2021-12-31-accounts - St John's United Reformed Church Charity

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ST JOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Charity Registration Number: 1179741

Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts

Year Ended 31 December 2021

ST JOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Legal and Administrative Information

Trustees: Ian Buchanan Leslie Chrol‐Frolowicz (Resigned Nov 2021) Alison Ensor Lilian Evans The Revd James Fields Iain Steel Alistair Todd Lorna Todd Dorothy Walton Sheila Wheeler Dr John Wise Charity Number: 1179741 Principal Address: St John’s URC Hallowell Road Northwood HA6 1 DN Bank: Barclays Bank 54 High Street Ruislip Middlesex HA4 7AT

ST JOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Trustees Annual Report Year Ended 31 December 2021

Objectives and Activities

The object of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the scheme of union of the United Reformed Church.

The charity offers regular Church services which are open to all. These services are held at St John’s United Reformed Church in Northwood and occasionally at St Martin’s United Reformed Church in South Oxhey. Church members are invited to join House Groups to further study and understand the Christian faith.

The Church buildings and halls at both St John’s and St Martin’s are available for hire by the community and the Board of Trustees are responsible for maintaining the fabric of these buildings.

Achievements and Performance

For the first five months of 2021 St John’s remained closed for worship due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. During that time on‐line Zoom services were shared with the congregation at Eastcote Northwood Hills URC. In‐person worship resumed at St John’s on 23 May 2021.

Between May and December 2021 the St. John’s elders held six meetings, initially on‐line and subsequently face to face. At these meetings reports were received on arrangements for worship, property maintenance, finance, and pastoral care of the congregation.

During the year St John’s:

Worked with the congregation at Eastcote/Northwood Hills URC, initially to prepare and stream joint on line Zoom Sunday services and share pastoral responsibilities for both congregations, and subsequently to arrange, prepare and deliver weekly joint services.
Maintained regular House Group meetings in person and on‐line and continued on‐line monthly prayer meetings
Continued to support the work of Community Learning Partnership, based at St Martin’s South Oxhey
Successfully relocated all community activities and lettings into the Sanctuary following severe flooding of the church halls in October 2021
Secured the consent of Thames North Trust for the sale of the Church Halls, following the decision of Iron Aid Foundation not to proceed with the refurbishment of the Halls and the dissolution of the CIO set up to oversee that work
Secured grant funding from Thames North Synod to finance significant improvements to lighting in the sanctuary
Secured initial compensation from Congregational Insurance for loss of income during 2020
Contributed to meetings of the Metropolitan North Local Area Group of URC congregations

Financial review

Income from offerings fell slightly further in 2021, dropping from £19,802 in 2020 to £19,423 in 2021. This was due in part to the church being closed due to Covid restrictions.

ST JOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY The trustees are grateful for those who continue to give to the church. Similarly, the income from lettings showed a further decline from £59,264 to £53.263. The church received the final instalment of the grant from the central URUS Legacy Fund which amounted to £8,000. This is to help coverthe costs of a Communtty Enhancer who has been working in the Northwood and South Oxhey areas to develop appropriate community projects. A successful nsurance claim for Ios5 of income in 2020 due to the Covid closure resulted in an initial compensation payment of £12.000. St John's and St Martin's continued to make contributions to the central URUS Ministry & Mission fund and in 2021 this totalled £47,166, forthe 2 churches. up from £41,345 in 2020. A slow recovery from the Covid restrictions was refletted in lower Church running costs and a slight increase in repairs and maintenance costs. There was an overall deficit of £22,457 on unrestricted funds and a deficlt of £1,572 on restrirted funds for the year with total reserves decreasing by £24,029 to £73.989. Re5erve5 policy The trustees review the charitys unrestricted reserves on an annual basis and aim to maintain 6 months of unrestricted fund expenditure. As at 31 December 2021 the unrestricted reserves amounted to £55,835. Structure, governance and management The elders of St John's United Reformed Church serve astrustees of the charity and they oversee the activities of the church in accordance with the prowsions of The Strurture of the United Reformed Church determined by General Assembly of the United Reformed Church and supplemented by the rules of St John's Church. The governing document of the re8iStered charity is a statement adopted by the Church Meeting on 29 April 2018. The trustee5 are responsible for the financial administration of the Church and the care and maintenance of Church premises and the manses. Thetrustees meet 6 times a year. Concluslon The Trustees approved this Report on 14 November 2022 Signed on behalf of the Trustees Dr John Wise Chair 14 November 2022

STJOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF STJOHN'S UNITEO REFORMED CHURCH I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of St John's United Reformed Church 1.the Trust") for the year ended 31 December 2021. Responsibilitles and basis of report As the charitvs trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111"the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 1451Sllbl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. me- John Samson Chartered Accountant (South Africa) Date.. 14 November 2022

ST JOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Notes Income Offerings Grants Received Fundraising Donations Gift Aid reclaimed Legacies Property lettings 3 Synod contributions to property costs Investment income Insurance claim TOTAL INCOME Expenses Contributions to Central URC Funds Ministry & Worship Programme costs Church administration 4 Church running costs 5 Church building costs Manse building costs Insurance Support for outside causes Other TOTAL EXPENSES Deficit for the year Fund balances at 1 January Fund balances 31 December	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2021 Total Funds £ £ £ 19,423 ‐ 19,423 ‐ 8,000 8,000 ‐ ‐ ‐ 379 ‐ 379 5,110 ‐ 5,110 ‐ ‐ ‐ 53,263 ‐ 53,263 4,817 ‐ 4,817 2,139 ‐ 2,139 12,000 ‐ 12,000 97,131 8,000 105,131 47,166 ‐ 47,166 7,629 ‐ 7,629 ‐ 9,572 9,572 15,935 ‐ 15,935 19,031 ‐ 19,031 13,447 ‐ 13,447 6,507 ‐ 6,507 9,495 ‐ 9,495 ‐ ‐ ‐ 378 ‐ 378 119,588 9,572 129,160 (22,457) (1,572) (24,029) 78,292 19,726 98,018	2020 Total Funds £ 19,802 16,000 292 706 5,821 ‐ 59,264 3,166 2,169 53
		107,273
		41,345 5,461 10,720 17,797 23,073 11,394 1,300 9,157 356 1,311
		121,914
		(14,641) 112,659
	55,835 18,154 73,989	98,018

srJoHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY Note5 to the financials For the year ended 31 December 2021 MONETARY ASSErs Unrestricted Restrirted 2021 Total Funds Funds Funds 2020 Total Funds Bank Current account Deposit accounts 21,603 34,232 16.445 1.709 38,048 35.941 49,168 48,850 Total monetary assets 55.835 18.154 73.989 98.018 OTHER ASSErs Unrestricted Restricted 2021 Total Funds Funds Funds 2020 Total Funds Gift Aid recoverable Investments at market value 5.077 81.024 5,077 81.024 5.110 72,009 LIABILITIES Unrestricted Re5trirted 2020 Total Funds Funds Funds 2019 Total Funds Significant creditors Approved by the trustees on 14 November 2022 and signed on their behalf by: Drjohn Wise Church Secretary

ST JOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY Notes to the financials For the year ended 31 December 2021

1. Accounting policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 1993 Section 42(3), using the Receipts and Payments basis available to small charities, and the United Reformed Church guidance.

2. Fund accounting

Unrestricted Funds may be used by the church for any of its ordinary purposes. Designated Funds represent unrestricted funds set aside by the church for specific designated purposes; they can be transferred back into general funds at the church's decision.

Restricted Funds represent income which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of a trust or bequest, or donations or grants received or invited for a specific purpose. These funds can only be spent on the specific purpose for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent must be carried forward as a balance on that fund for future expenditure on that specific purpose, or returned; it cannot be absorbed into general funds. The following were restricted funds:

Restricted funds: Fund name St John’s Friends Benevolent Fund Community Enhancement Fund Total	Balance b/fwd Receipts in the year Payments in the year Transfers between funds Balance c/fwd £ £ £ £ £ 909 ‐ ‐ ‐ 909 1,709 ‐ ‐ ‐ 1,709 17,108 8,000 9,381 ‐ 15,727
	19,726 8,000 9,381 ‐ 18,345

3. Property Income

Playgroup rents Halls & other rental income	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2021 Total Funds £ £ £ 21,000 ‐ 21,000 32,263 ‐ 32,263 53,263 ‐ 53,263	2020 Total Funds £ 21,000 38,264
		59,264

ST JOHN'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY Notes to the financials

For the year ended 31 December 2021

4. Administration Costs

4. Administration Costs
Wages Telephone Stationery & photocopier Purchase of equipment Other	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2021 Total Funds £ £ £ 12,902 ‐ 12,902 1,350 ‐ 1,350 664 ‐ 664 681 ‐ 681 338 ‐ 338 15,935 ‐ 15,935	2020 Total Funds £ 12,876 1,196 733 2,591 401
		17,797

5. Church running costs

5. Church running costs
Utilities Cleaning Caretaker	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2021 Total Funds £ £ £ 12,161 ‐ 12,161 6,551 ‐ 6,551 319 ‐ 319 19,031 ‐ 19,031	2020 Total Funds £ 14,766 7,493 814
		23,073