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2024-12-31-accounts

MOW COP COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024

OBJECTIVES

Mow Cop Community Church is a CIO registered with The Charity Commission for England and Wales (registration number 120773).

The church purposes, set out in its Constitution, are:

  1. the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Mow Cop and the surrounding neighbourhood; and

  2. such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.

ACTIVITIES

The church seeks to fulfil the above objectives by means of:-

All of the activities are provided by volunteers who are either members or attendees of the church and the Trustees are grateful for their dedication and commitment to their work. Volunteers are given appropriate training and are DBS checked where necessary.

All of the above activities are accessible free of charge to members of the general public and are promoted through notices outside the church, the church website, local social media postings, and via word of mouth by members and attendees of the church.

MOW COP COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Trustees have regard to the requirement for the charity to have public benefit.

In addition to the public benefit noted above, the Trustees make the church premises available to:-

No charge is made for use of the premises but donations to cover running costs are gratefully accepted.

ACHIEVEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

The Trustees have been encouraged to see an increase in attendance at regular meetings, with new people from the community becoming involved and benefitting spiritually and practically.

The bi-weekly craft club has continued to see good attendance and involvement. Thanks are given to those who run the club.

The church members benefitted from a weekend away in Shropshire, subsidised by church funds.

There was collaboration with the local Methodist Chapel for worship on Easter morning, and a family club in Autumn.

The bi-weekly ‘Criss-Cross’ club concluded at the end of 2024 due to dwindling numbers and key volunteers moving on.

The traditional Christmas Eve carol service and choir concert were aimed at village attendance.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

During 2024 the Church completed the project to change its charitable status from a Charitable Unincorporated Association (CUA), registered charity number 1052515, to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered charity number 1207731. The CIO was registered by the Charity Commission on 4 April 2024 and granted permission to transfer the assets from the CUA on 23 September 2024. The closing accounts for the CUA were thus prepared for the period 1 January 2024 to 30 September 2024, examined by our Independent Examiner, and uploaded to the CUA’s account on the Charity Commission website. The opening accounts for the CIO were prepared for the period 4 April 2024 to 31 December 2024, examined by our Independent Examiner, and uploaded to the CIO’s account on the Charity Commission website. Both sets of accounts are available for public examination.

MOW COP COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024

The Church maintains its financial records on a Receipt and Payment basis in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission.

The Church holds three accounts, a current account, an instant access savings account and a 5 year savings bond. During the year new accounts were opened with the Coop Bank (current account) and Kingdom Bank (savings accounts) and the old accounts in the name of the CUA were closed.

The financial records are kept in a simple PC-based accounting package supplemented by a spreadsheet workbook to enable public reporting, and paper records of all transactions. The records are reconciled to the bank accounts on a monthly basis and are scrutinised annually by an Independent Examiner.

INCOME

Apart from the transfer of funds from the old CUA, over 75% of the Church’s income in 2024 came from donations made by church members, and those attending church services and other church activities.

The Church does not engage in fund raising from the general public.

The Church premises are not hired out but are occasionally used by individuals or groups on a donation basis provided such use does not conflict with or compromise the Church’s objectives.

The church is greatly encouraged by receiving several gifts from neighbouring churches, and considerable donations from church members, and an increase of people. We are grateful for God’s goodness in providing adequate funds to enable the Church’s ministry to continue.

EXPENDITURE

The church pastor has taken on part time employment to supplement his reduction in Pastoral fees

Expenditure on direct ministry to fulfil the church objectives was 55% of total expenditure, with the remaining 45% of expenditure covering running costs for the church building and compliance with legal obligations.

CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION

The year- end balance in the current account to £13,723.

The other cash assets in the savings account and 5 year bond amount to £12,922, giving a grand total liquid asset of £26,645.

In the view of the Trustees these funds give adequate reserves for the charity to continue fulfilling its objectives for the next 12 months.

The value of the church building in the accounts has been shown as £490,000.

BUDGET FOR 2025

A budget for 2025 has been set and agreed by the Trustees and was presented for approval of the church members at the church AGM in April.

The budget has been drawn up based on the current level of regular donations and as a continued measure focuses on non-discretionary items of expenditure. This means that the ministry of the church will major on low-cost options to fulfil

MOW COP COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024

the church’s objectives, building up on the previous year’s net surplus, enabling some fiscal relaxation.

The budget can only reflect known or anticipated circumstances and it is therefore managed on a monthly basis, by curtailing discretionary expenditure if income falls short of the budgeted amount.

The new Constitution adopted by the CIO now enables the church to employ the Pastor. As from 1 January 2025 the Pastor is a part time employee of the church.

SAFEGUARDING

The church has an up to date safeguarding policy and appointed Safeguarding Co-Ordinator and Deputy Co-ordinator. Advice and guidance on safeguarding matters is taken from the advisory group Thirty-one:Eight (Charity number 1004490).

There were no safeguarding incidents in the period 01-01-2024 to 31-12-2024 which required reporting to the Charity Commission.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

This year, Mow Cop Community Church transitioned from being a CUA charity (registration 1052515) to a CIO (registration 1207731).

With the services of Edward Connor Solicitors, a new Church Constitution and Handbook were created, these being adopted at a members’ meeting on 17[th] March 2024.

The new CIO was established on 4[th] April 2025. The church members voted (23[rd] June 2025) and trustees resolved (14[th] July 2025) to transfer all the CUA’s assets into the CIO once given approval by the Charity Commission, which took place on 23[rd] September 2024.

The members and trustees of CUA charity became first members and trustees of CIO charity.

The CUA charity was deregistered on 22[nd] November 2025.

Thanks are given especially to Chris Brook for leading the work on changing our charity structure.

Pastor Matthew Coster is to be taken on as an employee of the Church, commencing 1[st] January 2025.

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not
for whole year		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Matthew Coster Pastor / Chair Whole duration Church Council
Christopher
Gordon Brook		 Elder / Assistant
treasurer		 Whole duration As Above
Sheila Walton Treasurer Whole duration As Above

MOW COP COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024

Sheila Walton took over the Treasurer’s role in 2024.

Christopher Brook will be moving out of the area in 2025, but has agreed to remain in his capacities for up to one year until a replacement has been found.

The Church are eager to appoint a suitable replacement in role of Elder and Trustee.

The church is a member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), charity number 1168037.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity name Mow Cop Community Church
Other name the charity uses Until 2004 known as‘Mow Cop Pentecostal Church’
Registered charity number 1207731 (Formerly 1052515)
Charity’s principal address Top Station Road
Mow Cop
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST7 3NY

DECLARATIONS

The trustees declare that they approve the above Trustees’ Report Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:

Signature
Full Name SHEILA WALTON
Position Treasurer
Date 02/07/2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Mow Cop Community Church 1207731
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 04/04/2024 31/12/2024
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Tithes & Offerings 1,271 - - 1,271 -
Covenants & Gift Aid Donations 5,435 - - 5,435 -
Tax Reclaim 1,308 - - 1,308 -
Interest Received 19 - - 19 -
Grants and Restricted Donations 815 - 815 -
Sundry and Room Use Donations 1,040 - - 1,040 -
Transfer from Mow Cop Church 22,574 - - 22,574 -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
31,647 815 - 32,462 -
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 31,647 815 - 32,462 -
A3 Payments
Pastoral Expenses 2,780 - - 2,780 -
Ministry Payments 330 - - 330 -
Missionary Gifts & Outreach 412 65 - 477 -
Building Costs 1,343 - - 1,343 -
Compliance & Insurance 449 - - 449 -
Accounts - - - -
Administration 237 - - 237 -
Sundry 201 - - 201 -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 5,752 ] 65 - 5,817 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 5,752 65 - 5,817 -
Net of receipts/(payments) 25,895 750 - 26,645 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - -
Cash funds this year end 25,895 750 - 26,645 -
----- End of picture text -----

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

13/03/2025

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities
B3 Investment assets		 Signature
Details
Details
Church Building
Bank current account
Bank deposits & bonds
Details
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details		 Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
12,973
12,922
-
25,895
OK
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
liability relates		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £
750
-
-
750
OK
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
165,418
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Amount due
(optional)		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
490,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval
25/06/25
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name
Sheila.walton

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

13/03/2025

2