**Trustees’ Report and Annual Accounts For the period ended 31[st] December 2023**
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## **Anchor Church Lymington & Pennington Period ended 31[st] December 2023 Legal & Administrative Details**
**Address for Correspondence** 17 Rookes Lane, Lymington, SO41 8FP **Governing Document** CIO Constitution dated 24[th] November 2019 **Charity Registration Number** 1187597 **Trustees** Mrs Katherine Coxon Reverend Christopher Henderson Reverend Nick Hiscocks Mr James Ivin **Bankers** CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, West Malling, ME19 4JQ **Independent Examiner** Mrs Katherine Gardiner
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## **Anchor Church Lymington & Pennington Report of the Trustees For the period ended 31[st] December 2023**
## **Objects of the Charity**
The Objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian faith in such ways as the Charity Trustees may from time to time decide.
## **Governance**
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity.
Every Trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as Charity Trustees, the Charity Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity. All Charity Trustees must subscribe and adhere to, in belief and lifestyle, the Statement of Faith, which is included as an appendix to the Governing Document.
## **Review of Activities**
The main activities undertaken for the public benefit are preaching from the Bible, the worship of God and the encouragement of the Church at regular Sunday services. There are occasional Sunday evening seminars to consider various topics in greater depth. The Church also runs midweek Bible studies, a Thursday morning ‘Tots & Tinies’ group, a Friday morning Prayer Meeting, and a Friday afternoon club for the children who regularly attend the Church.
Everyone is welcome to our Sunday services, irrespective of denomination or background, unless they pose a risk to the safety of those we serve. Services have continued to be held in the hall of Pennington Infant School. There are occasional breakfasts held before our Sunday service. Church Lunches, to which everyone is welcome, were held on around half a dozen occasions through the year.
Regulars at the Sunday services are encouraged to be a part of a Bible study group, of which there are now three regularly meeting. These meetings moved to being held entirely in-person rather than having a Zoom option. Once a month, these meetings focus more on prayer: for the Church, the wider Christian community and our wider society.
A service of Morning Prayer is held every week, to which everyone is welcome. This prayer meeting continues to be held on Zoom. It is accessible to all who have expressed a desire to be on the Church’s regular mailing list. Once a month, instead of an Anchor Church meeting, attendees are encouraged to join the Prayer Meeting for the Anglican Network in Europe.
The group for 0-4s and their carers, ‘Tots & Tinies’ continued to meet during the year in ‘the Den’ at Pennington Infant School. Entry to the group is free, though a donation of £1 is invited towards the continuing work of the group. The group is open to all who are caring for a child aged 0-4. Each session includes a singing time, during which a Bible Story is shared. Invitations to church services and other activities are regularly given out. Some households from Tots & Tinies attended some of our Christmas events.
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We have offered various special services and events to invite people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. We invited people to Sundays when we held special breakfasts. We produced leaflets and flyers which have been distributed through door-to-door work and through the schools. We did an Easter Egg hunt for the first time, as well as a Carol Service and Nativity Trail Service at Christmas. We again did neighbourhood carol singing in a number of locations. Christmas hampers were again donated by the church to be distributed by the Junior School to families as they thought best.
The Pastor continued to give weekly assemblies at both Pennington Infant School and Pennington Junior School. He was also invited to do some RE sessions at the Junior School, as well as give the talk at the local secondary school’s Christmas service.
For the first time, the church held a ‘Week of Prayer’ between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. This was done again in the first week of Advent. Passages of Scripture were read and there was prayer for upcoming services and for the local community. Both weeks were very encouraging for the church and the Lord was gracious in answering prayers.
The Church also offers the chance for individuals who are adult members of the Church or those adults interested in Christian things to meet with members of the Leadership or other designated members of the Church with the intention of offering Christian encouragement, instruction, pastoral counselling, the chance to read the Bible together and/or the chance to pray together where appropriate and desired.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Achievements**
2023 was the fourth year for Anchor Church Lymington and Pennington being registered as a charity. Services have been provided every Sunday during the year and for major Christian festivals. Pennington Infant School hall continued to be a very good venue for our Sunday services, and the outside area for the children is much enjoyed. Occasionally, we have held some breakfasts before the service. Attendance at Sunday Services increased, particularly towards the end of the year, more frequently becoming around 30 or above. We had some particularly special services during the year, including an Ordination Service for our Assistant Minister and a Thanksgiving Service for our two youngest members. The Church also held an Easter Egg hunt after its Easter Service, an evening Carol Service in December, as well as a first Nativity Trail Service on Christmas Eve, all of which were successful and well attended.
Tots & Tinies has continued to meet every week during term time, continuing to use ‘the Den’ in the Infant School. The time is made up of free play, crafts, singing and having a story from the Bible. A small team of volunteers continues to build relationships with attendees week by week. By the Autumn term of 2023, numbers became consistently good week by week. Some families from Tots & Tinies have come to some services, especially around Christmas.
Regular activities have continued through 2023. We started two new Bible Study groups which meet week by week, bringing the number of groups to three. Friday’s Morning Prayer service continues to be well supported by a core of about half a dozen. Friday Club has continued as a weekly fixture and has been effective for helping our children hear the same message from the Bible as the adults each week. There are now three families regularly meeting for this club.
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Occasional ‘Sunday seminars’ were held through the year, giving an opportunity for more focused time on a particular topic. Topics in 2022 have included: the Jerusalem Declaration, Christian Unity, Forgiveness, Law & Grace, Complementarianism, Baptism. The occasional ‘Church Lunches’ continued to prove to be a popular way of spending more time with one another as a church.
The work in the local schools continued in 2023, with assemblies being done weekly in the Infant and Junior school, as well as RE sessions in the Junior School. The church raised money to give every Year 6 pupil a Bible as they left the Junior School. A number of Bibles, along with children’s Bible notes, were given away to pupils during the year as well.
The Church Council met six times in the year. This body, made up of members of Anchor Church, is tasked with considering the Mission and Ministry of Anchor Church. Agenda items in 2022 included: ideas for evangelism, the governance and leadership of the Church, a Constitution for the Council, what’s next for Anchor Church, hospitality, increasing the number of Bible Study groups, the House Project, and the programme for Christmas Services.
As a member of AMiE (Anglican Mission in England), there were several opportunities to build relationships with others within the Diocese. This included the Pastor attending the annual conference, a visit from Bishop Andy Lines to our Bible Study Group, a visit from Bishop Lee McMunn for the Ordination Service in July, as well as joining in regular Zoom calls and prayer meetings for the wider Anglican Network in Europe.
The Trustees continued to explore the possibilities of purchasing a house for the Pastor. The aim is to achieve a purchase with no debt, so as to remove the accommodation costs from the yearly budget. The appeal continued to raise funds through 2023.
Anchor Church continues to be well supported through prayer and financial giving, both from its regular members and from further afield. A group of supporters receives a regular prayer letter every two months from the Pastor.
There were several visitors to Anchor Church through the year and it has become clear that many people have heard of the Church, both locally and further afield. Regular members of Anchor Church are encouraged to reach out with the gospel as much as they can, and to see Sunday as a regular opportunity to invite others. The website, Youtube Channel and a Facebook page have been effective ways of reaching out and letting people know of Anchor Church’s activities. The Church continues to look out for opportunities to reach out into our community and to share the gospel. One such opportunity in 2023 was running a stall at the Coronation Event in the local park – there were free crafts, refreshments given out for free, and dozens of goody bags given away which included Christian literature.
## **Financial Review**
During the year unrestricted income was £43,617. Expenditure was £68,840. Restricted income, received towards the House Project, was £73,750.
The deficit in unrestricted funds, of £25,223, was almost exactly as had been budgeted. Income from within Anchor Church fell slightly from 2022. This is likely because at the start of the year numbers fell a little. However, through the second half of 2023, more people joined Anchor Church, and the monthly giving by the end of the year suggests that overall, the giving in 2024 will be somewhat higher. Income from external supporters fell from £16,602 to £15,606. This was not as big a fall as anticipated. It is expected that external givers will taper their support as Anchor Church becomes
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established, though in 2023 we were grateful for some additional support from some new external givers.
The Trustees had planned for a deficit for the first few years of Anchor Church’s budget as it is established, with a large set-up gift raised from Christ Church Westbourne given to Anchor Church to help it through this period. Overall, the Trustees consider that having general funds of £74,792 four years after the Charity was formed is cause for much praise and thanksgiving. The size of the in-year deficit underlines the desirability of the House Project, which, if completed, would remove £24,000 from the Charity’s expenses each year and further long-term financial stability for the Charity.
A donation was received during the year towards supporting the self-supporting Assistant Minister, with Anchor Church acting as agent. These funds were all passed on in 2023. They are not included in the principal financial statements, but rather in a separate note (Note 5).
The Trustees aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £17,000, which equates to approximately 3 months' expenditure.
## **Trustees’ Responsibilities**
Charity law requires Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which at least record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We have opted to prepare our accounts on an accruals basis.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the Trustees on 22[nd] May 2024 and signed on their behalf by
Christopher Henderson
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Inde
endent Examlnerfs Re ort to the Trustees of Anchor Churth L min
Pennln
on&
I report to the Trustees on my examin3tion of the accounts for Anchor Church Lymlngton &
Pennln8ton, for the year ended 31" December 2023 lset out on pages 8-131.
Responslbllltles and basls of the report
As the charlty's trustees, you are resp)nslble for the preparation of the accounts In accordance wlth
the requlrements of the Charities Act 20111.the Ad"). I report in respert of my examlnatlon of the
Trust's accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrylng out my examlnation, I
have followed all the 4pplicable D1ctionS glven by the Charity Commi5slon under secllon 14515llbl
of the Act.
Independent examlnees statement
I have completed my examlnatlon. I conftrm that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon In
connectlon with the examlnation which 8lves me cause to belleve that In any materlal respect..
the accountlng records were not kept ID accordance wlth sectkin 130 of the Charltles Act,. or
the actounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or
the accounts dld not comply wlth the appllcable requlrements concernlng the fom) and content of
accounts set out in the Charitles (Accounts and Reports) Regulalions 2CK18 other than any
requlrement that the accounts 8fve a 'true and falrf vlew whlch b not a matter consldered as part of
an Independent examingtlon.
I have no concerns and have come across no other Matte in connection wlth the examSnatlon to
which attentlon should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper understandlng of the
accounts to be reached.
Sl8nature & Date
31" October 2024
Name & Address
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
For the period ended 31[st] December 2023
||_2023_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
**Incoming Resources**
**(Note 2)**
Donations and Legacies
43,236
73,750
Income from charitable
activities
-
-
Bank Interest
381
-
**Total**
**43,617**
**73,750**
**Resources Expended**
**(Note 3)**
Charitable activities
68,840
-
**Total**
**68,840**
-|_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2022_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
44,804
63,230
50
-
127
**44,981**
**63,230**
66,798
-
**66,798**
-|
|---|---|---|
||**Net movement in funds**
**(25,223)**
**73,750**|**(21,817)**
**63,230**|
||Funds at 1stJanuary
100,015
63,230
Funds at 31stDecember
74,792
136,980
_Represented by:_
General Fund
74,792
-
House Fund
-
136,980|121,832
-
100,015
63,230
100,015
-
-
63,230|
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## **Balance Sheet**
## **For the period ended 31[st] December 2023**
|_2023_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
**Current Assets**
Debtors and
Prepayments (Note 6)
5,025
5,170
Cash at bank and in
hand
70,002
131,810
**Total: current assets**
**75,027**
**136,980**
**Creditors**
Creditors falling due
within one year (Note 7)
235
-|_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2022_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
1,128
10
99,000
63,220
**100,128**
**63,230**
113
-|
|---|---|
|**Net assets**
**74,792**
**136,980**|**100,015**
**63,230**|
|**Funds**
General Fund
74,792
-
House Fund
-
136,980|100,015
63,230|
## **Signed on behalf of the trustees**
Signature
Name Christopher Henderson
Date 31[st] October 2024
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## **Note 1 – Accounting Policies**
## **Basis of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the current Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities and applicable accounting standard FRS 102 and with the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are income funds that are to be spent on the Charity’s general purposes. Restricted funds (donations or grants for a specific Charity activity intended by the donor) for the period represented donations given in response to the House Appeal. In 2023, designated funds (General funds set aside by the Trustees for a particular purpose) were set aside for the costs of Bibles given to Year 6 leavers in the Junior School, and towards Christmas hampers which were given to households in the community. The total of these funds was less than £1,000.
## **Incoming resources & Debtors**
Planned giving, collections and similar donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received, with a debtor being recorded for the amount expected. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the Charity is entitled to the use of the resources, their ultimate receipt is considered reasonably certain and the amounts due are readily quantifiable. Interest is accounted for as and when accrued by the payer. All incoming resources are accounted for gross. Debtors are recorded as the amount expected to be received.
## **Resources expended & Liabilities**
All expenditure is recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
## **Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed assets for use by charity are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £1,000. They are valued at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over each asset's estimated useful life. Individual items with a purchase price of less than £1,000 are written off when the asset is acquired. The Charity currently holds no fixed assets, nor did it at any stage during 2023.
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## **Note 2 – Analysis of Income**
||_2023_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
**Donations & Legacies**
Planned giving from ACLP
members
16,960
Planned giving from other
supporters
15,606
Loose collections
-
One-off gifts*
3,416
Gift Aid
6,964
Legacies
-
Donations through Tots & Tinies
290
Gifts to House Appeal
61,360
Gift Aid on House Appealgifts
12,390|_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2022_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
17,170
-
16,602
-
-
3,308
-
7,476
-
-
-
248
-
-
60,720
-
2,510|
|---|---|---|
||**Total**
**43,236**
**73,750**|**44,804**
**63,230**|
||**Income from Charitable Activities**
Book sales commission from
10ofthose
-
-
**Bank Interest**
381
-|50
-
127
-|
||**Total Income**
**43,617**
**73,750**|**44,981**
**63,230**|
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## **Note 3 – Analysis of Expenditure**
|_2023_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
**Expenditure on Charitable**
**Activities**
**Employment of Pastor**
-
Salary + Pension
30,709
-
-
Rent + Council Tax 17 Rookes
27,240
-
Lane
**Total**
**57,949**
-
**Sunday Services**
-
Hire of hall
2,718
-
-
Insurance
886
-
-
Other
1,085
-
**Total**
**4,689**
-
**Midweek Activities**
-
Tots & Tinies room hire
-
Tots & Tinies materials
-
Junior School work
**Total**
**Contribution to Anglican Mission**
**in England**
1,499
-
206
-
511
-
**2,216**
-
1,650
**Other Expenses**
2,336
-|_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2022_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
29,789
-
27,240
-
**57,029**
-
2,220
-
836
-
737
-
**3,793**
-
1,529
-
292
-
-
-
**1,821**
-
1,650
2,505
-|
|---|---|
|**Total**
**68,840**
-|**66,798**
-|
N.B. ‘Other Expenses’ includes a gift of £100 to Mrs Katherine Gardiner, in appreciation for her acting as Independent Examiner for the 2022 accounts. It also includes a gift of £200 to Mr James Ivin, to be used towards the purchase of theological books.
## **Note 4 – Transactions with related parties**
The employment costs in Note 3 refer to the employment of Rev C Henderson, a trustee, in his capacity as Pastor of the church. This is permitted by the governing document. Expenses, relating to ordinary church running costs, were reimbursed to the Pastor and to Mr J Ivin. The funds received as agent (Note 5) were received to support the living costs of Mr J Ivin, who is the self-supporting Assistant Minister. No other amounts were paid or are payable to any trustee or to any person connected to them
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## **Note 5 – Funds received as agent**
|**Description**|Balance
held / due
at period
start
£|Related
Party?|Amount
received
/ due
£|Amount
paid out
£|Balance
held / due
at period
end
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Donation made to support
living expenses of self-
supporting Assistant Minister
and family, for ACLP to pass
on.|0|Yes|500|500|0|
|**Total**
**0**
**500**
**500**
**0**||||||
Funds received as agent are not shown on the Statement of Financial Activities nor on the Balance Sheet.
## **Note 6 – Analysis of Debtors**
|_2023_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
HMRC Gift Aid
5,025
5,170|_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2022_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
1,128
10|
|---|---|
|**Total**
**5,025**
**5,170**|**1,128**
**10**|
**Note 7 – Analysis of Creditors**
|_2023_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_£_
Hire of hall owing
-
-
Payroll outsourcing
owing
44
-
Advertising owing
30
-
Tots & Tinies claim
owing
161
-|_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
£
_2022_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
£
44
-
41
-
28
-
-
-|
|---|---|
|**Total**
**235**
-|**113**
-|
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