Trustees’ Annual Report
Introduction:
The Trustees of the church are the elders. They have the responsibility to ensure that the church, as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, fulfils the purposes laid down in its Constitution and in a way that is consistent with the Church Handbook. To that end the Trustees are required, by the Charity Commission, to produce an Annual Report to report on what activities the church has conducted in seeking to fulfil those objectives. This document is in the public domain.
Section 1: Legal and Administrative Information
Charity Name : Newtown Evangelical Church or Eglwys Efengylaidd y Drenewydd Registered Charity Number: 1193768
For the period beginning on 01/04/24 and ending on 31/03/25
Charity Address : Newtown Evangelical Church, Llanidloes Road, Newtown, Powys, SY16 1HL Governance Documents : Constitution adopted by the Church Members on 17[th] February 2021 and approved and registered by the Charity Commission on 10[th] March 2021, and Church Handbook which was approved by the Church Members on 17[th] February 2021
Objects of the Charity : According to the Constitution (Section 3), “The purposes of the Church are:
-
the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Newtown, Powys and the surrounding neighbourhood; and
-
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 for recreation 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;
provided that the advancement of such purposes must be undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the Doctrinal Distinctives and Ethical Statements as may be adopted and amended by the Church from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Church Handbook.”
Section 2: Trustees and Governance
Trustees consisting of
- Elders: Ben Christofides, Tim Gill, Owain Jones, Dan Owen and Gareth Pugh.
Section 3. Activities and Achievements
• According to our constitution the first purpose of the church is “the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Newtown, Powys and the surrounding neighbourhood”.
• Throughout the period we have met twice a week on a Sunday for corporate worship. Throughout the period we have also provided a private live stream of the services on our YouTube channel, so that those of our congregation who were prevented from attending because they are “housebound”, or temporarily unable to attend, might benefit from the services. These meetings contain praise of God. At the centre of them has been the systematic exposition of Scripture. We have completed a sermon series on the books of John, had a series of sermons on the book of 1 John, continued our sermon series on Psalms and on Isaiah’s prophecy, and have started a series of sermons on the subject of Spiritual Disciplines. We have been very grateful to have received faithful and helpful preaching from visiting preachers. Separate Bible teaching is given for children aged 4-11 during the morning service, and a creche for pre-school aged children is run, so that all those attending can hear
teaching that they are capable of understanding. We have continued to give prayer a central place in those meetings, believing that the Christian faith can only be advanced through a prayerful dependence on God.
• We have held weekly midweek meetings. Some of these meetings are held on the church premises on a Wednesday evening for prayer and Bible Study (or to hear reports of missions work). Twice monthly “Home Groups” have continued (except in late July, August and September). These “Home Groups” include both discussion about the teaching of the Bible and prayer for one another and for the work of the church.
• We have celebrated the Lord’s Supper on Sundays twice monthly, and have, on occasion, celebrated it in the context of a meal - during our fellowship lunch.
• We have continued to hold two prayer meetings each week online (using Zoom), and one in the building, to pray specifically for the salvation of sinners and the restoration of backsliders and for the strengthening of those who are struggling in their faith. We have also held regular prayer meetings prior to our Sunday services to seek God’s blessing on the services. A Fellowship Meeting for Women in the church meets twice a month. Groups to particularly help children aged 11-14 and young people aged 14-18 grow in their Christian faith have normally been held weekly.
• We thank God that we have held two baptismal services during the year, at which a total of three people were baptised.
• The Elders (trustees) have sought to consistently lead the church in such a way that all our teaching and practice is in accord with the Word of God. We do this through the regular preaching and teaching ministry, and through regular Elders’ Meetings at which we seek to apply the teaching of the Bible to the issues facing the church. We have been supported in this by the Deacons who have been delegated the responsibility to oversee many practical areas of the life of the church. These decisions are subject to further scrutiny at Church Members’ meetings which have been held throughout the year. By God’s grace we believe that we are a church that is preserved from serious error; but recognise that we can never be complacent in this regard.
• In seeking to train up potential future leaders, we have continued to support Josh Edwin in his two-year post at a church in North London as a “Cross Cultural Ministry Trainee”. Dave Owen has completed his second year of work as a “Ministry Trainee” (which involved being employed by the church 12 hours a week, and part-time working as a volunteer). The training component of his work involved study on the Theological Training Course run by the Evangelical Movement of Wales, and also placements at other churches. This year Dave has had placements at churches in Penrhyndeudraeth and also in Bordeaux in France. He has also served in many ways in this church – leading services, preaching, helping lead a home group, doing pastoral work with young men and teenage boys, helping with our children’s and youth work, in particular.
• Recognising that it would be good to employ a second pastor to strengthen our ability to preach and teach God’s word faithfully, from the pulpit and to small groups and in pastorally visiting individuals or couples, the church has agreed to employ Andy Christiofides as Assistant Pastor for two years. He will be starting work for the church on 1[st] April 2025.
• In our endeavour to advance the Christian faith we have run a number of evangelistic events for young and old, for men and women – and some open to all. “Coffee and Cake”, once a month on Fridays, has continued as have the two monthly outreach meetings for women on a Monday (“Craft and Chat” and “Getting to Know”). Occasional evangelistic events for women – aimed particularly at those who are not free for daytime meetings
– have also continued, as have occasional evangelistic events for men. We have also run Hot Potato evenings, where speakers are invited to talk about a controversial subject with the aim both of defending the faith before those from outside the church and also of equipping members to live in a God-honouring way in 21[st] century Wales, as well as equipping them to answer questions those outside the church might have. We have also run a “Christianity Explored” course, which aims to introduce people to the Christian faith.
• In seeking to strengthen the provision of pastoral care for members of the church, and also in seeking to support the work of the church in proclaiming the Christian faith to those who are not yet Christians we have employed Rob and Gill Burridge (both for 12 hours a week). Rob was employed by the church until the end of January 2025, and Gill was employed throughout the year. They have both helped with the provision of pastoral care and, in our evangelism.
• One of the strengths of the church has been the work amongst children and young people. As mentioned earlier, classes for providing age-appropriate Bible teaching for children take place within our morning services. Suitable teaching for those aged 11-14 is arranged either on a small group basis, or on a one-to-one basis. On Friday evenings there are clubs for primary aged children and high school aged children. These have been very well attended throughout the period. We also organised a “Holiday Bible Club” for primary school aged children for five days in the summer holidays. In this way we have had much opportunity to advance the Christian faith among these age groups. They all meet charitable purposes (our other aim) by providing leisure activities for youth which are greatly appreciated in our local community. Additionally, a Bible study for girls has been run on a weekly basis so that those in the Youth Club who wish to find out more about the Christian faith can do so. Bible Studies with boys have also been organised. Our Parents and Toddlers group (attended by as many as 80) also meets a need amongst parents of young children, and for the young children themselves. There is also some Christian teaching provided at a suitable level to these very young children.
• Our interest in advancing the Christian faith beyond our area has been widespread. One couple are doing evangelistic work in south-west Shropshire – an area that has been without a gospel proclaiming, Bible teaching church. Other members of the church have been to other countries for short periods to assist in the work of proclaiming the Christian faith there. During the period we have also heard from speakers on a monthly basis who assist us in playing our part in the advancement of the Christian faith across the world. A number of our church members have served on Christian Easter and Summer camps for children and young people. We have continued to have strong links with churches in Ukraine and Poland, and have sought to support the work of these two churches.
• We have expressed our co-operation, in the work of advancing the Christian faith, with other Churches who embrace the evangelical faith in a variety of ways. For example, at a national level we have continued to be linked to the Associating Evangelical Churches of Wales and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches and through them with Affinity. These links arise from a desire to further partner with other churches in reaching Wales, England and Scotland with the gospel. We have continued to seek to express our fellowship with other Christians and churches who suffer persecution for their faith across the world in a variety of ways.
Section 4: Policies
-
Reserves policy: To have reserves amounting to approximately £60,000 which the managing trustees
-
consider to be an appropriate level of general reserve, being sufficient to cover at least 6 months expenditure.
-
Grant-making policy: We do not make grants.
-
Investments selection policy: The Managing Trustees have adopted a low risk approach to investments, as
-
we require access to funds on a short term basis, so deposit accounts bearing the maximum interest with the minimum length of term commitment are used.
Section 5: Signature and Declaration
Declaration: I declare, in my capacity as chair of the charity trustees, that:
- they have approved the report above; and have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.
Gareth Pugh (Chairman of Trustees)
Charity Number
1193768
Newtown Evangelical Church
Statement of Financial Activities
INCOME & EXPENDITURE
| NOTES INCOME 1 e General Fund Donations (inc Gift Aid) Unrestricted Designated New Build Fund Restricted Funds Donations (inc Gift Aid) Donations for use of premises Bookstall Interest Received EXPENDITURE Salary & Pension Costs Travel and Conference Expenses Visiting Preachers Outreach (inc Young Peoples Work) Literature Total Ministry Costs AWM / Missionary Support Welshpool Community Church Graingers Mission Support South Shropshire Benevolent Fund Camp Barnabas Fund FIEC & AECW Ukraine House Ukraine Camp Ukraine Poland Total Mission Support Insurance Water Rates Light and Heat Repairs and Maintenance Architects Fees Cleaning Grounds Expenses Total Property Expenses A/V Photocopying and Stationery Communications Subscriptions and Licences Independent Examination of Accounts Bank Charges Consumables Total Office Costs Total Expenditure Net Income / (expenditure) for the Year Reconciliation of Funds Funds brought forward Funds carried forward |
Year Ended 31.3.2024 Unrestricted Funds Unrestricted Designated Funds Restricted Funds TOTAL FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS £ £ £ £ 118,572 118,572 141,060 13,777 13,777 12,865 33,300 33,300 34,283 2,112 2,112 1,242 239 239 525 3,897 3,897 2,893 124,819 13,777 33,300 171,896 192,868 57,640 57,640 75,519 3,164 3,164 2,560 1,423 1,423 1,465 2,697 2,697 2,620 1,289 1,289 1,582 66,214 0 0 66,214 83,746 0 8,516 31,686 31,686 31,698 240 240 2,455 7,901 7,901 2,950 584 584 683 2,250 2,250 567 420 420 187 674 674 631 2,700 2,700 2,500 2,861 2,861 3,144 0 3,000 675 675 0 0 1,863 10,601 0 39,389 49,990 58,194 3,039 3,039 3,027 1,170 1,170 858 6,109 6,109 6,786 45,135 45,135 8,879 2,820 2,820 3,642 219 219 171 3,963 3,963 93 59,635 2,820 0 62,455 23,456 268 236 504 1,917 1,022 1,022 1,126 1,538 1,538 1,173 2,247 2,247 1,790 375 375 350 65 65 80 1,803 1,803 775 7,318 0 236 7,555 7,210 143,768 2,820 39,626 186,213 172,606 -18,948 10,957 -6,326 -14,317 20,261 117,329 12,865 25,975 156,169 135,908 98,381 23,822 19,649 141,852 156,169 For the Year Ended 31.3.2025 |
|---|---|
Gwasanaetliau Busnes Dolgellau Dol ellau Business Serviees Cilc8hn Ffordd Pencefn • Dolgellau • Cwynedd • LL402VP Fron Syrnudol 7913371362 Mobile Phone E-bo$¢ gdvi¢e@ sl#nwoodbridge.eo.vk E-mail Indepondent examlner'8 report to the trustees of Newtown Evangeli¢al Church CIO I Eglwys Efengylaidd y Drenewydd CIO, Charity Number 1193768. I report on the accounts of the Newtown Evangelical Church CIO l Egws EfengylaKJd y Drenewydd CIO frjr the year ended 3111 March 2025, which are set out on the folk)wing pages. RponsIbIlItIeS and ba818 of report As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the aw)unts in accordance wilh the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'tho Act,). I report in respect of my examination of thè CIO'S accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination I have followed all the applicable DIrectnS given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){bl of the Act. Independent examlner'8 Statament I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respe¢t.' 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act. or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no ¢on¢ems and have corr a¢ros$ no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this pOrt ift order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be rexhed. Alan Woodbridge MIC Date.. 21st May 2025 Al4n Woodbridge Limited Ccilr¢%lFL'dig I'ng Ngjmru Rhif Cofrcsiru Civmni 47870M Compan). RLgIlralIOn Nurnb¢r