Annual Trustees Report
October 2025
This report is prepared for the church AGM (1[st] October 2025) as part of our obligations as a CIO. An anonymised version will be submitted to the Charity Commission.
Introduction
The Trustees (Church Officers) have pleasure in presenting this report for the past year, to October 2025.
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 Whitstable 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
During the past year we have held regular Sunday worship services morning and evening, as well as prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings. These are usually led by our Pastor, although visiting speakers and church members also lead. We continue to see growth in attendance. These meetings are open to the public and guests are warmly welcomed. Attendance in the morning might typically be around 40-50 adults, with 10-15 children. Evening attendance is generally lower, although that has also been increasing.
Regular ministries within the church continue faithfully. Below are brief summaries.
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Junior Church typically has 9-10 children, occasionally more. They have been working through, “The Biggest Story Curriculum,” which focuses on a Christ-centred approach to all the Scriptures.
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Little Oysters Toddler group meets weekly on Thursdays (in school term time). Numbers have dropped slightly, with several regulars leaving, but the group remains well-loved by all who attend.
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Our Tuesday Bethany Lunch Club has met regularly through the past 12 months, with breaks coinciding with typical school holidays. Attendance remains steady with 30-35 being typical.
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Sunday Youth Group has met around 6 times during the year. We have 5 young people in the group and we have focused on how the Bible answers questions relevant to young people.
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The monthly women’s breakfast and bible study has resumed again, and a new women’s book group has also begun in the last year.
We have held other outreach events through the year, including Christmas Carol Services, Easter Service (with breakfast), Harvest Thanksgiving (with buffet) and our May Family Fun day. All were well attended and provided opportunities for gospel outreach. We have held other, “social,” events, including church BBQ and fellowship meals. These are good ways of fostering deeper friendship and love within the church.
Membership
We gained 8 new members. Our current membership has risen and now stands at 39 (5 of these associate and 1 child member).
Church Officers
Our church officers currently consist of two Elders and three deacons (see below). We rejoice at the recognition of XX as an elder and thank him for his willingness to serve. This was raised as a matter for prayer at last years AGM and we acknowledge the Lord’s gracious answer in this.
In September, XX shared with the church officers his intention to stand down as a deacon. We received this news with sadness, coupled with deep thankfulness to him for many years of devoted service to the church. We pray for him and his wife as they continue to encourage and serve the church as members.
All church officers automatically become trustees of the CIO, with Pastor being Chair of Trustees. Trustees must oversee the CIO and ensure it is well managed, in line with our charitable aims. We continue to oversee the policies and procedures of the church as well as fabric and maintenance. Areas of work this past year have included the new carpet for the main building as well as additional seating.
Pastors final thoughts
The last year (like the previous two years) has been one of consolidation, growth and encouragement. We are thankful for the blessing we have known and trust it will continue. We give all the glory to the Lord. As we have grown, it has been wonderful to see the Lord answering our prayers to “knit us together,” as one people. This was an area for prayer mentioned at last year’s AGM and we give glory to God for hearing us.
By the Lord’s grace and mercy, we look to him to continue to bless and strengthen the work. Many of the areas we mentioned last year are similar, outlined below.
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Evangelism . The, “Passion for Life,” evangelism training sessions on Sunday evenings were generally well received. Passion for Life have produced a new series of training sessions, some of which we may use in the coming year. We want to see members increasingly enthused and equipped and we are looking to host several evangelistic events around the Easter of 2026, God willing.
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Elders and Deacons . We give thanks for the current church officers and pray that the Lord will send the right men at the right time for the church.
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Service, involvement and “organisation.” With growing numbers, the need to do all things, “decently and in order,” increases. We remain encouraged by the willingness of people to serve in whatever ways the Lord has enabled them. As new people join us, they need to be able to see clearly how the ministries of the church function, and where they might be able to serve. The elders and deacons intend to produce a clear summary of teams and ministries, to help people get involved.
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Prayer . The growth in attendance at prayer meeting is a wonderful encouragement and I trust shows our increasing awareness that, “unless the Lord builds the house,” we labour in vain. Without the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing we attempt will have lasting significance. We must together as a church all give priority to prayer together and individually.
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Unity & Fellowship . Like last year, we rejoice at the loving spirit that exists amongst us. Much of the ministry last year (e.g. “One Anothers,”) focused on the community that the Lord Jesus wants to build. Our, “practical unity,” is founded on our, “theological unity,” in the gospel of grace. With this in mind, we pray that the series on Romans will help us to clarify what we believe and to unite around this wonderful good news.
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
Account Balance 2024-25 at 31.3.25
Account: All Accounts
Net Worth at: 31/03/2025 (in GB Pounds)
| Bank | |
|---|---|
| Cash | 20.00 |
| Current | 1,533.55 |
| Reserve | 20,405.36 |
| Bank Total | 21,958.91 |
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
Income & Expenditure 2024-25
From 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2025 (in GB Pounds)
| Category (Income) | |
|---|---|
| Bank Interest | 487.94 |
| Bethany Lunches | 4,331.51 |
| General | 39,235.70 |
| Gifts Received | 1,149.15 |
| Manse Rent | 15,200.00 |
| Total Income | 60,404.30 |
| Category (Expense) | |
| Accounts Inspection | -200.00 |
| Advertising and Publicity | -263.36 |
| Bethany | -3,438.28 |
| Caretaking | -172.10 |
| Charitable contributions | -49.50 |
| Church Utilities:Electricity | -1,316.83 |
| Church Utilities:Gas | -3,905.39 |
| Church Utilities:Phone & Wifi | -785.18 |
| Church Utilities:Refuse | -116.12 |
| Church Utilities:Water | -415.77 |
| Category Total: | -6,539.29 |
| Equipment | -1,380.29 |
| Events | -764.24 |
| FIEC Subscription | -500.00 |
| Gift Sent | -500.00 |
| Insurance | -3,002.11 |
| Literature | -965.02 |
| Maintenance:Church | -22,126.42 |
| Maintenance:Manse | -348.31 |
| Category Total: | -22,474.73 |
| Ministry:Bethany | -190.00 |
| Ministry:Lord's Day | -970.00 |
| Ministry:Missionary | -150.00 |
| Category Total: | -1,310.00 |
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church
| Misc Exp | -828.15 |
|---|---|
| Pastor:Accommodation | -2,196.77 |
| Pastor:Conference expenses | -347.50 |
| Pastor:Pension | -4,524.00 |
| Pastor:Salary | -33,011.37 |
| Pastor:Travel | -57.26 |
| Category Total: | -40,136.90 |
| Stationery | -198.06 |
| Sunday School | -74.87 |
| - | |
| Total Expenses | 82,796.90 |
Total: -22,392.60
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of On accounts for the year ended Ik*. Lgx Charity no (If any) 551 Sot out on pagos l+1 cth4 tHqy I report to the trustees on my examinath harity I'the Trusfi for the year ended A-13 accounts of the abov8 Responslbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in aCCdanCe with Ihe requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my eXaMinatn of the Trust's aCcInts carriad out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have folbwed the applicatje Directions given by the Charty Commission urKier section 145151(b) of th8 Act. I have completed my eXaMinatn. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examinalion which gives me cause lo believe that in. any material r8sFect: accounting recd$ were rK)t kept in accordance wllh sècllon 130 of the Acl or ccmjnts do not &cord wilh the accounliry records Independent examlnerfs ststement I h8ve no c(eMS and have comé across no other matters in conn8clion with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in order to enable oper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. . Please delete Ihe words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Slgnod: Date: Name: LC Relevant professlonal qualification(s) or body lif any): Address: Section B Oisclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, IndeperKlent examination of charity accounts.. directk)ns and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018
Give here brlef details of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER October 2018
Hamilton Road Evangelical Church CIO Registered No: 1189551 Year 2024-25 Balancqs Opening 01 April 2024 £44,351.51 Current Account £1,533.55 Reserve Account £20,405.36 Cash Account £20.00 Closing Balance 31 March 2025 £21,958.91 Opening Balances@I" April 2024 Income £44,351.51 £60,404.30 ./ £-82,796.90 / £21,958.91 Expenditure Closing Balance 31 March 25
Income & Expenditure 2024-25 From 0110412024 to 3110312025 (In GB Pounds) Category (Income) Bank Interest Bethany Lunches General Gifts Received Manse Rent Total Income 487.94 4,331.51 39,235.70 1,149.15 15,200.00 60.404.30 Category (Expense) Accounts Inspection Advertislng and Publlclty Bethany Caretaklng Charitable contributions Church Utilities: Elertriclty Church Utilltles:Gas Church Utilities: Phone & Wifi Church Utilities: Refvse Church Utilities:Water Category Total: Equipment Events -200.00 -263.36 -3,438.28 -172.10 -49.50 -1,316.83 -3,905.39 -785.18 -116.12 -415,77 -6,539.29 -1,380.29 -764.24 FIEC Subscrlption Glft Sent Insurance Literature Maintenance:Church Maintenance: Manse Category Total: Ministry: Bethany Mlnistry: Lord's Day Ministry: Missionary Category Total: -500.00 -500.00 -3,002.11 -965.02 -22,126.42 -348.31 -22,474.73 -190.00 -970.00 -150.00 -1,310.00 CIO Registered Charity No:1189551
Misc Exp Pastor:Accommodation Pastor:Conference expenses Pastor:Pension Pastor:Salary Pastor:Travel Category Total: Stationery Sunday School -828.15 -2,196.77 -347.50 -4,524.00 -33,011.37 -57.26 -40,136.90 -198.06 -74.87 Total Expenses 82.796.90 Total: .22.392.60 CIO Reglstwed Charlty No:1189551
Account Balance 2024-25 at 31.3.25 Account: All Accounts Net Worth at: 3110312025 (in GB Pounds) Bank Cash Current Reserve Bank Total 20.00 1,533.55 20,405.36 21,958.91 0 CIO Reglstered Charlty No".1189551