# **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR TO 31ST DECEMBER 2021 for** # **DEAN ROW CHAPEL - Charity Commission Registration 234851 THE MANSE FOR THE MINISTER - Charity Commission Registration 242950** ## **The Charities’ Principal Address is:** Unitarian Meeting House, Chapel Road, Wilmslow, SK9 2BX. **The persons legally responsible** for the control and management of the Charities as trustees in the year were: ## **1) Appointed by deed of trust:** Peter Shaw (Chairman), Michael Heale (Secretary), Catherine Smeaton, Elizabeth Earp, Christine Wilkie, Susan Dennell (Appointed 17th October 2021), Deborah White (Appointed 17th October 2021), Anne Gemmell (Appointed 17th October, 2021) and Jenifer Williams. ## **2) Appointed as officers and committee members under the Chapel rules and serving for the year:** Christine Wilkie (Chairperson), Anne Gemmell (Secretary), Peter Shaw (Treasurer), Ian Booth (Warden), Beryl Booth, Peter Weigh, Bridget Wenham, Elizabeth Earp, Catherine Smeaton and Nicola Aspeotis. ## **The charities’ bankers are:** Barclays Bank PLC, 59 Grove Street, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 1ER. ## **The Investment Manager is:** BNY Mellon Fund Managers Limited, 160 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4LA. ## **Independent examiner is:** Kenneth James Johnson FCA, Flat 2 Kennerley Court, Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5EQ. ## **The Governing Documents of the Charities are:** ## **1) Dean Row Chapel** a) A deed of conveyance dated 5th November 1750. A deed of appointment of new trustees was last made on 20 June 1999. 1 b) Rules adopted by members of the congregation dated 17th March 1980 and last amended on 21st December 1997. ## **2) The Manse for the Minister** a) A deed of conveyance to trustees dated 20th October 1965. A deed of appointment of new trustees was last made on 20th June 1999. ## **Annual Report 2021** The Trustees present their annual report for the year ended 31st December 2021 under the Charities Act 2011, together with the independently examined accounts for the year, and confirm that the latter comply with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Deeds and the Charities SORP (FRS102) 2015. ## **Objects of the Charities** The Trustees of Dean Row Chapel hold the freehold land and buildings of the Chapel and make it available for the Dissenting Congregation, which is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, for their religious observance. The Trustees of the Manse for the Minister, having sold the manse and schoolroom, with Charity Commission consent, have used the proceeds: - 1) To build a Chapel Hall (The Tercentenary Hall) completed in 1994 to replace the schoolroom; - 2) To purchase a manse for the accommodation of the minister. The Congregational Committee, through its officers, administer the day to day running of the Chapel and Hall. Any new Trustees of both Trusts are recruited from members of the congregation by the Trustees; the congregational officers and committee members are appointed at annual meetings of the members of the congregation in accordance with Chapel rules. Chapel services take place at 11.15 am each Sunday and were held on every Sunday throughout the year, whilst following government Covid guidelines. Anyone is welcome to attend these services. Average congregational attendances at these services were 31 during 2021 against over 50 prior to the pandemic. There are also meetings most weeks in the vestry for quiet meditation. As the pandemic eases there are more bookings for Weddings and Baptisms for the coming year. There are currently 55 members, many of whom support the Chapel financially through planned giving, usually augmented by Gift Aid. The Chapel is represented on the local ecumenical association, “Churches Together in Wilmslow”. 2 The Chapel is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches and the Manchester District Association of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. Under normal circumstances the Chapel arranges many activities including: a Choir, a Flower Committee, a Craft and Chatter Group and a Women’s League Association. Most of these activities were re-started at some stage during the year. The Chapel provides premises for the weekly meetings of the Dean Row Chapel Stroke Club and an exercise class for elderly people. The Chapel gives financial support to a number of charities and organisations. The Chapel benefits greatly from the generous donation of time by many members of the congregation in providing Pulpit Supply in the absence of the Minister, in the maintenance of the building and grounds and the administration for the Chapel and Hall. The Reverend Jeffrey Lane Gould is the full time minister of Dean Row Chapel and its sister chapel, Hale Chapel. The two major Charities connected with the Chapel are so interlinked that the accounts are prepared to embrace both. The Trustees of both Charities and the congregational committee work harmoniously together to further what are seen as combined objectives. ## **Main Achievements of the Charities during the Year** The Chapel has enjoyed the services of a full time minister for the whole of the year, together with retaining a thriving membership. ## **Financial Information** For the year 2021, expenditure exceeded income by £11,409. This deficit was due in part to the reduced numbers attending Sunday services as well as the lack of Wedding income and a reduction in investment income. As we reported last year, the Trustees decided, in conjunction with our sister chapel in Hale, that Dean Row should purchase a manse in Wilmslow. This replaced the cost of renting a flat for the minister. The house was purchased in January and has proven an ideal location for Revd. Gould. Further details of the costs and ongoing running costs are shown in the accounts at Note 5 and Note 11. Additionally, the Hale congregation make a cash contribution directly to Dean Row to compensate for our reduced investment income. The Chapel does not directly employ any staff. The Minister, whose services are shared by the Chapel’s sister Chapel in Hale is paid for by the Haldean Committee, which is a joint committee of both Chapels and to 3 which both Chapels make financial contributions. The Haldean Committee administers the stipend and expenses of the Minister and accounts for the statutory payments to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Donations to various charities and other Unitarian causes were made amounting to £2,290 (2020 - £2,226). The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which are such as to disclose, with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the Charities at any time, and to enable them as Trustees to ensure that the accounts comply with Charities Law. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the Charities’ assets and ensure their proper application in accordance with Charity Law, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of error, fraud and other irregularities. ## _**Reserves Policy**_ The Trustees are aware of the need to have available sufficient funds to finance the Charities adequately for the foreseeable future. ## _**Dean Row Schoolroom and Manse**_ The share of unrealized investment gains in the year was £9,794. Income from the investments on this fund is accounted for on the Chapel Account to provide support for the maintenance and running costs of the manse. ## _**The R & L Milnes Memorial Fund**_ Net gain on investments of £13,605 arose in the year. Income from the investments in this fund is accounted for on the Chapel Account under the terms of the endowment. ## _**Public Benefit**_ The Trustees have noted the advice provided by the Charities Commission in amplifying the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, in regard to Public Benefit. The Trustees believe that their Charities comply with that guidance by benefitting the moral aspects of public life and in supporting the institutions of marriage and in providing financial support for other charities. ## **Declaration** At their meeting held on 5[th] March 2022, the Trustees have approved the above report which is signed on their behalf by: Christine Wilkie __________________________________________________ (Trustee & Chairman of the Congregational Committee) Peter Shaw____________________________________________________ (Trustee & Treasurer) 4 Date: ___________________________________________________________ ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF DEAN ROW CHAPEL AND ASSOCIATED CHARITIES** I report on the accounts of the Charities set out on pages 6 to 12 for the year ended 31st December 2021. ## R **espective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: a) examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act; b) to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and c) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement** My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charities and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent Examiner’s Statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (i) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and 5 - b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or - (ii) to which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: ______________________________ Date: ____________________ K.J. Johnson FCA, Flat 2 Kennerley Court, Kennerleys Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5EQ. 6