2023-09-30-accounts - Ladyfield Evangelical Church

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Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity Number 1199002 Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham SN14 0BA

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts For the period from 18[th] May 2022 – 30[th] September 2023

Introduction

Ladyfield Evangelical Church is an independent Christian church which has operated at its premises in the Ladyfield area of Chippenham since 1957. It is a member of the Federation of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC). Until May 2022 it operated as an unincorporated charitable association, excepted from registration with the Charity Commission through its FIEC membership.

On 18[th] May 2022 it was registered by the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The church continued to operate under the old arrangement until the end of its financial year on 30[th] September 2022, while a new bank account was opened and other administration was prepared. All assets and governance were transferred to the CIO on 30[th] September 2022, and the charitable association terminated. The lease for the land and buildings, for which the freehold is owned by the Church Growth Trust, was re-assigned to the CIO.

This annual report therefore addresses the governance and financial management of the CIO, but reports on the activities, achievements, performance and public benefit of the ongoing work of the church through the full period.

Governance

Ladyfield Evangelical Church CIO is managed by a Board of Trustees. The Trustees are selected from among the Elders and Deacons of the Church, and appointed by the Board of Trustees, having regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. The Trustees are also the Members of the CIO.

An annual meeting of the wider community of all church members were held in November 2022 and November 2023, where the Trustees reported on the activities of the CIO and church and answered questions.

The following were the initial Trustees of the CIO: Andrew McFarlane (Chair), Bruce Brain, David White and Stephen Heal. James Stewart was appointed as an additional Trustee on 15[th] May 2023, soon after his appointment as Pastor and Elder of the church.

Objectives

The objective of Ladyfield Evangelical Church is to advance the Christian faith for the public benefit. This is achieved by:

Raising awareness and understanding of the Christian faith for existing believers and members of the Church fellowship;
undertaking activities to support practical needs of anyone living in the Ladyfield area;
telling people in the community about the Christian faith and encouraging them to become believers;
Supporting some other organisations and individuals who are working to advance the Christian faith, in the UK and overseas.

When planning the church’s activities, the trustees have considered and taken account of the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit.

To facilitate this, Ladyfield Church leases land and its building in Hungerdown Lane from the Church Growth Trust, maintaining them in good order.

Activities, Achievements and Performance

Christian Worship

Worship services have been held on every Sunday morning and most evenings throughout the period. These services are open to anyone to attend, and are advertised on external posters, on Facebook and on our website. They include singing, prayer, bible-teaching and communion. The services were generally led by one of the Elders. Until March 2023 there were a significant number of regular visiting speakers, many from other FIEC churches; from March to September 2023 most preaching was delivered by our Pastor James Stewart, but still with a smaller number of visiting speakers. During this period, following recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, typical attendance increased from around 50 to around 70 people, including some people new to the church, and some from our café outreach activities.

Live-streaming of services was initially established during the pandemic, but has continued for those unable to attend in person. These are accessible to anyone through YouTube with links posted on Facebook. These are appreciated by those unable to attend, with some who first encountered Ladyfield Church online now attending in person when they can.

Mid-week prayer meetings were also held throughout the year, which were well-attended.

The Pastor is a regular visitor at Middlefields House Care Home (Pilgrims’ Friend Society).

Café 3:16

Following the practice established for many years, on Saturday mornings members of the local community were welcomed into the café, for drinks or cake. Periodically there are special café outreach events, where food is served, such as a hog roast. There is never any charge for food or drink, though donations are accepted which are entirely given to other nominated Christian charities. There is a thriving community of friendship at this café.

Additionally in the Summer of 2022, Ladyfield Church partnered with the Chippenham CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Centre to run an additional café on Tuesdays. As well as hospitality (also free of charge), friendship and craft and games activities, those attending had the opportunity

to chat privately with CAP volunteers or staff about debt issues or cost of living challenges. This new café was much welcomed by the community and is well-attended by many members of the public with no previous connection to the church.

In Summer 2023 CAP decided for practical reasons to move their meetings to a more central location: we remain in good relationship with CAP and continue to refer people to them when appropriate. The Tuesday and Saturday café meetings continue to thrive, with some people from the café now attending church Sunday meetings.

From time to time special themed café events are held, with presentation of the gospel.

Ladies Meeting

A Ladies Meeting (Ladybirds) was held weekly during term-time attended typically by over 20 ladies, including some from the community who do not attend the Sunday worship services. These meetings both encourage Christian believers in their faith and introduce others to the Christian faith.

Children’s Activities

All of our previous children’s and youth activities stopped during the pandemic and most have not restarted. A Sunday School is available as needed on Sunday mornings. A new Toddler Group (Little Stars) started in April 2022, open to anyone in the community. After an initial period, it now meets weekly with typically 20 children attending with their parents or carers. This has been welcomed by the community and has provided an opportunity to build a relationship with the parents and carers.

Use of the Building by other groups

Where possible and appropriate the building has been made available for other groups without charge. This has included:

Two primary schools holding their Christmas events;
A number of funerals for people not associated with the church;
The Chippenham Twinning Association;
Christmas tea for more than 80 disabled adults from the Chippenham Gateway Club;
The use of the car park for coaches by local schools when they go on school trips.
Meetings by Christian organisations including Counties and SAT-7.
CAP – Christians Against Poverty.
Weekly meetings throughout the winter months of the Corsham and Chippenham Central Bible Study.

The church buildings are also made available to Wiltshire Council when needed for a polling station in national or local elections.

Community Events

A Family Fun Day was held in the church grounds in September 2023, open to anyone, with a variety of events for all ages and food. It was well-attended and much enjoyed by all who attended. It is intended to repeat this annually.

Financial Review

The accounts are published separately. The financial year ends on 30[th] September. As stated earlier, all financial activities in the period until 30[th] September 2022 were undertaken by the unincorporated Charitable Association, with all financial and non-financial assets transferred to the CIO on 30[th] September 2022. The Accounts for the CIO therefore cover the period 1[st] October 2022 to 30[th] September 2023, prepared on a receipts and payments basis and reported using Charity Commission form CC16a. They were approved by the Board of Trustees and signed by Andrew McFarlane and James Stewart on 11[th] October 2023. They are summarised in the table below.

£ Receipts Voluntary donatons Gifs for use of building Gif aid tax refund From Charitable Associaton Total receipts Payments Missionary support – general Premises & Administraton Pastoral support External Speakers’ expenses Outreach actvites Missionary support - designated Total payments Net receipts Cash funds 1 Oct 2022 Cash funds 30 Sep 2023	General Fund Designated Total 22/23 Total 21/22 63,063 11,544 74,607 1,050 1,050 11,372 2,726 14,098 45,751
	75,485 14,270 89,755 45,751
	13,108 13,108 19,141 19,141 37,356 37,356 3,205 3,205 3,074 3,074 13,843 13,843
	75,884 13,843 89,727
	(399) 427 28 45,751 45,751 - 45,751 45,352 - 45,352

Assets

In addition to the cash assets of £45,352, the CIO accounts show a value of tenant’s capital improvements to the building of £1,121,825. Although the building is owned by the Church Growth Trust, the cost of capital improvements undertaken in 2008 was borne by the church (as tenant) and is depreciated over 50 years.

Debts

There were no debts outstanding on 30[th] September 2023.

Independent Examination

The accounts and accounting records for both the charitable association and the CIO were independently examined by Trevor James FCA DChA FCIE, who reported to the trustees on 7[th] March 2024, summarised as follows:

I have completed my Independent Examination of your financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2023 and am pleased to report that no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in any material respect your accounting records were not kept in accordance with the Charities Act or that your accounts do not accord with your accounting records.

Reserves Policy

The policy of the Board of Trustees is to maintain a cash reserve broadly sufficient to meet one year’s planned expenditure on the general fund.

Approved by the Board of Trustees 18[th] June 2024

(HARITY (OMMISSIO FOR ENGIANO ANO WALE LadyfKld Evangellcal Church CIO 1199002 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the pertod from 01-Oct-22 To 3Sep-23 Section A Receipts and payments Unr88trrctsd funds Restrleted funds Endowm•nt funds Total fuTrd8 Last year tD the neavest totho no8rptsi £ tothe nearfrot e tothe wrest £ to t n•ar&Bt É A1 Receipts 62,053 1,050 11,372 t1,$44 1,000 74,607 1,050 Gift5 for use ol bu119 Gift aid Income tax refund Agt Iransfer Irom chanlatrAe asswiD 2.728 45,7S1 tota ross income or ARJ 74,I8S 14,270 1,000 19,755 45,751 ss•t and snvestment sa 1508 tablg). Tot•1 receipts A3Pa ent$ bAissionary 5UFVOrt- Prernises and AdminislratiOQ Pastc Exer speakers Outre3ch Actiwbes MISSi¢naty ppOrt- egnad 13,108 19,141 37,356 3,205 3,074 13,fOB 19.141 37,3$ 3,20S 4074 13.843 13,843 Sub total 7$,BB4 13,943 89,7Z7 A4 Aet and inv•5tmont urchases see tsble Sub total 7S,884 13,843 19,727 Net ofre¢elpts/(payments) A5 Transfeys betrween funds A6 cash fundB la¥1 year end Cash fun(ts this year end 1.39 427 1,000 4S,7$1 44.35 427 1,00 45,779 44751 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 0710312024

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to neJre>t £ Restricted funds to nparest £ Endowment funds to TrEare¥t £ Categories 81 Cash funds Naiwesi Bank CutsEntAccounl 44.352 427 Total ¢ash funds 44,352 427 1,000 lagiee balanc•svAlh i¢wpi$ paymenis Unr•str¢ctsd fvnds to neae£ R•sirlet•d funds to n¢arè# e Endowmènt fvnds Fund to whlch a•¥et ljelon OÉ'iails Cost (op01) CuThèntvalu• onal B3 Invèstmènt assèts Fundto which asset Unre5kncied Cost loptlonall Current value B4 Assets rotainad for the harity's own use Capitsi irnrrfovemÈntS 1¢ tyjilding 1,689,473 1,121,82S Furnitre and equirthent used In bu41ding Unreslnu Audiwsual 4uipmeni used In thilding UnreBtrded FndtOWhlGh reie rnouTrt due When d4te onal Di-l3I1s BS Liabllltlfrs Signed by one or tTU$teE5 on behaKof all the truste8S Print Nae Date of roval natu Andrew McFadane 11<Jct-23 James Stewart 11Qcl-23 CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 0710312024

Church CIO on the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2023

CIO, as a body, in accordance with the Chari�es Act 2011 (“the Act”). My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees of Ladyfield Evangelical Church CIO those ma�ers I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permi�ed by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Trustees as a body, for any work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

Responsibili�es and basis of report

responsible for the prepara�on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Act. You consider that the audit requirements of the Act do not apply.

I report in respect of my examina�on of the Receipts and Payments Account of Ladyfield Evangelical Church CIO for the year ended 30 September 2023 and the Statement of Assets and Liabilites at 30 September 2023, set out on the a�ached pages, carried out under sec�on 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examina�on I have followed the applicable Direc�ons given by the Charity Commission under sec�on 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

come to my a�en�on in connec�on with my examina�on giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

the accoun�ng records were not kept in accordance with sec�on 130 of the Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accoun�ng records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other ma�ers in connec�on with the examina�on to which a�en�on should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

T E J��e�

Trevor James FCA DChA FCIE Dormer Co�age West Broyle Chichester West Sussex PO19 3PR 7 March 2024