## GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH Report and Accounts Year ended... 31 March 2023 ## **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 123 Grove Hill South Woodford LONDON E18 2HY Church constitution adopted 28 September 2006 as GOVERNING DOCUMENTS amended 6 July 2008. The church is affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 235525 - Grove Hill Evangelical Church TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Timothy Crispin MANAGING THE CHARITY Andrew Emohare Avon Edward (from 18 June 2023) Adam Herbert (until 27 September 2022) Lynda Holmes Martin Hull (until 2 July 2023) Peter Last (from 31 July 2022) Peter Parson Peter Sharp Matthew Weston (from 1 July 2023) NAMES OF ADVISERS CAF Bank Ltd Edward Connor Solicitors HOLDING TRUSTEE Fellowship Property Trust INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimee Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB ## **INDEX** Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Trustees' Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 7-10 Notes to the Accounts Page 1 ## **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023. ## **Objects of the charity** The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution. The charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are: 1. The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the basis of faith primarily but not exclusively within South Woodford and the surrounding neighbourhood, and 2. Such other charitable purposes as shall in the opinion of the members of the church in general meeting, further the work of the church. ## **Government** The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust. New trustees are appointed following a ballot of Church members. ## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements** The church exists as a body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who are committed to each other in Christian fellowship. We seek to encourage each other in the faith as it is laid out in the Bible and to share the truth about Christ with those around us. The Church has held services of worship every Sunday, including preaching and Bible studies. On-line streaming has continued to maximise accessibility: The Sunday services are broadcast live via the Church's 'YouTube' channel, accessible to all via the Church website https://www.ghec.co.uk/ and other activities via 'Zoom'. The Church has been pleased to welcome newcomers on a regular basis. The congregation reflects the multi-cultural make-up of the neighbourhood. Throughout the year age related activities for children have continued to be provided. Children's activities span the whole age range: from the ever popular 'Ready Steady Go' sessions for babies, toddlers and their parents/ carers to 'Revolution' working with older teenagers. In between there are the Sunday youth groups, week night clubs and ad-hoc school holiday activities. All these activities are available to Church families and the wider community. The Church joins with other local Churches to provide outreach events. Grove Hill was pleased to host a Holiday Club. The short course 'Christianity Explored' is offered to those interested in finding out more about Christianity. Key activities are publicised by leafleting local homes, word of mouth and via the website. The website provides a valuable insight into the work of the Church (www.ghec.co.uk), where Sunday services can be viewed via 'YouTube'. The church is pleased to support missionary work both in the UK and abroad and sets aside 25% of its regular income for this purpose. During 2022-23 the Church, together with several others in the area, continued to support the setting up of a Church Plant in the Barkingside and Clayhall area (All Nations). In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. Page 2 The leadership team continue to seek to fulfil their responsibilities. The trustees remain very grateful to all involved in the fellowship for the different ways in which they assist the church in fulfilling its calling. 2023-24 sees a change in the Church leadership with the Pastor, Martin Hull, retiring after more than 20 years' service. Trustees would like to formally acknowledge Martin's faithful contribution to the Church and are pleased to welcome Matthew Weston as their new Pastor from July 2023. ## **Financial review** The trustees prepare the accounts on a Receipts and Payments basis. It is deemed a more appropriate basis having regard to the charity's turnover. This means that the accounts are based on a reconciliation to the bank account and no adjustment has been made for income due; in particular the Gift Aid refund from HMRC is not recognised until the following year. Overall reserves stand at £161k. These comprise £122k Unrestricted (General £77k and Designated £45k) and £39k Restricted funds. General congregational income increased by about £4k over the previous year; Property rental income remained stable at about £74k. Expenditure was lower than the previous year due to a delay in undertaking some property repairs. The General Fund is showing an inyear surplus of £32.5k after transfers - this was a planned increase to contribute to the cost of major repairs to the Church building in 2023. A restricted donation was also received to be used for the planned repairs, thus increasing the restricted Property Trust Fund at year end to £30k. The Designated Fund balance at year end has increased due to receipt of a £17k legacy (no restrictions). The Pre-school Restricted Fund of £8k is being held pending a decision on its use. ## **Reserves policy** The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £25,000 (which equates to about 3 months of routine unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £122k. This includes £28k designated for the Missionary Fund for the following year; the excess funds are held for the purpose of anticipated essential maintenance works as discussed above. ## **Risk statement** The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks. ## **Responsibilities of trustees** Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities. ## **Approval** This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: Matthew Weston Date: 7 January 2024 Page 3 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** ## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF** ## **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Grove Hill Evangelical Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2023 on pages 6 to 10 following. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. 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. Jaimee Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB Date: 11 January 2024 Page 4 ## **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** |Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations and grants
Legacies
Gift aid receipts
Income from charitable activities
Rental Income
Fee Income
Other
**_Total receipts_**
**_Payments_**
2
3
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
7
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Net
of
receipts
/
(payments)
before
transfers
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken by others
Payments
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken directly||General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
75,588
3,421
-
17,172
13,931
805
399
-
73,859
-
-
1,499
-
91,416
95,258
82,411
22,954
5,650
24,346
88,061
47,300
3,355
47,957
29,140
29,140
-
32,495
18,817
44,318
26,375
76,813
45,192
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
27,410
-
1,189
-
-
-
-
28,599
6,410
7,468
13,878
14,722
-
14,722
24,325
39,046|2023
£
106,419
17,172
15,925
399
73,859
-
1,499
215,273
111,776
37,464
149,239
66,034
-
66,034
95,017
161,051|2022
£| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||General
Funds
£
75,588
-
13,931
399
-
-
1,499
91,416
82,411
5,650
88,061
3,355
29,140
32,495
44,318
76,813|||| ||||||82,274
-
14,857
490
74,432
-
15| ||||||172,068| ||||||134,258
39,596| ||||||173,855| ||||||1,787
-
-| ||||||1,787
-
96,804| ||||||95,017| The notes on pages 8 to 10 form part of these accounts. Page 5 ## **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** |Notes
**A Cash funds**
5,6
Cash Float
Cash at bank with immediate access
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
5,6
Gift aid due to charity
Other debtors
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
5,6
Loan
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
**Falling due after one year:**
Loan
**Total**|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
51
76,813
45,141
**76,813**
**45,192**
14,826
675
4,312
5,038
**19,138**
**5,713**
-
7,454
1,300
-
1,382
792
**2,682**
**8,246**
12,494
**-**
**12,494**
2,682
20,740
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
39,046
**39,046**
603
250
**853**
-
-
59
**59**
**-**
**-**
59|2023
£
51
161,000
**161,051**
16,103
9,600
**25,703**
7,454
1,300
2,233
**10,987**
12,494
**12,494**
23,481|2022
£| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||-
95,017| |||||**95,017**| |||||15,907
6,901| |||||**22,808**| |||||7,454
1,200
7,729| |||||**16,383**| |||||18,767| |||||**18,767**| |||||35,150| The above loan is repayable in monthly instalments and is repayable in full by April 2026. All other liabilities fall due for settlement within one year. ## **D Assets retained for charity's own use** |Fund to
which asset
belongs
General
Property Trust
Property Trust
Property Trust
Property Trust
The value of the freehold assets owned are:
Church equipment
Church Building (NBV 2016)
30 Byron Avenue (2001)
121 Grove Hill (2001)
62-64 Grove Hill (2001)|Book Value
£
578,000
151,000
92,000
280,000
1,101,000|Insurance
value
£| |---|---|---| |||162,310
3,300,388
569,791
269,994
973,028| |||5,275,511| The trustees have used insurance values as an approximation for current values The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: MATTHEW WESTON Date: 7 January 2024 The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these accounts. Page 6 **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## **1 Accounting policies** The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs. General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects. ## **Acting as agent** On occasion the charity receives money on behalf of other charities, which it banks and then pays out to these charities. This income is received as agent for these other charities and the income, and the related payments, are excluded from the Receipts and Payments account. During the year, the charity received money on behalf of All Nations Church. This income was received as agent; the receipt totalling £10,000, and the subsequent payment, are excluded from the Receipts and Payments account. |**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (see note 4)
Youth and children's work
Outreach activities
Courses and Conferences
Maintenance, repairs & equipment
Loan Repayments
Utilities
Insurance
Independent examination
Office and support costs
Visiting Speakers
Other costs||General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
43,541
-
307
615
976
-
215
-
11,299
8,406
-
7,454
8,880
1,507
4,551
3,317
1,170
-
7,503
1,656
2,970
-
1,000
-
82,411
22,954
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,410
-
-
6,410|Total
2023
£
48,541
923
976
215
19,705
7,454
10,387
7,868
1,170
10,569
2,970
1,000
111,776|Total
2022
£| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||General
funds
£
43,541
307
976
215
11,299
-
8,880
4,551
1,170
7,503
2,970
1,000
82,411|||| ||||||50,059
1,083
1,570
85
49,360
7,454
4,973
7,971
1,140
8,749
1,025
790| ||||||134,258| Page 7 ## **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## Unrestricted Funds |**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
(All payments were made to UK based individuals/organisations)
Grants for:
For work in the UK
Overseas mission
Relief of poverty
The grants to institutions amounting to more than £1,000 were:
Grace Baptist Mission
Pastor Training International
Eurasian Ministries Mission College
Azores (via Impact Giving)
Lebanon Baptist Trust (via Impact Giving)
UCCF Relay (via Stewardship Services)
Christian Education Project
All Nations Church - Clayhall and Barkingside
International Mission to Jewish People(formerly Christian Witness to Israel)|General
funds
£
5,650
-
-
5,650
2023
£
8,485
5,220
3,264
3,264
5,230
-
-
2,538
4,875|Designated
funds
£
2,663
21,683
-
24,346
2022
£
9,403
5,787
3,616
3,616
-
1,500
2,420
2,400
7,213|Restricted
Funds
£
1,763
5,230
475
7,468|Total
2023
£
10,076
26,913
475
37,464|Total
2022
£| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||15,226
24,121
250| ||||||39,596| ||||||| ## **4 Transactions with related parties** During the year the charity had 1 full time employee. Ministerial costs, as permitted by the governing document, are employment costs in respect of the Pastor, Martin Hull, was paid £46,089 (2022 £41,997) in his capacity of minister of the church and not as a trustee and includes a restricted gift of £5,000 and an anniversary offering of £0 (2022 £2,108). One of the trustees, Lynda Holmes, is a tenant of one of the Church owned properties. Her tenure is assessed using the rental policy applied to all tenants; her interest is declared at trustee meetings and she does not partake in decisions relating to the properties where she has a pecuniary interest. One of the trustees, Adam Herbert, a trustee until September 2022, is a tenant of one of the Church owned properties. His tenure is assessed using the rental policy applied to all tenants; his interest is declared at trustee meetings and he did not partake in decisions relating to the properties where he has a pecuniary interest. One of the trustees, Tim Crispin (Crisp Finish), on occasions undertakes urgent maintenance work at the Church and properties. During 2022-23 this totalled £1,516 (2022 £5,296). Page 8 **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** |**5**
Cash float
Cash at bank with immediate access
A
Cash funds
Gift aid due to charity
Other debtors/ prepayments
B
Other monetary assets
Loans
Accrued expenses/ deferred income
C
Liabilities
**6**
Cash at bank with immediate access
A
Cash funds
Gift aid due to charity
Other debtors/ prepayments
B
Other monetary assets
Accrued expenses
C
Liabilities
**Breakdown of Designated funds - Assets and Liabilities**
**Breakdown of Restricted funds - Assets and Liabilities**|Property
Rental Fund
£
-
-
-
-
2,515
2,515
19,948
792
20,740
All Nations
Church Plant
£
275
-
**275**
**-**
325
**325**
50|Ready
Steady Go
£
51
97
148
-
-
-
-
-
-
Specific
appeals/
donations incl.
Hardship
£
981
**981**
278
250
**528**
9|Legacies
£
-
17,172
17,172
-
-
-
-
-
-
Property
Trust Funds
£
30,375
**30,375**
-
-
**-**|Missionary
Support Fund
£
-
27,872
27,872
675
2,523
3,198
-
-
-
Pre-school
£
7,965
7,965
-
-
**-**|Total
£
51
45,141| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||45,192| ||||||675
5,038| ||||||5,713| ||||||19,948
792| ||||||20,740| ||||||Total
£
39,046| ||||||**39,046**| ||||||603
250| ||||||**853**| ||||||59| ||**50**|**9**|**-**|**-**|**59**| Page 9 **GROVE HILL EVANGELICAL CHURCH** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## **7 Movement of funds** |**vement of funds**|||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |General funds
Designated funds
Property Rental Fund
Ready Steady Go
Legacies
Missionary Support Fund
Restricted funds
Property Trust Fund
All Nations Church Plant1
Pre-school
Covid Relief Fund2
Hardship Fund2
Specific appeals/ donations: TEAR Fund, Azores etc.1
Total funds|Balance at
31 March 2022
£|Receipts
£|Payments
£|Transfers
£|Balance at
31 March 2023
£| ||44,318|91,416|88,061
-|29,140|76,813| ||-
157
-
26,218
26,375
11,785
413
-
7,965
275
-
4,713
24,325
95,017|73,859
606
17,172
3,620
95,257
20,000
1,763
-
1,000
15,836
38,599
225,273|22,339
-
615
-
-
24,346
-
47,300
-
1,410
-
1,625
-
-
275
-
20,568
-
23,878
-
159,239
-|51,520
-
-
-
22,380
29,140
-
-
-
-
275
-
275
-
-
-|0
148
17,172
27,872| ||||||45,192| ||||||30,375
275
-
7,965
-
1,000
19
-| ||||||39,046| ||||||161,051| 1 The deficit balance at the year end relates to gift aid to be claimed - see note 6 above > 2 Trustees renamed the 'Covid Relief Fund' as a 'Hardship Fund' and transferred the balance. At the outset donors to the 'Hardship Fund' agreed that any unused funds could be used for other purposes. Page 10