Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement 1 January to 31 December 2024 Cornerstone Church Portsmouth (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Immanuel Baptist Church 109 Victoria Road North Southsea Portsmouth PO5 1PS Registered Charity Number: 1178431 1 ## **Contents** |**Contents**|**Contents**| |---|---| |1.Trustees
Page 3|| ||| |2.Employees
Page 3|| |3.Bankers
Page 3|| ||| |4.Legal Advisers
Page 3|| |5.Independent Examiners
Page 3|| ||| |6.Structure, Governance and Management
Page 3|| |7.Charitable Objects
Page 4|| ||| |8.Review of activities and impact for Public Benefit
Page 4|| |9.Financial Review
Page 6|| ||| |10.Plans for future periods
Page 6|| |11.Declaration
Page 7|| ||| |12.Appendices
Page 8|| 2 ## **1. Trustees** Trustees who served during the year are set out below: J.P. Shulver (Pastor, Elder) - D.I. Shaw (Assistant Pastor, Elder) - A.J. Pontin (Elder) - T.J. Beaumont (Trustee) - B. Wellington (Elder) (appointed 6[th] March 2024) ## **2. Employees** Employees who served during the year are set out below: - J.P. Shulver (Pastor) - D.I. Shaw (Assistant Pastor) - C.L. Pontin (Part-time Administrator, on Maternity Leave from March 2024) ## **3. Bankers** CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA ## **4. Legal Advisers** FIEC Practical Services, 39 The Point, Market Harborough, LE16 7QU ## **5. Independent Examiners** Lydia Evans. FCCA. ## **6. Structure, Governance and Management** The Church as a legal entity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). Registered Charity status was granted on 18 May 2018 under Registration Number 1178431. The Charity is governed by a board of trustees who meet regularly to discuss the running of the Charity and set policy. Four of the trustees also constitute the leadership of the Church (known as elders). One of the trustees, Tom Beaumont does not serve as an elder. The elders generally meet twice monthly to oversee general activity and pray for attendees. Decisions deemed critical to the running of the Charity are subject to the scrutiny of the partners of the Church body (normally four times a year), with ad hoc correspondence between meetings, where necessary. Significant financial decisions are taken with the approval of the partners of the Church body through a formal vote. 3 Trustees are appointed by existing trustees where they have satisfied themselves of the need of further trustees and the qualifications – spiritual and otherwise – of the person proposed for the role, through consultation with the Church body. All Trustees served without remuneration in their capacity as Trustees between January and December 2024. Two Trustees, who are the Pastor and Assistant Pastor, received remuneration in that capacity at levels determined by non-Pastor Trustees, as well as rent payments in connection with the Church Manse agreement at levels determined by the non-Pastor Trustees, meeting separately, at or below the appropriate market levels for the relevant property. The Pastor and Assistant Pastor do not participate in any determination of the remuneration they receive. Similarly, Trustee Andrew Pontin has no involvement in the discussion of remuneration for part-time Administrator Christel Pontin. No other Trustees had a beneficial interest in the Church. The Charity has a close relationship with Christ Church Southampton CIO, from whom it was started, Redeemer Church Winchester CIO and Trinity Church Salisbury CIO. The four independent Churches form a partnership called Reach South, with the aim to train God’s people, share expertise and reach the places in which they reside with the good news of Jesus. ## **7. Charitable Objects** The objects of the church are: 1. The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the basis of faith primarily, but not exclusively, in the Portsmouth and neighbouring areas. 2. Such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity Trustees, facilitate the work of the church. This is provided that such purposes must first be approved by a resolution of the partners of the church and must be carried out in a manner consistent with the basis of faith set out by the FIEC. ## **8. Review of activities and impact for Public Benefit** In the period between January and December 2024, Cornerstone Church’s weekly gatherings and activities continued as normal. Sunday gatherings saw around 100110 people in attendance by the end of the year, including adults and children. The children’s Sunday School regularly welcomed 10-20 children aged between 4 and 12 years, and another 10-20 children aged between 0 and 4 years. The youth group continued twice monthly as an opportunity for teenagers to connect, learn from the Bible and socialise. Group leaders of the relevant groups are DBS checked and support the groups on a roster system. The Church ran midweek courses (such as Hope Explored) to enable church people to explore their faith in more depth, as part of the object of the advancement of the Christian faith. Partners were also encouraged to join midweek Groups to connect with each other and grow in their 4 faith. The Church saw many newcomers in 2024, so there was a continued emphasis on ways of welcoming them and integrating them into the church community; through lunches and Partnership courses, which led to some becoming Partners of the Church. The weekly Baby and Toddler group ran successfully during term-time with around 40 parents/carers attending regularly with around 55 children. Cornerstone Church is committed to supporting students of the University of Portsmouth as they start, and/or continue, their studies in the city. The student group was made up of roughly 12 students and 5 leaders. September saw a busy welcome period for new and returning students to the Church, with meals on Sundays and the beginning of a weekly Bible study. There were other welcome events in Freshers week as a means of raising the profile of the church, in order to share the Christian faith with those who are looking to learn more about it, as set out in our charitable object. Those who requested it, were given the opportunity to meet with individuals in the Church for 1-2-1 Bible study. As well as internal support for students, the church supported the local Christian Union; the Assistant Pastor attended a panel discussion, and the church was able to donate food for an outreach event at the beginning of the year. The student group also enjoyed a weekend away together where they studied the Bible and socialised to build community together. As well as supporting students, Cornerstone has a desire to support those who come to the church from other parts of the world. We have continued, in line with the first charitable object, to run the English Café to offer a space where attendees can have conversations with native English speakers, make friends and join in with an optional Bible study. As stated above, the Church is part of a partnership called Reach South. This is made up of four Churches on the South coast with the mutual aim to train God’s people, share expertise and reach locals with the good news of Jesus. As well as a spiritual connection, the group shares practical help in these areas. Each year the four churches join together to share in fellowship and look back on the year. This year around 500 people from the four churches were able to meet at Thornden Hall, Chandlers Ford for this event. The Equip Course ran for the third time from September 2024, with the aim to grow in faith and knowledge of the Bible and train attendees to share with those wanting to know more. This course also offered a one-off training day for attendees of the four churches. Both the Pastor and Assistant Pastor taught on the course. Other events the church arranged during the year included Hope Explored courses, Men’s breakfasts, marriage courses, visits to take service in local Care Home and parenting evenings. The bi-annual Church Weekend Away took place in July as a way of building lasting relationships with each other, by sharing a couple of days in a social setting and enjoying each other’s company, and deepening their faith in God through relaxed conversation and studying the Bible. Finally, the church ran Christmas events to engage with the local community as part of the first charitable object. These included a Ladies’ craft evening, Carol Service and Sunday services with a particular aim of welcoming families. 5 ## **9. Financial Review** Please see Appendix 1 for detail of the Charity’s financials and see Appendix 2 for the independent examination. A reserves policy exists whereby, in normal circumstances, cash reserves should be retained amounting to 3 months’ basic operating costs (such costs being estimated at a nominal 80% of the full current-year charity budget). The Charity’s funding principally comes from gifts and donations made by members of the congregation together with associated Gift Aid. In March 2024 the Charity set up a Building Fund account, with the approval of the Church Partners. Funds paid into this account will be used for the purchase or renovation of a building for church use – should one become available. All income has been used in accordance with the 2024 budget, set out by the Trustees and approved by Partners. The financial outgoings of the Church were at a level consistent with the Charity’s standard activity. Said activities are described in section 8 of this document. As such, budgeting for the coming year has been done with the expectation that the Church, and associated groups, would continue as per the usual activity. ## **10. Plans for future periods** The Charity anticipates continuing activities as outlined in this report with a budget that reflects the appropriate expenditure. ## **11. Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees ||||| |---|---|---|---| |**Full name(s)**
**Signature(s)**
**Position held**
**Date**|Jonathan Philip
Shulver|David Ian Shaw|Andrew James Pontin| ||||
| ||Pastor, Trustee|Assistant Pastor,
Trustee|Trustee| ||30 Sept 2025|30 Sept 2025|30 Sept 2025| 6 ## **12. Appendices** ## **Appendix 1 – Receipts and payments accounts** 7 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period futhds frjndts frJhd¥ B1 C•8h fvfvJ• 1427 T4x*I 1427 fuhdx fund Details 82 Oth•r monrt•ry •Ba•ts B3 lfiw*th*nt a•Mts B4 A•Mts r•ialn•d forth• charlty's ownu 0glJils 86 LO￿11111•% 19 Notes to the Account and Statement S8.&3I J57 4ffjD3 1J57 5.X>l 1.(116 Trutrpl g¥pen8es i EVAMGEUSM a 2023 6.613 7th1 1.712 724 t07 C(thmunrtyoub8*h 01 J• ¥24 31 D•¢ >)24 Jibjiw Fu 2J17 j￿N) 1417 140 164 184 72a1 1¢24 SyrAryd by iue*•Ban aprmv Appendix 2 – Independent Examiner’s Report – Lydia Evans. FCCA. 10