Otford Evangelical Free Church Report of Activities 2023/24
Church life was somewhat different to previous years in that the pastor and his wife were given a three month Sabbatical from all church activities commencing 1[st] September. However, the church continued to be active in ministry throughout the year for the benefit of its members, its regular worshippers and the wider village community.
Sundays were given over to the worship of God and the nurturing of Christian faith through the systematic preaching of the Bible and the fostering of Christian fellowship. Provision for the children attending the church was made through twice monthly Bible times before the morning service. Wednesday church nights were given over to prayer, the sharing of news and discussion on Bible passages.
The church was also pleased to record in June its first believers’ baptisms since 2007.
The church continued to be active in the community opening its doors the first Tuesday afternoon of every month to those in the village for a time of company, conversation, cake and coffee.
Every Friday morning during term time – the church offered a play group for mothers and carers of pre-school age children the popularity of which meant a booking system had to be introduced.
The church was also present at community events with stalls at the Coronation Celebration on the village green on 8[th] May and at the Otford Village Fete on 29[th] May providing activities for young children.
The church also continued to pursue its interest in Christian mission a highlight of which was the visit of the pastor and his wife to the Island of Madeira In October where the church is sponsoring the ministry of a church planting family in Funchal.
OTFORD EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH End of Year Accounts
2023 - 24
Elaine Bracken
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Receipts | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | 37,201 | 3,649 | 40,850 | 43,600 |
| Gift Aid | 8,129 | 947 | 9,076 | 17,877 |
| Interest | 1,756 | 0 | 1,756 | 539 |
| Total receipts | 47,086 | 4,596 | 51,682 | 62,015 |
| Payments | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Ministry | 40,174 | 0 | 40,174 | 36,465 |
| Chapel | 26,364 | 0 | 26,364 | 12,432 |
| Adminstration | 3,266 | 0 | 3,266 | 2,443 |
| Donations | 11,739 | 4,039 | 15,778 | 25,440 |
| Church Life | 1,226 | 0 | 1,226 | 2,114 |
| Total payments | 82,770 | 4,039 | 86,808 | 78,892 |
| Net receipts over payments | (35,683) | 557 | (35,126) | (16,877) |
| Transfers between funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash funds last year end | 148,711 | 6 | 148,717 | 165,594 |
| Cash funds this year end | 113,027 | 563 | 113,590 | 148,717 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | ||||
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cash & bank balances | ||||
| Bank current account | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bank interest account | 112,619 | 542 | 113,161 | 148,486 |
| Cash in hand | 407 | 21 | 428 | 230 |
| Totals | 113,027 | 563 | 113,590 | 148,717 |
| Other monetary assets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investment assets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liabilities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Gifts to missionaries / individuals
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| Barnabas Fund - General Barnabas Fund - Morocco Barnabas Fund - Pakistan Flooding Barnabas Fund - Ukraine Children Alone Compassion UK CRIBS Falconer Trust GBM re Jason & Andrea Murfitt Hospice of Hope Individuals International Mission to Jewish People Kent Gospel Partnership London City Mission Open Air Mission Retired Missionaries Samaritans Purse Samaritans Purse - Biosand Water Filter Samaritans Purse - Earthquake Samaritans Purse - Shoeboxes SIM International UK Tear Fund - Drought Appeal Tear Fund - Earthquake Tear Fund - Middle East Emergency Fund Tear Fund - Ukraine Toilet Twinning UFM re Andrew & Jenny Love World in Need - Marima Benevolent Totals |
2024 2024 2024 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 1,155 58 1,213 2,275 0 2,325 2,325 0 0 0 0 1,453 0 0 0 2,681 0 0 0 0 390 0 390 462 578 0 578 1,050 462 0 462 840 2,310 0 2,310 4,300 0 0 0 213 489 0 489 475 0 0 0 200 250 0 250 0 1,155 0 1,155 2,200 882 0 882 840 0 0 0 250 0 0 0 145 0 0 0 966 0 544 544 2,056 0 0 0 340 2,310 0 2,310 2,300 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 775 0 875 875 0 0 0 0 13 180 0 180 0 578 0 578 1,050 0 137 137 464 1,000 100 1,100 50 |
|---|---|
| 11,739 4,039 15,778 25,440 |
Otford Evangelical Free Church, 81 Pilgrims Way West, Otford, Kent TN14 5JH is registered with
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the Charity Commissioners (No 1202466) and constituted as Unincoporated Trust
The Church is affiliated to The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches.
These accounts have been prepared on the "Receipts and Payments" basis and accord with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.
Fixed Assets
The freehold land and Church building at 81 Pilgrims Way West, Otford, Kent TN14 5JH are vested in the names of the Church Trustees and insured in the sum of £747,006, contents are insured in the sum of £73,081. Other assets held by the Church for its use comprise seating, tables, storage units, catering equipment, piano, laptop, ipad and sound system, general furnishings, Bibles and hymn books together with sundry items of equipment for use in the maintenance of the Church building and grounds.
Ministry
Kevin Bracken's PAYE is administered by Stewardship Services.
Gift Aid
The Gift Aid and Gift Aid Small Donations amounts for gifts in the 2022/23 financial year were both claimed and received in the 2023/24 financial year. The Gift aid amounts for the previous year were higher due to Gift aid claimed for both 2020/21 and 2021/22.
Donations paid
The annual unrestricted donations for the 2023/24 financial year were increased for inflation. The donations for the previous year were higher due to late payment of the 2021/22 financial year unrestricted gifts.
Restricted Funds
The table below summarises the balances, receipts and payments for the restricted funds. The negative balances at the end of the previous year were anticipated Gift Aid which has now been received.
| Transfer | Bal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bal 2023 | Receipts | Payments | from/ | 2024 | |
| (to) | |||||
| Unrestricted | |||||
| Barnabas Fund - General | 58 | 29 | 58 | 29 | |
| Barnabas Fund - Morocco | 0 | 2,325 | 2,325 | 0 | |
| Barnabas Fund - Pakistan Flooding | (291) | 291 | 0 | 0 | |
| Barnabas Fund - Ukraine | (24) | 24 | 0 | 0 | |
| Benevolent | 125 | 250 | 100 | 275 | |
| Samaritans Purse - Biosand Water Filter | (173) | 173 | 0 | 0 | |
| Samaritans Purse - Earthquake | 274 | 270 | 544 | 0 | |
| Samaritans Purse - Shoeboxes | 0 | 59 | 0 | 59 | |
| Tear Fund - Drought Appeal | (9) | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tear Fund - Earthquake | (5) | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tear Fund - Middle East Emergency | |||||
| Fund | 0 | 875 | 875 | 0 | |
| World in Need - Marima | 51 | 287 | 137 | 201 | |
| Total | 6 | 4,596 | 4,039 | 0 | 563 |
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Payments to Trustees
There was no trustees’ remuneration or other trustee benefits for the 12 months ending 31 March 2024 or for the previous financial year.
Expense Payments to Officers of the Church and their relations
Expense payments to officers of the church and their relations in the year 2023-24 amounted to £1012.08
Contingent Liabilities
There are no contingent liabilities for the current year.
Signed on behalf of the Church Trustees
Trustee 1: Date
Trustee 2: Date
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Independent examiner’s report to the charity trustees of Otford Evangelical Free Church
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on page 1 - 3.
Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
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:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Name: Abigail Gardner
Relevant professional qualification or body: Chartered Accountant of the Chartered Institute of England and Wales
Address: 60 Magpie Hall, Bromley, Kent, BR2 8ER
Date: 14 July 2024