HERNE BAY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
64, Sunnyhill Road, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 8LU http://www.sunnyhill.org.uk/ Registered Charity number 1178886
Annual Trustees Report for year ended December 2020
Trust Information:
Name: Herne Bay Evangelical Free Church (within the Trust Deed governing the church premises, it is called “The Mission Hall”; also known colloquially as Sunnyhill Church), 64 Sunnyhill Road, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 8LU
-
Registered Number: This church obtained registration as a charity with the Charity Commission on 21[st] June 2018, number 1178886.
-
Governing Documentation: Property Trust Deed – 8[th] August 1932; Church Constitution and Handbook both adopted by Members on 22nd January 2018.
-
Trustees: Current Church Elders: Messrs. J. D. Beale, D. P. Edwards, K. Hoare (Pastor)
-
Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd., 25, Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent. ME19 4JQ
-
Independent Examiner: Mrs. S. Parker (former Treasurer of Tankerton Evangelical Church)
Report:
The Trustees, who are the Church Elders, have pleasure in presenting this report for the year ended 31st December 2020. The information set out above, regarding the Trust, forms part of our report.
In compiling this report, the Trustees have in mind their duty to report on the benefits to the public and they have regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance published from time to time. The Trustees believe that they are fully compliant with their duty to have due regard to this public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
The purposes of the Church are:
the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, primarily but not exclusively, within Herne Bay, Kent and the surrounding neighbourhood; and
such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the members of the Church in general meeting, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of community facilities;
provided that the advancement of such purposes must be undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the Doctrinal Distinctives and Ethical Statements as may be adopted and amended by the Church from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Church Handbook.
Following Government regulations and guidelines, Sunday services in church were halted from 22nd March 2020. All morning services were recorded remotely and uploaded to the church website so that the congregation could listen at home. Those who were unable to access these services were provided with a CD recording.
The Wednesday Bible Study and Prayer Meetings have been continued using Zoom. Unfortunately this has meant that a few have been unable to join in but it has meant that a few others have joined with us who rarely met in person previously.
In order to maintain links with our congregation, weekly bulletins entitled ‘Sunnyhill Stays Together’ were prepared in text format. They included reflections by Paul Tripp on “God and trouble” in a series of meditations on Psalm 27 and emailed or printed out for our congregation. Additionally a WhatsApp group for those interested was set up to assist congregational sharing and communications.
All Members were informed that the AGM was postponed and was reconvened on 2[nd] November.
Officers’ business meetings were stopped. Business decisions were agreed in telephone conversations mainly between KH and DE and JB kept informed and consulted as necessary.
Covid regulations have restricted the ministry to our children as they were unable to meet. However, their teachers were providing materials to their homes for use by the parents. Regrettably the Easter Holiday Bible Club had to be cancelled.
The Hampton Nursery School use our premises for five mornings each week during the academic year, agreeing to abide by the conditions set out in the licence dated 21[st] April 2020. The school has continued to use our premises albeit with their own restrictions. Under normal circumstances, the church has the opportunity for Christian input into their curriculum and participates in several meetings for the older children. This has not been possible due to the Government restrictions. However, some materials are provided to help the Nursery School staff with Bible stories and booklets were given to the older children at Christmas and to all children leaving for the Primary School in July. The Licence Fee was temporarily reduced by 32.5% to recognise the reduced activity and therefore their reduced income.
As our Children’s ministry has effectively been closed, our annual refresher training has been deferred until we are able to start again. Similarly, because most of our face to face ministry has been closed, the Safeguarding Policy was not reviewed, but will be when regular meetings are restored.
The ministry to the residents at Tarry’s Care Home had to be temporarily discontinued due to the government's restrictions placed on care homes, and the management's own measures to protect both residents and staff from the Covid-19 virus.
Our Pastor Keith Hoare continued his ministry throughout the year. However, it was decided not to hold our normal morning service in the church to avoid compromising the government regulations requiring social distancing. Recorded services were prepared at the manse and uploaded to the church website for our congregation to tune into. For those who do not have access to the web, CDs were burnt and distributed to those who needed them. We have no means of accurately assessing how many avail themselves of these resources. The evening service was brought forward to 5.00 pm and held in the church exercising the required controls including social distancing. He advised the other Trustees and subsequently the church members that he planned to retire in September 2021.
The end of year membership was sixteen.
A copy of our Year End Accounts compiled on the receipts and payments basis, is included at the end of this report. We are grateful to record God’s faithfulness to us over the year with a significant increase in our resources as shown on this report. We have no reason to believe that the Covid 19 virus will have a detrimental effect on our finances.
New Trustees are automatically appointed by virtue of an individual being appointed as a Pastor and/or Elder of the church.
As at 31st December 2019 the church assets were:
| Cash Cheque Account | £ 40.71) |
|---|---|
| Deposit Account | £24,194.68 |
| Total | £24,235.39 |
Additionally the Church has other assets including a keyboard, chairs, communion table and chairs, and kitchen appliances etc. All such items are expensed at the time of acquisition and no individual asset exceeded £5,000.
The church has two properties – the manse and the buildings on the church premises. The market value of these properties is difficult to assess as there is no realistic market for churches and the manse is required for church use. However, the insured values are:
Church £1,210,087 Manse £ 300,000 Income £4,014.15 Expenditure £2,667.77
Average monthly General Fund income and expenditure during the year was:
The Church Officers review monthly income and expenditure reports and the level of funds. There is no specific reserves policy but the aim is to hold a minimum of circa £15,000 to provide cover for exceptional expenses. This figure equates to approximately three months normal expenditure with the objective of retaining sufficient resources to meet anticipated requirements for the continuance of church activities and to maintain the property in good condition. The Trustees have no intention of over-spending and running into debt. Gifts are made to missionary organisations from our tithing of general undesignated income. The Trustees are not Custodian Trustees of any funds that come within the remit of this Trust.
It is anticipated that there will be a need to carry out significant general maintenance work at the manse in 2021 but sufficient funds are in hand to cover the anticipated costs.
Expenses incurred in the direct performance of their responsibilities and reimbursed to the Trustees in the past year were:
| K. Hoare (Pastor) | £906.94 | (Publicity £150.00, Nursery School Booklets £12.00, Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Player £79.99, Zoom £100.73, Ink £156.03, Other Stationery | ||
| £89.25, Postage £50.11, Ladies’ Bible Study Materials £15.07, | ||
| Sunday Club Materials £43.19, Website £131.87, Study Books | ||
| £12.48, PPE etc. re virus £66.22 ) | ||
| D. P. Edwards (Treasurer) | £234.74 | (Holiday Church Listing £15.00, Church Maintenance £153.50, |
| Postage £66.24) |
All such expenses are included in the monthly statements issued to all Managing Trustees and to Church Members when business meetings are convened.
There have been no serious incidents or other matters that needed to be reported to the Charity Commission in the period under review.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees: David P Edwards D. P. Edwards, Trustee Dated: 18th March 2021
HERNE BAY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
| **HERNE BAY EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH ** | **HERNE BAY EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH ** | **HERNE BAY EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH ** |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Charity Number 1178886 | ||
| Statement of Account for the year ended:31st December 2020 | ||
| SUMMARY: | 2020 | 2019 |
| General:OpeningBalance | 7,736.59 | 9,405.36 |
| Income | 48,169.76 | 43,363.21 |
| Expenditure | 32,013.26 | 45,031.98 |
| ClosingBalance | 23,893.09 | 7,736.59 |
| Missionary: OpeningBalance | 142.12 | 238.12 |
| Income | 5,028.10 | 4,770.00 |
| Expenditure | 4,927.92 | 4,866.00 |
| ClosingBalance | 242.30 | 142.12 |
| Funds: General Fund | 23,893.09 | 7,736.59 |
| DesignatedFunds | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| MissionaryFunds | 242.30 | 142.12 |
| Total | 24,235.39 | 7,978.71 |
| Resources: CAF Bank(cheque account) | 40.71 | (244.40) |
| CAFGold (deposit account) | 24,194.68 | 8,223.11 |
| Total | 24,235.39 | 7,978.71 |
| ANALYSIS: General Fund | ||
| Income: Offeringsinc.GiftAid | 34,277.34 | 25,155.88 |
| Interest | 13.71 | 13.83 |
| Tax Refunds | 6,498.97 | 5,054.08 |
| ThankOffering | 0.000 | 2,940.00 |
| Nursery School LicenceFees | 6,990.00 | 9,160.00 |
| Sundries | 389.74 | 1,039.42 |
| 48,169.76 | 43,363.21 | |
| Expenditure: | ||
| Visiting SpeakersFeesEtc. | 1,120.00 | 4,816.00 |
| Visiting SpeakersFeesDeclined | (602.00) | (1,090.00) |
| Pastor -Salary & Overheads | 20,052.00 | 24,120.00 |
| Pastor - Travel&Expenses | 12.48 | 0.00 |
| Outreach,PublicityEtc. | 452.17 | 271.63 |
| Sunday ClubExpenses | 139.29 | 261.90 |
| CleanersPay | 124.50 | 436.00 |
| Church: Electricity | 2,052.00 | 2,141.00 |
| Gas | 1,243.01 | 1,467.69 |
| Water/Sewerage | 785.38 | 619.81 |
| Insurance | 873.93 | 852.09 |
| Maintenance | 826.71 | 1,463.61 |
| Manse: Water/Sewerage | 878.00 | 966.00 |
| Council Tax | 1,849.97 | 1,781.65 |
| Insurance | 283.09 | 268.31 |
| Maintenance | 260.00 | 3,782.83 |
| PianoTuning | 0.00 | 50.00 |
| F.I.E.C. Annual Donation | 476.00 | 476.00 |
| ConferenceFees | 0.00 | 80.00 |
| Audit &Professional Fees | 355.00 | 1,532.20 |
| DirectAdministration Expenses | 421.63 | 197.78 |
| Fellowship &Welfare | 100.00 | 0.00 |
| TuesdayFellowship Support | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Flower Displays | 6.00 | 234.20 |
| Sundries | 304.10 | 303.28 |
| 32013.26 | 45,031.98 | |
| ANALYSIS: Missionary Fund | ||
| Income:Offeringsinc.GiftAid | 3,808.61 | 2,801.80 |
| Relief | 0.00 | 1,400.00 |
| Specific Gifts | 175.00 | 16.00 |
| Interest | 1.52 | 1.53 |
| Tax Refunds | 1,042.97 | 550.67 |
| Total Income | 5,028.10 | 4,770.00 |
| Expenditure: Planned Support | 4,450.00 | 3,450.00 |
| Other Disbursements | 477.92 | 1,416.00 |
| Total Expenditure | 4,927.92 | 4,866.00 |
| AverageWeeklyIncome | 735.79 | 537.96 |
| ExcludesInterest,Tax,ThankOffering,FIEC,LicenceFees & Sundries | ||
| Administration Expenses | 1,779.85 | 2,935.98 |
| Percentage of Total Income | 3.35% | 6.10% |
HERNE BAY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH Regl8tered Charity Numljer 1178886 52 Weeks to dale TOTAL TO DATE ACTUAL BUDGET VARIANCE 7.736.59 7,736.00 0.59 48.169.76 42.809.00 5,360.76 32.013.26 39,997.00 7,983.74 23,893.09 10,548.00 13,345.09 16.156.50 2.812.00 13,344.50 Statoment of Account for tbe month ended. THIS MONTH ACTUAL BUDGET 23.665.78 10,752.00 3.140.86 2,998.00 2,913.55 3,202.00 23,893.09 10,548.00 227.31 (204.00) SUMMARY GENERAL: Opening Balance Income Expendrture Closing Balan Net Income & Expenditure MISSIONARY: Opening Balan Income Expenditure Closing Balan Net Income & Expenditure 227.17 265.13 250.00 242.30 15.13 142.12 5,028.10 4,927.92 242.30 100.18 142.00 4,339.00 4.466.00 15.00 127.00 0.12 689.10 461.92 227.30 227.18 247.00 816.00 15.00 (569.00) TOTAL SOURCES: Income Expendrture Net Income & Expenditure 3,405.99 3,163.55 242.44 3.245.00 4,018.00 (773.00) 53,197.86 47,148.00 6.049.86 36,941.18 44,463.00 7,521.82 16,256.68 2,685.00 13,571.68 FUNDS: General Fund DesFgnated Funds Missionary Fund Total 23.893.09 10.548.00 100.00 100.00 242.30 15.00 24,235.39 10.663.00 23,893.09 10,548.00 13,345.09 100.00 100.00 0.00 242.30 15.00 227.30 24,235.39 10,663.00 13,572.39 RESOURCES: CAF Bank CAF Gold Total 40.71 234.00 24.194.68 10,429.00 24,235.39 10.663.00 40.71 234.00 (193.29) 24.194.68 10,429.00 13.765.68 24,235.39 10,663.00 13,572.39 Average Weekly 926.34 615.64 310.70 Average Monthly 4,014.15 2.667.77 1,346.38 GENERAL: Income Expenditure Surplusl(Ovetspend)
| Statement of Account for the month ended: | Statement of Account for the month ended: | 31-December-2020 |
|---|---|---|
| TOTALTO DATE | ||
| SUMMARY | ACTUAL | |
| GENERAL: | Opening Balance | 7,736.59 |
| Income | 48,169.76 | |
| Expenditure | 32,013.26 | |
| Closing Balance | 23,893.09 | |
| MISSIONARY: | Opening Balance | 142.12 |
| Income | 5,028.10 | |
| Expenditure | 4,927.92 | |
| Closing Balance | 242.30 | |
| FUNDS: | General Fund | 23,893.09 |
| Designated Funds | 100.00 | |
| Missionary Fund | 242.30 | |
| Total | 24,235.39 | |
| RESOURCES: | CAF Bank | 40.71 |
| CAF Gold | 24,194.68 | |
| Total | 24,235.39 | |
| **ANALYSIS: General ** | Fund | |
| Income: | ||
| Offerings inc. GiftAid | 34,277.34 | |
| Interest | 13.71 | |
| TaxRefunds | 6,498.97 | |
| ThankOffering | 0.00 | |
| Nursery School Licence Fees | 6,990.00 | |
| Sundries | 389.74 | |
| Total | 48,169.76 | |
| Expenditure: | ||
| Visiting Speakers Fees Etc. | 1,120.00 | |
| Visiting Speakers Fees Declined | (602.00) | |
| Pastor - Salary & Overheads | 20,052.00 | |
| Pastor - Travel & Expenses | 12.48 | |
| Outreach, Publicity Etc. | 452.17 | |
| SundayClub Expenses | 139.29 | |
| Cleaning | 124.50 | |
| Church: | Electricity | 2,052.00 |
| Gas | 1,243.01 | |
| Water/Sewerage | 785.38 | |
| Insurance | 873.93 | |
| Maintenance | 826.71 | |
| Manse: | Water/Sewerage | 878.00 |
| Council Tax | 1,849.97 | |
| Insurance | 283.09 | |
| Maintenance | 260.00 | |
| Piano Tuning | 0.00 | |
| F.I.E.C. | Annual Donation | 476.00 |
| Gift Day | 0.00 | |
| Conference Fees | 0.00 | |
| Audit& Professional Fees | 355.00 | |
| DirectAdministration | Expenses | 421.63 |
| Fellowship & Welfare | 100.00 | |
| Tuesday Fellowship Support | 0.00 | |
| Flower Displays | 6.00 | |
| Sundries | 304.10 | |
| Total | 32,013.26 | |
| ANALYSIS: Missionary Fund | ||
| Income: | Offerings inc. GiftAid | 3,808.61 |
| Relief | 0.00 | |
| Others | 175.00 | |
| Interest | 1.52 | |
| TaxRefunds | 1,042.97 | |
| Total | 5,028.10 | |
| Expenditure: | Planned Support | 4,450.00 |
| Other Disbursements | 477.92 | |
| Total | 4,927.92 |