| Trustees' Annual Report | for theperiod | ||||||
| **From ** | Period start date | To | Period end date | ||||
| 1st | April | 2022 | 31st | March | 2023 |
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name Canterbury Chinese Christian Church Other names charity is known by CCCC Registered charity number (if any) 1194911
Charity's principal address c/o St Andrew’s United Reformed Church Watling Street Canterbury, Kent Postcode CT1 2UA
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for wholeyear |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yunhai Wu | Chair (COCM missionary) |
01/04/22 to 31/07/22 Resigned 31/03/23 |
Ex officio trustee | |
| Chijun Zhong | COCM missionary | Resigned 31/03/23 | Ex officio trustee | |
| Grace Liu | Chair (COCM Ordained Minister) |
01/08/22 to date | Ex officio trustee | |
| HuiqingLi | Secretary | Board of trustees | ||
| Jacqui Man | Ditto | |||
| LeipingXu | Treasurer | Ditto | ||
| Frank Hao | COCM missionary | 01/01/23 to date | Ditto | |
| Aimei Hao | COCM missionary | 01/01/23 to date | Ditto | |
| Chun MingDominic Man | Ditto | |||
| HuiyingLi | Resigned 31/12/22 | Ditto | ||
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
TAR
March 2012
1
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
Constitution adopted on 1st May 2021
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
Foundation charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
A trustee is appointed by the current trustees (the board of trustees) by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. Notwithstanding this, and because of the past and on-going relationship with the Chinese Overseas Christian Mission (COCM), the church relies on the Mission to put forward suitable ministers/missionaries for appointments to the board of trustees.
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
-
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
-
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
-
relationship with any related parties;
-
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
The first half of the year was dominated by changes in the composition of the board of trustees. Following extensive discussion and consultations by the COCM with individual trustees, prompted by Gabby Zhong and Yunhai Wu’s wish to scale down their church responsibilities for personal health reasons, at a co-workers’ meeting in April 2022, the board of trustees decided to accept COCM’s suggestions and help to restructure and strengthen the leadership team of the church. The resulting changes meant that Gabby and Yunhai were able to relinquish many of their administrative responsibilities and concentrate on their worship and preaching, spirituality and praying, and student ministries. Rev. Grace Liu, a COCM ordained minister, based at the Mission in Milton Keynes, would join CCCC in the following months, initially visiting Canterbury once a month, to help shepherd the church as its senior pastor and Chair of the board of trustees; Rev. Liu took up her appointment in August 2022. Around the same time, Mr Frank Hao (a part-time Master’s Degree Theology student who lives in Canterbury and a very active member of the church congregation for many years) together with his wife also joined the board of trustees to share in the ministry of the church; they have since become COCM missionaries in February 2023. Gabby Zhong and Yunhai Wu eventually resigned and left the church in March 2023, having been called to serve in another mission field in Portsmouth. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to one of our trustees Miss Rachel Li, a dear co-worker who had decided to leave CCCC, having settled in another church during her sabbatical year in 2022. In early 2023, our Treasurer Leiping took leave to go to China, visiting her parents for 6 months during which arrangements were made to cover her duties. Despite all these changes, we give thanks to God as He graciously provides the church with additional servants enabling the work of His church to continue.
We look ahead to 2023-2024 in humility, trusting and expecting our loving and faithful God to continue to provide us with new co-workers as the term of office of 4 of the current trustees, all ‘first trustees’, comes to an end in June 2024.
Section C Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
The principal purpose of the church is the advancement of the Christian faith primarily but not exclusively among people of Chinese origin in the Canterbury area in England according to the historic Christian Faith as set forth in the Old and New Testaments and as summarised in the Apostles’ Creed. In fulfilling this purpose the church will engage in a range of activities either on its own or with others that will vary from time to time with activities being initiated, expanded, or closed, as appropriate.
TAR
March 2012
2
Consistent with the purpose/objects of the church set out in its constitution, and having had full regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit , the following activities were undertaken by the church during the period covered by this report.
Foreword
Like all other churches in the country, CCCC slowly and cautiously emerged from the coronavirus pandemic as all domestic legal COVID restrictions were officially lifted in England on 24/02/2022 followed by the revocation of the last coronavirus-related legal restrictions in effect in England on 18/03/2022. Most church meetings and activities returned to being physical as opposed to virtual, with the wearing of a face mask being entirely a personal choice. We thank God for His love, grace and mercy shown unequivocally to us in the past pandemic years.
Sunday Worship
Weekly worship attendances remained fairly constant, being on average 20-30 people including children. As before, Holy Communion was celebrated on the second Sunday of each month, using individual singleuse prefilled cups, a practice inherited from the pandemic years. The church’s themes were ‘the pursuit of holiness’ (追求聖潔) and ‘faith
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)
rooted in the rock of Christ’ (扎根磐石的信仰) for 2022 and 2023 respectively. Around October 2022, a new order of service for Sunday worship was introduced, printed and distributed every Sunday, which was well received by our congregation.
Trustees/Co-workers’ and Other Church Meetings
Since August 2022, the trustees were meeting monthly instead of once every two months. Meetings were conducted mainly in person, with some being on Zoom because of circumstances. There were two prayer meetings, one on Zoom on the second Wednesday of every month between 7.30 – 9.00 pm, the other on the fourth Sunday of every month from 12.30 – 1.00 pm at St Andrew’s Church.
Bible Study Groups
Apart from encouraging members of our congregation to invest in daily personal Bible study, during the week the church runs three Mandarinspeaking Bible study groups, one Cantonese-speaking Bible study group and one university student group. The aim is to enable individuals to grow spiritually based on the foundation of God’s Word – the Way, the Truth and the Life. Group studies offer an opportunity for systematic and deeper study of the Bible, allow sharing of life applications and experiences, and encourage mutual love and care. During the year, Rev. Liu provided Bible study training to interested members of our congregation who were able to attend.
Children Ministry
Every Sunday, the total number of children attending our Sunday school ranged from 10 to 15. The school is divided into two classes, one for teenagers and the other, for children of primary-school age. There used to be a baby/toddler group but demand for it has diminished. Much prayer support is needed for this ministry in the face of difficulties related to language and discipline, as well as the availability of suitable teachers.
Student Ministry
The start of a new academic year in September/October sees the arrival of new university students and the return of familiar faces, the past year was no exception. CCCC and its predecessor has been blessed continually by the partnership of Christian students as well as by students who wish to seek and know more about Jesus Christ. The weekly student
TAR
March 2012
3
Bible study group is popular with students, Christian and non-Christian alike. The number of students served by this ministry has been stable, around 10 every week. A couple of Christian students were also involved in our Sunday worship, serving the Lord through working the projector, leading worship or praising God through their musicality.
Outreach Events
During the year, we were able to hold a number of outreach events on a few special occasions, at the following times: Easter (17/04/2022), Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (11/09/22), Christmas (25/12/22), and Chinese New Year (22/01/23). These events were always well attended by scores of people including children who did not usually come to church, during which a specially chosen evangelical message was preached. Trustees/co-workers and volunteers worked hard to make these events successful.
Christian Conferences
The church continued to encourage its congregation to attend Christian conferences by publicising those organised by the COCM as they have become available, and sought to part-support financially individuals as well as families who genuinely needed assistance. Besides meeting other Christians from the wider church family, feedback from attendees has confirmed the values of going to these conferences, for instance, having their faith strengthened and gaining a greater and deeper understanding of God’s will in their lives.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions to the life of our church made by volunteers, our brothers and sisters in Christ who lead our Sunday worship services regularly, those who manage and run all the different church activities faithfully, and in compliance with our constitutional provisions and current applicable legal requirements, as well as those individuals and families who voluntarily prepare food for our students’ fellowship every Friday. We thank God for them.
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
We praise God that Mrs Grace Wang, a member of the church congregation and one of our Sunday school teachers, has agreed to continue to be the Safeguarding Co-ordinator of the church.
-
policy on grantmaking;
-
policy programme related investment;
-
contribution made by volunteers.
TAR
March 2012
4
Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
We believe whatever achievements and (praise-worthy) performance that happened during 2022-2023 were made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit according to the grace of Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father in Heaven. In this context, we celebrated the wonderful witness of our dear sister in Christ 劉雨欣姊妹 who was baptised on Sunday 10[th] July 2022. We praise God for the moving testimony of our dear sister in Christ Tiffany Tu on Sunday 7th August 2022, having joined Friends International (FI) as a FI student outreach volunteer for a year straight after her graduation from a local Kent university. We thank God that the church has been able to support Tiffany financially and by prayer.
TAR
March 2012
5
Section E Financial review
Currently, the church has no policy on reserves.
Brief statement of the
charity’s policy on reserves
Details of any funds materially in deficit
Our ‘cash funds this year end’ is in deficit by more than £5,000, which is largely accounted for by the difference between payments and receipts. A major factor is that the average monthly receipt this year is marginally smaller than that of last year averaged over 10 months but significantly smaller if averaged over 9 months. Depending on how the calculations are made, significant amounts of the church’s expenditure (>60% / >70%) were standing / recurring costs (e.g. donations to the host church, contributions to the COCM etc.). The trustees will continue to be prudent in using the church funds, which are entrusted by God to the church for the furtherance of His kingdom.
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
-
the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
-
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
While there is only a single source of income i.e. weekly offerings, the trustees remain confident that the church’s finance is fundamentally sound. The bank balance of the church at the time when it became a registered charity was in credit, which has served to be a kind of ‘reserves’ for the church. As at 31/03/2023, the church’s book balance stood at £27,947. Ultimately, we believe so long as the church remains faithful to its calling, God will provide us with the necessary resources to continue His work for the glory of His name.
- investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F Other optional information
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
| s trustees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
Rev. Grace Liu |
Mr. Frank Hao |
| Chair COCMOrdainedMinister |
Trustee COCM Missionary |
|
| 22/01/2024 | 22/01/2024 |
TAR
March 2012
6
| Canterbury Chinese Christian Church | Canterbury Chinese Christian Church | Canterbury Chinese Christian Church | Canterbury Chinese Christian Church | Canterbury Chinese Christian Church | 1194911 | 1194911 | CC16a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and payments accounts | |||||||||
| For the period from |
Period start date | To | Period end date | ||||||
| 1/4/22 | 31/3/23 | ||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | 23/6/21-31/3/22 | ||||||||
| WeeklyOfferings | 16,360 | - | - | 16,360 | 13,929 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| _AR) _ | 16,360 | - | - | 16,360 | 13,929 | ||||
| ~~A2 Asset and investment sales,~~ (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| **Total receipts ** | 16,360 | - | - | 16,360 | 13,929 | ||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||
St. Andrew’s URC(Host Church) |
2,400 | - | - | 2,400 | 2,000 | ||||
| Chinese Overseas Christian Mission | 8,400 | - | - | 8,400 | 4,900 | ||||
| Guest Speaker honorariums | 1,680 | - | - | 1,680 | 640 | ||||
| Chinese Christian Herald Crusades HK | 400 | - | - | 400 | 400 | ||||
| LivingWater | 400 | - | - | 400 | 400 | ||||
| Bank charges | 128 | - | - | 128 | 27 | ||||
| Governance | 2,532 | - | - | 2,532 | 402 | ||||
| Bible campsupport(charitable objects) | 870 | 870 | 408 | ||||||
| 1 volunteer support at Friends International | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||||||
| Ukraine appeal and Tearfund donations | 2,130 | 2,130 | |||||||
| Mission(COCM / 10% of receipts) | 1,636 | - | - | 1,636 | 1,393 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 21,576 | - | - | 21,576 | 10,570 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment ~~purchases (see table)~~ |
|||||||||
| ~~,~~ Newprinter |
213 | - | - | 213 | |||||
| Newprojector | - | - | - | - | 130 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 213 | - | - | 213 | 130 | ||||
| Totalpayments | 21,789 | - | - | 21,789 | 10,700 | ||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | - 5,429 | - | - | - 5,429 | 3,229 | ||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | - | - | - | - | 3,229 | ||||
Cash funds thisyear end |
- 5,429 | - | - | - 5,429 | |||||
| Section B Statement of assets and | liabilities at | the end of the period | |||||||
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted ~~funds~~ |
Restricted ~~funds~~ |
Endowment ~~funds~~ |
|||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Church's book balance at 31/3/2022 | - 33,376 | - | - | |||||
| Church's book balance at 31/3/2023 | 27,947 | - | - |
1
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
15/12/2023
| Total cash funds | - 5,429 | - | - | ||||||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
OK | OK | |||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||||
| B3 Investment assets | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Printer | Unrestricted |
- | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
||||||
| B5 Liabilities | - | ||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Print Name | Date of approval |
||||||
| Rev. Grace Liu(Chair) | 22/01/2024 | ||||||||
| LeipingXu(Treasurer) | 22/01/2024 |
2
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
15/12/2023