COLKINS MILL CHURCH . .Part of God sJamiJ/ in Mayfield Trustees, Annual Report and Accounts for the period I" April 2024 to 31st March 2025
Alm and purposes Colkins Mill Church is a local family congregation that seeks to follow Jesus Christ in the village of Mayfield. East Sussex. The Trustees. who fomi the Church Leadership Team, aim to welcome all into a church community that enables people to embrace and grow in the Christian faith. The charitable purposes of the Church are met by a range of activities that include public worship, prayer and teachin& and also living out faith in outreach. practical care and relief of hardship, both in the local community and other parts of the world. ObJ•¢tlv•4 and *rtlvltl•• The Church Leadership is committed to enabling as many people as possible to join in the life and activities of the Church. In planning these activities, the Leadership Team has considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit. The main activities of Colkins Mill Church can be summarised as follows: Public worship has taken place each week in the Church. with a congregation of between 30 and 50 people. together with a small Sunday School for children. Four mid-week groups have met regulafly in homes to worship and learn together from the Bible. and to support one another in prayer and fellowship. In addition. there are two mid-week opportunities for communal prayer. Sunday evening meetings focused on worship and prayer have been held regularly. Two mid-week youth clubs a run during term times. open to all local young people of appropriate ages. providing a fun environment for games and social interaction, and including teaching from the Bible and discussion of relevant issues from a Christian perspective. A monthly cdebration is held for people with learning dI1(UltieS from several care homes in the area with Bible stories. singin& craft and refreshments. The Church maintains active relationships With mission partners and Christian organisations working elsewhere in the UK and the world and provides financial and prayer SUPPOrt. The Church building is made available to clubs and societies in the village for a small houTIy rent. Arhl•v•m•nts and p•rformanc• Sunday services have continued through the year and are live streamed for anyone unable to attend in person through absence or illness. The pattern of serving a buffet breakfast before the service has become part of the Church rhythm and is a valuable opportunity for connection and support. The Church was delighted to baptise a young woman during the year at her request. With good attendance continuing at mid-week homegroups. the Church started a second day- time group which has been well supported. In total there are now four small group5, which play an important part in pastoral care and discipleship. In addition, an"Alpha" course was run for interested people.
After a successful event last year. the Church held another'Away Dav at a local retreat centre. The day provided the 33 people who attended with the opportunity for relaxed fellowship, worship. teaching and creativity. On a separate occasion a'Healing Streams. day of teachin& ministry and encouragement was held for women. facilitated by a team from Ichthus Christian Fellowship (ICF). This was greatly appreciated by those who attended. The Church hosts a corral of tents each year at'Revive' conference week run by ICF at Ashburnham Place near Battle. Colkins Mill has been welcoming individuals and groups into its community at the event over the years and this year 55 people joined the Church's corral. Occasional °Wor5hip Nights" have continued to be held at the Church in partnership with friends from other churches. These evenings focus exclusivety on worship and the presence of God and have been well-attended. The work with young people in the village has continued. with strong attendance of around 40 children each week across the two mid-week club nigthts that are offered. Another successful weekend camp was run, taking 30 young peopleaway to a Christian outward-bound centre. This year a 'Youth Alpha. course was run with the older teenagers. The Church was able to continue to wve regular support and make financial grants to several Christian organisations, initiatives and individuals. This year a new three-year relationship was started with an organisation supporting homeless and vulnerable people in Eastbourne. Support and grants provided by the Church to individuals and charities are determined after discussion and agreement at meetings of the Leadership Team. including consideration of available fvnds. The Church leadership inforni the Church of all grants made. involving people in the ensuing relationships where possible. A one-off appeal was made during the year to support people displaced by bombing in Lebanon. The Church ha5 a relationship with a Church in Beirut already involved with the refugee community there. There was a generous sponSe of donations from members, and the Church was able to give a broadly matchin8 amount from its own funds. Other achievements during the year included: First Aid trainin& mainly for several individuals involved in youth work. Leadership training through attendance at the ICF Leaders Conference, and through joint discussion of a study book Monthly'Bring and Share. Sunday lunches were continued. open to people outside the Church. Sunday services during August were held out of doors in the Church garden this year, following a theme of "Gardens in the Bible". The Church ran a stall at the Mayfield May Fair. A"Spring Crafts" afternoon was held. open to the public. Many members of the Church are involved in Church activities on an informal voluntary basis, and the Trustees are very appreciative of the contribution that everyone makes, without which 50 mLtch less would be accomplished. In the case of indivKlua15 who are involved in the children'5 and vulnerable adults. activit$. appropfiate safeguarding policies and procedures are in place. Flnanclal revlew Regular donations and gifts to unrestricted reserves fell slightly by 1% from the previous year. However income was boosted by a significant recovery of two years of Gift Aid tax refund,
where there had been no claim in the prior year. Hall lettings and Childn.5 camp fees were up also, and in total income to unrestritted funds increased by 35% from the previous year, with 30 percentage points of this arising from Gift Aid. In future it is planned to make a Gift Aid claim every year to remove this volatility of income. Gifts and donations to restricted funds increased by a similar percentage (36%) due to the one-off Lebanon appeal made during the year, together with the allocated share of the Gift Aid refund. With no employed staff. the running costs of the Church are relatively low and the Church is able to make substantial grants to Christian organisations and mission partners. Missionary sUPPOrt was given to long standing partners working in a deprived community in Johannesbur& South Africa. and amongst trafficked women in both India and a Native American Reservation in the USA. Grants to organisations included a charity dedicated to supporting homeles5 and vulnerable people in a nearby town. and oTganisations involved in Bible translationj youth work in the UK, emergency aid in Lebanon. social justice in the UK and international relief work. Some of these grants have been provided with a multi-year promise of support (subject to review). Where future funds have been promised the amounts are included in the accounts as a liability. Expenditure on maintenance in the year included placeMent of a fence to the property (a cost shared with our neighbour). and repair of some rotten flooring. The strong total income for the year. partly offset by grants made, have given rise to a small surplus on unrestricted funds for the year. All funds are held in cash. R•Mrv•• pollcy Assessment of the current condition of the Church building has indicated that some £25,000 of unrestricted funds should be held for repair work. The Church has made funding commitments that will be fulfilled in future years totalling £IO.000 at year end. These amounts are deducted from unrestricted cash reserves when the Trustees assess reserves that are freely available. The Trustees consider that an amount equivaleftt to at least six months of annual expenditure should be held in free reserves. At the end of March 2025 the were surplus free reserves above the policy level, assuring the future solvency of the Church and giving xope for future support of people and projects at home and overseas. Structurep governanu •nd m•n•g•ment Colkin5 Mill Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. governed under a CIO Foundation Constitution. New Trustees are appointed by a resolution of the existing Trustees. There was no change to the Trustee5 during the year. New Trustees are provided with the constitution of the Church, and the latest Annual Report and Account5. Induction ensures that they are fully acquainted with the objects, organisation and key activities of the Church. and briefed on current prioritie5. issues and opportunities. to ensure that they can be effective in their role quickly. New Trystees are required to read Charity Commission guidance on Trustee duties.
The Trustees together form the Leadership Team of the Church. which meet5 at least monthly, to plan the activitie5 of the Church. to make decisions on matters of general concern, and to determine how funds are spent. Leadefship meetings were held in person throughout the year. Two of the Trustees attended on-line webinars organised by the Charity Commission and the Charity Community of the ICAEW. The Church is led and run by the Leadership Team and Church members on a voluntary basis, with no employed staff. Thi5 limits the exposure to financial risk. since the fixed costs to be covered by income are relatively small. In addition. the team approach to leadership and ministry reduces dependency on key individuals and provides accountability to limit reputational risk. R•f•rnn¢• •nd admlnl¥tratlv• d•talls The name of the Charity is Colkins Mill Church. Its location and principal address is Station Road, Mayfield. East Sussex, TN20 6BT. The Church's charity registration number is 1183123. The Trustees during the year were as follows: David Jules Steinegger Senior Leader Teresa Steinegger Stephen John Harland Judith Anne Harland Leader Leader Leader Kevin Phillip Warner Catherine Warner Leader Leader All TfU5tees acted for the entire year. Approval Tr rt approved by the Leadership Team on their behalf by: igned o (Senior Leader)
Colkins Mill Churth receipts and payments accounts For the year ended 3tst March 2025 Recelpts and Payments Unrnstrlrted Restrlrled Endowmwt Total fvnds funds nds funds 2024125 last Year 2023124 Recelpts Donatlons and glfts Charitable artivitles (youth camp fees) Glft Aid reimbursement Interest on deposlt attount Hlre of hall 23,887 2,678 8.412 174 7.481 31,367 2.678 10,171 174 30,996 1.192 1,759 144 2,733 35,065 3,085 Tot01re1pts 38,235 Pawnents Grants to organlsatlon$ Mlsslonary support Flnanclal support to Indlvlduals In need Membershlps Bulldln8 and malntenance Church preachlng and outreach Youth, chlldren and speclal needs rrk Church events Ll8ht, heat and water Cleanlng Insurance Telephone and Internet Other 11,556 13,943 14,847 629 582 2,383 925 3,C65 1,653 1,915 1,275 1,588 446 1,502 27,869 8,992 670 582 566 6.447 629 582 2.383 925 2.265 1.160 2,223 1.175 1,262 622 2,318 1,653 1,915 1.275 1,502 35J18 Totalpofvvnents Net of rerelptsllpayments) 2A17 405 I,n2 115226) Transfers between fund$ Cash funds last ar end Cash ndS thls year end 72,152 74A69 619 I24 72,771 75,493 87,997 n,771
Statsmert of Assets and UalAlltles at ernl of the perfod Unrestrlrted ResIr1 EDdwnent Totsl fvnds ds nd5 funds 2024125 C•sh ld$ Barclays Current Account Barclays Saver Account Nat West Current Account Totol ¢ohfvnds 57,570 11,632 5,268 74A69 1,024 58,594 11,632 5,268 75,493 Im4 Oth•r mofietsryKsets In¥•stment assets Assets r•talned foi Chyrth (nots 11 LlJbllltl•s {not• 21 (9XWI {U1241 l. Assets retalned ft>r Churth use Is the freehold prop•rty In Ststlon Ro•d, M•Ield th•t the Church meets In, The property w•5 •qulr•d In 1997 •nd Is held at $t. 2. Ll•bllltle$ represent fvndlna ¢ommltments m•d• by ye•r end to be fulfllled In future perlods. Accounts approved by the C and signed on their behalf b Leaders ipTeamon qÉ &>z David Steinegger (Senior Le Stephen Harland (Leader>
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustaosl momrn of Colkins Mill Church On acc¢Junts for th• year endod 311t Marth 2025 Chaflty no Ilf any) S•t out on pag 1to7 I report to the trustees on my ex•nination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended RMpon$lblllllos and As th8 charity truste of the Trust. you are responsible for th8 preparation basis ol rnport of the accounts in accJ)rdance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 fthe Acr). I rewt in re8pec of my examinat of the Tru8t's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charty Canmission under sedion 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirni that no material matters have •xamlnorf8 •tatem•nt come to my attenti (other than that di8do8ed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to beli8ve that in. ary material aCCou1ng records were not kw in accordan wth Section 130 of theAdor the accounts do ncl acc(xd vfilh the accounting records I have no concerns and have c(me a(x088 other matters in conne(ion wrth the examination to which attention shoukl be drawn in ordor to en81e a prOr understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Pl88S8 delete the %dS in the brackets rfthey do not apply. 81gn•d: 11112r2025 Namo: Samantha Hadden Relevant prof•sslonal qualfficationlg) or body (If anyl: CAT (Cert5f*d Accounling Technirian) Addr•ss: Hadden Hall. Framfield Road, Blackboys, East Su56ex TN22 5LS IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to hhlIght matters of concem {$ee CC32, Indepen examination of chaiity accounts: directions and gUance for examiners). Giv• h•r• brl•f d•talls of any ltsms that th• •xamlner wlshes to dlsclos•. IER October 2018