Wyche Free Church
– Annual Report and Financial Statements for October 2020 December 2021
Administrative detail
Charity Trustees Margareth Brodie, Tony Browne, Christine Clarke, Peter Goodbury (Elder, Secretary, & Treasurer), Valerie Goodbury, Roger Norris, Brenda Norris
Secretary’s address: Willow Cottage, Lower Dingle, West Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4BQ
Charity Registration Number : 1191594
Trustees’ Report
Introduction:
This report follows the registration of the Wyche Free Church by the Charity Commission on 2[nd] October 2020. On their request this first Annual Report covers the period from registration through to the 31[st] December 2021. Whereas a set of accounts for the calendar year 2020 had been presented to the church, the following financial statements cover a 15 month period as requested. More complex accounts are presented to the church (e.g. giving to individual Missionary causes).
The church was founded back in the 1850s, with the official opening of the present building in 1911; it has only occasionally supported a full- or part-time pastor in all that time. Prior to the registration there were two trusts, the Wyche Free Church Trust and the Wyche Free Church (Flats) Trust, two flats having been built on the site of the first church building; these former trusts were formed into one trust on becoming a CIO. The church trustees, listed above, are those who came together to sign the various papers supporting this action.
Objectives:
The objectives of the Wyche Free Church are twofold; the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrines the church holds to, and the support of missions in the UK and overseas with like objectives.
The present church, having closed for periods of ‘lockdown’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been open for some time; Morning Services are being held, with Prayer Meetings on Tuesday mornings. Whilst small in numbers we are able to support having visiting preachers and are able to respond to several mission situations in this country and overseas in prayer and financial support. With the timing of this report cutting
across the Covid pandemic, the figures in the statement are not necessarily a true picture of the usual activities of the church.
The church as a charity makes use of its income and resources in the following ways:
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The booking of preachers for most Sundays – there being few occasions when someone from our own congregation preached; providing preaching fees and travel expenses, and hospitality when appropriate.
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Occasionally having speakers representing a range of different mission situations, including Caring For Life based in Leeds – reaching out to those on the fringes of society, a family in Nepal who reach out in that country to those in need due to earthquakes, floods, sickness and drug-taking, a teacher of missionary children in Chad, a Christian hospital complex in Madagascar, an established mission in Eastern Europe who have been supporting the local churches in biblical studies that they might serve as pastors in their home areas; again paying for their attendance and travel expenses incurred.
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The maintenance of our buildings, recent years have seen the church roof being re-slated, having the interior and exterior of the church building decorated, and the provision of a sound system to help those with poor hearing and to record the preaching so that others may benefit if they are unable to attend at any time.
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The heating of the building and the necessary administrative costs in the running of the church including insurance.
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The flats had been occupied by a former Pastor and his wife, and a retired couple who took on the roles of Deacons and caretakers. Any income surplus to the maintenance of the flats was made available to maintaining the church fabric or to support mission causes.
Since the flats became vacant our Holding Trustee did not allow any re-letting of the properties – solicitors then presented to the Charity Commission that the flats could be sold through a legally approved rewording of an earlier trust deed – coinciding with the church becoming a CIO.
Going concern:
Over the past decade or so, the church has been able to support a number of mission causes, being able to increase the amount given from the general fund year on year. Much of the giving to these causes is from specified giving by individuals.
On 28 September 2021 the church submitted a Scheme to the Charity Commission to alter the flats trusts, to enable the trustees of the CIO to sell the land and for the proceeds of the sale to be transferred to Wyche Free Church (1191594) to be held as part of its corporate property and for its charitable purposes. (Approved by the CC on 11 January 2022). This change could provide an opportunity to employ someone in a pastoral role, and the trustees are already involved in prayerfully seeking someone in this respect.
At the end of 2021 the church had bank accounts with Coop (church trust) & Santander (flats trust). With the two trusts now brought together into the single CIO, and the sale of the flats, there is likely to be a revision of our financial situation. The church trust has a general fund, and a restricted fund (which was mainly used for specific giving to mission situations, though it has been occasionally used to fund certain maintenance projects over the years). The church flats trust has just the one fund – a general fund. Although a relatively small congregation the church is allowed to benefit from the HMRC Gift Aid and their Small Donations Schemes.
COVID affected many aspects of life; those wishing to donate whilst not able to attend meetings, often sending cheques to the treasurer who was ‘shielded’ and not able to bank cash or cheques as beforehand. Before COVID, money used to be sent to mission situations with similar objectives on a regular basis. A gradual return to such giving from the general fund is now in progress (this is in addition to giving via the restricted fund).
Structure, governance and management:
The church has an eldership (currently of one), the possibility of having deacons (currently nil), and further trustees making up seven. There also are the positions of church secretary and treasurer, held by one person. Governance is covered in our successful submission to be a CIO. Areas such as ‘risk assessment’ and ‘safe guarding’ having been addressed at that time
Finance is dealt with by the treasurer with major spending being agreed by the trustees. The church accounts are generally updated each week, with banking taking place also on a weekly basis. Although below the level requiring independent examination we have chosen to do this prior to the presentation of the annual accounts to the trustees and the rest of the church fellowship for some years. The statement shows ‘Total receipts’ as being below £25,000; this covers the church’s income over 15 months and therefore pro rata £20,000 over a 12 month period.
This annual report was approved by the charity trustees on 22[nd] November, 2022 and signed on their behalf by
Trustee.
Statement of Financial Activities over the 15 month period ending on 31 December 2021
| Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds | Restricted Funds | over 15 months | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts: | |||
| Donations | 12414 | 4876 | 17290 |
| HMRC recoveries | 2936 | 1209 | 4145 |
| Rents from flats | 3083 | 0 | 3083 |
| Total Receipts | 18433 | 6085 | 24518 |
| Payments: | |||
| Charitable activities | 14239 | 5263 | 19502 |
| Flats | 6060 | 0 | 6060 |
| Total Payments | 20299 | 5263 | 25562 |
| TOTAL C/F | -1866 | 822 | -1044 |
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021
| £ | |
| Financial assets | |
| Cash at COOP bank 31.12.21 | 8690 |
| HMRC recoveries for 2021 received 12.01.22 | 1291 |
| Outstandingcheques(100 + 308) | -408 |
| Cash at Santander Bank(Flats)accounts on 31.12.21 | 3626 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 13199 |
| Buildings and Land Assets | |
| Church building | 683845 |
| Kingsdown & The Manse | 270649 |
| TOTAL | 954494 |