BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ELDERS REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER. 2023
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ROPERTY TRUS CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 243345 Address of the chari Dryden Street. Bingley, West Yorkshire BDI 6 2LU Address for COeS ndence: Bingley United RefoNned Church, Dryden Street. Bingley. West Yorkshire. BDI 6 2LU REPORT OF THE ELDERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 FOR PRESENTATION TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY 251h A ril 2024 STRUCTURE G NANCE AND MANAGEMENT The charity is a trusl governed by the tems of the Charity Commission SCHEME dated 20, December 2002, number 243345. There are two linked trusts under thi5 number. The Elders of the church adminisieT the lrnst. the propety of which is held by the sole trustee. The Yorkshire Congregational Union (Incorwjraled), in accordancc with Model Trusts set forth in Part l of Schedule 2 to the United Refomied Church Act 1972 (as amended). Day to day maintenance of the buildings and l¢rting ofthe shop properties is delegated to the Church Property Commiltee. The members of the committee and ihe Elders are elected by the church m¢cling. There have been 12 meetings of the Elders through the year. Church meetings look place in March. June, Seplemb¢r and December, with the AGM taking place in April. The Propety Committee had one fonnal m¢¢ting during the year. Comminee members also met on an ad-hoc b&sis, or by lelephone, io ensute any required actions w¢re completed. IMS AND PURPOSES The purpos¢ of Bingley United Refornied Chwch is to advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the statements of belief appearing in the Basis of Union of The United Refonned Church Manual. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE CHURCH The Elders of the church are committed to enabling as many people as possible lo worship at our church and become part of our community. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. Vhen planning activilies the Elders take note of the Charity Commission5 guidance on public benefit and, in particular. the specific guidance on charilies for the advancem¢nt of religion. In particular we try to enable ordinary people to live oui their faith as part of our community through: Worship, learnin8 about the gospel and developing their knowledge and irusi in Jesus. Pa51oral C¢. Missionary and outreach work. To facilitate ihis the church: supports the mission objectives of The United Refomied Church. of which it is a member church, wilh particular reference to iheir application in Bingley
it is a condition of the Trusi thai the Trustee and the church Elder5 must apply the clear income of Ihe charity in the repair, mainl¢nance and irnprovemenl of the church premises and the a5sociaied properties, and in otherwise funh¢ring the religious ad other charitsbl¢ work of Bingley United Refomied Church. ACHIEVEMENTS AN Church Activities: We provide and maintain a church building, which was 200 years old in 2018. for Christian worship and associated meetings and ceremonies for all who wish to attend. It was built on land gifted io the church in 1773 because ihe 0ri8inal chapel in Chapel tAne was loo small to accommodate a growing congregation. PERFORMANCE Worship took place through the year. being led by our minister. visiting ministers, lay preachers, and church members. In addition lo the nonnal Sunday services. we held a service on Maundy Thursday. We also hosted the Womans World Day of Prayer in March. The Lent Group met on 4 occasions in March lor bible rding, prayer and discussion. The Bible Fellowship. for spiritual refreshmenl and growth, met monthly during the year. This open m¢¢ting can include Fellowship. prayer, music, slbllness, Bible reading and refl¢¢tion. Singing for fun There were 12 meetings of the Singing for Fun group. which is an all-inclusive group for members. attendee5 and anyone else who enjoys singing and fellowship. l am Mark is a one-man dramatized Teading of Mark's Gospel by a professional actor and we decided that we would fund this outreach activity if there was an inter¢sl and practical help from the other Bingley churches. The other churches have responded p)sitively so we hope lo stage this event in 2024. Open Church Saturdays: Ihe church ha5 been opened once a month on a Saturday on 7 occasions through the summer months providing an opportunity for anyone to come in for resl. relallon, prayer or just a look round. As a re5uIt of the conversaiions which took place a Memories Book has been compiled of people's stories and copies placed on display. We had a follow-up training day with Sarah Crossland. Ihe En8agement Officer oFih¢ National Churches Trust, who helped u5 explore ways of making the church better known and it was agreed that we would take part in the National Heritage Day. This took place over 2 days in September when the church was opened wilh refreshments and guides on hand to show 0p1¢ round. Visitor numbers were small but appreciaiive. One visitor was from Bradford U3A. Her group vi5il old and interesting buildings. A group of about 20 of them came a few weeks laler and were given a tour round the building and a short talk. Wami Welcome and Summer Space Mondays". the church wa5 open &s a 'WaTm Space, or 'Summer Space, depcnding on the time of year, on Mondays throughoui 2023 offering wannth. hot and cold drinks and activities. Although the lake-up h&$ been small li has been appreciated, noi least as a place for church members io socialise. External groups who would nom]ally use the church met through the year. These included the Girl Guide Leaders group (Trefoil Guild) and sewing classes. Facililies wer¢ also made available for a bereav¢m¢nl counselling group to meel when required.
Safeguarding The Church Safeguarding Group continues to care for the welfare of children and adults in the church. The Safe8uardinE Policy was restructured to fit more c105ely with the URC Model Policy in 2022 bul the URC 'Good Practise, document was reissued in lat¢ 2023 as version 6 and the Policy will be reviewed against any new requirements. The policy is rouiinely reviewed annually and approved at a church meeting to lake accounl of such changes in legislaiion and guidance. Policies and Guidance In addition to th¢ Safeguarding Policy other policy documents reviewed annually and put for approval at the AGM were the Church Constitution. the Health and Safety Policy. The Data Privacy Statemenl, the Finance Policy and the Asbestos Management Policy and Register. All the documenls were approved al the AGM. At a subsequeni Church Meeting a revision of the Finance Policy was approved. including guidance regarding intemet banking. The defibrillator, which was installed on an extemal wall in 2018. w&s accessed 6 times during the year by members of the public but fortunately did not have to be put into use on the patients. Keighley Trinity Church Closure: Following the closure of the church in 2022 the church building has been sold and the manse has now been placed on ihe maTket. A new manse has been purchased in Idle and our minisier was able to move in in Septemlxr. Her time is now splii 113, each between Bingl¢y and Idle URC'5 and Synod. Our church membership at the end of 2023 was 31. a small increase from 2022. Charitable Work: The church has continued to provide financial as5lStanc¢ to the Immanuel Project in Bradford in 2023. a donation of £ 1000 meeting the cost of their subscription lo 'Fair Share, an organisaiion which provides food to them sourced from supemarkets. excess siock etc. The Project provides meals (which were take-away during the pandemic but now back io normal) and a range of support to the most disadvantaged in central Brddford. The grant is likely to be conlinu¢d in future years. Food and dried goods were also donated throughoui the year by church members lo the Centrepoint (Owlei Grange) Project (formerly known as The Brddford City Centre Projeci). They also received all our Harvcsl gifts. The church w&8 able to hold the normal six charity fundTaising coffee mornings during 2023, in aid of Water Aid (£3 l4), Maggies (£401). Sightsavers (£436). Chrislian Aid (£36D, the Motor Neurone Dise&se Assoc. (£327) and the Church Chrislmas Charities (£200 each for Shelier and the Bradford Soup Run). Gift Aid is claimable on some of these funds and will be forwarded to the charitie5 when received in 2024. Church members continued to donate to the Leprosy Mission and a total of £66 Wds collected this The church family again came logeiher to make-up OT donale items to fill shoeboxes, Ihis year for Teams4U (Charity No. 1114131). A total of 64 boxes were pack¢d and dispalched to Ea51ern Europe. Again, it was a joint effort across the congregation who helped in a muliitude of different ways to ensure ihe end products conlained a comprehensive rdnge of items. stationery, toileiries. hals. 8loves, socks and underwear, toys, games and noveliies. Extra hand knits and box fillers were gratefully received by Teams4U. The balance of the cosis including carriage (£528) was made up from church funds. Property Administration.. We mainlain the church building, a leased Te5idential propcty (the collage) thai fornis part of the church buildin8 and a separaie building which houses four leased commercial shoploffice properties. the rental income from which is used to further ihe church's work in Bingley.
Mainlcnance work on the church included cleaning of the carpets, cleaning the car park flagstones, replacing a soak-away drain and fitling auiomatic fjre door stops to 3 doors. A drone survey of the gutters w&s carried out as they cannot be eilY reached by ladder aJJd following this a scaffold tower erecled and some gutter repairs were made which have successfully stopped a leak into the church. The whole of the lead lined gutters will need to be replaced in 2024 and plans for this are being made. All ihe shop/otTice properties were leased to tenanis during 2023. Two leases were renewed in November 2023. One lease will be up for renewal in December 2024. The only maintenance required on the shops was for gutter cleaning. new stop taps and the rouiine fire alartn checks. The cottage lenancy has ken renewed to 2025. The only maintenance r¢quired was the rouline gas heater s¢rvice and a small carpet replacement. The routin¢ checks on all ihe church gas equipment, the fire alanns and emergency lighting systems, the loop systems and PAT inspeciions of electrical equipment were compleied, although ihe December fire alarni checks had io be defeed to January 2024 due to a Covid ouibreak at the contractor5. The church has minimised il's carknn emissions as much as p)ssible and this year more than offset ils carbon emissions from gas and electricity by purchasing carbon credits equivalent to 6 tonnes of carbon dioxide. FtNANCIAL REVIEW Leased Properties: Renlal income was £35.4k. up from ihe £34k l&sl year. Expenditure on plumbing and gutter maintenance was £0.6k. down from £0.7k last year. Insurance £2,21 I, up from £1,443 in 2022 following an insurance re-valuation of ihe property. Profcssional fees were £2.492 the major cost being solicitOT'S fess for a renewed lease for1221126 and 128 Main Street. Expendilure on minor maintenance of the residential property was £205 down from £4,370 in 2022. There was a surplus of income over expenditure of £30k, a slight increase from the SUTplus of£27.5k in 2022. Th¢ Yorkshire Congregational Union, as landlord. hold £5,250 as tenants rent deposils. InlcTest for the year of£231 was paid directly to the ienanLS &s required by the leases. Church Building: Maintenance costs were £6.7k (up from £2.3k in 2022). although this was made up of a number of minor maintenance items rather ihan any one large expense, alihough some gutter leaks required repair. Insurance was £4.6k similar lo the previous year. Professional fees were £2.4k. This was due to surveys required on the gutters and timber work. The gutter survey has identified thai replacemenl of ihe guner linings will be necessary in 2024. This will require full scaffolding of the church and will be a Significant expense (£20k to £40k).
Church Operating Expenscs.. Expenditure was £27.1 k, a decrease on the £30k figure in 2022, as there was no special expenditure on leaflet prinling and distribution. The URC payment for 2023 was £l1.688, a decrease on the £16.844 paid in 2022. Income slightly decreased (from £25.8k in 2022) to £24.7k. although this includes a transfer of £4k from the property funds (was £8k in 2022). Income from collections and Gift Aid increased to £17.7k (was £15.1 k in 2022). Income from lettings increased to £1,690 (£1160 in 2022). The Church Operating Expense Balance was a deficit of £2.427. compared to a deficit of £4,184 in 2022. Combined Accounts: The surplus of Income over Expenditure for the year was £12.9k. (£6.4k deficit from church, £19.3k surplus from property) compared to a surplus of £8.9k in 2022. Funds: The total unresiricted funds at the year cnd were £138. Ik, an increase from £127. I k in 2022. Th¢ Church Maintenance Fund is increased by £IOk 10 £45.5k io provide for anlicipaled repairs. The Manse Maintenance Fund is set at £5k. to provide a realislic reserve for repairs. The Shop Maintenance Fund is set at £39k to provide a realistic reservice for repairs. The Church Support Fund is unchanged al £30k. This provides a cushion of l year to cover the eventuality of loss of renta] income etc. if shops cannot be lei. The Chureb Special Projectsfmission Fund is unchanged at £5k. This includes £600 for Shoe box expenses and allows for any one-off expenses recommended by the Mission Group. Declarations: The Elders can confinn thai there are no serious incidents or other matters which need to be reported lo the Charity Commission. The Elders can confirni that they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The Elders can confimi that they approve ihe Report and Accounts for 2023. Report approved by the Elders at the meeting on 13 March 2024: Signed......... Alison Kuhne, Church Secretary
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sf DECEMBER 2023 We report to the trustees on our examination of the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023. which are set out on pages 110 9. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity truslees of the Trust you are responsible for the prtparaiion of the accounts in accordance with ihe requirements of the Charilies Act 2011 (the Act). We report in resp¢ct of our examination of ihe Truslee's accounts carried oul under section 145 of the 201 l Act and in carrying out our examination we have followed all ihe applicable Directions given by the Charity Cornmission under section 145(5Xb) of the 201 l Act. Independent Examiners, Stalemcnt We have completed our examination. I confinn ihal no maierial matters have come lo our attention in connection with Ihe examination giving us cause to believe thal in any malerial respeci: (l ) accounling records were noi kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of ihe Acl. or (2) the accounls do not accord wilh these records- or (3) the accounls do not comply wilh the appli¢able requirements concerning the fonn and content of accounts Set oul in the Charities (Accounis and Reports) Regulations 2008 oiher Ihan any requirement that the accounts give a 'irue and fair view. which is noi a matter considered as part of an independent examination. We have no concerns have come acT055 no other matiers in conneclion with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Siephen McGevor, BA (Hons) FCCA Siirk Lambert & Co Chartered Accounlants Russell Chambers 61A North Sireet Keighley BD213DS Dated.. l O May 2024
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH COMBINED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBE 2023 2023 2022 INCOME Church General Fund Propety Trust Fund Gross Income 20723 39055 59778 17856 36086 53942 LESS: EXPENDITURE Chur¢h General Fund Property Trust Fund 27150 19720 46870 30040 14948 44988 Surplus/(Deficit) of Incom¢ over Expenditure for the year 12908 8954 Page I
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHURCH GENEIi4L FUND- INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 INCOM 2022 Collections & Gift Aid 17183 15920 Donations Received Sunday Morning Tea & Coffee Donations Funeral Donalions General Donations 333 50 145 265 326 528 591 Other Income Room Lettings Warni Space Granl URC Energy Grant 1690 I 110 212 1160 185 3012 1345 20723 17856 Transfer from Property Trustees 4000 8000 24723 25856 Excess of Expenditur¢ over Income for Year 2427 4184 27150 30040 Page 2
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHURCH GENERAL FUND- INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 EXPENDITURE 202 2022 URC- Annual Levy Minislers and Organist Minster Expenses (see page 9) Cleaning Costs 11688 iooo 2371 1705 1032 1123 246 538 1097 1263 1416 959 223 49 281 528 401 16844 640 2258 1715 599 1602 44 69 429 237 1164 913 210 Electricity Water and S¢werage Stationery. Printing, Advertising and Postage Sundry Expenses Church Maintenance Donations given (balance from church fijnds, see page 7) Accountants Fees (2023 Accounts) Music and Video Licenses Books Telephone amd IT Shoebox Expenses & Carriage Transport Leafle Warni Space Depreciaiion for the year 212 606 423 1770 185 120 30040 120 27150 Surplus of Income over Expenditure for the year 27150 30040 Page 3
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH PROPERTY TRUST FUND - INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 3JST DECEMBER 2023 INCOME 2023 2022 Gross Renial Income Interest on C.O.l.F. and Skipton Deposils Donalion5 35445 3610 34611 1125 350 39055 36086 EXPENDITURE Sho Pro erties Fire Insurance Repairs and Maintenance Professional Agents Fee5 2211 1443 735 2492 5344 2178 hur¢h Buildin Fire Insurance Maintenance Equipment Professional Fees Expenditure on Cottag¢'. Heating Maintenance Contracl, Repairs & Professional Fees 4639 6683 423 2426 4029 2341 311 1719 205 4370 4376 19720 12770 4948 Transfer lo chUh General Fund 4000 8000 23720 22948 Excess of Income Over Expenditure for Year 15335 13138 Page 4
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH BALANCE SHEET AS AT 1ST DECEMBER 2023 ASSETS 202 2022 Church and Commercial Properties {see Note l) (original cost unknown) CHURCH GENERAL FUND ASSETS Cash with Barclays Bank, Bingley:" Current Accounl Pelty Cash Debtor- Idle URC & Yorkshire Province Ison Harrison (Tenants deposils) Note 2 1174 223 1000 5250 1583 221 1000 5250 7647 8054 Church Organ at Cost (Bought December 2011) Digital Piano ai Cost (Bought Ociober 2016) Less.. Annual Depreciation Less.. Accumulated Depreciation 5200 1200 (120) (5945) 5200 1200 (120) (5825) 335 455 PROPERTY TRUST FUND ASSETS Cash in Barclays Bank Bingley.'- Current Base Ral¢ Tracker ote3 9160 1636 9745 1620 10796 l (KJOO 109150 5465 11365 i 0000 96851 5696 C.O.l.F. Charities Fund DeposRI Skiplon Building Society Debtors and PpaYMentS 135411 123912 143393 132421 Page 5
BJNGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH BALANCE SHEET AT 31ST DECEMBE 2023 LIABILITIES 2023 2022 CHURCH GENERAL FUND LIABILITIES Balance Brou8hi Forward Add: Surplus (Deficit) for the Year Add- Creditors this year Add: Ison Harrison {T¢nants deposits) Less". Creditors last year ote2 3259 12427) 4028 5250 (2128} 6734 (4184) 2128 5250 (1419) 7982 8509 PROPERTY TRUST FUND LIABILITIES Sho Pro Maintenance Fund Balance Brought Forward Add: Transfer from Income & Expenditure Alc ote3 19000 20000 39000 39000 Income and Ex enditure Account Balance Brought Forward Add= Surplus for ihe Year Add.. Creditors ihis year Less.. Creditors last year Less.. Transfers lo mainienance funds 9412 15335 2153 (5989) 10000 11745 13138 5989 (1460) 20000 9412 Church Maintenance Fund Balance Brought Forward Add: Transfer from Income & Expendilure Alc 35500 10000 40500 5000 45500 35500 Church Su ort Fund Balance Broughi Forward & CaTried Forward 30000 30(KIO Manse Mainl¢nance Fund Balance Broughi Forward & Carried Forward 5000 5000 Church S ecial Pro eCtlsSIon Fund Balance Brought FoTward & Carried Forward 5000 123912 135411 143393 132421 Propety Commillee Treasurer Dale Page 6
BINGLEY UNtTED REFORMED CHURCH YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 SCHEDULE OF DONATIONS se¢ Note 4 Donalions given lo Charities Money received loward Donations Bajance from Church Funds Bingley Methodis1 Church- Rewind Course Brddford Soup Run Christian Aid Friendship Fund Immanuel Projecl Leprosy Mission Maggies Cancer CaTe Motor Neurone Disease Shelter Sightsavers Tools With A Mission Water Aid Womens World Day of Prdyer 200.00 200.00 367.31 100.00 iooo.00 66.36 401.20 327.00 200.00 436.50 74.18 314.10 176.20 200.00 (200.(X)) (367.31) loo.00 iooo.00 (66.36) (401.20) (327.00) (84.50) (436.50) (74.18) (314.10) (176.20) 115.50 3862.85 (2447.35) 1415.50 Pag¢ 7
BINCLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS-YEAR ENDED31ST DECEMBER 2023 OTHER ASSETS Land and Buildings: Church - Dryden Street. Bingley. Commercial Properties. 122 - 130 Main Street, Bingley. Original cost unknown. CHURCH GENERAL FUND Income can be found on page 2. Expenditure can be found on page 3. PROPERTY TRUST FUND Income and expendire can be found on page 4. SCHEDULE OF DONATIONS This schedule can be found on page 7 and shows the total donations made to charities on behalf of the church, the amounls originally given/rdis¢d by the parishionerslcommunity and the balance donated from church funds. Page 8
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH PASTORATE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 21123 XPENSES 2023 2022 Council T&x Telephone & Broadband Fixed Car costs National Insurance (including Pl l D) Mileage Travel Books Service Sheets & Postage Holy Habits Minsters Gathering Palm Crosses Yorkshire Water Manse Insurance Supervision Summer School 589 160 400 77 259 387 160 400 81 430 26 95 io 522 loo 87 481 113 84 159 2371 2258 Page 9
BINGLEY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ADDENDUM TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sf DECEMBER 2023 RESERVES POLICY The following are "Pemlanent Endowmenls" and do nol qualify as reserves.. a) Church, Dryden Street b) Cotnmercial Properties 1221130 Main Street (no current valuation) (no current valuation) The following "Unrestricted Funds" are considered as Reserves and are all in the fom) of dep)sits and investments- 2023 £ 2732 £ 39000 £ 10911 £ 455(KJ £ 31J)00 £ 5000 £ 5000 £138143 2022 £ 3259 £ 39000 £ 9412 £ 355(M) £ 30000 £ 5000 c) General Fund d) Shop Property Mainienance Fund e) Income and Expendilur¢ Fund O Church Maintenance Fund 8) Church Suppon Fund h) Manse Maintenance Fund i) Church Special Projecls/Mission Fund Total Unrestricted Funds £127171 One Fund, 'Shop Property MaintenvdDce' (£39000), is a Designaied Fund, intended to provide a reserve for ongoing repairs and maintenance of the Comrnercial Properties. The 'Church Maintenance Fund, (£45500) is a Designaied Fund to ensure that necessary repairs can be fvnded and has been increased by £1 00(K) to meei the expecied costs of guller repairs in 2024. The 'Manse Maintenance Fund, (£5000) is a Designaied Fund to ensure that necessary repairs can be funded. The remaining Unrestricted Funds are not Designated Funds, but in total are iniended to provid¢ for the following: l. Church Support - Nominal £300(X) to ensure at least 12 month5 of the funding required when a minister is in place. 2. Special Projects- Nominal £5000 to ensure funding for Shoe boxes and any one-off expenses proposed by the Mission Group. The requirement for any and all of the above is determined by the Church Meeling and reviewed on at leasi an annual basis. The Income and Expendilure Fund may Ix re-allocated io other fijnds as required by the ministerial situaiion and the recommendations of the Elders and the Property Committee. Policy to be put for approval with the 2023 Annual Accounts at the Elders Meeting to be held on Ihe 13. March 2024.