## **TURNERS HILL FREE CHURCH TRUSTEES’ REPORT AS AT 30 JUNE 2021** ## **MISSION STATEMENT** Turners Hill Free Church exists to declare the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ in Turners Hill and the surrounding area. ## **OBJECTS OF THE TRUST** Turners Hill Free Church was founded in 1824. In the 21"century Turners Hill Free Church is a vibrant, multi-generational Church in Turners Hill, West Sussex, near to the towns of Crawley and East Grinstead. Historically Turners Hill Free Church was part of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion Trust (Charity No. 232674) until the Turners Hill Free Church Trust (Charity No. 1177407) was created in 2018. The Turners Hill Free Church Trust (Charity No. 1177407) was established in 2018 when the Connexion Trustees decided that the Church would be better served by becoming a Registered Charity (Charitable incorporated organisation -CIO ) in its own right. The Trust is responsible for the legal oversight of Turners Hill Free Church. Throughout the year 2020/21 the Church has been under the Spiritual oversight of the four Church Elders, none of whom are Trustees. ## **ACTIVITIES** Impact of the Covid C-19 pandemic 2020-2021 Since March 2020 the Church has been under the restrictions imposed by the UK Government relating to public worship in Churches. In the absence of a Minister the Elders have arranged a regular pattern of Sunday morning and midweek meetings using electronic platforms. This pattern has been maintained throughout the Church year. As Government regulations have eased the Church has resumed meeting in the Church building on Sunday mornings for preaching with some sung worship. This arrangement has been strictly in-line with the regulations in place at the time. Numbers attending have been well within the safe numbers set out in the Risk Assessment compiled by the Trustees. The use of electronic platforms for most of the Church programme has continued throughout the year. ## **Little Angels** This group catering for parents and pre-school age children recommenced meeting on Tuesday mornings in the late Spring 2021. Covid guidelines in place at the time were fully adhered to at each meeting ## **Hall hire** A term-time only child care facility has hired the Church Hall/kitchen regularly since Easter reflecting the occasions when local Primary School has been open. Covid guidelines in place at the time of meeting were fully adhered to by the Group leaders and children. ## **Gilgal Mission** The Church continues to support, financially, in prayer and with friendship the work of Gilgal Bible Training College located in Southern India. No visits in either direction have been possible since Covid restrictions have been in place. ## **Sierra Leone Mission** The Church supports, financially, in prayer and with friendship the work of the Sierra Leone Mission. which has its own Trustees. ## **HOW THE TRUST OPERATES** The Trust does not, itself, own any buildings. The Turners Hill Free Church building and the adjoining Manse are owned by the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion Trust (Charity No. 232674) and leased to the Turners Hill Free Church at a Peppercorn Rent. Although the former Minister resigned his post in March 2020 under the severance terms offered by the Church he remained on Full salary, including Employers National Insurance Contributions and Government Workplace Pension Scheme contributions, until 31[st] August 2020. He and his family also remained in the Church Manse for most of that period until he found another property which became their home. The Church is currently seeking a full time Minister to fill the vacant position. When a new Minister is appointed he and his family will be given sole occupation of the Manse which adjoins the Church. In addition to the salary of the Pastor the Church will contribute towards his heat, light, water and Council tax payments. The Church has four Elders who are unpaid. Church members are able to affirm them in their role on a three year cycle. All volunteers working within the Church programme are DBS checked if they work with children and/or vulnerable adults. ## **TRUSTEES AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE** There are currently three Trustees, elected by the Church Members, each serving for a renewable term of three years with no more than one Trustee retiring in any one year. Trustees can serve until they either resign or their term ends without renewal. The Trustees comprise: Peter Lake —Chairman Pamela Miller —Treasurer Malcolm Claridge —Secretary Malcolm Claridge was until May 2021 also a Trustee of Tubakunde Trust (Charity No. 1145495). There was no conflict of interest in Malcolm serving both Charities. Pamela Miller is also a Trustee of All Saints Church, Crawley Down (Charity No 1148157). There is no conflict of interest in Pamela serving both Charities. The Trustees meet a minimum of four times each calendar year. In the light of the Covid C-19 pandemic the Church agreed at the 2020 AGM (held on line) to defer the (re) election of the Trustees until the 2021 AGM which is scheduled to be held in the autumn. ## **RISK MANAGEMENT** The Trustees actively review on a regular basis any major risks which the charity could face and believe that maintaining the reserves policy, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse financial conditions. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The primary funding sources for Turners Hill Free Church are the freewill giving of its Members and attendees. Other income comes from HMRC Gift Aid tax repayments from UK tax payers who sign the appropriate Gift Aid commitment. Income is also derived from the letting of its premises to organisations who conform to its faith basis. Income to the Church in 2020/2021 has been adversely affected by the Covid C-19 pandemic. This is due to the loss of free will giving by congregation members being restricted from attending the Sunday morning Church service. The resignation of the Minister in March 2020 has also continued to have an adverse effect on giving to the Church and the Mission work it supports. An overall surplus of £7,204 was incurred in the year to June 2021. (2020 - £11,338). ## **RESERVES POLICY** The Trustees' policy is to ensure that unrestricted reserves are sufficient for three months unrestricted expenditure at current costs. The Trustees will be making efforts during 2021 to maintain this level of unrestricted reserves. ## **PUBLIC BENEFIT** The Trustees agree that the work of the Church is in line with the Charity Commissions' guidance on public benefit. Turners Hill Free Church is passionate about being a church filled to overflowing with the love of God in Christ Jesus: a church that encounters God together in our worship and lives in authentic community and overflows to the world with love and good deeds. The mission of Turners Hill Free Church is to glorify God through obedience to Jesus Christ. He has commanded us to believe in Him and love one another as He loved us. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ which we are called to live and to share with all people, making disciples by baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything He has taught us, that the earth may be full of the glory of God! Turners Hill Free Church is a family of Christians in and around Turners Hill, West Sussex, who have been brought together by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, His death for the forgiveness of our sins and His resurrection for a wonderful new life by His Spirit, overflowing with the love of God. ## **STATEMENT OF FAITH** The Church has strong links to The Countess of Huntingdon Connexion which was founded by Lady Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, during a season of revival that saw a dramatic expansion of Gospel influence that transformed society on both sides of the Atlantic. The Countess welcomed all who would make the proclamation of the Gospel their priority and we are proud to remain in that tradition. Turners Hill Free Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and fully endorses its Basis of Faith In so far as the trustees are aware: - There is no relevant information of which the charity's independent examiner is unaware; and - The trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WAif5 Receipts and ments accounts CC16a Section A Receipts 2nd payments Unre5trictod Rèskncted Endowment Tolal tund5 Lastyear A1 R•c•4 Ta% Rstwyis 130 Sub tot41(Gross for Stsb lolal 40,067 11631 A3P 15. 7,7S2 10.123 27,171 7.752 10,123 11, ?.S•7 416 370 28,1 PWI &akpKdE ).1 Sub total 17W• urchas Sub to 17m9 777 Net ofrnceip1¥payn￿tsj A5 TrJnsfvrn b8ts¥oon funds A6 Cash lundt lasty•ar ond Cash fun¢ts ￿Tend 48J94 6J,1J9 100N46 111.783 111J87 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ￿n￿51￿CL¢d fvnth RwatrScted End¢nYr¢kent ￿￿1• funds Bl Cash lund• 024151￿￿1&22 2J4 Totslcash fimds 60,147 CCXX R1 ISSI 1411012021 Restrlcted funds to near•st£ Endowment funds funds Details to noar05t £ Fund to ¥Jhich Current value Detsl C<*t1opY¢mll Funtt to t*blth Current value lonal Details Co* IoFrtlonall 84 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund to 7•thl¢h Amount d lonal When duo lonal Dotails BS Llabilities Signed by one or two truste85 on behaff of all the Iruslees Date of roval Signature Print Name h) U I LLEIC CCKX Rl a¢￿UnIS (SSI 14110r2021 Inde￿ndent examIne￿5 report to tho tr￿te•S of Turn•r¥ Hlll Frne Church Charltable Inc¢)rporated Organl$atlon {'tho CIO,) I rewrt to the tharity trustees on my examination of the ac￿uTrts of the CIO for the year ended 30 June 2021. RupoMlbllltlg8 and basls of r•port As the charity trustee5 of the CIO you are wponsible ft)r the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Arf). I report in respect of my examination of the CIO'S aixounts Carried out under section 145 of the Act. In ¢2ryiThJ out my examination I have followed all applicable Direction$ given by the Charty Commission under secI￿n 14515)(b) of the 2011 Act. Indopondent examln•rf• •t•t•m•nt I have completed my examination. I confimi thal no material matters have ￿rne to my attenlion in connection wrth the examinat￿n gr¥ing me ￿use to believe that in any material ￿Spect.. 1. accounting ￿e￿rdS were not kept as required by se(lion 130 of the Act; or 2. the a¢xx)unls do Th)t accord those re￿rds. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connec￿lOn wsth the examination to vthich attention should be drawn in this rewrt in ord8r to enat￿ a wopef understanding of the aco)unts to be reached. Swned.. Name.. Keith Erik Halstead MA (Oxonl FCA Relevant professonal qUalth￿n{s) or membership of profess￿r￿?1 bodies (rf any}.. Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wa￿$ Addres8.' 60. Woodcthe Hurst, Epsom, SU￿eY KT18 7DT Date.. 26° October 2021