comprise donations subject to donorimposed conditions.
## **5.2 Reserves Policy**
The Elders have examined the requirements for free cash reserves, i.e. unrestricted cash funds. The Elders consider that, given the nature of the Church’s work, free reserves should be equivalent to approximately 6 months’ routine general fund expenditure, plus committed future expenditure on other projects, where funds permit. The Elders are of the opinion that this provides sufficient flexibility to cover temporary shortfalls in incoming resources and will allow the Church to cope and respond to unforeseen emergencies whilst specific action plans are implemented. At 31 December 2025 the Church had net free cash reserves of £115,385 (2024: £87,202).
|**Total cash reserves**
Less: restricted funds
**Free reserves**
**Free reserves requirement:**
6 month’s budgeted routine expenditure|**2025**|**2024**
**£**
**92,766**
(5,564)
**87,202**
**37000**
**37,000**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**||
||**121,467**||
||(6,082)||
||||
||**115,385**||
||||
||||
||**37,000**||
||||
||**37,000**||
||||
## **5.3 Investment Policy**
The church currently invests spare funds in interest bearing bank accounts. All investments are held in accounts which do not allow investment in fossil fuels following our pledge supporting the Bright Now’s Fossil Free Church declaration.
## **5.4 Grants Policy**
The Church made direct donations to charities as follows:
- Christian Aid Week - £90.
- Ecologi Action - £57 (our Shared Christmas card charity) plus £159 donated during the year.
- All People All Places - £120 (our joint Christmas charity)
- Ponders End URC – £130 and food gifts (our Harvest Charity)
- Water Aid - £120 (our joint Christmas charity) plus £40 donated during the year.
The Church provides regular support to the charity Beyond Ourselves, working in Zambia in education; the AlShurooq Blind School in Bethlehem, through the McCabe Educational Trust; the Enfield Churches Debt Centre in conjunction with Christians Against Poverty (CAP); the URC Commitment for Life making a difference to vulnerable communities in Bangladesh, Israel & Palestine and Zimbabwe and A Rocha UK as part of Eco Church. In addition, the Church makes anonymous love gifts, at the discretion of the ministry team to those in need within, and outside of, the Church fellowship. The communion fund is used for this purpose.
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Annual Report of the Elders For the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **6. Plans for Future Periods**
We will begin a bi-weekly Bible Study in the 2[nd] quarter of 2026, meeting during the day and including a light lunch to allow fellowship as well as exploring the Bible.
We continue to recognise that our corporate prayer life needs improvement. We will look to ensure that regular corporate prayer meetings are reintroduced, making use of our new Prayer Corner in the Church. A time of prayer will also be held at the Bible study.
As the 30 – 50s, are underrepresented in our congregation, we will look to improve activities and events for this age group to try and engage with them.
Recognising the importance of our impact on the environment, we will continue working towards the silver Eco Church award. As part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint we continue to work to help identify areas where we can reduce heat loss. We will also look at improving our community and global engagement as these are both weak points identified by our Eco Church survey.
Building closer relationships with our regular hirers and the Grafton Nursery school will continue. We hope to hold quarterly events and/or services to enable us to get to know each other better and further strengthen our community. We also hope to engage with ‘The Bush Hill Park’ pub and hope hold a Beer and Carols there in December.
Looking towards 2027, which is our 140[th] Anniversary year, we hope to be able to hold another Community Fun Day and also hold a number of special events to involve our local community, and members who have moved away, during the year.
## **7. Responsibilities of Trustees for the Financial Statements**
The Elders are responsible for preparing the report and the receipts and payments account and the statement of assets and liabilities. The Elders are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Church. The Elders are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **8. Approval**
The report of the Elders was approved by the Elders Meeting on 17[th] March 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
## **Martin Hamblin Treasurer**
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH**
## **Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees/members of Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church**
I report on the financial statements of Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church for the year ended 31 December 2025, set out on pages 14 to 22.
## **RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER**
The church’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act);
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 matter has come to my attention:
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements ● to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the 2011 Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date: 22[nd] April 2026
## **Stephen Hendy**
Data Developments First Floor, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
||**2025**|**2025**|**_2025_**|**_2025_**|**_2024_**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||_Unrestricted_|_Designated_|_Restricted_|**Total**|**Total**|
||**To nearest**|**To nearest**|**To nearest**|**To nearest**|**To nearest**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Receipts:**||||||
|Donations and legacies|6,650|23,431|3,334|33,415|17,037|
|Offerings|18,830|—|465|19,295|19,251|
|Income from charitable activities|30|278|—|308|550|
|Other trading activities|49,201|32,289|—|81,490|73,641|
|Investments|1,178|—|—|1,178|1,601|
|**Total Receipts**|**75,889**|**55,997**|**3,800**|**135,686**|**112,079**|
|**Payments:**||||||
|Raising funds|—|1,409|—|1,409|1,806|
|Expenditure on charitable activities|560|—|—|560|588|
|Ministry & mission Fund|23,898|9,630|—|33,528|31,704|
|Ministry & worship expenses|5,506|—|332|5,839|5,090|
|Church running costs|37,151|225|687|38,062|34,778|
|Manse running costs|1,833|13,903|—|15,736|7,736|
|Programme activity costs|273|—|—|273|277|
|Support of outside causes|2,364|—|422|2,786|908|
|Maintenance of church buildings|—|6,951|1,841|8,792|40,863|
|**Total Payments**|**71,585**|**32,118**|**3,282**|**106,985**|**123,750**|
|**Net income / (expenditure) before transfers**|**4,304**|**23,880**|**518**|**28,701**|**(11,670)**|
|**Transfers**||||||
|Gross transfers between funds - in|1,200|—|—|**1,200**|—|
|Gross transfers between funds - out|—|(1,200)|—|**(1,200)**|—|
|**Net movement in funds**|**5,504**|**22,679**|**518**|**28,701**|**(11,670)**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||
|**Total funds brought forward**|**38,538**|**48,664**|**5,564**|**92,766**|**104,436**|
|**Total funds carried forward**|**44,042**|**71,343**|**6,082**|**121,467**|**92,766**|
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## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
## **Monetary assets**
|**Monetary assets**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||To the nearest**£**|To the nearest**£**|
|**CURRENT: Coop Community Directplus Account**||||
|General fund|Unrestricted|9,838|1,005|
|Building Fund|Restricted|—|229|
|Building Fund|Designated|2,192|1,018|
|Communion Fund|Restricted|867|744|
|Manse Fund|Designated|585|1,113|
|Baby & Toddlers|Designated|74|1,222|
|Walking the Way|Restricted|1,262|4,059|
|Agency Collection|Restricted|—|—|
|||**9,389**|**13,602**|
|**DEPOSIT: Coop Business Select Deposit Account**||||
|General fund|Unrestricted|33,303|36,766|
|Building Fund|Restricted|1,605|185|
|Building Fund|Designated|1,076|286|
|Communion Fund|Restricted|348|348|
|Legacy Fund|Designated|30,804|7,374|
|Manse Fund|Designated|36,612|37,652|
|Walking the Way|Restricted|2,000|—|
|||**105,749**|**82,610**|
|**CURRENT: Coop Friends Account**||||
|Building Fund|Restricted|—|—|
|**CURRENT: Lettings Account**||||
|General Fund|Unrestricted|900|767|
|**CASH: Cash in Hand**||||
|General Fund|Unrestricted|—|—|
|**Total Monetary Assets**||**121,467**|**92,766**|
|**Non-Monetary Assets**||||
|**Church Buildings (see**|**note 6)**|||
|**Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment (see note 7)**||485,259|457,790|
|**Total Non-Monetary Assets**||**606,726**|**550,556**|
|
**Debtors**||||
|||—|—|
|||**—**|**—**|
|**Liabilities**||||
|Agency Collections||—|—|
|||**—**|**—**|
|**Total Assets**||**606,726**|**550,556**|
_14_
**BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **1. Unrestricted Funds**
Unrestricted funds include the general fund and the designated funds (the manse fund, and the building fund).
## **1.1 General Fund**
|**1.1 General Fund**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**To the nearest £**||**To the nearest £**|
|**Income**|||
|_Donations and legacies_|||
|Gifts and Donations (Bank Credits)|1|336|
|Gifts and Donations (Loose)|134|—|
|Gifts and Donations (Stewardship)|265|56|
|Grants Received|1,500|1,500|
|Gift Aid Tax Repayments|4,633|5,016|
|Webshop Commission|117|89|
||_6,650_|_6,997_|
|_Offering_|||
|Offerings (Bank Credits)|14,009|14,626|
|Offerings (Loose)|3,704|3,344|
|Offerings (SMS)|72|94|
|Offerings (Stewardship)|1,044|814|
||_18,830_|_18,878_|
|_Income from charitable activities_|||
|Newsletter|30|20|
|Wedding Fees|—|—|
||_30_|_20_|
|_Other trading activities_|||
|Fundraising Events|—|—|
|Lettings|48,977|43,862|
|Printing Services|224|523|
||_49,201_|_44,385_|
|_Investments_|||
|Interest on bank accounts|1,178|1,601|
|**Total income**|**75,889**|**71,891**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|_Expenditure on charitable activities_|||
|Independent examination|560|588|
|_Ministry & mission Fund_|||
|URC Ministry and Mission|23,898|23,862|
|_Ministry & worship expenses_|||
|Pulpit Supply|1,280|1,400|
|Ministry expenses|2,426|2,265|
|Licenses and Music|1,092|1,023|
|Publicity|709|—|
|_Total Ministry & worship expenses_|_5,506_|_4,688_|
_15_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**1.1**.**General Fund (continued)**|**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
|**To the nearest £**||**To the nearest £**|
|_Church running costs_|||
|Gardening|1,391|1,232|
|Electricity|2,298|2,104|
|Gas – Church & Parlour|2,290|2,251|
|Gas – Hall & Junior Room|2,681|3,420|
|Water|1,387|(1,342)|
|Cleaning & Caretaking|16,934|15,332|
|Church Insurance|5,036|4,749|
|Telephone Internet & Postage|573|394|
|Stationery and printing|2,333|2,296|
|Photocopier Lease|993|993|
|Purchase of Equipment|1,016|—|
|Accounts preparation|219|150|
|_Total Church running costs_|_37,151_|_31,576_|
|_Manse running costs_|||
|Manse Repairs - Routine|827|953|
|Manse Insurance|1,007|1,002|
|_Total Manse running costs_|_1,833_|1,955|
|_Programme activity costs_|||
|Catering|273|216|
|_Support of outside causes_|||
|Subscriptions|123|157|
|Overseas Sponsorship|384|384|
|Enfield Churches Debt Centre|300|300|
|Community Fun Day|1,557|—|
|_Total Support of outside causes_|_2,364_|_841_|
|_Maintenance of church buildings_|||
|Church Repairs - General|—|11,755|
|Church Repairs – Decorating|—|7,492|
|Church Repairs - Routine|—|1,947|
|Professional Fees|—|720|
||_—_|_21,915_|
|**Total expenditure**|**71,585**|**85,641**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|4,304|(13,750)|
|Brought forward balance|38,538|52,287|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**44,042**|**38,538**|
_16_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **1.2 Manse Fund (Designated)**
The Manse Fund is used to keep monies taken in rent during our ministerial vacancies so they are kept separate from the general running costs of the Church in the knowledge that the income is not on-going. The fund is used to make improvements to the Manse prior to the occupancy by a new Minister and family and is now used to fund maintenance and improvements at the manse, plus other special projects as required.
|and improvements at the manse, plus other special projects as required.|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**To the nearest £**||**To the nearest £**|
|**Income**|||
|_Other trading activities_|||
|Lettings|23,733|21,713|
|**Total Income**|**23,733**|**21,713**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|_Raising funds_|||
|Agency and Management Fees|1,409|1,806|
|_Expenditure on charitable activities_|||
|_Ministry & mission Fund_|||
|URC Ministry and Mission|9,630|7,842|
|_Manse running costs_|||
|Ministerial Housing|5,613|4,864|
|Manse Repairs - General|8,290|917|
|Manse Repairs - Decorating|—|—|
|Purchase of Equipment (Manse)|—|—|
|Professional Fees|359|359|
|_Total Manse running costs_|_5,781_|_1,276_|
|**Total expenditure**|**25,300**|**15,429**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|(1,567)|6,283|
|Brought forward balance|38,765|32,481|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**37,197**|**38,765**|
_17_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **1.3 Building Fund (Designated)**
The Building Fund is used for major building projects which cannot be funded as general maintenance. 10% of all manse lettings income is placed in the fund along with specific donations and fundraising towards future internal hall refurbishment works.
## **Income**
|**Income**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**To the nearest £**|**To the nearest £**|
|_Donations and legacies_|||
|Gifts and Donations (Loose)|—|24|
|_Other trading activities_|||
|Lettings|8,556|7,543|
|**Total Income**|**8,556**|**7,567**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|_Maintenance of church buildings_|||
|Church Repairs – General|4,378|3,811|
|Church Repairs – Decorating|—|10,000|
|Church Repairs – Routine|2,214|—|
|Health & Safety Improvements|—|238|
|**Total expenditure**|**6,592**|**14,048**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|1,964|(6,482)|
|Brought forward balance|1,304|7,785|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**3,268**|**1,304**|
## **1.4 Legacy Fund (Designated)**
The Legacy Fund contains the legacies which have been left to the Church. It is planned to use these legacies for specific projects which would otherwise be unaffordable.
## **Income**
|**Income**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**To the nearest £**|**To the nearest £**|
|_Donations and legacies_|||
|Legacy from Henry S Hardman Estate|3,687|—|
|Legacy from Jill Garrett Estate|19,744|—|
|**Total Income**|**23,431**|**—**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|Purchase of equipment|—|2,627|
|**Total expenditure**|**—**|**2,627**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|23,431|(2,627)|
|Brought forward balance|7,374|10,000|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**30,804**|**7,374**|
_18_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **1.5 Toddlers Fund (Designated)**
The Toddlers Fund is used by our Toddler Group.
## **Income**
|**Income**|||
|---|---|---|
|_Income from charitable activities_|||
|Session Fees|278|520|
|**Total Income**|**278**|**520**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|_Expenditure on charitable activities_|||
|Purchase of equipment|225|15|
|_Programme Activity Costs_|||
|Expenses|—|61|
|**Total Expenditure**|**225**|**76**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|53|443|
|Brought forward balance|1,222|778|
|Transfers to Church General Funds|(1,200)|—|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**74**|**1,222**|
## **2. Restricted Funds**
## **2.1 Communion Fund (Restricted)**
The Communion Fund is used entirely at the discretion of the Minister and Trustees. Contributions are made through special offertory collections during communion services throughout the year. Gifts are made to help those in need and to assist with training costs.
## **Income**
|**Income**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**To the nearest £**|**To the nearest £**|
|_Donations and legacies_|||
|Offerings (Bank Credits)|111|84|
|Offerings (Loose)|354|289|
|Gifts and Donations (Bank Credits)|80|—|
|**Total Income**|**545**|**373**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|_Ministry & worship expenses_|||
|Ministry expenses|—|21|
|_Support of outside causes_|||
|Donations|192|67|
|Gifts|230|—|
|**Total expenditure**|**422**|**88**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|123|285|
|Brought forward balance|1,092|807|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**1,215**|**1,092**|
_19_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **2.2 Building Fund (Restricted)**
The Building Fund is used for major building projects which can’t be funded as general maintenance. A separate Friends of BHPURC bank account has been setup to allow regular contributions to the Fund.
## **Income and endowments**
|**Income and endowments**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**To the nearest £**|**To the nearest £**|
|_Donations and legacies_|||
|Gifts and Donations (Bank Credits)|2,554|3,061|
|Gifts and Donations (Loose)|100|300|
|Grants Received|—|1,000|
|Gift Aid Tax Repayments|600|656|
|**Total Income**|**3,254**|**5,017**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|_Maintenance of church buildings_|||
|Gardening|222|—|
|Church Repairs - General|278|600|
|Church Repairs – Decorating|—|4,300|
|Church Repairs – Routine|1,563|—|
|**Total expenditure**|**2,063**|**4,900**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|1,192|117|
|Brought forward balance|414|297|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**1,605**|**414**|
## **2.3 Walking the Way Fund (Restricted)**
The Walking the Way Discipleship grant is awarded by Thames North Synod to help local churches with small projects that aid faith development and therefore discipleship in the local congregation.
## **Income and endowments**
|**Income and endowments**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**To the nearest £**|**To the nearest £**|
|_Donations and legacies_|||
|Grants Received|—|5,000|
|**Total Income**|**—**|**5,000**|
|**Expenditure**|||
|_Expenditure on charitable activities_|||
|Ministry Expenses|332|381|
|Purchase of Equipment|465|560|
|**Total expenditure**|**797**|**941**|
|Excess/(Deficit) of Income over Expenditure|(797)|4,059|
|Brought forward balance|4,059|—|
|**Total carried forward balance**|**3,262**|**4,059**|
_20_
## **BUSH HILL PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH (Registered Charity No. 1176710) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **3. Debtors**
None.
## **4. Liabilities**
None.
## **5. Related Party Transactions**
No payments were made to trustees or any persons connected with them during the year. No material transactions took place between the organisation and a trustee or any person connected with them.
## **6. Church Buildings**
The church building and the manse at 76 First Avenue, Enfield, EN1 1BW, are vested in URC Thames North Synod Trust as trustees and are not church assets. They are held for the benefit of Bush Hill Park United Reformed Church in accordance with the statutory trusts applicable to URC properties under the URC Acts. For insurance purposes the church buildings are insured by the church for £5,622,143 (2024: £5,303,908) and the manse for £519,258 (2024: £489,866).
## **7. Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment**
The church contents are insured by the church for £485,259 (2024: £457,790).
_21_