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Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Sharnbrook Evangelical Church (Registered Charity Number 1179954)
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements of Sharnbrook Evangelical Church CIO For the year ended 31 March 2025
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity Name: Sharnbrook Evangelical Church. Charity Registration Number: 1179954
(Previous Charity Name: Sharnbrook Evangelical Church Charity Registration Number: 1145375)
Place of Meeting: School Hall, Sharnbrook Upper School, Odell Road, Sharnbrook MK44 1JL Administrative Office: 15 The Bury, Pavenham MK43 7PX).
THE TRUSTEES
The trustees who served the charity during the period were as follows: Brian Bennett, John Heron, Myles MacBean & Steve Freshwater.
Elder: Dr Myles MacBean
Deacons: Mr Brian Bennett, Mr Stephen Freshwater
Independent Examiner: Monico Tunley Limited, Louise Tunley FCA CTA DChA, 19 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3JY.
New elders & deacons are elected following a period of prayer, teaching or discussion on the requirements of scripture regarding the office of an elder or deacon.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Sharnbrook Evangelical Church was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1179954), by the Charity Commission on 17[th] September 2018, taking over from the old Sharnbrook Evangelical Church charity formed in 1995 (Registered number 1145375).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
OBJECTIVES: The object of the CIO is, for the public benefit, to promote the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of faith, primarily but not exclusively within Sharnbrook and the surrounding neighbourhood.
ACTIVITIES: The church organised many activities during the year in support of its objects. These included Sunday worship, midweek House Groups during the daytime and evening, monthly Prayer Meetings and children work.
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ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Year 1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025
A summary of the main achievements is set out below:
We hold regular Sunday meetings in the School Hall at Sharnbrook Academy. These meetings are recorded and later uploaded to YouTube. We meet in people's homes for House Groups and Prayer meetings. Regular pastoral visiting by elders, deacons and church members continues, as does pastoral care through phone and video calls, and electronic messaging.
Volunteers are available to support children’s work on a Sunday morning when needed. We serve the local Primary School through an after-school club (JC's Club) of games, craft, activities and Bible Teaching every Monday for children in years 1-4.
Our activities are open to all and operate under the church's Child Protection Policy. All those working with young people are required to have an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service certificate and our volunteers receive appropriate safeguarding training.
Many in the church ensure that older people, especially those living on their own and those who are now unable to come out of their homes to regular meetings, receive regular visits, especially if they are unwell or in hospital. This includes times of bereavement and taking communion to those who are house bound. The church also provided meals for those in need at particular times throughout the year.
Locally, the church supports our local Bedford Foodbank and the Stables charity. Church members are also involved in their local communities in various voluntary capacities, including working with asylum seekers from the local hostel, a pregnancy crisis centre and facilitating a weekly Man Cave in the village.
More broadly, the church supports charities ministering in eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. This is augmented by church members personally active in wider ministries in the UK and beyond.
Approximately 10% of gift income (and tax reclaimed) is given annually to support this work. In allocating this money we seek to give long-term support to individuals or organisations with whom we have personal links as a church to make a tangible difference to those we support.
Leadership
The church is led by Elders & Deacons, who are responsible for the spiritual oversight and overall direction of church life. We have been led by our Elder since the departure of our 3 Pastor, John Heron, at the end of 2023 to minister in Reading
Public Benefit
The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities Sharnbrook Evangelical Church should undertake. In fulfilling our charitable aims for the public benefit, we have undertaken the following activities:
To advance the Christian Faith: Our regular Sunday Services, midweek House Groups and Monthly Prayer Meetings are open to all members of the public regardless of background and belief. These have been more widely accessed by those in the local community and further afield over the past year through our social media presence. Special Services such as our annual Remembrance Sunday and Christmas Carol Services continue.
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The Elders of the church is available to give counsel and support to any in need and, along with other volunteers are involved regularly in providing support to the vulnerable, sick and bereaved.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The charity received income for the year of £54,148 (2024: £60,947), all of which was unrestricted. Expenditure for the year was £20,049 (2024: 64,608). The receipts and payments account for the year showed a surplus of £34,099 (2024: deficit of £3,661). At the start of the year total net assets of the charity amounted to £55,316 (2024: £21,217) which was all held as cash or bank balances.
RESERVES
The Trustees consider that the level of reserves is appropriate. At the year end, the free reserves of the charity amounted to £55,316 ~~(2~~ 024: £21,217).
The trustees are content with this significant increase in reserves which is due to a significant reduction in staff costs. This, together with the encouraging maintenance of our income, allows the church to continue with confidence to seek the appointment of a new pastor.
All funds of the charity are unrestricted in nature. The charity has no designated or restricted funds.
Approved by the trustees for issue and signed on their behalf on 9th November 2025
Steve Freshwater (Trustee and Deacon) Brian Bennett (Trustee, Deacon and Treasurer)
[Attached: Full Year Accounts April 2024 – March 2025 for SEC AGM]
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SHARNBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH (REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1179954)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF SHARNBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 4 to 5.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
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 accounts to be reached.
Louise Tunley FCA CTA DChA
Chartered Accountant
19 Goldington Road Bedford MK40 3JY
Date: 9 November 2025
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Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Sharnbrook Evangelical Church (Registered Charity Number 1179954)
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements of Sharnbrook Evangelical Church CIO For the year ended 31 March 2025
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity Name: Sharnbrook Evangelical Church. Charity Registration Number: 1179954
(Previous Charity Name: Sharnbrook Evangelical Church Charity Registration Number: 1145375)
Place of Meeting: School Hall, Sharnbrook Upper School, Odell Road, Sharnbrook MK44 1JL Administrative Office: 15 The Bury, Pavenham MK43 7PX).
THE TRUSTEES
The trustees who served the charity during the period were as follows: Brian Bennett, John Heron, Myles MacBean & Steve Freshwater.
Elder: Dr Myles MacBean
Deacons: Mr Brian Bennett, Mr Stephen Freshwater
Independent Examiner: Monico Tunley Limited, Louise Tunley FCA CTA DChA, 19 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3JY.
New elders & deacons are elected following a period of prayer, teaching or discussion on the requirements of scripture regarding the office of an elder or deacon.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Sharnbrook Evangelical Church was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1179954), by the Charity Commission on 17[th] September 2018, taking over from the old Sharnbrook Evangelical Church charity formed in 1995 (Registered number 1145375).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
OBJECTIVES: The object of the CIO is, for the public benefit, to promote the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of faith, primarily but not exclusively within Sharnbrook and the surrounding neighbourhood.
ACTIVITIES: The church organised many activities during the year in support of its objects. These included Sunday worship, midweek House Groups during the daytime and evening, monthly Prayer Meetings and children work.
Page 1 of 5
MM | 17-10-2020 | ISSUE v1.0
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Year 1[st] April 2024 – 31[st] March 2025
A summary of the main achievements is set out below:
We hold regular Sunday meetings in the School Hall at Sharnbrook Academy. These meetings are recorded and later uploaded to YouTube. We meet in people's homes for House Groups and Prayer meetings. Regular pastoral visiting by elders, deacons and church members continues, as does pastoral care through phone and video calls, and electronic messaging.
Volunteers are available to support children’s work on a Sunday morning when needed. We serve the local Primary School through an after-school club (JC's Club) of games, craft, activities and Bible Teaching every Monday for children in years 1-4.
Our activities are open to all and operate under the church's Child Protection Policy. All those working with young people are required to have an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service certificate and our volunteers receive appropriate safeguarding training.
Many in the church ensure that older people, especially those living on their own and those who are now unable to come out of their homes to regular meetings, receive regular visits, especially if they are unwell or in hospital. This includes times of bereavement and taking communion to those who are house bound. The church also provided meals for those in need at particular times throughout the year.
Locally, the church supports our local Bedford Foodbank and the Stables charity. Church members are also involved in their local communities in various voluntary capacities, including working with asylum seekers from the local hostel, a pregnancy crisis centre and facilitating a weekly Man Cave in the village.
More broadly, the church supports charities ministering in eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. This is augmented by church members personally active in wider ministries in the UK and beyond.
Approximately 10% of gift income (and tax reclaimed) is given annually to support this work. In allocating this money we seek to give long-term support to individuals or organisations with whom we have personal links as a church to make a tangible difference to those we support.
Leadership
The church is led by Elders & Deacons, who are responsible for the spiritual oversight and overall direction of church life. We have been led by our Elder since the departure of our 3 Pastor, John Heron, at the end of 2023 to minister in Reading
Public Benefit
The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities Sharnbrook Evangelical Church should undertake. In fulfilling our charitable aims for the public benefit, we have undertaken the following activities:
To advance the Christian Faith: Our regular Sunday Services, midweek House Groups and Monthly Prayer Meetings are open to all members of the public regardless of background and belief. These have been more widely accessed by those in the local community and further afield over the past year through our social media presence. Special Services such as our annual Remembrance Sunday and Christmas Carol Services continue.
Page 2 of 5
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The Elders of the church is available to give counsel and support to any in need and, along with other volunteers are involved regularly in providing support to the vulnerable, sick and bereaved.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The charity received income for the year of £54,148 (2024: £60,947), all of which was unrestricted. Expenditure for the year was £20,049 (2024: 64,608). The receipts and payments account for the year showed a surplus of £34,099 (2024: deficit of £3,661). At the start of the year total net assets of the charity amounted to £55,316 (2024: £21,217) which was all held as cash or bank balances.
RESERVES
The Trustees consider that the level of reserves is appropriate. At the year end, the free reserves of the charity amounted to £55,316 ~~(2~~ 024: £21,217).
The trustees are content with this significant increase in reserves which is due to a significant reduction in staff costs. This, together with the encouraging maintenance of our income, allows the church to continue with confidence to seek the appointment of a new pastor.
All funds of the charity are unrestricted in nature. The charity has no designated or restricted funds.
Approved by the trustees for issue and signed on their behalf on 9th November 2025
Steve Freshwater (Trustee and Deacon) Brian Bennett (Trustee, Deacon and Treasurer)
[Attached: Full Year Accounts April 2024 – March 2025 for SEC AGM]
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