THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN COUNCIL/PRESBYTERY
England Registered Charity No. 1202488
Annual Returns 2[nd ] January 2024 to 1[st ] January 2025
Account Reference Date: 1/1/2025
Trustees (Serving during year ending 1[st] January 2025)
Moderator Pang Chiu LI Stated Clerk Kwan Sheung LI Treasurer Wai Fat Chan Bankers N/A Church Locations Solihull Women’s Institute, 745 Warwick Road, Solihull B91 3DQ
Annual Report (Financial year Ending 1[st] January 2025)
1. General Purposes
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To serve individuals and families, both old and young, that are affiliated with our organisation by providing ministerial activities for the betterment of their physical, mental, and spiritual health.
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To provide assistance to people in communities where our organisation’s churches are present, providing material help to those in need, spiritual encouragement, and positive events and activities that support individuals and families.
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To establish churches and missions (see Clause 13) with a common system of government and theology that are able to be used as the means to achieve the aforementioned goals.
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This Organisation is the result of large numbers of Hong Kong people migrating to England. The Charity Organisation’s primary focus is Cantonese speaking people.
However, the organisation does not exclude people from joining who are not of Hong Kong descent. This organisation does not exclude people based on their language or ethnicity.
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This Organisation will be a governing body to form churches and missions (see Clauses 7 b., 10, 11 d.) in different communities in England to fulfil the goals of the organisation. Pastors, along with elected non-clergy persons will be members of the governing organisation, referred to as the CPC Council/Presbytery.
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The CPC Council/Presbytery will not prevent its local churches from establishing their own Charitable Organisation for their local church/congregation. If they determine it is needed and necessary each church may establish their own Charitable Organisation, which would be complementary to this Organisation. The CPC Council/Presbytery is a Charitable Organisation that will assist its affiliated congregations in the aforementioned goals.
2. Activities and Achievements
The Hong Kong Christian Church in Birmingham continues to provide Sunday Services primarily in Cantonese, with occasional services conducted in English accompanied by Cantonese translation. Communion Services are held monthly.
Our congregation maintains an average weekly attendance of approximately 150 people, comprising around 90 adults, 40 teenagers, and 25 children. While we continue to welcome newcomers, their attendance has been less consistent compared to the previous year. The overall size of the congregation has become more stable, although there is still some movement in and out. One key factor in this stability is the limited capacity of our current venue, which naturally restricts further growth.
The Church continues to serve individuals and families of all ages. We remain committed to safeguarding, with ongoing registration under the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). In addition, we introduced our own safeguarding policy this year.
Due to space limitations, the Adult and Children’s Sunday Services continue to take place at the Solihull Women’s Institute, while the Youth Service is held at the Art
Studio, within a 10-minute walk from our main venue. We continue to have a strong relationships with Solihull United Reformed Church fostering cultural exchange and mutual support.
Our pastor continue to provide pastoral care to members of the congregation as well as to new immigrants in need. Regular prayer sessions, fellowships, and Bible study groups are held throughout the year. This year, we also introduced our first baptism class, which will now take place annually. In addition, special events were organised during major religious festivals such as Easter and Christmas, as well as during cultural celebrations like the Lunar New Year. These events provided encouragement and support to newcomers, particularly those arriving from Hong Kong under the BN(O) Visa route.
3. Highlights at the Hong Kong Christian Church in Birmingham
Cell Groups
Attendance remained steady, averaging 154 participants during the year ending 1 January 2025. Thirteen cell groups meet regularly after Sunday services. Children’s worship averages 25 participants each week, divided into two groups: Juniors (Years 1–3) and Seniors (Years 4–6). Attendance at Teens’ worship increased to 40 young people (Years 7–13). These gatherings not only provide worship opportunities but also create valuable support networks that assist newcomers in integrating into the community.
Bible Teaching and Baptism (Adults)
In 2025, the Church offered a Bible teaching class for newcomers and a Bible study class for the wider congregation, both held immediately after Sunday worship. We also introduced our first baptism class, which will now take place annually. We are looking forward to have our first baptism in May 2025
Looking Forward: Church Membership
In January 2025, we conducted a survey to assess interest in becoming formal members of the church. The response was very encouraging, with 80% of participants expressing willingness to join. We will use the coming year to prepare for the formal establishment of church membership, with the goal of launching this in 2026–2027.
4. Financial Statements and Funds
In accordance with the Regulations of Charity Commissions For England and Wales and the Charities SoRP(FRS102), being a charity with an annual gross income less than £25,000, the Financial Statements of this Congregation set out on pages 7 to 9 consist of a Statement of Congregation Funds and movements thereon during the Year from 27 March 2023 to 1 January 2024 and details of the Receipts and Payment, Surplus(Deficit), and Net Movement on Funds during the year with supplementary notes thereon where appropriate.
The Receipts and Payments for the regular Congregation activities are shown in the General Fund and in the year amounted to £12,737 and £10,146 respectively and gives a gross surplus of £ 2,590.
The total amount of all Funds as at 1 January 2024 is £2,590.
5. Accounting Policies
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The main sources of income are the donations of members.
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The Receipts and Payments of Congregation Fund are recorded and reported on a cash received and cash paid (as invoices/accounts are received) basis respectively. In the event that a commitment is made after the date of the Statement of Balances which will materially reflect on the amount of any Fund(s) this will be reported in the accompanying Notes to the Accounts.
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The Balance of Congregation Fund represents sums available for the ongoing work and activities of the Congregation. For this financial year, all our Fund is Unrestricted.
6. Approval of Report and Financial Statements
The Report and Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Trustee at their meeting on 12th October 2025. The Office Bearers authorised to sign the Report and Finance Statements on behalf of the Congregation are:-
Signed ………………………………… Pang Chiu LI Moderator Signed …………………………………. Kwan Sheung LI Secretary Fat Signed …………………………………. Wai Fai CHAN Treasurer
Date: 12[th] October 2025
Financial Statements:
| HONG KONG CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN BIRMINGHAM | ANALYSIS OF CASH BOOK | ANALYSIS OF CASH BOOK |
|---|---|---|
| ANNUAL ACCOUNTS ANALYSIS | 2 January 2024 - 1 January 2025 | |
| DESCRIPTION | 2.1.2024 - 1.1.2025 | TOTAL |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME | ||
| DONATIONS - WORSHIP GROUP | 24,241.65 | 24,241.65 |
| TOTAL INCOME | 24,241.65 | 24,241.65 |
| EXTRAORDINARY | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 24,241.65 | 24,241.65 |
|
| DESCRIPTION | 2.1.2024 - 1.1.2025 | TOTAL |
| £ | £ | |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| VENUE RENTAL | ||
| SOLIHULL WOMEN'S INSTITUTE | 3,300.00 | 3,300.00 |
| SOLIHULL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH | 1,199.25 | 1,199.25 |
| TUDOR GRANGE ACADEMY SOLIHULL | 296.11 | 296.11 |
| CRIS WONG ART STUDIO | 420.00 | 420.00 |
| EQUIPMENT | ||
| AV EQUIPMENT | 395.08 | 395.08 |
| ACCESSORIES | 279.49 | 279.49 |
| ADMIN MISCELLANEOUS | ||
| INSURANCE | 281.68 | 281.68 |
| ANNUAL FEE | 688.90 | 688.90 |
| WORSHIP ACTIVITIES | ||
| ADULT WORSHIP | 373.70 | 373.70 |
| YOUTH WORSHIP | 1,234.14 | 1,234.14 |
| CHILD WORSHIP | 260.66 | 260.66 |
| SPEAKER FEE | 1,320.00 | 1,320.00 |
| FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES | 388.64 | 388.64 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 10,437.65 | 10,437.65 |
| EXTRAORDINARY | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 10,437.65 | 10,437.65 |
|
| SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) | 13,804.00 | 13,804.00 |
Statement of balance:
HONG KONG CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN BIRMINGHAM
10. Statement of Balances and Movement on Congregation Funds for Year ending 1 January 2025
| Statement of balance: | Statement of balance: | Statement of balance: | Statement of balance: | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HONG KONG CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN BIRMINGHAM | ||||||||||||
| 10. Statement of Balances and Movement on Congregation Funds for Year ending 1 January 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Fund | Nature | Balance | Receipts | (Payments) | Surplus | Net Fund | **Net change ** | Balance | Held as | |||
| of Fund | 1.1.2024 | 2.1.2024 - 1.1.2025 | 2.1.2024 - 1.1.2025 | (Deficit) | Transfers | on Fund | 1.1.2025 | follows | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Birmingham | Unrestricted | 2,590.85 | 24,241.65 | 10,437.65 | 13,804.00 | 0.00 | 13,804.00 | 16,394.85 | Cash In Hand | 16,394.85 | ||
| Note 1 | ||||||||||||
| Total Fund | 2,590.85 | 24,241.65 | 10,437.65 | 13,804.00 | 0.00 | 13,804.00 | 16,394.85 | 16,394.85 | ||||
| Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year ending 1 January 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Nature of Congregation Funds: | ||||||||||||
| Birmingham | Unrestricted | Note 1 | Ordinaryreceipts andpayments of the Congregation. Office Bearers may'designate' | |||||||||
| unrestricted funds forgeneral reserves or for specifiedpurpose(s). | ||||||||||||
| Property | Church | Note 2 | Nopropertyis owned | |||||||||
| Contingent Liabilities | Note 3 | Financial Statementspresent the receipts received andpayments made duringthe | ||||||||||
| year. In the event there are anymaterial outstandings,contingent liabilities and /or | ||||||||||||
| commitments these are noted below:- | ||||||||||||
| There are no contingent liabilities at the date of this Report and Financial Statement. | ||||||||||||
| Payments to Trustees | Note 4 | Nopayments have been made to anyTrustee for theperformance of | their duties | |||||||||
| as Trustees of the Congregation | ||||||||||||
| Approval of Congregation Financial Statements for the Year ending 1 | January 2025 | |||||||||||
| as set out in Sections 10,11 by Office Bearers authorised to sign. | ||||||||||||
| Moderator | .............................................. |
............... | Name: | PangChiu LI | ||||||||
| ~~Fat~~ | ||||||||||||
| Treasurer | .............................................. | ............... | Name: | Wai Fat CHAN | ||||||||
| Date | 12th October 2025 |