RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS
Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| 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 ending 31[st] December 2025
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures for ever, and His faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100: 4 and 5) . We are grateful to God for his provision for us this year through the ministry of the Word and the fellowship of his people.
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31[st] December 2025. 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 the Senior Pastor, Simon Ogbourn and the Assistant Pastor, Charles Reid.
The Church’s Ministries
The regular Sunday services of the church are held at Sandringham School. During the morning service we run a creche for children up to nursery age and Bible classes for children from School Years 1 to 9.
The format of our Sunday afternoon and evening services continued in a similar way from the previous year. The meetings alternated between an afternoon prayer meeting and an evening service. We continued to have a monthly evening service on Zoom until the autumn, when it was decided that it had served its purpose and it was stopped. A Theology study group was also organised monthly on the Sundays until July. The Theology group met in the afternoon when there was an evening service.
The church uses the Jersey Farm Community Centre (JFCC) 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 JFCC café holds monthly bereavement support sessions; several members of Ridgeway Church have been trained in bereavement support and join with the Rennie Grove volunteers to run the groups. The JFCC café runs monthly art sessions which includes watercolour sketching and finger painting classes.
The church’s toddler group is run at the Jersey Farm Community Centre on Monday mornings during term time. From January until July it was run fortnightly; from September it was run weekly during term time.
Our midweek evening meetings continue twice monthly in members’ homes to give the fellowship an opportunity to join a smaller church group for fellowship and Bible study.
Other ministry groups continued this year: the women’s Bible study groups; the men’s and
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women’s Saturday morning breakfast meetings. Despite no longer having a regular monthly service at Parkside View sheltered housing complex we were able to arrange a carol service at Christmas for the residents.
We had our church Away Day on 4th May 2025 at All Nations Christian College, and was led by Chris Smith; pastor of CC Redbourn. The beautiful environment of All Nations College, Ware, Hertfordshire was once again a lovely venue for good fellowship and stimulating teaching.
We continued our distribution of invitations to the Marshalswick and Jersey Farm housing estates for the Christmas and Easter services. At Christmas we arranged open-air carol singing at the Marshalswick Quadrant. Our annual carol singing at the Blackberry Jack pub in Jersey Farm was also very well attended.
Every fortnight on Sunday afternoons, there is a youth ministry for Hong Kong teenagers and a parallel Hong Kong parents ministry. These are led by Ridgeway Church members, who are themselves from Hong Kong and who have reallocated to the UK in the past five years.
The church conducts baptismal services as requested by new believers. We conducted one service this year for the baptism of one of our young people.
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.
Receipt of Grants
In 2025 grants totalling £6,500 were 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 2025.
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 2025 the church had open reserves equivalent to an expenditure of eight weeks. In our Balance Sheet we have a designated Building Reserve which currently stands at £50,234 . There are currently no obligations towards the Building Reserve. Some or all of this Reserve can be reclassified as unrestricted general fund, if necessary, and included in open reserves.
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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 11th July 2024.
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.
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) for members 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 at a CBM for decision. The annual budget is approved by the CBM 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.
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 in church ministries is routinely DBS checked and encouraged to sign up to the DBS update service. Final responsibility for safeguarding ultimately lies with the Trustees. 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 2025 and was approved at a trustees meeting on 5th January 2026. It was based on the model policy prepared by Christian Safeguarding Services (CSS) and is updated regularly based on advice from CSS. The gold membership of
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CSS also allows us to use their advice services. The training given to volunteers by the Safeguarding trustee is based on CSS training courses, the latest one attended was in September 2024. CSS highlighted the need for volunteer training to include an awareness of domestic abuse.
The church has a GDPR policy and all data held by the church complies with the provisions of the policy. Revised policy dated April 2024 is based on the model policy from Edwards Connor Solicitors. The software ChurchSuite was introduced in 2024 and is being used to administer church activities. Its use also ensures that the data held by the church is held securely and in compliance with GDPR.
A revised Health and safety policy dated October 2024 was issued. The policy was based on a document published by ‘Church Office’ ⓒ 2020. The new H&S policy incorporates a revised fire evacuation procedure.
The church has insurance cover specifically designed for places of worship, providing insurance for property, liabilities and a wide range of outreach activities.
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 ADMINISTIiATIVE DETAILS Reqlstered Charlty Number 1179002 Prlncipal Address 34 Wynchknds Crescent. St Abans. Hertfordshire AL4 OXL Trustees and eldws Simon Ogbourn, Senior Pastor Charles Reid, Assistant Pastor Peter Buckley (appointed May 2022 for a term of S years) Jonathan Kefas (appointed June 2023 a tem of 5 years) Glft Ml8lazi lapwjinted May 224 for a term of 5 yearsl Independent Examlner Darren Warren FMAAT Paxton Independent Examiners 61a High Street South RLBhden Northants NN10 ORA Tr•asur•r Ben Afari18ppointed November 2023 for a temi of 5 years) Assist8ntTrea8urer Frank Akpan (appointed November 2023 lor a term 015 years) Bankevj Lloyds TSB Bank st. Albans Branch PO Box 1000 8x1 1LT Kingdom Bank Beeston, Nottingham NG92RS Church Webslt• www.rKlgevaychurch.net FIEC Reglstratlon nUMr 5364 EA Membershlp number 240379 Approved by the Eldeis and Trtee6 and signed on their ehaw by.. P Buckl J Kefas Date.. 15}
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
I report on the accounts for the period ended 31 December 2025 set out on pages 7 to 15.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible 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 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is required.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act); and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner's report
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 statements below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the
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(1) requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities 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.
Darren Warren FMAAT Paxton Independent Examiners 61a High Street South Rushden Northants NN10 0RA
Date:
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
CHARITY COMMISSION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Note Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Activities for generating funds Charitable Activities Income Investment income Total incoming resources 2 Resources expended Costs of Generating Funds Fundraising trading costs 3 Charitable activities 4 Other 4 Total resources expended Net incoming / (outgoing) resources before transfers Gross transfers between funds 11 Net movement in funds 12 Funds brought forward from 2024 Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 135,219 10,209 145,428 150,900 1,582 - 1,582 1,071 4,094 - 4,094 4,774 1,059 105 1,164 1,681 |
|---|---|
| 141,954 10,314 152,268 158,426 |
|
| 1,140 - 1,140 1,013 152,922 4,331 157,253 157,523 2 2 60 |
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| 154,064 4,331 158,395 158,596 |
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| (12,110) 5,983 (6,127) (170) 6,502 (6,502) - - |
|
| (5,608) (519) (6,127) (170) 307,475 10,532 318,007 318,177 301,867 10,013 311,880 318,007 |
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charltable InGorporatsd Organlsatlon no. 1179002 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 Unr•strlet•d funds Restricted income fund Noto 2025 2024 Fixed assets Investments 227,560 227.560 22T,5fj0 T0131 fixed 91¥ Curmnt as8•ts Cash at bank and In hand 74,307 10,013 90.447 Total current •$set5 Net asset5 318 007 Fund$ ol the Charlty Restricted income lund¥ Unrestricted incomè luThJ$'. Designated funds General lund 10,013 10.013 IC+.532 10 277,794 24,073 277,794 24.073 276,960 30,515 rotal fund$ 301 867 311 880 318 007 Approvad by the Elders and Trustees and s*Jned on thalr beh811 by". P 8ud(ley J Kefas Date.. (8)
RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1.1 Basis of preparation
The 2025 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 (designated), 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. There were no purchases over £200 during 2025 (2024: nil).
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 2025 two grants of £5,000 and £1,500 were received to support the appointment and training of an Assistant Pastor (2024: £10,000 and £1,500).
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2. ANALYSIS OF INCOMING RESOURCES
| Giving Ridgeway Building Fund Tear Fund Christmas Appeal Other Restricted Non-recurring: Assist Pastor Grants received Voluntary income Bookstall Other Income Activities for generating funds Interest received Investment income Cafe Income Away Day Income Other Charitable Activities Income Total Incoming Resources |
2025 2024 £ £ 135,219 131,515 2,293 6,324 760 10 456 926 200 625 6,500 11,500 145,428 150,900 |
|---|---|
| 884 671 698 400 1,582 1,071 |
|
| 1,164 1,681 1,164 1,681 |
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| 2,110 2,755 1,634 1,980 350 39 4,094 4,774 |
|
| 152,268 158,426 |
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
3. FUNDRAISING TRADING COSTS
| Bookstall Newspaper for resale 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 Church ministries, incl. children & youth Visiting Preachers Travel & subsistence Repairs & maintenance Account Independent Examination 7 Professional fees 7 Bank charges Other |
2025 2024 £ £ 1,038 968 102 45 1,140 1,013 |
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|---|---|---|
| 2025 2024 £ £ 2,400 2,361 10,781 11,271 103,761 103,567 18,545 19,295 447 426 702 645 2,488 3,359 20 366 12 280 5,458 4,640 6,905 3,247 425 - 839 1,585 72 946 450 450 3,330 4,775 186 141 434 229 157,255 157,583 |
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
5. STAFF COSTS
The staff costs during the year were:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Salaries | 93,972 | 91,808 |
| Employers National Insurance costs | 2,272 | 4,035 |
| Pension costs | 4,991 | 4,867 |
| Other Expenses | 2,526 | 2,857 |
| Total staff costs | 103,761 | 103,567 |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| 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, extended by another year in November 2024. His remuneration including a payment of 6 percent of stipend into the church pension scheme with NEST, remained unchanged. 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 2025
6. GRANTS AND GIFTS
| OMF - John & Sian Newton Zion Church St Ives - T Dennick St Albans & District Foodbank STEP Fellowship Fund Life Expo Preparation for Christian ministry Tear Fund |
Grants to Institutions Grants to Individuals 2025 2024 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 9,000 9,000 - - 500 1,000 - - 771 971 - - - 300 - - - - 1,600 1,561 500 - - - - - 800 800 10 - - - 10,781 11,271 2,400 2,361 |
|---|---|
7. PROFESSIONAL FEES
£450 was paid for the independent examination of the 2024 accounts. Professional fees mainly comprise payroll services £1,332 and professional fees towards the church building project £1,951.
8. INVESTMENTS
| At cost 1 January 2024 31 December 2024 |
2025 2024 £ £ 227,560 227,560 227,560 227,560 |
|---|---|
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 2025
9. RESTRICTED FUNDS
| Fund names Fellowship Fund Christmas Appeal Ridgeway Building Fund Tear Fund Assistant Pastor Grants Other |
Funds Brought Forward Incoming resources Outgoing resources Transfers Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ 4,143 - (1,600) - 2,543 505 457 (771) - 191 5,874 2,396 (1,951) - 6,319 10 760 (10) 760 - 6,500 - (6,500) - - 200 - - 200 10,532 10,313 (4,332) (6,500) 10,013 |
|---|---|
The Fellowship Fund is used to express love and concern for one another and others with whom the church are in touch.
The Ridgeway Building Fund was setup to receive donations for, and to cover expenditure towards the exploration and, if viable, the procurement and/or development of a church building for use by Ridgeway Church.
Tear Fund is a Christian organisation for whom the church collected specific donations from the congregation. The Christmas Appeal is allocated to organisations nominated by the Elders and approved by members. A payment of £771 was made to St Albans and District Foodbank.
Charles Reid was appointed as Assistant Pastor on 1st August 2022 working full time with an initial three year contract, extended by another year in November 2024.
10. DESIGNATED FUNDS
| Fund names * 34 Wynchlands Crescent Building Reserve |
Funds Brought Forward Incoming resources Outgoing resources Transfers Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ 227,560 - - - 227,560 49,400 834 - - 50,234 276,960 834 - - 277,794 |
|---|---|
- This reserve is maintained at an amount equal to the sum expended on the property at 34 Wynchlands Crescent.
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RIDGEWAY CHURCH, ST. ALBANS Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1179002
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
11. TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
| From Fund To Fund Reason Assistant Pastor General Monthly salary transfer of grants |
£ 6,500 |
|---|---|
12. OTHER MONETARY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
At the year end, gift aid receivable from HMRC amounted to £14,278 of which £11,458 was received on 2[nd] . January, 2026. The accounting effects of the above are not recorded in the financial statements due to the prevailing accounting policy. Ridgeway Church would otherwise have recorded a surplus of £8,151 for the year.
There are no monetary liabilities at the year end.
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