WOOLPIT ROOM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENT ACCOUNT
For the year 31 December 2024
Charity number 1199793
Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship Annual Report for period 1st January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024
19.03.25
Trustees
| Trustee name | Office | Name of body entitled to appoint trustee |
|---|---|---|
| Margaret Cook | Board of Trustees of the Charity |
|
| Christopher Paul Walker | Church Treasurer | |
| Graham Charles Fuller | ||
| Keith Martin | ||
| PhilipCharles Sparkes | Chairman of Trustees | |
Trustees are appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees, and in accordance with the qualifications listed in the constitution.
Church Property
Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship (The Church) is located at White Elm Road, Woolpit, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. IP30 9SQ.
The property consists of the main building, Chapel House (which is a residential property attached to the main church building), outbuildings known as “Mary-Anne’s” and the graveyard.
Church Governance
Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1199793) on 26[th] July 2022 and is governed by:
The Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship CIO Constitution.
Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship has a Statement of Beliefs which are incorporated in the Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship Church Rules
Objectives
The charity’s objectives are set out in the constitution. This sets it out to advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Basis of Faith, primarily, but not exclusively, within Woolpit and the surrounding neighbourhood.
The trustees are aware and conscious of the statutory obligations placed upon them to ensure that the charity is run for the public benefit, and consider the guidance given and published by the Charity Commission.
Church Activities in 2024 included
Sundays
Morning Service (including Communion)
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Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship Annual Report for period 1st January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024
Mondays
Monday Meet
Easter Tea, Summer Tea, Christmas Tea
Tuesdays
Bible Study & Prayer Missionary Prayer Meeting monthly
Thursdays
House group monthly
Fridays
Monthly event: either Girls’ Night, Coffee & Deserts, Quiz Night
We believe that Christianity and the church is good news for society and this is evidenced very much in the objectives and activities of Woolpit Room. The central activity is the weekly meetings for worship, prayer and explanation of the Bible's beneficial relevance to everyday life. All these meetings are open to all who wish to attend, Christians and non-Christians alike.
Saturdays
We have held a Marie Curie Coffee Morning and a summer BBQ.
Our Sunday morning services have continued throughout the year. These are led either by our church leaders or people who have been invited to come to speak to us. We also held our regular Carols by Candlelight service in December, which was well-attended, with over 70 people with us.
Monday meet continues to be popular with about 20 people regularly attending. A variety of speakers are invited to talk for 15-20 minutes on their chosen topic, and after a break for refreshments and chats, a short Bible-based talk, often connected to the earlier topic, is then given. They enjoyed an afternoon tea at Easter, July, and Christmas.
For our Bible and Prayer Time on Tuesdays, we take a more in-depth look into a book or a character of the Bible, and then pray together. This is usually led by a member of our congregation, although we occasionally invite a visiting speaker. Once a month we focus on a Christian mission organisation.
Our Thursday evening monthly housegroup meeting attracts a smaller group where we informally discuss a Biblical topic. This is a more relaxed, evening which concludes with refreshments. This is usually held in people’s homes.
In most months, we have held an event, usually on a Friday, which is widely publicised in Woolpit, and has been appreciated by many of our residents. Events included a Cookery Demonstration, Quiz Night (in support of Tear Fund), Harvest Supper, Card-Making Workshop, and Christmas WreathMaking Workshop.
The defibrillator which has been fitted on the outside wall, is a good facility for people living in the vicinity of our building. Due to medical emergencies, it has been taken on 4 occasions this year, although, thankfully it was not used.
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Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship Annual Report for period 1st January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024
Throughout the year Phil & Jan looked out for people who have moved into the village, and took them a welcome pack which includes tea, biscuits and information about our services and events at The Room.
This has been appreciated and is a real opportunity to show Christian outreach to newcomers to our village.
Support for Christian charities
-
We hosted, what has now become, our annual coffee morning in March, to support the Marie Curie charity.
-
We have links with some Christian-based organisations and individuals, and we make financial gifts to help with their activities in accordance with our objectives.
-
We have a particular link with some Christians abroad, and our “Monday Meet” group regularly support them financially.
-
We also support the Stowmarket Food Bank with donations of food items as well as a monthly financial gift.
We are very grateful to God for the financial donations from our regular church attenders, a legacy from a former church attender, gifts from visitors and rental income from Chapel House which has enabled us to meet our expenses for this year.
We have set a reserves figure of approximately £6,000. This is to allow the church to manage any unforeseen financial liabilities.
Following a generous legacy totalling £30,897 the Chairty is currently holding a larger amount of funds. As trustees we recognize that we may in the future incur more speaker costs as our own leaders age and we may have to employ some form of pastor. We also are considering annual maintenance and modernization costs of the church and chapel house, as we try to ensure the church remains appealing and welcoming to our congregation and visitors.
Philip .C Sparkes. Chairman
19/06/2025
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WOOLPIT ROOM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP RECEIPTS AND PAYMENT ACCOUNT For the year ended 31 December 2024
| INCOME Church Income Donations HMRC Gift Aid Receipt Other Sources of Income Bank Interest Donation For Use Of Hall Legacy From Joy Mulley Rent From House TOTAL INCOME EXPENSES Insurance Speaker Expenses Donations To Other Causes Utility Costs Sundry Expenses Cleaning Window Cleaning Indpendnt Examination Fee Church Maintenance Large Repairs and Equipment: Windows Wi-fi Heating Controls D Wilding - Electrical New Notice Board Landscaping Roof Repair Keyboard Purchased New Water Heater Painting Church Building Repairs to the House Solicitor Costs - Conversion to CIO NET SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) FUND BALANCE BORUGHT FORWARD BALANCE INTRODUCED FUND BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted Funds £ 17,789 3,875 |
Unrestricted Funds £ 17,789 3,875 |
Restricted Funds £ 1,825 - 2024 |
Restricted Funds £ 1,825 - 2024 |
Total Funds £ 19,614 3,875 |
2023 Total £ 15,549 1,788 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21,664 382 100 21,522 7,000 |
1,825 - - - - |
23,489 382 100 21,522 7,000 |
17,337 149 350 9,375 6,900 |
||||
| 29,004 50,668 3,096 1,805 2,200 3,639 1,143 776 564 420 1,078 1,824 - 1,079 - 2,175 - 556 556 1,479 4,303 2,196 |
- 1,825 - - 1,825 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
29,004 52,493 3,096 1,805 4,025 3,639 1,143 776 564 420 1,078 1,824 - 1,079 - 2,175 - 556 556 1,479 4,303 2,196 |
16,774 34,111 3,219 1,907 3,140 4,354 1,773 742 540 - 272 2,000 478 406 1,461 840 474 - - - - 1,289 |
||||
| 28,889 | 1,825 | 30,714 | 22,895 | ||||
| 21,779 | - | 21,779 | 11,216 | ||||
| 27,378 - |
- - |
27,378 - |
16,162 | ||||
| £ | 49,157 £ |
- | 49,157 £ £ |
27,378 |
WOOLPIT ROOM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
As at 31 December 2024
| Bank Balances Gift Aid to be Reclaimed Less:-Indepent Examiners Fee |
Unrestricted Funds £ 49,157 2,750 430) ( |
Unrestricted Funds £ 49,157 2,750 430) ( |
Restricted Funds £ - - - 2024 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - 2024 |
Total Funds £ 49,157 2,750 - ( |
2023 Total £ 27,378 936 420) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51,477 | - | 51,477 | 27,894 |
Other Assets - Church Building
The main asset used by the charity is the church building. This was transferred to the charity by the way of a deed, drawn up by the Charity Commission, from the trust on which it was held. This deed was agreed on 14 December 2022.
The church building is estimated to have a value of £650,000, which includes a Chapel House, from which the charity derives a rent.
The church owns assets, such as the contents in the chapel, with an estaimated value of £7.000.
Initial Funds
On 14 December 2022 the charity recevied the amount of £16,162 following the deed of transfer from the un incorporated charity, also known as Woolpit Christian Fellowship.
Approved by:-
19/06/2025
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Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of Woolpit Room Christian Fellowship Annual Report for period 1 January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the period ended 31 December 2024 .
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 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
Mark Wallace TEP CTA FCA Walter Wright Chartered Accountants 89 High Street Hadleigh IP7 5EA
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