Anglican Asian Living Church
Registered Charity No: 1188895
Annual Report
1 January to 31 December 2023
Governance Statement
The Purpose of the Charity is:
The dissemination and support of the Christian faith, for the public benefit amongst Asian communities and those closely associated with them in Cowley and Oxfordshire, and when appropriate elsewhere in the United Kingdom and globally, by the provision of worship, Christian education, social and community support and other recognised needs within the community.
The charity is governed by a board of trustees.
The members of the board of trustees between 01.01.23 and 31.12.23 were:
Mr. Robin Ajit Miss Jasmine Masih
Mr. Arun Mattu Revd. Canon Geoffrey Bayliss
The charity currently has no employees.
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for ensuring the trustees’ report and the financial statements are prepared for each financial year, in accordance with English law and regulations, and UK accounting standards. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies, as described in the Statement of Accounts and then apply them consistently;
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prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with relevant law and regulations.
The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. During the year trustees have reviewed all AALC policies including their Safeguarding policy.
Bankers
The charity’s bankers are: Lloyds Bank PLC, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN
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Charity Address
The charity’s registered address is:
St. James Church Centre, 13 Beauchamp Lane, Oxford, OX3 3LF 01865 747680 aalc@cowleyteamministry.co.uk
Public Benefit Statement
Anglican Asian Living Church is a Christian Church, functioning under a Bishop’s Mission Order within the Diocese of Oxford of the Church of England. We seek to equip our members and those with whom we work in the wider community to live in a way that reflects the Christian faith and its focus on generous love. We seek to work in a positive way alongside and with communities of different faiths and philosophies whilst sharing openly the faith in God which guides our work. We believe our work transforms communities in ways that enhance human life and build a society of respect, tolerance, peace and spiritual health.
Statement of Activities for 2023
During this reporting period we began the year with our customary services and programs, marking the beginning of a promising journey for AALC. We organized a joyous New Year celebration, aiming to advance our organization's structure and foster growth, both in terms of spirituality and numerical strength. Additionally, we dedicated our efforts towards the application for BMO (Bishop's Mission Orders), which we accomplished triumphantly this year.
The AALC currently has four Trustees, which includes the current Rector of the Parish of Cowley.
In the year 2023, Tiara and Richard were baptized by the AALC. The confirmation ceremony was held for Ethan, Ashu, Matthew, Paree, Leah, and Henna. Additionally, a new family has recently made a commitment and joined the Church. This family had their baptism in 2022, and it includes Callum, Yuvraj, Simran, Moses, and Emanuel, along with their parents.
The AALC charity is overseen by the Trustees who handle decision-making, while a Church committee manages day-to-day operations. The organization boasts a robust choir and music team, along with an active Sunday School and Youth group. Currently, there are four trained Worship Leaders and a Secretary within the AALC. Additionally, several other teams within the AALC carry out important responsibilities.
The Parish of Cowley Team Ministry has been instrumental in offering essential ordained spiritual, pastoral, and sacramental assistance to the AALC. Both the Parish and the Archdeacon of Oxford were pleased to assist the AALC in achieving BMO status within the Parish of Cowley this year. In early 2023, the worship leaders and trustees convened with the Archdeacon to deliberate on the present state of the church and its future growth.
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The church operations at AALC are efficiently managed by the Trustees, who hold quarterly meetings. Our services are regularly livestreamed on Facebook, thanks to Dylan, our Digital Coordinator. Jasmine Masih, an AALC trustee, coordinates the rota to ensure all Worship Leaders have the opportunity to lead on Sundays and preach during our Wednesday meetings. Sunita and Salina, two of our Worship leaders, are currently undergoing a discernment for ministry process with Oxford diocese.
The AALC maintains its monthly youth services, providing an opportunity for young individuals to collaborate and take charge, fostering their potential as future church leaders. It is truly inspiring to witness their remarkable growth in confidence and skills, as they embrace various responsibilities within the service.
The Cowley Team Parish ministers have been instrumental in assisting us following Richard Chand's departure, leading worship services, delivering sermons, and conducting holy communion. The congregation is truly grateful for their dedication, and as a token of appreciation, we donate £50 to them every Sunday from the AALC contributions collected during the service.
Safeguarding courses have been completed by all church members, with Lesley Williams playing a supportive role in ensuring the training is kept up to date. Jasmine Masih has been appointed as the Assistant Safeguarding Officer for the AALC and provides support to Lesley Williams in this role.
Moving ahead, our collaboration as a unified congregation with the Cowley team parish ministers will persist. The AALC has experienced spiritual growth, and our members are encouraged to further develop within the church. Additionally, we have reintroduced refreshments at the St James Church Centre, providing an opportunity for networking and sharing our faith with everyone.
Chair of Truseees
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Registered Charity Number: 1188895
The Anglican Asian Living Church
Annual Accounts
1 January 2023 - 31 December 2023
Balance Sheet
| Balance Sheet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 31.12.23 | 31.12.22 | ||
| Current Assets | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | £35,812 | £14,932 | |
| Debtors | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Current Total Assets | £35,812 | £14,932 | |
| Creditors | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Net Current Assets (Liabilites) | £35,812 | £25,100 | |
| Capital and Reserves | |||
| Restricted Funds | £0 | £0 | |
| Designated Funds | £0 | £0 | |
| General Fund | £35,812 | £14,932 | |
| Total Capital and Reserves | £35,812 | £25,100 | |
| Represented by | |||
| Cash at bank (Lloyds bank) | £35,812 | £25,100 | |
| Proft and Loss Account | |||
| Opening Balance | £25,100 | £14,932 | |
| Current year earnings(loss) | £10,712 | £10,168 | |
| Closing Balance | £35,812 | £25,100 |
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Statement of Income and Expenditure
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| INCOME | ||
| Planned giving: Standing order | £790 | £895 |
| Planned giving: Envelope | £1,394 | £2,024 |
| Collectons: Special Services | £750 | £564 |
| Collectons: Sunday services | £8,102 | £7,095 |
| Collectons: Wednesday meetngs | £3,115 | £2,713 |
| Other Income (Christmas) | £0 | £44 |
| Mini-bus sale | £0 | £500 |
| Tax reclaimed (Gif Aid) | £0 | £0 |
| Charity Event | £445 | £0 |
| Prepayments | £1,885 | £0 |
| Total incoming resources | £16,480 | £13,835 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Payment to ministers | £2,950 | £1,840 |
| Rental of premises | £1,575 | £555 |
| Church catering | £0 | £420 |
| Insurance | £237 | £237 |
| Church operatng expenses | £300 | |
| Statonary supplies | £0 | £10 |
| Deanery Share | £120 | £120 |
| Minibus expenses | £0 | £0 |
| Gratuites to visitng pastors | £0 | £25 |
| Ladies’ Conference | £200 | £0 |
| Sundry payments (cash payments) | £385 | £460 |
| Total outgoing resources | £5,768 | £3,667 |
| Operatng proft(defcit) | £10,712 | £10,168 |
Chair of Trustees
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