Centre Church Droitwich
Report and Accounts Period ended 31 March 2023
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
CENTRE CHURCH DROITWICH
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Centre Church Droitwich c/o 10, Oakland Avenue DROITWICH WR9 7DD GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated 22 May 2022 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1199135 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Benjamin Putt MANAGING THE CHARITY Stephen Marshall Peter Barham BANK The Co-operative Bank - Business PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal & 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 Pages 10-11 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
Report of the Managing Trustees for the year ended 31[st] March 2023
The Managing Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared based on the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity’s Trust Deed.
1 LEGAL and ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
1.1 Church Address
Centre Church Droitwich c/o 10, Oakland Avenue DROITWICH WR9 7DD
1.2 Governing Documents
Church Constitution adopted by the members of Centre Church, Droitwich on 22[nd] May 2022 and approved by the Charity Commission on 30[th] May 2022. The church is registered as a CIO-Association, (Number 1199135) and is affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, FIEC. (Registered Charity 1132700)
1.3 Charity Trustees
Benjamin Putt, Pastor (Salaried) Stephen Marshall (Non-salaried) Peter Barham (Non-salaried)
1.4 Independent Examiner
Archie McDowall Stewardship Services (UKET) 1, Lamb’s Passage London EC1Y 8AB
1.5 Principal Banker
The Co-operative Bank – Business PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
2 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT
2.1 Trustees and organisational structure
The Government of the Church is vested in a Body of Elders who are the Charity Trustees of the charity. There are currently 3 Elders one of whom is a paid Pastor. Elders are nominated for appointment or re-appointment by the other Elders and 67% of Church Members must vote in favour for the individual to be appointed.
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Elders, except the paid Elder serve for a term of three years and may then be re-appointed. The Charity Trustees who held office during the financial year are shown in 1.3 above. When new Charity Trustees are appointed, they will be given an introduction to the work of the Trustees.
Current Elders will generally oversee a particular area of church life, working with appointed Team Leaders and the active involvement of all members in the life of the church is encouraged by holding bimonthly members meetings. There were 35 members in May 2022.
2.2 Remuneration of Charity Trustees
Extract from Church Constitution, paragraph 6 entitled ‘Scope and powers permitting trustees’ or connected persons’ benefits’. Dependent on stated provisos:
“A charity trustee or connected person may receive compensation (including the provision of accommodation) for acting as an employee of the Church under a contract of employment”.
In addition, all Charity Trustees are entitled to be reimbursed from the property of the Church or may pay out of such property reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the Church.
2.3 Responsibilities of Charity Trustees
Under the Charities Act 2011, the Charity Trustees are required to prepare a statement of accounts for each accounting year which gives a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the church.
They are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed;
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Prepare the financial statements on an ongoing basis.
Charity Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Church and they must ensure that such accounts and records comply with the Charities Act 2011.
They also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to detect fraud or other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurances that:
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The church is operating efficiently and effectively;
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Its assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition;
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Proper records are kept and that financial information used within the church and for publication is reliable;
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The church complies with relevant laws and regulations.
2.4 Risk Management
All activities undertaken by the Church are subject to a review as part of the risk management. Risk Assessments are reviewed and agreed annually by the Charity Trustees at a meeting of the Elders.
3
OBJECTIVES and ACTIVITIES
Mission statement:
“As a Church we are committed to following Jesus, loving one another, and seeing lives changed in Droitwich”.
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Value statements:
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We are RELIANT on God because we are all broken and imperfect. We believe that God speaks to us in the Bible, revealing His plan to rescue us through His Son. The Good News of Jesus is therefore central to all we do because it is only through turning to Him that lives can be renewed and transformed for the better, both now and in the life to come.
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We seek to be RELATIONAL in everything that we do. Our desire is to be welcoming and hospitable to everyone, and to cultivate deep friendships with one another. We are a family that wants to show love, compassion and humility as we face the joys and sorrows of everyday life together.
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We aim to be RELEVANT in the way that we do things as a Church because the Good News of Jesus is timeless and will always be what the world needs to hear. We want to make our Church as accessible as possible and speak truth that brings hope into the community around us.
Activities and Achievements
Centre Church Droitwich was a church planted with the support of Woodgreen Evangelical Church Worcester and had its first service using the premises of Droitwich Baptist Church in September 2021. It became independent in May 2022 when it was registered as a CIO-ASSOCIATION with the Charity Commission therefore this report is a testimony to God’s grace towards us in our first year.
In planning the activities, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
• “Following Jesus”
The teaching and preaching of unchanging Biblical truths is foundational to being disciples of Jesus at Centre Church. We believe in the inspiration and authority of all Scripture which means that relevant exposition and explanation of Biblical truths is a key aspect of all our activities across all ages.
We seek to worship God in our Sunday services in a contemporary way and preaching from the Bible is an indispensable part of our corporate worship. Our pastor has provided a majority of the preaching at Sunday services with their themes derived from sequential exposition of books of the Bible. We believe that relevant and faithful preaching is essential not only for building up Christian disciples into mature believers, but also to point unbelievers to Jesus Christ.
We encourage children of all ages to be actively involved in our Sunday services and during the Bible talk for adults, children in reception and school year one will have their own session learning from the same Bible passage as the adults.
Older children and young people have their own activity on Monday evenings which includes discussion of the Bible talk the previous day.
We recognise that Jesus prayed. And unless God blesses all we do as a church, our labour will be in vain, so we show our reliance on him through times of prayer. During our first year we have learnt how best to embed prayer within church life, not just on Sundays but at other times when we meet.
• “Loving one another”
Our main objective in our first year has been to establish a ‘church family’ that provides mutual support and encouragement as we live in today’s world. To this extent our aspirational Membership Covenant, which individuals agree to when becoming members, speaks of intentionally creating deep and meaningful relationships with each other putting others needs ahead of our own.
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The setting up of four, inter-generational ‘Side-by-Side’ groups for church members in February 2022 was key to meeting this objective. Group leaders were appointed and tasked with creating their own way of developing those relationships throughout the week.
• “Seeing lives changed in Droitwich”
Centre Church was not planted to just be a place for Christians to enjoy mutual support as we seek to follow Jesus. The church was planted in order to share the timeless good news of Jesus within the community. We have therefore kept the ‘church programme’ to a minimum to encourage members to spend time building meaningful friendships with people in Droitwich by participating within community life.
4 FINANCIAL REVIEW
In order to start the Charity financially solvent in September 2022, a sending gift of £5k was made by Woodgreen Evangelical Church. By year-end the Charity’s cash holding was at £22,914.49 representing the net of £46,812 donations from members and regular visitors and £23,898 of charitable expenditure. A gift-aid claim was made in arrears, and included in the accounts as a debtor at yearend. Expenditure was in line with budget, with a year-end creditor to HMRC pertaining to PAYE for Jan-Mar’23.
Looking ahead to FY23-24, the Trustees anticipate both Income and Expenditure roughly doubling as we experience a full 12-month period and seek to share surplus resources (above the 2-mth reserves rule below) on the international mission field in accordance with the Grant making policy outlined below.
5 INVESTMENT POLICY
The Managing Trustees have power to invest in such assets as they see fit for the furtherance of the aims and objectives that are agreed by the Trustees and supported by the Church Membership.
6 RESERVES POLICY
The Charity Trustees have an agreed Reserves Policy, whereby a contingency is held of at least two months’ expenditure. Cash reserves are well in excess of this level with plans in the coming year to use these funds to partner with other Christian ministries outside of our local community.
7 GRANT MAKING POLICY
In this year 1 of operations no external grants were made, but Managing Trustees intend to establish a Mission budget under which grants will be awarded to Christian individuals working in the global mission field.
8 FUTURE PLANS
After one year of Centre Church becoming independent we are still learning about life in our community and how best to serve them. Beyond their fortnightly meetings the Charity Trustees take
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an ‘advance’ once a year to prayerfully and strategically look forward at where God is leading us in the years ahead,
One significant development in the next year is to establish long term partnerships with likeminded individuals abroad or in the UK who have a heart to share the good news of Jesus. This will include a new, financial commitment
Approved by the Managing Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Benjamin Putt
Benjamin Putt, Pastor
October 2023
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
CENTRE CHURCH DROITWICH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Centre Church Droitwich ('the charity') for the period 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.
Archie McDowall
Archie McDowall BA, CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 8 December 2023
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CENTRE CHURCH DROITWICH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
| Notes Income receipts Donations p Other grants Other Total receipts Payments 2 Total payments Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 41,762 - 5,000 - 50 - 46,812 - 23,898 - 23,898 - 22,914 - - - 22,914 - - - 22,914 - Unrestricted |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - |
2023 £ 41,762 5,000 50 46,812 23,898 23,898 22,914 - 22,914 - 22,914 |
2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - - |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - - |
||||
| - - |
||||
| - |
The notes on pages 10-11 form part of these accounts.
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CENTRE CHURCH DROITWICH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
| Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year Taxes due Fee for Independent Examination |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 22,914 - 22,914 - 4,920 - 4,920 - 2,638 - 480 - 3,118 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - |
2023 £ 22,914 22,914 4,920 4,920 2,638 480 3,118 |
2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - - |
||||
| - |
D 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:
Benjamin Putt
_____Benjamin Putt, Pastor
Date: 10 November 2023
The notes on pages 10-11 form part of these accounts.
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CENTRE CHURCH DROITWICH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE PERIOD 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 (see note 4) Ministry expenses Outreach activities Small equipment Rent g Office costs Other costs |
Unrestricted Fun | ds Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - |
Total 2023 £ 18,754 2,113 174 1,053 - 2,870 222 818 23,898 |
Total 2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 18,754 2,113 174 1,053 - 2,870 222 818 23,898 |
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| - - - - - - - |
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| - |
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CENTRE CHURCH DROITWICH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
3 Transactions with related parties
Benjamin Putt served as pastor and was paid £20,181 for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
The church also contributed £1,211 to a personal pension plan for Benjamin Putt.
Movement of funds
| General funds Total funds |
Opening balance £ - - |
Receipts £ 46,812 46,812 |
Payments £ 23,898 - 23,898 - |
Transfers £ - - |
Closing balance £ 22,914 22,914 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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