GCH Community
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
GCH COMMUNITY
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE St Anne's Vicarage 37 Hemsworth Street London N1 5LF GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO - Association registered 09 July 2021 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1195110 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Guido De Graaff (resigned May 2026) MANAGING THE CHARITY Geri van Essen Alexandra Gough (resigned July 2023) Andrew Jones Murray Macaulay (resigned May 2026) Niamh MacLeod Sarah McMurtie (appointed June 2025, resigned May 2026) Edward Stansfield (appointed July 2023, resigned June 2025) BANKERS HSBC UK Bank plc INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-7 Trustees' Report Page 8 Independent Examiner's Report Page 9 Receipts and Payments Account Page 10 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 11-12 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
GCH COMMUNITY
________
Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2024
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 of the Church of England.
Objectives and Activities
GCH Community is the CIO governing Grace Church Hackney. Grace Church Hackney is a church 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. 5. 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.
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Achievements and Performance 31[ST] March 2023 – 31[st] March 2024
In June 2023, the priest of St Anne’s Hoxton, Benjamin Bell, left his post to take up another post in the Diocese of Southwark. A conversation was begun between the Bishop of Stepney, the Archdeacon of Hackney and the St Anne’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) concerning Andrew Jones, the minister-in-charge of Grace Church Hackney (GCH), also becoming the parish priest of St Anne’s. A suggested longer term vision was for St Anne’s and GCH to become one church with two services each maintaining its distinctive tradition and flavour. Various papers were written, conversations took place between all the interested parties and a congregational meeting was convened for GCH to discuss the matter. This process culminated in Andrew Jones interviewing for the job of parish priest of St Anne’s Church Hoxton on 5th December 2023 when he was offered and accepted the post. He took post on Monday 15th April 2024. This appointment will positively impact GCH’s ability to engage, alongside St Anne’s, with the parish context and extend our ministry for the public benefit e.g. work with schools, care homes and other significant stakeholders in the community.
Sunday Services
GCH meets 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.
The Bread Festival
Saturday 23[rd] -Sunday 24[th] September 2023 we ran our second Bread Festival . This was designed to be a contemporary expression of a harvest festival. The festival began with a series of activities open to everyone in St Anne’s Church. We ate tea 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. In the evening there was a showing of Terrence Malick’s film “Days of Heaven”, a film set at harvest time, which was introduced by Andrew Jones and attended by various members of GCH and people they had invited. 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.
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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 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. Easter and Christmas Family events were held to mark the festivals with the local community. For example, children, parents and carers made Easter gardens in the church on Good Friday, and local families came to make Christingles and sing carols in Hoxton Market Gardens for Christmas.
On a Thursday evening for some years GCH has run a youth activity 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. This group was 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. The group have also participated in a Canary Craftivism project. This was a gentle clean air campaign using craft and games in a local park in June 2023. Local councillors were invited and social media publicity raised. Additionally, TRU had a residential activity weekend away in Kent October 2023 for 26 young people and 7 adult leaders. In February 2023 the decision was taken to bring TRU to a close. This was due to changing capacity among the group of leaders and changes in staffing at St Barnabas, Dalston. There are ongoing discussions about future activities for this age group.
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 3 groups meeting. Most members of these groups are regular attenders at GCH but during this period there were some members who do not attend church on Sunday. The groups are open to all.
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In May/June 2023 we organised a series of evenings called “Public House”. These were lectures and discussions designed to explore the world from a Christian perspective and were open to all. They included presentations on the mathematician Gödel and the limits of human knowledge, Wayne Shorter, improvised jazz and the nature of the Trinity, an evening exploring murder ballads and finally the legacy of the Windrush experience. They were well attended by members of GCH and others from beyond the church.
Holy Week and Easter 2024
We joined with our sister church, St Barnabas Dalston, for our Holy Week and Easter services but also joined with other local Christians for a public walk of witness on Good Friday, singing hymns and carrying a cross through the streets of Hoxton and Shoreditch.
We organised a showing on Holy Tuesday of Pier Paulo Pasolini’s film “The Gospel
According to St Matthew” which was introduced by a member of our church. This was open to all and attended by members of our church and others from the wider community.
A young peoples’ Stations of the Cross took place on Good Friday morning which was open to all young people and attended by young people from both GCH and St Anne’s.
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 2023
We held out annual Carol Service in St Anne’s Church in December 2023. 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.
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During the Advent period we also collaborated one Saturday morning with St Anne’s Hoxton and a local charity, Hoxton Trust, with carol singing, festive food and drink 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.
Lent
Our young people organised a Lent project, “Bake and Make”, to raise funds for a local charity “Ivy Street Family Centre” which works with pre-school children and their parents/carers.
Music
Music continues to play a significant and weekly role in the life of our church and is overseen by our music director. Our music team comprises five singer-guitarists with another seven volunteer musicians who play regularly. It is not unusual to involve others beyond for musical or performance art items at the principal festivals. For the first time, at our Carol Service we welcomed younger singers to join, producing a choir of 17.
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.
The Structure and Management of GCH Community
GCH Community was constituted as a CIO on 20[th] July 2021. At the AGM on 2nd July 2023 Ms Alex Gough stood down as a trustee and was replaced via election by Mr Ted Stansfield. Mr Guido de Graaff was re-elected as a trustee for another term.
Fundraising
GCH Community continues to be funded by its members, former members, and a wider group of friends of Grace Church Hackney.
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Financial review
During the year income decreased by £4,700, to £181,390, and expenditure decreased by £14,030, to £158,620. As a result, the cash held by the charity increased by £22,780, to £44,750, of which £34,510 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves policy
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £35,000 - 40,000 (which equates to about 3 months of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £34,510 and the charity complied with the policy by the end of the following financial year.
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 (Jun 24, 2026 09:14:41 GMT+1)
Andrew Jones
Jun 24, 2026 Date:_____
Page 7
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 2024 on pages 9 to 12 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 (Jun 24, 2026 10:07:18 GMT+1)
Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jun 24, 2026
Page 8
GCH COMMUNITY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Grants from The Grace Church Hackney Trust Grants from Stewardship and Charities Trust 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 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 17,175 - - - 53,153 - 108,467 - - - - - 608 - 179,403 - 156,951 - 672 - 157,623 - 21,780 - - - 21,780 - 12,729 - 34,509 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 1,989 - - - - - - 1,989 2 991 993 996 - 996 9,246 10,242 |
2024 £ 19,164 - 53,153 108,467 - - 608 181,392 156,953 1,663 158,616 22,776 - 22,776 21,975 44,751 |
2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The notes on pages 11 - 12 form part of these accounts.
Page 9
GCH COMMUNITY
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| Notes 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 Accrued expenses D Assets retained for charity's own use Equipment |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 6,112 - 28,397 - 34,509 - - - 4,280 - 4,280 - 257 - 2,952 - 520 - 3,729 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ - 10,242 10,242 - 29 29 - - - - Fund to which asset belongs General |
2024 £ 6,112 38,639 44,751 - 4,309 4,309 257 2,952 520 3,729 Value 2024 £ 11,872 11,872 |
2023 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 6,112 28,397 34,509 - 4,280 4,280 257 2,952 520 3,729 |
|||||
| 8,234 13,741 |
|||||
| 21,975 | |||||
| 19,180 1,879 |
|||||
| 21,059 | |||||
| 245 1,440 - |
|||||
| 1,685 | |||||
| Value 2023 £ |
|||||
| 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 (Jun 24, 2026 09:14:41 GMT+1) _____Andrew Jones Jun 24, 2026 Date:_____
The notes on pages 11 - 12 form part of these accounts.
Page 10
GCH COMMUNITY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
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 and support costs Insurance Weekend away Other costs |
Unrestricte | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - d Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - 2 2 |
2024 £ 46,108 48,240 30,690 3,480 21,300 6,586 487 60 2 156,953 |
2023 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46,669 41,233 36,470 4,332 18,600 5,514 505 7,320 15 |
||||||
| 160,657 |
Reverend Andrew Jones, a trustee, receives a stipend from the Diocese; the exact cost of these stipends is not included above, however it should be noted that some of the funds paid to the Diocese Fund are used to help pay the stipends. Revd. Jones was also provided with accommodation (which is customary for clergy) and the cost of this accommodation - also paid to the Diocese - is disclosed in the above note. He incurred expenses whilst serving as clergy and these costs are also disclosed in the above note.
3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others
| nts paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants for: Mission Without Borders St Barnabas Dalston [Grace Church Hackney Trust] Young Minds Other small grants to organisations |
- - 672 - 672 |
- - - - - |
- - 683 308 991 |
- - 1,355 308 1,663 |
1,151 10,837 - - |
| 11,988 |
4 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.
Page 11
GCH COMMUNITY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
Movement of funds
| vement of funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds Restricted funds Special appeals Young Minds Trust Bread Festival 2022 6:10 fund PA fund Total funds |
Opening balance £ 12,729 - 683 171 8,392 - 9,246 21,975 |
Receipts £ 179,403 739 - - - 1,250 1,989 181,392 |
Payments £ (157,623) (310) (683) - - - (993) (158,616) |
Transfers £ - - - - - - - - |
Closing balance £ 34,509 429 - 171 8,392 1,250 |
| 10,242 | |||||
| 44,751 |
The Special appeals fund is for funds raised for specific charitable purposes which align with our charitable objectives. 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, at the discretion of the trustees. The PA fund is to raise funds for PA equipment.
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