GCH Community
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2023
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
GCH COMMUNITY
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 37 Hemsworth Street London N1 5LF GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO - Association registered 09 July 2021 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1195110 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Guido De Graaff MANAGING THE CHARITY Lynn Evans (resigned May 2022) Geri van Essen (appointed May 2022) Alexandra Gough (resigned July 2023) Andrew Jones Murray Macaulay (appointed May 2022) Niamh MacLeod (appointed May 2022) Edward Stansfield (appointed July 2023)
BANKERS HSBC UK Bank plc INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-6 Trustees' Report Page 7 Independent Examiner's Report Page 8 Receipts and Payments Account Page 9 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 10 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
GCH Community
Registered charity number: 1195110
The Object of the CIO is the advancement of the Christian faith in particular (but without limitation) by providing worship, prayer and Christian teaching within the Anglican tradition and within the frameworks
Objectives and Activities
GCH Community is the CIO governing Grace Church Hackney which registered as a separate legal entity in 2021 from the Grace Church Hackney Trust that had been established within the Church of England in 2004. It is not a parish church but rather operates under a Bishop’s Mission Order granted by the Bishop of Stepney, Joanne Grenfell. Grace Church Hackney has a particular remit to engage with younger, creative people in the East End of London with a vision to see the Gospel renew the city spiritually, culturally and socially.
There are 5 values which we think are particularly important:
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The good news of Jesus Christ which is experienced together week by week in a service of Word and Sacrament according to the liturgy of the Church of England.
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An outward face where we assume people who do not assent to the Christian faith are present in all our gatherings.
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A community focus where we encourage people to form community within the church but also to be involved in communities beyond the church.
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An urban focus where we celebrate the good things about the city (particularly in the creative arts) and work with others to begin to mend some of the broken things in the city.
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A commitment to beginning new forms of Christian ministry.
When planning our activities for the year, the trustees have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We have sought to embody our object and values in our activities for the public benefit.
Achievements and Performance
Sunday Services
We meet for Sunday worship at 5.15pm each week at St Anne’s Church, Hoxton. Our Sunday worship follows the Eucharistic liturgy of Common Worship, an authorised prayer book of the Church of England. Hence it embraces our object of the advancement of the Christian faith in particular by providing worship, prayer and Christian teaching within the Anglican tradition . Our sermons during this period followed the lectionary of the Church of England. This service is open to anyone who wishes to attend.
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A significant number of people who were part of our community moved from London during the pandemic so the need to rebuild the community became evident. We addressed this need at our Weekend Away 11-13 November 2022 when our congregation gathered in The Police Federation HQ in Leatherhead. We spent the weekend reflecting on our life together and brainstormed various ways of rebuilding our community. The church council (the trustees of the CIO) was mandated to spend time reflecting on what a year in the life of our church would look like.
This resulted in the council spending a day together on Sunday 22[nd] January where we developed a template for a year in the life of our church. This involves 4 seasons: Preparation (February-April), Growth (Easter Day-September with a particular emphasis on engaging with people beyond our community), Gratitude (September-November) and Anticipation (November-January).
On Sunday 30[th] January 2022 we were joined by the Bishop of Stepney, Joanne Grenfell, for a service of Confirmation . Bishop Joanne confirmed 14 people from GCH and there were a significant number of guests present.
The Bread Festival
Saturday 8[th] -Sunday 9[th] October 2022 we ran our first Bread Festival. This was designed to be a contemporary expression of a harvest festival. The festival began with a series of activities in St Anne’s Church including the ad hoc rehearsal and performance of a piece of music commissioned for the event, bread making seminars, an illustrated lecture on the history of bread in art and various other activities for all ages. We ate lunch together and there was a retiring collection for a food charity. This was an open event and good numbers of people from the wider community attended. Our Sunday service began with bread baked the previous day being carried into the church by the children ready for our communion service of thanksgiving.
Youth and Children’s Activities
Our youth and children’s activities continue, with an additional group forming for 14-18’s, naming itself The Cupboard . They meet at 4pm before the Sunday service for teaching and prayer, along with Snackchat (for 11-14 year olds). Grace Kids (for 4-10 year olds) meet during the service, as do Creche and Tots (for under 4’s). Teenagers participate in the service by reading the bible, playing instruments, PA etc. Younger children are in the main service for the gathering and preparation, then leave the service during the ministry of the word and rejoin the service for the eucharist. The Youth and Children’s work is overseen by Jennefer Besant, a part-time member of staff, who co-ordinates the teams of volunteers who lead the groups. There are currently 14 volunteers who also regularly attend GCH. Again, these activities are open to all who fall within the age boundaries.
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Midweek Activities
We continued to run Splinter Groups , small groups which meet in homes in order to eat, pray and explore the Bible. During this period, we had 4 groups meeting (we lost one Splinter group but began a new group in March 2023). Most members of these groups are regular attenders at Grace Church Hackney but during this period there were some members who do not attend church on Sunday. The groups are open to all.
During Lent (March) 2022 we ran weekly small groups to engage with the Church of England’s ‘Living in Love and Faith’ resources exploring human relationships and sexuality. A follow up group was formed which continued to meet every few months up to January 2023 to discuss the issues raised. All groups were open to anyone who wished to attend.
During Lent (March) 2023 we ran groups engaging with the theme of forgiveness . We explored this through a variety of readings, podcasts and films which explored the theme. Again, these groups were open to anyone who wished to attend. Our Sunday services also engaged with the theme of forgiveness.
On a Thursday evening, we run youth activities for called TRU (‘The Room Upstairs’) for 9-13 year olds and TRU+ for 14-18 year olds with our sister church St Barnabas Dalston. There are games, art and craft, music, tuck shop and a short ‘Talktime’ to sit down together, share news and think about an aspect of the Christian faith. These groups are composed of young people who attend our Sunday services plus schoolfriends who do not come along on a Sunday but are exploring the Christian faith.
Holy Week and Easter 2022
We joined with our sister church, St Barnabas Dalston, for our Holy Week and Easter services. Our annual Tenebrae service on the evening of Good Friday continues to attract a significant amount of people who do not usually attend church as does our Easter Sunday service.
Advent and Christmas 2022
We held our annual Carol Service in St Anne’s Church in December 2022. This was well attended and as usual many attended the service who do not usually come to church.
The week before the carol service we held an event called The Christmas Story designed for children and their parents/carers. It was an interactive event where those attending engaged in various activities designed to help them enter into the Christian story.
During the Advent period we also collaborated one Saturday morning with the parish church, our weekly hosts, St Anne’s Hoxton, with carol singing, mince pies and Christingle making in a local park space called Hoxton Gardens. Many using the local Hoxton Market dropped in for the activities. On Christmas Day we joined with our sister church, St Barnabas Dalston for a communion service.
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Music
Music continues to play a significant role in the life of our church and is overseen by our music director. Seventeen volunteer musicians have played or sung in our services during this period with ten of them being regularly in our music teams. Our carol service welcomed a number of extra singers and musicians from beyond our community.
Volunteers and staff
GCH Community employs three part time members of staff who co-ordinate large teams of volunteers. These teams make a huge commitment to the life of our church and we wish to express our thanks to them. Our intern continued to work with us and made a significant contribution to the life of our church before ending his time on staff in April 2022.
The Structure and Management of GCH Community
GCH Community was constituted as a CIO on 20[th] July 2021 Our first church council (including new trustees of GCH Community CIO) was elected by the membership on Sunday 8[th] May 2022.
Fundraising
GCH Community continues to be funded by its members, former members and a wider group of friends of Grace Church Hackney.
Financial review
Total income during was £186,100 [2022: £20,800], with £64,700 [2022: £10,000] of this relating to funds granted from the Grace Church Hackney Trust. Total expenditure was £172,600 [2022: £12,300]. As a result, the cash held by the charity increased by £13,400, to £22,000, of which £12,700 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves Policies
It is the policy of GCH Community to maintain combined unrestricted reserves of £35-40,000, which is roughly equivalent to 3 months of the charities’ expenditure from general funds, which the trustees believe to be adequate for its day-to-day needs. Any surplus reserves are to be committed to planned expenditure in line with long-term strategy.
At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £12,700. In May 2023 the charity received the legacy amounts owed by Grace Church Hackney Trust of £19,180, which brought the reserves back to nearer to £32,000 and with the aim of complying with the reserves policy.
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Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Andrew Jones
____ Andrew Jones (May 20, 2025 15:06 GMT+1) Andrew Jones May 20, 2025 Date:_____
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
GCH COMMUNITY
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of GCH Community ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2023 on pages 8 to 11 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
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 respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
J. Young
J. Young (May 20, 2025 15:55 GMT+1)
Jaimée Young
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: May 20, 2025
Page 7
GCH COMMUNITY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
| Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Grants from The Grace Church Hackney Trust Grants from Stewardship Weekend away Fundraising activities Interest Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
Unrestrict | Designated Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 1,319 - 8,642 - 3,414 - - 13,375 7,570 - 7,570 5,805 3,441 9,246 - 9,246 |
Total 31Mar2023 £ 9,229 - 64,671 108,660 3,414 30 81 186,084 160,657 11,988 172,645 13,440 - 13,440 8,536 21,975 |
Period 09Jul2021 to 31Mar2022 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,608 - 10,000 7,069 - 1,148 - |
||||||
| 20,825 | ||||||
| 12,289 - |
||||||
| 12,289 | ||||||
| 8,536 - |
||||||
| 8,536 - |
||||||
| 8,536 |
The notes on page 10 form part of these accounts.
Page 8
GCH COMMUNITY
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposits B Other monetary assets Other debtors [Grace Church Hackney Trust] Unclaimed gift aid C Liabilities Falling due within one year: Pension due Fee for Independent Examination D Assets retained for charity's own use Insured value of equipment |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 8,234 - 4,495 - 12,729 - 19,180 - 1,863 - 21,043 - 245 - 1,440 - 1,685 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ - 9,246 9,246 - 16 16 - - - Fund to which asset belongs General |
Total 31Mar2023 £ 8,234 13,741 21,975 19,180 1,879 21,059 245 1,440 1,685 Value 31Mar2023 £ 10,000 10,000 |
Total 31Mar2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,536 - |
||||
| 8,536 | ||||
| 90,000 - |
||||
| 90,000 | ||||
| - 720 |
||||
| 720 | ||||
| Value 31Mar2022 £ |
||||
| 10,000 | ||||
| 10,000 |
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by _____Andrew Jones Andrew Jones (May 20, 2025 15:06 GMT+1)Andrew Jones date _____ May 20, 2025
The notes on page 10 form part of these accounts.
Page 9
GCH COMMUNITY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs Diocesan fund Minister's accommodation (paid to Diocese) Minister's expenses Rent Activities costs Insurance Weekend away Other costs |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - 250 - 7,320 - 7,570 |
Total 31Mar2023 £ 46,669 41,233 36,470 4,332 18,600 5,514 505 7,320 15 160,657 |
Period 09Jul2021 to 31Mar2022 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,925 3,352 - - - - - - 12 |
||||||
| 12,289 |
Andrew Jones (clergy member) receives a stipend from the Diocese; the cost of this stipend is not included in the above employment costs however it should be noted that some of the Diocesan fund payment is used to help pay the stipend.
3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others
| Organisations: Mission Without Borders St Barnabas Dalston [Grace Church Hackney Trust] |
1,151 10,837 11,988 |
- - - |
- - - |
1,151 10,837 11,988 |
- - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - |
Transactions with related parties
No payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
| 5 Movement of funds General funds Designated funds Restricted funds Weekend away Young Minds Trust Bread Festival 2022 6:10 fund Total funds |
Opening balance £ 8,536 - 8,536 - - - - - 8,536 |
Receipts £ 172,710 - 172,710 3,879 683 171 8,642 13,375 186,084 |
Payments £ (165,075) - (165,075) (7,320) - - (250) (7,570) (172,645) |
Transfers £ (3,441) - (3,441) 3,441 - - - 3,441 - |
Closing balance £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,729 - |
|||||
| 12,729 | |||||
| - 683 171 8,392 |
|||||
| 9,246 | |||||
| 21,975 |
The funds for Young Minds Trust and the Bread Festival relate to funds raised to support registered charities. The 6:10 is a fund to help those in need who are known to members.
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