Grace Community Church Loftus Report and Accounts Year ended 31 October 2025
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
Grace Community Church Loftus Deepdale Road Loftus Saltburn-By-The-Sea TS13 4RS
GOVERNING DOCUMENT
CIO - registered 12 November 2021
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE CHARITY
1196546
Robin Singleton Jack Barber Thomas Singleton Robert Partlett (until 20 February 2025) Kris Baines (from 1 May 2025)
BANKERS
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Barclays Bank plc Allan Chandler
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-5 Trustees' Report Page 6 Independent Examiner's Report Page 7 Receipts and Payments Account Page 8 Statement of Assets & Liabilities
Grace Community Church Loftus
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 October 2025. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 12[th] November 2021 so this is the fourth annual report and the fourth set of annual accounts. The period covered is 1 November 2024 - 31 October 2025.
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and church handbook. The church is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). The purposes of the Church are:
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1) The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Loftus, Saltburn by the Sea and the surrounding neighbourhood; and
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2) 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.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
Sunday Services
We continue to meet weekly on Sunday mornings for corporate public worship, using the hall. The service includes praise, prayer and preaching/teaching. Regular attendance has risen to about 50 including children. After the service refreshments are served. Most people stay to enjoy this time of fellowship and also stay for a hot community meal that is provided almost every Sunday.
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Mental Health Support Group
The Mental Health Support Group was established during the Covid-19 lockdown to provide support for those who were isolated and/or facing mental health problems. This group continues to meet and is open to anyone in the community. They do not need to be Christians and the format is very informal but it does include Bible study and prayer. During the year the group has grown and now regularly has 8-12 people. Group members express their appreciation of the group and some are investigating Christianity for the first time.
Church Night
Most Thursday evenings we have a church family night. We meet at 6pm to enjoy a hot meal together and then between 7.00pm and 8.15pm we usually study the bible together and pray. The bible study is for all ages and includes some discussion - working in small groups. We close by praying together. A large proportion of the bible studies during the year were on the Sermon on the Mount. Occasionally we have visiting speakers - for example Al Simms from People International visited on 9 January 2025 and Dave Hossack, Scripture Reader for SASRA at Catterick Garrison, visited on 4[th] September 2025 together with Andy McMahon who is the SASRA regional manager. We also occasionally dedicate the whole time on a Thursday evening to pray together - for example for the work of Open Doors amongst persecuted Christians.
Cafe - Grace Brew House
In September 2025 Grace Brew House completed it’s third full year of operation. Since January 2025 the staff team has been made up entirely of volunteers. The café staff produce and serve good quality food and drink at affordable prices. The café provides a warm space for local people and a venue for social interaction. The main purpose of the café, however, is to provide a gateway for the community into the church and a gateway for the church into the community. It is part of the ministry of the church and we long and pray that through this outreach many will hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was encouraging to see how many regular customers from the café attended the Christmas Carol Service. A few have also come to church services and meetings.
Evangelism
The evangelistic strategy of the church is one of encouraging church members to witness to the people that they meet in their everyday lives. We do hold occasional evangelistic events, like the Christmas Carol Service, but the main focus is of being an ‘everyday church’. The church also has an internet presence via its own website and YouTube Channel. The weekly sermons are often posted to the church Facebook Page. A monthly article has been placed in the community newspaper ‘Talk of the Town’. During the year some Door to Door evangelism took place.
World Mission
The church supported and received updates from Open Doors, SASRA and People International. Open Doors supports persecuted Christians across the globe, SASRA seeks to reach serving British soldiers and air force personnel with the Gospel, and People International takes the Gospel to the people of Central Asia. As a church we are supported by Heart Cry Missionary Society so we have strong links with them too - particularly in Europe.
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Grace Pregnancy Support
The aim of this work is to save the lives of babies by encouraging and supporting parents to choose life - rather than abortion. We also offer support to women who have had abortions. We work and pray to see the spiritual salvation of the parents. The ethos is to ‘speak the truth in love’. A website and social media presence has been established. Leaflets have been distributed to local medical centres, shops and cafes. So far there has been no obvious response to these efforts but we continue to work and to pray towards that aim.
Home Education Group
A new group has been established to support parents who home educate their children. Most of those who come are Christians but the group is open to all. It therefore provides an opportunity for Christian witness as well as social interaction and encouragement for home educating parents and their children.
Membership and Baptisms
5 people were baptised as believers during the year and the year closed with a church membership of 39.
Affiliations
Grace Community Church Loftus is now a full member of:
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FIEC - The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches across England, Scotland and Wales.
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Medhurst Ministries - Supporting, planting and revitalising churches in deprived communities of England and Wales. Kris and Robin attended a retreat during the year. They also met with Medhurst pastors personally and online for regular encouragement, support and prayer. HeartCry Missionary Society - Having been introduced to HeartCry through Medhurst Ministries Robin’s position is funded full-time by HeartCry for a period of 4 years. Church And Family Life Network - This network encourages age-integration in churches and supports both church and family life.
Staff/Appointments
In last years report we noted ‘The leaders are looking into the possibility of adding to the pastoral staff, possibly with the future plan to plant a new church in one of the local towns or villages that currently has no evangelical church ’. Kris Baines joined the church as a full-time paid pastor/elder following the vote at the members meeting in February 2025. We are grateful to the Lord in bringing Kris to us. He began working remotely on 1 May 2025 and was able to begin working from his new home in Skelton from July 2025. We now have 3 pastor/elders. Robin and Kris serve the church in a full-time capacity (as ‘office holders’). Jack serves as a pastor/elder in a voluntary capacity. The Cafe Manager was made redundant at the end of 2024.
Church Planting
During the year there has been much talk about church planting. With the Lord’s guidance and help we plan to start a new church in the local area within the next few years, probably in Skelton. Our desire is to establish healthy churches in all of the areas of East Cleveland that do not have an evangelical church in walking distance. Kris will lead the church plant that is planned for Skelton.
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Financial review
At the end of the financial year the charity held £66,537.73 of which £5,210.78 is designated and £61,326.95 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves policy
The trustees do not currently have a reserves policy. The Trustees make judgments as necessary, balancing on the one hand the desire to have several months budgeted expenditure in reserves and on the other hand not wanting to sit on money that could be used for charitable purposes. On the whole the trustees will err on the side of caution so that the charity could continue to operate should income (including grant funding) and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £61,326.95
Governance
Trustees meet together regularly (usually monthly) to monitor activities of the charity. They present the key results of such meetings at quarterly members’ meetings. The trustees are responsible for ensuring the charitable purposes of the CIO are carried out in accordance with the church constitution and handbook
The trustees of the charity are all the persons appointed to the offices of Pastor/Elder or Deacon. In accordance with the charity constitution and handbook, trustees are appointed by a vote of the church membership. All trustees are members of the charity. There must always be at least three charity trustees. Presently there are four.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires 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:
Robin Singleton
Date: 03/02/2026
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Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Grace Community Church Loftus I report to the trustees on my examination of the account5 of Grace Community Church Loftus for the year ended 31 October 2025 which are attached to this report. Responslbllltles and basls ol report As the charity trustees of the Trusl you are respon5Ible for the preparaiion ol ihe •ccount5 In accordance with the requirements of the Charitles Act 2011 I'the Act'l. I report in respert ol my examination of the Trust's accounts carried oul under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinalion I have followed all the appllcable Directlons 8iven by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. An examination includes a review of the accounting recoids kept by ihe charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those record5. It a150 includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the account5 and 5eekin8 explanations from the trustees concerning any such matler5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all ihe evidencè that would be required in a full audit. and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent examlnees statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examinat•on 8ivin8 me cause io belleve that in any material respect: l. Accounting retords were not kept In respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act- OT 2. The accounts do r•ol Kcord with the reeofds I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in ihls report in order to enable a proper undersiandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Name Allan Chandler Address 2 Arlington Street. Loftus, Saltburn T513 4LA Date 27 January 2026 Page 6
Grace Community Church Loftus Financial Activities
1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025
| INCOME Offering - box Offering - to bank (regular) HeartCry Gift Aid Other Donations Kingdom Bank Interest Total Income EXPENDITURE Church Catering and Supplies Church Anniversary CCLI Gas and Electric General Building and Repairs Insurances Legal/Professional Mission Giving Pastoral Gifts Pastor Expenses Café IT/Training Payroll Expenses Preaching Fees Software, Postage and Stationery Pro-Life expenses Pro-Life building work/IT Subs, Fees & Conferences Travel and Accommodation Water Total Expenditures |
Café IT Payroll Pro Life - - - - - - - 42,497.04 - - - - - - - - - - - 42,497.04 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 285.15 - - - 47,036.07 - - - - - - - - - 100.00 - - - - - - - - - - - - 285.15 47,036.07 100.00 - 285.15 - 4,539.03 - 100.00 Designated Funds |
Total Designated Undesignated 2025 - 6,586.26 6,586.26 - 29,755.00 29,755.00 42,497.04 42,497.04 - 8,312.19 8,312.19 - 7,000.00 7,000.00 - 234.74 234.74 42,497.04 51,888.19 94,385.23 - 8,263.16 8,263.16 - - - - 176.00 176.00 - 4,839.02 4,839.02 - 5,267.74 5,267.74 - 1,865.11 1,865.11 - 496.30 496.30 - 9,054.90 9,054.90 - - - - 358.21 358.21 285.15 - 285.15 47,036.07 14,624.72 61,660.79 - 408.30 408.30 - 930.93 930.93 100.00 - 100.00 - - - - 3,109.15 3,109.15 - 1,726.21 1,726.21 - 651.54 651.54 47,421.22 51,771.29 99,192.51 - 4,924.18 116.90 - 4,807.28 |
Total 2024 7,760.50 36,610.28 42,497.04 8,226.54 30,000.00 - 125,094.36 4,653.37 663.39 97.00 10,542.04 8,863.00 1,869.50 158.50 9,549.68 223.32 - 261.12 59,168.05 470.00 1,338.61 1,230.38 58.35 2,142.82 - 753.46 102,042.59 23,051.77 |
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Grace Community Church Loftus Statement of Assets
1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025
| Cash Funds Bank Current Account - Church Kingdom Bank Cash Account Of which General Funds Designated - Payroll Designated - Pro Life Designated - Café IT |
Opening Balance 51,125.76 20,000.00 219.25 £ 71,345.01 61,210.05 7,820.62 876.43 1,437.91 71,345.01 - |
Closing Balance 46,083.82 20,234.74 219.17 £ 66,537.73 61,326.95 3,281.59 776.43 1,152.76 66,537.73 - |
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