Trustees Annual Report, Year Ending 30-09-2024 (Presented and adopted 5-2-2025)
Contents
Trustees Annual Report pages 1-5 Receipts and Payments summary sheet pages 5-8 Independent Examiners Report page 9 Report Declaration page 10
This report is for the Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene , Lowthian Road, Hartlepool, TS26 8AN. It is our first report as a registered charity, CCEW No. 1206101
The Church Charity Trustees this year have been Catherine and David Thompson, Sandra Hunt, Dorothy Yeates, and Janet Bates. Should new trustees need to be appointed, this will be done by secret ballot of Church Members at a General Meeting of Church Members.
At the AGM last year it was reported that to make us a legal charity we were obliged to apply to the Charity Commission to become what is called an “Association form Charitable Incorporated Organisation” (or Association CIO for short). This has been a long tedious process, but, in November 2023, the documents were finally collated to the point of actually applying online to the Commission. This was submitted and approved, as from 7[th] December 2023.
The church is now officially recognised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales (the CCEW) as a legal body, with the charity number 1206101. Because of this we are now governed not only by the Church Manual, but also by our new CIO governing document (or constitution) as it is called, which was carefully drafted so that it did not clash with the Church Manual.
The Charity “Object” in our CIO constitution is “the advancement of the Christian Faith as part of the Church of the Nazarene Inc and the District principally but not exclusively in northern England.”
The church falls under the auspices of the British Isles North District Church of The Nazarene (a charity registered with OSCR, charity no.006321) which in turn is a member of The Global Church of The Nazarene, with headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas USA.
This report intends to bring a summary of our activities and achievements in the past year, which, thankfully, have got back to normal after the covid 19 pandemic, although some of our number continue to suffer quite badly from the effects of long covid.
Public Benefit . The Trustees are very aware of the legal requirement to have due regard to the aspect of public benefit in all the work of the church.
Meetings and Ministry . To this end, throughout the year we have been encouraged by our part time Minister at weekly services, prayer meetings, the Tuesday ladies Craft meeting, and our involvement in the Churches Together Lent course, which we host, and other meetings, such as the week of prayer for Christian unity, and the monthly interdenominational Torch Trust group prayer meeting for those with impaired sight. (The Torch Trust for the Blind charity - CCEW no.1095904 has had a close association with our church for some 30 plus years now)
Page 1 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024
The numbers for the Tuesday morning ladies meeting are not yet as high as before the pandemic, but the meeting is much appreciated by those that do attend, as it continues to offer a place of refuge for ladies needing a place to enjoy a chat, or try their hand at something they have not had the confidence to do before. It should be noted that this meeting is the only church activity which is not open to the general public, but is restricted for the protection of vulnerable people, as described in our registration application to the Charity Commission.
Financial Provision . We are so grateful to those that continue to support the church financially by their voluntary giving, because without that support, the running costs of the church would be impossible to meet. In the future we will be able to supplement our income by claiming the Gift Aid tax refunds from HMRC thanks to those in the congregation who pay tax, and are therefore eligible to take part in this government scheme. For those folk who do not pay tax we will also be able to use the HMRC's "gift aid small donation scheme" (or GASDS for short) to claim yet more tax refunds. However, before we can apply for any of this tax relief we must have yet another administrative number, this time from the HMRC. Discussions with our North District representatives are ongoing as to how to do this, and we will seek to apply to HMRC in the near future.
Good News Prisons Ministry . Every month we currently manage to package and post about 2,700 Good News Christian newspapers to well over 90 prisons on behalf of the Good News Fellowship UK Prison Ministry (CCEW charity no.1167287). The costs for this are borne by that charity, but we are grateful for the willing hands here that count, pack and seal the papers into about 97 parcels to post to many of the prisons throughout the UK. However, we do miss our paper counting assistant, John, who died in May. Do pray not only for John’s family, but also for all the Chaplains and prisoners as these papers are given out.
Community Outreach . As part of our outreach to the community the church does buy about 60 of these same papers, which are distributed around the doors in this area. John would be so pleased that this distribution still continues, but sadly without John. Do continue to pray that these papers will encourage and help the folks that read them.
Financial Outgoings . The church expenditure includes things like the church insurance, copyright licence, utility bills, our Pastor's stipend and her ‘continuing professional development’, and attendance by the Minister and delegate(s) at the British Isles North District Annual Assembly business meeting. Some of the regional fellowship meetings with other pastors, etc, were held by virtue of technology like “Zoom,” which does cut down a bit on time, travel, and accommodation costs.
Fortunately, once again the maintenance costs of the church have been minimal, leaving all the other items to pay, which do amount to quite a lot. There have not been any very significant repairs this year in spite of the riots that occurred around the church on 31stJuly,2024. The rioters did somehow reach up onto the church roof at the back and pulled off a number of the roof slates to throw at the police in Lowthian Rd. As a result an insurance claim had to be submitted to our insurers, as well as a claim to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office because the vandalism was classed as a riot. We still await payment from the police.
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Financial Reserve. The Trustees do not have a reserves policy, but do consider that the charity should attempt to hold unrestricted reserves equivalent to approximately 3 months average expenditure if possible. This is generally achieved, but as the church is totally supported by completely voluntary giving, largely through the weekly offerings, and no charges are levied for any of our services, there is little option but to carefully monitor our finances. In the final analysis, we can only trust God's promise that as the apostle Paul wrote "He will supply our needs" -Philippians 4:19. Thankfully, over many years, the Trustees have been able to keep the church doors open to welcome and support people in our surrounding community.
The vacant church land next to the church still needs constant attention. Unfortunately, rubbish continues to be dumped on the land. We must again record a big thank you to our volunteer litter/rubbish collector for their ceaseless effort to keep it litter free; every day going and picking up the debris. Even this is a witness, because various people have noticed, and passed comment about it being done, so we never know what fruits this will bear.
Our financial situation is summarised in the R & P accounts, and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The risk management strategy of the church is always in a continual process of formulation in response to the changing circumstances that could impact upon the work of the church. The Board of Trustees, in considering this important task, take direction from on-going discussions with members both internally and through meetings with the Church of The Nazarene British Isles North District and other national advisers, adopting appropriate policies as required, or as they become necessary for the ongoing work of the church.
The Independent Examiners report on the church accounts can be found at the end of this composite return.
The Pastor’s report – February 2025 is included here in it’s entirety to give a flavour of the work of the church throughout the year.
"This is my eighteenth report on behalf of the Church of the Nazarene here in Hartlepool. Officially reporting from October 2023 to September 2024.
We are once again thankful to God for enabling us to continue serving Him here in this small corner of Hartlepool. Our numbers gathering to worship each week have increased from last year. We have averaged 12 in attendance from October 2023 to September 2024. This is 2 more than we were able to report the previous year.
This year has seen us hold regular, weekly, Sunday services. We are thankful to those who have spoken for us when Dave and I have not been here, especially to those who stepped in at short notice when Mum was ill. The annual DIY service when Dave and I are at the District Assembly has become part of our annual pattern of worship too.
We began 2023 working our way through the end of the Gospel of Luke in our Sunday services. We then moved on to the prophet Micah which took us into 2024, with a break during Advent, when we re-visited the Jesse Tree. For the final weeks of this church year, and into the next, we considered how we can relate to God as our Father.
Page 3 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024
Our Sunday services also give us opportunity to pray together and try to keep informed about the work of the church around the world. This is especially emphasised on the last Sunday of each month when we have a particular Missionary emphasis in our service. This allows us to be informed and give financially to the work of mission around the world. We once again overpaid our Missionary allocation - thank you to everyone who gave, and continues to give, to this work of the global church via the North District Missionary representatives.
Our Wednesday Bible study and prayer meetings have taken place most weeks of the year, with the last Wednesday of the month being set aside for prayer. Our Friday morning prayer times have also continued most Friday's of the year.
As I reported last year our Friday meetings were not always able to take place as John received his chemotherapy on Friday's and I went with him. The chemotherapy continued until April 2024. John tolerated this remarkably well but, sadly, it did not stop his cancer, but only slowed it down.
John lost his battle with cancer on 19thMay 2024. We were glad to have been able to support him as a church family. We know his family were, and still are, extremely grateful for the support John received from our small fellowship.
His funeral was held in church on 7[th] June. It was good to be able to celebrate his life, together with his family, and share the hope of heaven John had. (I've never sang so many hymns at a funeral!) We continue to pray for his family, and Dorothy does a great job of keeping in touch with them. Thank you Dorothy.
We also thank Dorothy for her continued production of the bi-monthly church magazine. This is available in church, and delivered to a number of local people as well as posted, or emailed, around this country and the world. This regular magazine is yet another means of encouragement, and of sharing the good news of the gospel, that there is a way back to God through Jesus.
We continue to pack up and post the Good News Newspapers to over 97 prisons around the country. Feedback is difficult because of data protection, but they seem to be well received and it is good we are able to play our small part in reaching out into this challenging environment.
During Lent 2024 we used the Open Doors resource 'Among the Ashes', sharing 5 videos and testimonies from countries where Christians face persecution for their faith in Jesus. Numbers were small, but the meetings were appreciated by those who attended.
The Tuesday ladies group has continued to meet during school term times. Although numbers remain small this does mean we have a quieter and friendlier group. We again held services on Tuesdays at Harvest and Christmas, which some of the ladies attended.
We continue to send cards to those we hear of who are not well, or have other needs, assuring them of our prayers. We are thankful to God that this is an area in which we, as a small congregation, can encourage others. We do thank Sandra for her willingness to continue to make these cards for us to send.
I am thankful for each individual who attends and supports our fellowship. Your being here is support even if you feel your presence makes little difference. Let me assure you it does. We all matter to God and so matter to each other too.
I am reminded of Jesus's words when He tells us that God sees when each sparrow falls to the ground and numbers the hairs of our heads. The little details of life matter to God as much as the bigger events. Nothing is too small or insignificant for God to notice and care about.
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God is great and yet He is interested in each one of us. As Psalm 139 reminds us
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.
May we never forget each one of us is precious to God. He created us and loves us so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to die to pay the penalty for our sin so that we can live in relationship with Him.
As we move on into a new church year may we have opportunities to share this good news with others so they too can come to realise how much God cares for them.
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine Thompson"
The following completed tables for the Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene CIO are copies abstracted from the downloadable CCEW MS excel accounting template titled “Receipts and payments accounts (CC16a): charity accounting template” Sections A and B.
The figures for the church have been produced in accordance with the document titled “Completion notes for the receipts and payments accounts pack (CC16b)”, which accompanies the file. Therefore, assuming it has been completed correctly this spreadsheet should ensure compliance with the requirements of the law, and be admissible for submission in this return.
Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene CIO CCEW no.1206101
Section A Receipts and payments summary sheet (2023/2024)
Page 5 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endow | Total | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | -ment | funds | funds |
| to the | to the | funds | to the | Last year |
| nearest £ | nearest £ | to the | nearest | to |
| nearest | £ | the | ||
| £ | nearest £ | |||
| (ie | ||||
| for22/23) |
A1 Receipts
| Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endow -ment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds Last year to the nearest £ (ie for22/23) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | |||||
| Donations (ie Offerings) | 14,160 | 1,350 | - | 15,510 | 14,665 |
| Legacies | - | - | - | - | - |
| Grants | - | - | - | - | - |
| Receipts from fundraising activities |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Gross trading receipts | - | - | - | - | - |
| Income from investments other than land and buildings. |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Rents from land & buildings | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gross receipts from other charitable activities |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Sub total | 14,160 | 1,350 | - | 15,510 | 14,665 |
| A2 Asset and investment **sales, etc. ** |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Total receipts | 14,160.00 | 1,350 | - | 15,510 | 14,665 |
| A3 Payments | |||||
| Expenses for fundraising activities |
- | - | - | - | |
| Gross trading payments | - | - | - | - | |
| Investment management costs |
- | - | - | - | |
| Payments relating directly to charitable activities |
13,837 | 1,467 | 15,304 | 12,945 | |
| Grants and donation-+ns | - | - | - | - | |
| Governance costs: | - | - | - | - | |
Page 6 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024
| Audit / independent examination |
- | - | - | - | - | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation of annual accounts |
- | - | - | - | ||
| Legal costs | - | - | - | - | ||
| Other | - | - | - | - | ||
| Sub total | 13,837 | 1,467 | 15,304 | 12,945 | ||
| A4 Asset and investment **purchases, etc. ** |
- | - | - | - | ||
| Total payments | 13,837 | 1,467 | 15,304 | 12,945 | ||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 323 | (117) | 206 | 1,720 | ||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | ||
| A6 Cash funds last year end ie B/F Oct,2023 |
21,734 | 121 | 21,855 | 21,855 | ||
| Cash funds this year end | 22,057 | 4 | 22,061 | 23,575 | ||
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | (2023/24) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endow- ment funds to nearest £ |
| B1 Cash funds |
Offerings | 14,160 | 1,350 | - |
| Total cash funds | 14,160 | 1,350 | - |
|
| B2 Other monetary assets |
Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowmen t funds to nearest £ |
| Manse Sale. Loan Recovered 25-6-2024 from Church of the Nazarene, British Isles North District (OSCR no.SC006321) NB Use restricted by covenants |
- | 37,816 | - |
Page 7 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024
| Manse sale -Balance before loan was recovered from District. |
- | 42,377 | - |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manse Sale (in 2008)- Interest on deposit account 2-9-2024 |
- | 453 | - |
|
| Total Balance in deposit account |
- | 80,646 | - |
|
| - | - | - |
||
| B3 Investment assets |
Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) |
Current value (optional) |
| None | - | - |
||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) |
Current value (optional) |
| Church Building | Unrestricted | Not Known | - | |
| All Church furniture, fittings, books, musical instruments, PA system, furnishings, kitchen & ancillary rooms fittings & equipment |
Unrestricted | Not Known | - | |
| Vacant Compound Land adjacent Church |
Unrestricted | Not Known | - | |
| B5 Liabilities | Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
| Ongoing Building Maintenance |
Unrestricted | Variable | Ongoing | |
| Possible works to trees in church compound |
Unrestricted | 10,000 | Not Known | |
| Signature | Print Name | Date of approval |
||
| D. Thompson | 5-2-2025 | Treasurer | ||
Page 8 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Hartle ool Church of the Nazarene p
On accounts for the year Charity no ended[30][th][ September, 2024 ] (if any)[1206101 ]
Set out on pages This page only.
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30-09-2024 . DD / MM / YYYY .
-
Responsibilities and basis of report
-
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.
Signed: Date: 06-12-2024
Name: B. Allan
Relevant professional Retired qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:
Page 9 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024
Report Declaration The charity's trustees hereby declare they have approved this Annual Return.
Signed by two trustees on behalf of all the trustees of The Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene, Lowthian Rd. Hartlepool TS26 8AN CCEW no.1206101
| Signature | Print Name | Date of approval | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. Thompson | 5-2-2025 | ||
| S.K. Hunt | 5-2-2025 |
Page 10 of 10 Hartlepool Church of the Nazarene Annual Return for 2023-2024