RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS
Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 - 5 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 9 -15 |
RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
We continue to enjoy God’s blessing through the ministry of the Bible and the fellowship of Christian believers. It is a privilege to be Trustees in a Bible believing church where our aim is to make Jesus known, because ‘There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved’; a quote from the Apostle Peter speaking to the Jewish leaders in Acts chapter 4, verse 14.
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31[st] December 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: applicable to charities preparing their financial statements on a Receipts and Payments basis CC16b.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and Aims
The Trustees have based their report on the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The church’s objectives, activities and their decision making related to that are, in the opinion of the Trustees, compliant with that guidance.
The primary objective of the church is the advancement of the Christian faith, both in the UK and overseas, by the teaching of the Bible and by promoting prayer and fellowship amongst Christian believers. The church also seeks the advancement of public benefit through religious education of the Christian faith.
The Church’s Pastoral Team
Our pastoral team comprises a Senior Pastor, Simon Ogbourn and an Assistant Pastor, Charles Reid.
The Church’s Ministries
The regular Sunday services of the church are held at Sandringham School and are broadcast live on the church’s YouTube channel for the benefit of church members and for anyone worldwide who chooses to join us. During the morning service we run a creche for children up to nursery age and classes for children from School Years 1 to 9. We continue to use Zoom for a monthly Sunday evening service; the link for the service is sent to members only.
The church also uses the Jersey Farm Community Centre for a weekly Friday afternoon café. This weekly café has continued to be a significant link with the wider community. In conjunction with the charity Rennie Grove Peace Hospice the café holds monthly bereavement counselling sessions; several members of Ridgeway Church have been trained in bereavement counselling and join with the Rennie Grove volunteers to run the groups. The café also runs monthly art sessions which includes watercolour sketching and finger painting classes. The annual MacMillan café held in September raised £452 for the charity.
Our midweek night meetings continued throughout 2023, alternating small group Bible studies (Life groups) and the church prayer meetings. One Life group meets using a hybrid arrangement with some members meeting face to face and others joining on Zoom; this hybrid style meeting allows all church members the opportunity to meet for Bible study and prayer and to enjoy the encouragement of Christian fellowship. To give more members the opportunity to join a church prayer meeting we now have a monthly prayer meeting on a Sunday afternoon at Sandringham School.
Other ministry groups continued this year: the women’s Bible study groups; the men’s and women’s Saturday morning breakfast meetings. Despite no longer having a regular monthly service at Parkside View sheltered housing complex we were able to have three services there
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culminating in a carol service at Christmas for the residents.
We had our church Away Day on 29[th] April 2023 at All Nations Christian College. Chris Tapp, the minister of Stanmore Chapel spoke on the life of King Solomon. The beautiful environment of All Nations College was a lovely venue for great fellowship and stimulating teaching.
We have for a number of years distributed invitations to the Marshalswick and Jersey Farm housing estates. At Christmas we added open-air carol singing to our distribution of invitations. We were very encouraged by the number of people who joined us in singing carols. Our annual carol singing at the Blackberry Jack pub in Jersey Farm was also very well attended.
This year we joined with three other churches in St Albans to lead Life Expo, an event for Years 5 and 6 pupils from schools in and around St Albans. The activity presented the facts of the life of Jesus: his teaching and miracles as well as his death and resurrection. Local schools were invited to book a session at the event.
The church has organised a number of other public activities to reach out to the community: a Summer Fayre, a Christmas Fayre and a Chinese New Year event in January.
Grant Making
The church supports a number of individuals and organisations. We support a family living and working in Sapporo, Japan; they are members of the OMF missionary organisation.
All grants are approved by the Church Business Meeting (CBM) and are included in the annual budget. The grants are reviewed regularly to assess the needs of the recipients and the availability of funds.
As part of our concern for different causes, including local secular charities as well as Christian relief agencies, we have appeals at Christmas and at Harvest (September) to raise money for their support. Payments of £691 and £675 were made to St Albans & District Foodbank and Tear Fund respectively. £971.25 was raised for the Trussell Trust through our 2023 Christmas Appeal during December 2023 and January 2024 (to be remitted in February 2024).
Receipt of Grants
In 2023 a grant of £11,500 was received to assist in the support of our Assistant Pastor.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable Activities
The church has continued to focus on the teaching of the Bible and promoting prayer and fellowship through the teaching and outreach ministries outlined above.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Principal Funding Sources
Ridgeway Church St Albans continues to be primarily dependent upon the donations made by the church members. We are grateful to God for the continued financial support from the Ridgeway Church fellowship throughout 2023.
Investment Policy and Objectives
The church’s sole property asset is a 74.55659% share in the home of the Senior Pastor.
Reserves Policy
It is not the policy of the church to increase general reserves. At the end of 2023 the church had reserves equivalent to an expenditure of 11 weeks. In our Balance Sheet we have a designated Building Fund Reserve which currently stands at £51,647.
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
The church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The church’s governing document is the written Constitution approved at a Church Business Meeting on 3[rd] May 2018 and approved by the Charity Commission on 2[nd] July 2018. The Constitution was amended at the AGM on 23[rd] November 2023 and the revised document was submitted to the Charity Commission. The revision to the Constitution related to the method by which secret ballots were recorded and the results communicated to members.
Recruitment and Appointment of New Trustees
The Trustees comprise the Senior Pastor, the Assistant Pastor and three non-pastoral team members. Recommendations to appoint new Trustees are brought to the CBM by the Trustees. They are appointed at a CBM by a resolution that must be passed by a majority of 75% of the quorum then present. The recruitment of Trustees is set out in the Church’s Handbook and Constitution. The non-pastoral team Trustees are appointed for a five year term of office; the pastoral team Trustees remain Trustees until they resign from the pastoral team.
Recruitment and Appointment of the Treasurer
Recommendations to appoint a new Treasurer are brought to the Church Business Meeting by the Trustees. The Treasurer is appointed at the church meeting by a resolution that must be passed by a majority of 75% of the quorum then present. The Treasurer is appointed for a five year term of office.
David Warner the Treasurer gave notice of his intention to resign by the end of 2023. The Trustees proposed to the membership that the new Treasurer appointed should be supported by an Assistant Treasurer with the same access to confidential data as the Treasurer. Given the added responsibility for the Assistant Treasurer the Trustees proposed that both positions be voted on by secret ballot. The members supported the Trustees’ recommendation by secret ballot at the AGM on 23rd November 2023.
Organisational Structure
The Trustees meet fortnightly alternating between prayer and church business. They also regularly meet with the Treasurer to review and discuss the financial affairs of the church.
The agenda for the Church Business Meetings (CBM) is set by the Trustees; CBMs are held regularly throughout the year. At these meetings members review and make decisions in response to the leadership and work of the Trustees and Treasurer. All important matters concerning finance are brought to the church members for decision. The annual budget is approved by the Church Business Meeting normally held in November, before the start of our new financial year.
One Trustee meets regularly with the Treasurer to discuss financial aspects of the church’s work. Another Trustee has the responsibility for safeguarding; to ensure that the church complies with the policy approved by church members.
Induction and Training of New Trustees and Treasurers
New Trustees and Treasurers are briefed as necessary on their obligations under charity law, the Ridgeway Church St Albans Constitution and the decision-making processes of the church.
Risk Management
The Trustees routinely assess the risks that the church faces including financial, pastoral and other physical risks. These include but are not limited to: completing Risk Assessment forms to cover each church activity; arranging appropriate insurance cover; safeguarding risks for church activities.
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Safeguarding is the responsibility of all church members, particularly those involved in leading church ministries. The safeguarding training that each volunteer must attend emphasises the fact that each person has a responsibility for the care of each child and vulnerable adult. Every volunteer involved is routinely DBS checked and encouraged to sign up to the DBS update service. Final responsibility for safeguarding ultimately lies with the Trustees and the Trustee responsible for safeguarding submits an annual safeguarding report to the Trustees.
The church is a ‘Gold’ member of the Christian Safeguarding Services ( https://thecss.co.uk/). The church’s safeguarding policy was revised in 2021, based on the model policy prepared by Christian Safeguarding Services (CSS) and is updated regularly based on advice from CSS. The gold membership of CSS also allows us to use the advice service offered by CSS.
The church has a GDPR policy and all data held by the church complies with the provisions of the policy.
Membership of other organisations
Ridgeway Church St Albans is a member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) and the Evangelical Alliance (EA).
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REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Reglsteréd Charlty Numb•r1179002 34 Wyn¢hlands Crescent, St Alban$, Hertfordshire AL4 OXL Principal Address Trustees and elders Simon Ogboum, S¢nior Pastor Charles Reid, Assistant Pastor Peter Bud(lèy18ppoinled May 2022 for a term of 5 years) Jonathan Kefas lappoinled June 2023 a term of 5 years) Gift Mlalazi (appointed May 2019 for a lem) of 5 years) Independent Examiner P Dean FCIE 7 Stirting Close Uxbridge Middx U88 28A Treasurer David Wamer (resigned December 20231 Ben Afari lappoinled November 2023 for a term of 5 years) Frank Akpan lappoinled November 2023 for term of 5 years) Asslstant Treasurer Bankèrs Lloyds Bank plc Sl. Albans Branch PO Box 1000 BX1 1LT Kingdom Bank Media House Padge Road Beeston Nottingham NG9 2RS Church Webslte w.rid ewa church.ne FIEC Reglstratlon number 5364 EA Membershlp number 240379 Approved by the Elders and Trustees and signed on thelr beh If by.. P Buckley J Kefas Date.. |s13*
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF RIDGEWAY CHURCH. ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002 I report on the accounts for the peri( ended 31 December 2023 set out on pages 7 to 15. Respective responsibilities of trusto08 and oxamlnor The charity's trustees are resrx)nsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe Charities Actl and that an independent examination is required. It is my responsibilty to-. examine the accounts under seCtn 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission lunder Section 1451Sltbl of the Charities Actl,. and to stsle whether particular matters have wme to my attention. Basis of the independent examinèrfs rnport My examination was carried out in accordance with th8 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 unusu81 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 audil, and consequenlly no opinion is given as to whether thè accounts present a Irue and fair view ' and the report is limited to those matters s8t out in the statemenls below. Indepondonl oxamlneeg Statement In connertion with my exarnination. rn matter has come to my attention.. which gives me reas¢)nable Gaus8 to believe that, in any rnatarial r8sp8ct. th8 requirements lo keep accounting records in accordanr* with Seclion 130 of the Charities Act; and lo prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply wlth Ihe accounting requirements of the Charilies Act have not been met,. or 121 lo which, in my opinion, attentton should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reathed. P Dean F.C.l.E 7 Stirling Close Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 2BA Date: 163
RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES [INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT] FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| Note Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Activities for generating funds Charitable Activities Income Investment income Building Reserve Total incoming resources 2 Resources expended Costs of Generating Funds Fundraising trading costs 3 Charitable activities 4 Total resources expended Net incoming / [outgoing] resources before transfers Gross transfers between funds 10 Net movement in funds Funds brought forward from 2022 Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds 2023 2022 £ £ £ £ 127796 13209 141005 132986 1003 1003 965 6842 6842 4650 1556 1556 354 |
|---|---|
| 137197 13209 150406 138955 |
|
| 726 726 677 150452 2271 152723 141902 |
|
| 151178 2271 153449 142579 |
|
| [13981] 10938 [3043] [3624] 9521 [9521] |
|
| [4460] 1417 [3043] [3624] 316931 4290 321221 324845 312471 5707 318178 321221 |
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charltable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 Unrestricted lunds Restricted Income funds Note 2023 2022 Flxed assèts Investments 227560 227560 227560 Tot81 fixed assets 227560 227560 227560 Current assets Cash al bank and in hand 84911 5707 90618 93061 Total curnent 8$sets 84911 5707 90618 93661 Net current a$sots /[lffabllltlesJ 84911 5707 90618 93661 Total assets less currnnt Ilabllfties 312471 5707 318178 321221 Provisions for Ilabllltles and charges Net assets 312471 5707 318178 321221 Funds of the Charity Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted Income lund$ 33264 279207 33264 279207 5707 38940 277991 4290 5707 Total funds 312471 5707 318178 321221 Approved by the Elders and Trustees and signed on their behalf by: P Buckley J Kefas Dale..
RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1.1 Basis of preparation
The 2023 accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
1.2 Funds
General funds represent those funds of the church that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use. Where general funds are set aside for a particular purpose, these funds are also unrestricted.
1.3 Investments
Investments are carried in the Balance Sheet at cost.
1.4 Gifts in kind
Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the church. Gifts in kind for use by the church are included in the SOFA as incoming resources when receivable.
1.5 Tangible fixed assets
Fixed assets are expensed in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year of acquisition. Items over £200 purchased in 2023 were filing cabinet £205.
1.6 Pensions
The church contributes 6% of salary into the employee’s personal pension scheme. This is expensed as incurred.
1.7 Excepted charity status
The church obtained its own charity number 1179002 on 2[nd] July 2018 and the transfer of all net assets and liabilities to the C.I.O. was completed on 31[st] December 2018.
1.8
Grants received
In 2023 two grants of £10000 and £1500 were received to support the appointment and training of an Assistant Pastor.
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
2. ANALYSIS OF INCOMING RESOURCES
| Giving International Cafe Tear Fund Christmas Appeal Other Restricted Voluntary income Bookstall Other Income Activities for generating funds Interest received Investment income Tots Time Cafe Income Away Day Income Events Income Charitable Activities Income Assistant Pastor Grants received Non- recurring Income Total Incoming Resources |
2023 £ 127796 0 675 884 150 |
2022 £ 121463 600 536 586 801 |
|---|---|---|
| 129505 | 123986 | |
| 838 1755 |
657 308 |
|
| 2593 | 965 | |
| 1556 | 354 | |
| 1556 | 354 |
|
| 0 2320 2710 222 |
0 2279 1776 595 |
|
| 5252 | 4650 | |
| 11500 | 9000 | |
| 11500 | 9000 | |
| 150406 | 138955 |
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
3. FUNDRAISING TRADING COSTS
| Bookstall Newspaper for resale [Evangelicals Now] 4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Note Gifts / grants to Individuals 6 Gifts / grants to Institutions 6 Administration and support 5 Rent Insurance Equipment purchased & repairs Printing, stationery and office costs Website Publicity and Books for general use Subscriptions and memberships Bible Club Youth work Visiting Preachers Events / Mission Travel & subsistence Repairs & maintenance Jersey Farm Community Cafe Away Day Account Independent Examination 11 Professional fees 11 Bank charges Trustees meetings–hire of facilities |
2023 2022 £ £ 618 574 108 103 726 677 |
|---|---|
| 2023 2022 £ £ 1055 2322 13416 15490 96784 90596 16765 15025 407 373 689 1288 2953 2384 891 979 813 1051 3861 3744 151 266 0 22 520 430 1366 379 1869 1473 5790 2260 815 703 2709 1804 450 450 1259 718 160 145 00 |
|
| 152723141902 |
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
5. STAFF COSTS
The staff costs during the year were:
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Salaries | 86177 | 80812 |
| Employers National Insurance costs | 3107 | 2806 |
| Pension costs | 4707 | 4074 |
| Other Expenses | 2793 | 2904 |
| Total staff costs | 96784 | 90596 |
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| The average number of ministers and full-time equivalent | ||
| employees in the period was: | 2.6 | 2.6 |
No Trustees received any remuneration or reimbursed expenses in their capacity as Trustees.
Simon Ogbourn received remuneration for pastoral work, including a contribution of 6 percent of stipend into his own pension scheme. Charles Reid was appointed Assistant Pastor from 1[st] August 2022 on a three year full-time contract, including a payment of 6% of stipend into the church pension scheme with NEST. Both the Pastor and Assistant Pastor received reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the charity.
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
6. GRANTS AND GIFTS
| Ukraine Tear Fund Zion Church St Ives - T Dennick St Albans & District Foodbank STEP Fellowship Fund Holy Trinity Frogmore Preparation for Christian ministry OMF - John & Sian Newton Barnabus Fund Friends International - Sarah Dawkins International cafe refund UCCF–S Redmayne 7. INVESTMENTS At cost 1 January 2023 balance brought forward 31 December 2023 |
Grants to Institutions Grants to Individuals 2023 2022 2023 2022 £ £ £ £ 0 401 675 536 1000 1000 691 638 300 300 0 350 755 1822 550 0 300 400 9000 8400 0 100 0 638 0 1500 0 227 1200 1500 |
|---|---|
| 13416 15490 1055 2322 |
|
| 2023 2022 £ £ 227560 227560 227560 227560 |
The investment is the property situated at 34 Wynchlands Crescent, and is part-owned by Simon Ogbourn [Pastor-Elder]. The investment was transferred by the Independent Chapel [Spicer Street] on the church's formation, evidenced by a Deed of Assignment dated 13[th] December 2010. This represented the Independent Chapel's 74.55% interest in the property.
Since the investment property is occupied solely for church purposes, the Trustees and Treasurer consider the significant cost of an independent valuation at the yearend to be excessive compared with the additional benefit derived by the users of the accounts in assessing the Trustees and Treasurer's stewardship of the asset. In the opinion of the Trustees and Treasurer the net realisable value, assuming vacant possession, of the property would exceed the book value shown in the accounts.
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
8. DESIGNATED FUNDS
| Fund names * 34 Wynchlands Crescent Building Reserve |
Funds Brought Forward 2022 Incoming resources Outgoing resources £ £ £ 227560 - |
Transfers Fund balances carried forward £ £ - 227560 |
|---|---|---|
| 50431 1216 |
51647 | |
| 277991 1216 - |
**279207 ** |
- This reserve is maintained at an amount equal to the sum expended on the property at 34 Wynchlands Crescent.
9. RESTRICTED FUNDS
| Fund names Fellowship Fund Christmas Appeal Other Restricted Tear Fund Assistant Pastor Grants International Cafe |
Funds Brought Forward 2022 Incoming resources Outgoing resources Transfers Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ 3995 755 1917 5157 295 884 691 62 550 0 150 150 0 0 675 675 - 0 0 11500 - [11500] 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 4290 13209 2271 [9521] 5707 |
The Fellowship Fund is used to express love and concern for one another and others with whom the church are in touch. From the total of the giving to the church, 1.5 percent of undesignated gifts is transferred to this fund.
Tear Fund is a Christian organisation for whom the church collected specific donations from the congregation. The Christmas Appeal is allocated to Christian organisations nominated by the Elders and approved by members. A Payment of £691 was made to St Albans and District Foodbank.
A payment of £150 was made to UCCF for support of Miss S Redmayne
Charles Reid was appointed as Assistant Pastor on 1st August 2022 working full time with a three year contract.
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
10. TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
| From Fund To Fund Reason General Fellowship 1.5% of general funds transferred as per Constitution General Tear Fund Adjustment Assistant Pastor General Monthly salary transfer of grants General Fund movement |
£ [1917] [62] 11500 |
|---|---|
| 9521 |
11. PROFESSIONAL FEES
Professional fees are for the Independent Examination of the accounts £450 Payroll Services £900, ICO £35, DBS provider £324.
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