Trustees Report – September 2023
This report was presented and accepted at the church AGM (13th September 2023).
Introduction
The Trustees, who are the church officers have pleasure in presenting this report for the past year, ending August 2023.
As a CIO, the aims of Hamilton Road Evangelical Church are:
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The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Whistable and the surrounding neighbourhood;
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Such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life;
Report
In August 2022, HREC called their first full-time Pastor since 2004. The Pastor accepted this call and began his official pastoral duties on 1st October 2022. He and his wife have become members and are now living in Whitstable, for which we give thanks.
During the past year, we have held regular Sunday worship services morning and evening, as well as weekly prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings. These have usually be led by our Pastor, with occasional meetings led by other church members or visiting preachers. Sunday attendance has increased during the past year, with a number of new adults and families attending (more or less) regularly. All these meetings are open to the general public and any guests are warmly welcomed. Average attendance in the morning would be around 22-26 adults and 4-8 children approximately. Evening attendance is generally lower.
From September 2022, Junior Church amended their start times to allow families and children to spend the first 15 minutes approximately in the morning service. The main teaching resource was, “Go Teach,” but we have recently begun trialling resources by, “Faith in Kids.” Attendance has grown during the year, with typical numbers averaging around 7-9 children. This does not include secondary school age children, who we are now encouraging to attend the morning service. The regular adult team consists of 5 church members.
Our Thursday morning Toddler group has met regularly through the past year, with breaks that coincide with typical school holiday dates. There are usually around 6-9 carers who attend with the pre-school children. In the past year, we have changed the group name to, “Little Oysters,” and we have introduced short devotional style messages, designed to engage with the adults and to encourage them to consider the Christian message. Those who attend speak very positively about the group. The regular adult team consists of 4 church members.
Our Tuesday Bethany Lunch Club has also met regularly through the past 12 months, with breaks that coincide with typical school holiday dates. Bethany is very popular with those who come and attendance has grown during the year, with 25-30 now being a regular number. The meetings always begin with a short gospel message, followed by a cooked lunch and dessert. With the arrival of our Pastor, we have also been able to run, “Hope Explored,” and “Just Looking,” evangelistic groups before Bethany begins.
These were well received and a number of Bethany attendees have now begun attending Sunday services as a result. The regular adult team consists 5 church members, assisted by a number of other members as appropriate.
HREC has also held a number of one-off evangelistic events, including a Christmas Carol service, Easter Service (with breakfast) and Coronation Celebration. All events were well attended, and we were able to make contact with encouraging numbers of non-Christians. The Coronation Celebration also gave us more contact with Jewsons, who advertised the event on their social media accounts.
During the past year we have lost one member, who passed away. We have received 5 new members. Current membership stands at 24.
The church officers currently consist of one Elder (our Pastor) and 3 deacons. All church officers are Trustees of the CIO, the Pastor being Chair of Trustees. During the year one deacon stepped down from the diaconate; we wish to formally acknowledge our thankfulness to him for his faithful service to the church as a deacon and now as a member.
Adam Laughton on behalf of the Trustees
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
Income and Expense by Category
From 01/ 04/ 2022 to 31/ 03/ 2023 (in GB Pounds)
| Category (Income) | |
|---|---|
| Bank Interest | 268.15 |
| Bethany Lunches | 2,778.10 |
| General | 27,948.86 |
| Gift Received | 44,293.37 |
| Manse Rent | 12,000.00 |
| Other Income | 590.00 |
| Transfer from antecedent organisation | 36,192.37 |
| Total Income | 124,070.85 |
| Category (Expense) | |
| Advertising and Publicity | -904.27 |
| Bethany | -2,456.46 |
| Caretaking | -333.09 |
| Catering | -506.38 |
| Charitable contributions | -50.00 |
| Church Utilities: Electricity | -1,617.18 |
| Church Utilities: Gas | -4,820.22 |
| Church Utilities: Phone & Wifi | -510.02 |
| Church Utilities: Refuse | -455.65 |
| Church Utilities: Water | -242.89 |
| Category Total: | -7,645.96 |
| Equipment | -35.93 |
| Funeral: Flowers | -40.00 |
| Gift Sent | -25.00 |
| Insurance | -2,574.31 |
| Legal Services | -447.48 |
| Literature | -918.87 |
| Maintenance: Church | -2,022.34 |
| Maintenance: Manse | -1,280.00 |
| Category Total: | -3,302.34 |
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
| Ministry: Bethany | -300.00 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry: Bible Study | -870.00 | |
| Ministry: Funeral | -150.00 | |
| Ministry: Lord's Day | -2,870.00 | |
| Ministry: Missionary | -480.00 | |
| Category Total: | -4,670.00 | |
| Misc Exp | -322.88 | |
| Missionary | -1,125.00 | |
| Pastor: Accommodation | -15,796.85 | |
| Pastor: Conference expenses | -300.00 | |
| Pastor: Pension | -1,185.00 | |
| Pastor: Salary | -11,472.10 | |
| Category Total: | -28,753.95 | |
| Photocopier | -431.70 | |
| Stationery | -57.93 | |
| Sunday School | -300.65 | |
| Training | -84.83 | |
| - | ||
| Total Expenses | 54,987.03 | |
| Total: | 69,083.82 |
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
Account Balance
Account: All Accounts
Net Worth at: 31/ 03/ 2023 (in GB Pounds)
| Bank | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | 10.00 | ||
| Current | 8,504.57 | ||
| Reserve | 60,569.25 | ||
| Bank Total | 69,083.82 | ||
| Investments | |||
| Investment | Total | 0.00 | |
| Assets | |||
| Asset Total | 0.00 | ||
| Credit Card | |||
| Credit Card | Total | 0.00 | |
| Liabilities | |||
| Liability Total | 0.00 | ||
| Overall Total: | 69,083.82 |
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