**CORNERSTONE CHURCH BENTHAM** 

**Charity Number: 1192066** 

**For the period 29th October 2020 to 30th September 2021** 

## **Objectives** 

The charity’s objectives are defined in the constitution as follows: 

_“The  promotion  and  practice  of  the  Christian  faith  as  expressed  in  the  ‘Articles  of  Religion  of The  Free  Methodist  Church  in  the  United  Kingdom’  by  organising  regular  meetings  for worship,  teaching,  community  support,  evangelism  and  prayer  and  by  supporting  other organisations  who  share  similar  aims.  These  objectives  will  be  carried  out  primarily,  but  not exclusively, in Bentham and surrounding areas.”_ 

Although  interrupted  by  the  restrictions  to  control  the  COVID  epidemic,  the  trustees  have endeavoured to remain faithful to these objectives in the period covered by this report: 

- We  have  held  weekly  meetings  in  person  as  permitted  and  offered  online  substitutes where  necessary  in  order  to  continue  to  worship  and  teach  our  church  community. We  have  utilised  a  variety  of  speakers  to  this  end  including  our  own  lay  and  ordained leaders and invited speakers from Free Methodist and other evangelical churches. 

- We  have  held  weekly  prayer  meetings  online  and  made  available  lines  of communication  to  receive  and  distribute  requests  for  prayer  from  our  members  and others where appropriate. 

- Other  events  aimed  at  strengthening  our  connection  with  the  local  community  were organised: 

A holiday club for primary school aged children. 

A “light party” substitute for Halloween. 

A musical evening with a professional classical musician. 

A harvest meal. 

Carol singing in the community. 

- The  trustees  have  determined  that  a  minimum  tithe  of  10%  of  all  income  to  the  charity should  be  allocated  to  support  other  organisations  with  similar  aims.  Some  of  the organisations supported from this tithe are: 

**The  Adullam  Project** provides  help  and  training  for  some  of  society’s  needful members. 

**Bradford Red Cross** in support of their work with Syrian  refugees. **Bentham  Older  People  Together** providing  community  services  and  companionship to Bentham’s older citizens. 

**SportsReach** uses  sport,  particularly  football  and  netball  to  reach  young  people  at home and abroad with the Christian message. 

**The Bethany Project** runs an orphanage and school in  Tanzania. **Missions  without  Borders  International** works  in  six  of  the  poorest  countries  in Europe and offers practical and spiritual support. **Free  Methodist  Church  in  Gy ör,  Hungary** to  support  the  cost  of  a  member  of  staff  in that church. 



## **Finances** 

The  charity  does  not  undertake  money  raising  events  but  relies  on  free  will  offerings  from members  and  attendees.  Many  of  the  members  contribute  by  monthly  standing  orders  and many  of  these  are  from  taxed  income  and,  together  with  a  substantial  proportion  of  cash income, qualify for Gift Aid income tax recovery. 

A summary of the financial position of the charity is: 

|Free will offerings||||£|20,670|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Income Tax Recoved|||||2,475|
||**Total Income in the period**|||**£**|**23,145**|
|Room Hire||£|1,447|||
|Visiting Speakers|||750|||
|Performance Licences|||540|||
|Insurance|||413|||
|Printing|||479|||
|Other Expenses|||1,314|||
||**Total Expenses in the period**||**4,943**|||
|Other Causes|||3,183|||
||**Total Expenses and Causes**||||**8,126**|
||**Surplus for the period**|||**£**|**15,019**|
|||||||
|“Free” reserves at the end of the period||||£|21,156|



## **Governance** 

When  planning  the  church's  activities  the  trustees  have  considered  the  Charity  Commission's guidance  on  public  benefit  and,  in  particular,  the  specific  guidance  on  charities  for  the advancement of religion. 

The  charity’s  governing  document  is  the  CIO  dated  29th  October  2020.  The  four  founding trustees,  who  also  form  the  church  leadership  team,  served  until  the  annual  meeting  of members  which  was  held  on  18th  January  2022  at  which  they  offered  themselves  for re-appointment  and  were  duly  appointed  unanimously  in  a  ballot  vote.  They  meet  monthly for  prayer  and  planning  and  are  conscious  of  their  responsibilities  under  relevant  charity  law. They  are  assisted  and  advised  by  a  team  of  three  members  who  undertake  practical responsibility for finance and other administrative functions. 

The trustees are: 

Mr Thomas Fawcett Mr David Lawson Mr Steven Lawson Rev Dr Marcella Marie Potts 



The  church  is  affiliated  with  the  Free  Methodist  Church  in  the  United  Kingdom  and  derives fellowship  and  guidance  from  that  wider  network.  In  turn,  the  denomination  benefits  from  the contribution the church is able to make both practically and financially. 

The  trustees  have  recognised  the  need  for  the  appointment  of  a  paid  pastor  to  more effectively  carry  out  the  objectives  of  the  charity.  To  that  end,  a  recruitment  advertisement has been placed with a view to an appointment being made for the latter part of 2022. 

None  of  the  trustees  have  received  any  benefit  from  the  charity  save  for  the  reimbursement of expenses legitimately incurred on its behalf. 

Signed on behalf of the trustees: 

………………………………………… 

David Lawson (Chair) 21st February 2022