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St George’s United Reformed Church Carlisle
Annual Reports and Accounts
2025
MINISTER’S REPORT
As Lead Minister I regularly lead Sunday worship at St. George’s as well as additional services such as Harvest Festival and Christmas. In order to offer additional opportunities for study and prayer, I hold a regular bible study group and a monthly meditation group.
As part of church life, I chair all Elders and Church Meetings. I am involved in pastoral support through regularly participating in church events and visiting people in their homes, hospital and hospice as necessary and taking home communion to those unable to attend church.
I am committed to ecumenical groups within the city including the relevant God For All Mission Community and Churches Together Groups representing our church at various city and religious events as outlined below.
Revd. Lisa Moore Wilson
PASTORAL REPORT
Membership of St George’s United Reformed Church - 2025
| On the Roll at 1stJanuary 2025 | 28 (plus 5 adherents) |
|---|---|
| Omission | |
| by death | Nil |
| by transfer to supplementary roll | 3 |
| New members | 5 |
| New adherents | 3 |
| On the Roll at 31stDecember 2025 | 30 (plus 8 Adherents) |
| Average congregation | 28 |
| On the Supplementary Roll at 1stJanuary 2025 | 12 |
| One member on the Supplementary Roll, Jim Innes, died on 13thDecember 2025. | |
| On the Supplementary Roll at 31stDecember 2025 | 14 |
Minister
Revd. Lisa Moore Wilson is the Cumbria Missional Partnership Minister with primary responsibility for St George’s URC and Bewcastle along with the remaining URC community in Penrith and Silloth.
Outreach
The annual World Day of Prayer service was held at St George’s on 7[th] March.
The Guild met through the year, with a summer break. We have a monthly Christian Meditation Group. We have a coffee morning every Saturday, and social events on a quarterly basis e.g. Burns Night Supper, Harvest Supper, Afternoon Tea, Christmas meal.
Giving
Members have continued to support the Carlisle Foodbank, Cumbria Mind and Commitment for Life. Our coffee morning on Saturday 22[nd] November was held in aid of the Safe Families charity and raised the sum of £360. We gave toys and toiletries and a donation for the Salvation Army Christmas appeal.
Ecumenical
We take an active part in the Heart of the City Mission Community meetings and services. We support Churches Together in Carlisle & District, our Minister is the current President and our church is a venue for these meetings.
We were a host point on an Interfaith Walk around the city and we hosted the World Day of Prayer in 2025.
Our Minister lead the intercessions at the City Centre Remembrance Day Service and also takes part in Cathedral services including occasionally leading the monthly Taize service.
We have participated in joint Palm Sunday and Advent Sunday services and the Civic Good Friday and Remembrance Day services.
Our minister serves as the county Ecumenical Officer.
Worship
We have met regularly for worship every Sunday throughout 2025, led by our Minister and visiting preachers, both URC and other denominations. Some services have been led by a members’ worship group.
Our Minister leads regular meetings of our bible study and Christian meditation groups throughout the year. We hold additional services as appropriate e.g. Ash Wednesday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Eco Church
The church gained its Eco bronze award in March 2024. A small group of church members monitors church activities to encourage ecologically friendly management of the church, and to encourage members to adopt eco friendly lifestyles. We also led a prayer walk around the green spaces in the city.
Rosalind Fearon
BUILDING & MAINTENANCE REPORT
During the past year, minor repairs to roof slating and the electrical system, annual servicing of fire detection and fire alarm systems, intruder alarms, fire extinguishers, heating system, "PAT" Testing of small electrical appliances, together with maintenance of the photo-copier, have been carried out.
To resolve a problem raised by Northern Gas Networks, regarding the location of the incoming gas main and gas meter in a store external to the church, the Cathedral’s Property & Estates Team altered the layout of the store so that the incoming gas main and meter are no longer within the store.
Roof repairs to rectify storm damage to slating and ridge tiles have been undertaken, the cost being met by Carlisle Cathedral Trust’s Insurers.
Continuing problems relating to the heating and hot water system, were resolved with John Wales’ assistance, this has been much appreciated, as has help offered by other Members.
Thanks are conveyed to all who have been involved in the maintenance of the Church during these last twelve months.
Lettings have continued to be undertaken by Rosalind.
THE GUILD REPORT
| THE GUILD REPORT | THE GUILD REPORT |
|---|---|
| The Guild meetings are organised by Elizabeth Mackenzie. The 2025 program was : | |
| January 7th | Knit and Natter (with scrabble, jigsaws etc) |
| February 3rd | A film show by David Robinson |
| March 3rd | Ray Fearon |
| April 7th | Major Jill Smith – Salvation Army |
| May 12th | Afternoon Tea |
| Sept 1st | A talk by a member of Age Concern |
| Oct 6th | Caroline Hetherington : Safe Families |
| Nov 3rd | Roland Lawson, Piper |
| Nov 24th | Christmas Lunch at Vallum House |
| Dec 1st | A concert by Kingmoor Junior School choir |
ST GEORGE’S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHARITY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2025
This report includes information required by the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting by Charities 2005 as applicable to charities entitled to prepare accounts on the receipts and payments basis.
Administrative Information
St George’s United Reformed Church Charity is a local church of the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, and is a member church of the North Western Synod of the Church. It was registered on 26th November 1965 as Charity Number 234519. St George’s United Reformed Church is situated at West Walls, Carlisle CA3 8UF. The Church building is leased on the church’s behalf by The United Reformed Church (North Western Province) Trust Limited from Carlisle Cathedral Development Trust. The lease is for a period of ten years from 4th February 2015 to 3rd February 2025. We have negotiated a new lease for the five year period 4[th ] February 2025 to 3[rd] February 2030.
The members of the Elders’ Meeting for the time being are recognised as the charity trustees. Those who served during the period from 1st January 2025 until the date this report was approved are :
Rosalind Mary Fearon Marjorie Patricia Lawson Pamela Mary Martin Moira Joan Wales John Michael Ware Rev Lisa Moore Wilson
Structure, Governance and Management
The activities of St George’s United Reformed Church are overseen by the Elders’ Meeting of the Church in accordance with the provisions of The Structure of the United Reformed Church determined by the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, and supplemented by the rules of St George’s United Reformed Church. The governing document of the registered charity is a statement adopted by the Church Meeting.
The Elders’ Meeting is responsible for the financial administration of the Church, and the care and maintenance of Church premises. The Church Meeting (of all members wishing to attend) gives general guidance on the life and work of the Church.
The members of the Elders Meeting and the minister in pastoral charge (if any) and members of the United Reformed Church, nominated and elected by the members of St George’s United Reformed Church in Church Meeting. Elders serve for three years, retire by rotation and are eligible for re-election. There is no limit on the number of consecutive periods of service. The members of the Elders’ Meeting are the trustees of the registered charity during their period of service as elders. The Elders’ Meeting met six times during the year. The Elders’ Meeting is assisted in the administration of the Church and its property by committees established for Social, Fundraising and Communications. Church Meetings were held quarterly.
Objectives and Activities
As a local congregation of the United Reformed Church, St George’s United Reformed Church seeks to advance the Christian religion through its activities and the facilities offered to the community by its building, and described more specifically in its mission statement : ‘As Christian people we meet together for friendship and mutual care; to find an opportunity for reflection about what really matters in life; to find moments of peace in a busy world; and to find the strength to live our lives more fully and more lovingly and more generously. We look to the life, teaching and example of Jesus for guidance and inspiration.’
The Elders’ Meeting is aware of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in "The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit" and has regard to it in the administration of the Church.
The Elders ensure St George's United Reformed Church creates and maintains a safe, diverse and inclusive environment for all who wish to worship or engage with us and ensure all Elders and Officers have appropriate training as defined by Synod.
The Elders’ Meeting believes that the Church provides benefit to the public by :
• providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for the congregation and for anyone else who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers;
- promoting Christian values and service by members of the congregation to the community, for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.
Property and Maintenance
Under the terms of the lease, the Carlisle Cathedral Development Trust as landlord is responsible for maintenance of the external structure of the building. Maintenance of the interior, heating, electrical and alarm systems is the responsibility of St. George’s United Reformed Church as tenants.
Accounts for the financial year 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2025
The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis. Investment funds are held by the United Reformed Church North Western Synod on behalf of the church. The Church’s bankers are Barclays Bank PLC.
Investment funds owned by the Church are held and managed by the United Reformed Church North Western Synod, they provide financial information relating to these funds for inclusion in the Statement of Accounts.
The estimated current market value of furniture and equipment belonging to the Church is included as non-monetary assets in the statement of accounts.
John Ware
Church Treasurer
| St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Statement of Accounts : Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Statement of Accounts : Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Statement of Accounts : Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Statement of Accounts : Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Statement of Accounts : Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Statement of Accounts : Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 31/12/2024 General fund North Western Synod COIF Account North Western Synod Manse Fund Receipts / Deposits General fund North Western Synod COIF Account North Western Synod Manse Fund (interest) Payments / Withdrawals General fund North Western Synod COIF Account North Western Synod Manse Fund |
2025 | 2024 | |||
| General Fund | Capital Fund | General Fund | Capital Fund | ||
| 18,189.10 50,951.99 59,697.94 |
146,248.80 48,527.82 -8,000.00 970.56 |
15,866.78 44,998.89 42,676.57 |
146,248.80 47,576.29 NIL 951.53 NIL NIL |
||
| Balance at 31/12/2025 | 9,443.15 | 187,747.18 | 18,189.10 | 194,776.62 | |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities Monetary assets Barclays Bank Community Account Flower Fund (cash in hand) NW Synod COIF Account NW Synod Manse Fund |
9,281.89 161.26 |
138,248.80 49,498.38 |
18,189.10 | 146,248.80 48,527.82 |
|
| Balance at 31/12/2024 | 9,443.15 | 187,747.18 | 18,189.10 | 194,776.62 | |
| Non-Monetary assets Furniture and Equipment Liabilities |
8,300.00 Nil |
7,000.00 Nil |
| St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS | General 2025 |
Designated 2025 |
Restricted 2025 |
Total 2025 |
Total 2024 |
| Free Will offerings Standing order contributions Loose Collections Donations Legacies Gift Aid and GASDS |
3,809.00 14,420.00 1,433.93 140.00 66.17 5,803.74 |
3,809.00 14,420.00 1,433.93 140.00 66.17 5,803.74 |
4,687.00 12,130.00 1,144.90 639.35 3,363.00 6,089.84 |
||
| Coffee mornings Gift Days Fund raising Charity fundraising (Church) Charity fundraising (The Guild) Lettings of church premises |
1,064.40 4,960.00 620.67 1,675.00 |
1,294.90 350.00 |
1,064.40 4,960.00 620.67 1,294.90 350.00 1,675.00 |
1,308.25 4,735.00 383.50 713.40 500.00 1,475.00 |
|
| Interest on capital fund Credit balance on utility bills Flower Fund donations |
6,068.20 96.48 |
500.26 | 6,068.20 96.48 500.26 |
7,324.65 | |
| Rebates, refunds & transfers LPW VAT claims, refunds & credits Transfers from Capital Funds Reimbursement of expenditure incurred on behalf of Landlord |
649.24 8,000.00 |
649.24 8,000.00 |
505.00 | ||
| Total | 48,806.83 | 2,145.16 | 50,951.99 | 44,998.89 |
| St George’s United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St George’s United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St George’s United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St George’s United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St George’s United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
St George’s United Reformed Church, Carlisle Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31/12/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAYMENTS | General 2025 |
Designated 2025 |
Restricted 2025 |
Total 2025 |
Total 2024 |
| Ministry and Mission & Synod Rental of Resource Centre Lease renewal costs and expenses Maintenance and repairs Routine servicing heating & electrical systems Insurance Water and Sewerage charge Gas Electricity |
17,856.00 12,532.56 10,058.00 1,252.68 910.22 3,906.46 412.66 1,876.46 919.68 |
17,856.00 12,532.56 10,058.00 1,252.68 910.22 3,906.46 412.66 1,876.46 919.68 |
17,880.00 9,300.00 1,094.63 1,098.02 3,767.32 448.41 1,702.06 933.05 |
||
| Telephone & Internet Copying machine & Copyright licences Secretarial expenses & training Kitchen and cleaning supplies Contract cleaning services Church activities Furnishings, equipment & supplies Preacher & organist fees and expenses Outreach and Publicity Outreach – Warm Hub Sundries |
351.61 963.46 173.13 165.63 2,099.49 157.92 1,977.98 1,820.00 |
351.61 963.46 173.13 165.63 2,099.49 157.92 1,977.98 1,820.00 |
401.58 623.66 100.00 285.53 2,028.00 443.31 240.00 |
||
| Affiliation fees Charitable donations (Church) Charitable donations (The Guild) Refunds and contra payments Expenditure incurred on behalf of Landlord Flower fund purchases |
25.00 | 1,550.00 350.00 339.00 |
25.00 1,550.00 350.00 339.00 |
25.00 1,200.00 500.00 606.00 |
|
| Total | 57,458.94 | 2,239.00 | 59,697.94 | 42,676.57 |
| St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Budget for 2026 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Budget for 2026 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Budget for 2026 |
St Georges United Reformed Church, Carlisle Budget for 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | Receipts | Payments | |
| Balance at 1st January Free Will offerings & loose collections Standing Order contributions Donations & legacies Gift Aid Gift Days Fund raising Lettings income Interest on COIF capital fund VAT reclaim, refunds, etc Charity fund raising (Church + Guild) Ministry and Mission Rental of Resource Centre Maintenance and servicing Insurance Gas, electricity and water utilities Operating costs – church activities Operating costs – secretarial Operating costs – cleaning contract & supplies Donations to charities (Church + Guild) Transfers from capital funds to general fund Projectedyear end balance |
9,443 4,650 18,000 250 7,000 5,000 1,600 1,500 5,000 500 1,500 5,300 |
18,612 12,250 3,000 4,000 3,250 2,700 1,600 2,531 1,800 |
|
| 10,000 | |||
| Capital Funds | Receipts | Payments | |
| Balance at 1st January 2026 COIF Fund Synod Manse Fund Interest on Manse Fund Transfers from COIF fund to General Fund Projectedyear end balance |
138,249 49,278 750 |
5,300 | |
| 182,977 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of St George's Unrted Refoed Church Carlisle On accounts for the year ended 2025 Charity no lif any) Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above chartty {Yhe Trust°} for the year ended 311 Ill Z&*iS. Responslbilltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for Ihe preparaiion basis of report of the accounts in accordan wrth the requiremellt5 of the Charities Act 2011 {Ihe Acf,). I rewl in respect of my examination of the Trusvs accounts Cated out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the appltcable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5llb} ol the Ac.. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records wer8 not kept in a¢eordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wtth the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in Ord to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: 14103126 Name: Rachel Foreman Relevant professional qualification(s} or body (if any)- ACA qualified & member Of ICAEW Address: 16 West Hill, Hithin, Hertfordshire, SG5 2HZ IER October 2018
Disclosure IT Tr avarnttsr neetis io nianiiani matters OT concern Isee btsJ2. Independent examination of charifv accounts.. directions anfl n'.:w4. examiners). Giv¢ here brief detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IFR Op.tober 2018