2023-12-31-accounts - Thaxted United Reformed Church

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Charity regtstration number 247545 THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trustees Mrs. Susan Freeman Rev. ma Hayes Dame Kate Barker Mrs. Julie Bamard Mr. Richard Freeman Secretary Dame Kate Bawker Charlty number 247545 Principal address Bollord St Essex Thaxted CM6 2PY Registered office Bam House Watling lane Thaxted Dunmow England CM6 2QX Auditor Aston Shaw Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Statutory Auditor The Union Building. 51-59 Rose Lane Norwch Norfolk England NR1 1BY

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CONTENTS Page Trustees report Statemenl ol trustees responsibilities Independent audrtorfs rèport Slatemenl of finanaal activibes Balance sheel Notes to the financial ststements 8-16

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH TRUSTEES REPORT FOR ThIE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEIIBER 2023 narK>al Sblernts and wrtb the NeIr CharthsAL# 2011 and'Attountsw and Repoitw by Charibes.. Statomgnt of Pract6 to prep8ring their axounts in ar>8 with the Finan(xal ReKX)ttrry Stsnd¥d apOIe in the UK RepJblK of Ireland (FRS 1021- leifeth 1 20191 rtharty shoukl ko. Mrs. &s8n Freeman Rev. Mark Hayes Dame Ba8 Mrs. Julie Bawnard Mr. RKbard FrewAn dme Kate B3rfKer

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The ttustees are responsible for prepanng the Trustees Report and the finanGial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards Iunrteil KirwJdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the tnjstees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair vW of the stale of affairs of the charity and ol the incoming resources and application of resources ol the charity for that year. In preparing these financial staiements, the trusteés are required to.. select suitable acctsLJnting policies and then apply them cAJnsistentty- - observe the rnethods and principles in the Charities SORP: - rnake judgemen15 and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.. stale whether applicable accounting standards have been folk)wed, subj'ect lo any material departures disch)sed and explained in the finanaal ststements., and prepare the financial statefflents on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presurne Ihat the Gharity will continue in operation. The truslees a responsible for keeping sufficient accountirKJ records thal disdose wth reasonable accuracy at any lime the financial position ol the charity and enable them to ensu that the finanaal statements comply wth the Charities Act 2011. the Charity IAccounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 an¢J the provisions ol the trust deed. They a also resptsn51ble for safeguarding the assets ol the chanty and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detecbon of fraud and other irregularities.

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Opinion We have audited the finanaal slatemenls of Thaxted United Refomed Church (the 'charity'l for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the slalement ol finanaal actTvitr"es, the balance sheet and notes tts the finaneial statements, induding significant accounting policies. The finanoal reporting fratnewotk that has been applied in thr prepaolion is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounb"ng Standards. including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ir818nd (Untted Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practir£l. In our opinion. the financial stalernents.. give 8 true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its incoming resourTrs and application of resour. for the year then ended.. have been properfy prepared in accordance United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice- alld have been prepared in accordance wtth the requirements of the chaitti.es Act 2011. Basi$ for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with lnlemats.onal Standards tsn Auditi"ng IUKI IISAS IUKII and applicable law. Our responsibilib.es under those slar%Jard5 are further described in the Avditorfs tesponsitsililies for the audit of the fin8n¢ial statements section of our ret>ort. We are independent of the charity in accordance with Ihe ethical requirements that are relevant to our audil of the financsal statements in the UK. tncluding the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and we have ftjlfilled our other ethical responsibililies in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have oblaine<J is suffiaent an¢Y apprOprale to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to 90in9 concern In auditing the financial statemenis, we have ctsncluded that the trustees use of the going concem basis of accounting In the preparation ol the finanaal statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed. we have nol identified any material uncertainbes relabng to events or conditions Ihat. individually or collectively. may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concem for a period of at leasl twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised lor issue. Our responsibilits.es and the responsibilities of the trustees vAlh re5ped lo goi conr are described in the relevant sections of this report. Other infomiation The other informalion wmprises the information included in the annual reporl other than the finanual statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsKble for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the finanoal statefnents ¢Joes nol cover the other inlcymaton and we do not express any of assurance ctsndusion thereon. Our responsibility is to ad the other informab"()n and. in doing so, consider whelher the other information is materially inconsistent with the finanual statemenis or our knovAedge obtained in the course of the audit. or otherwise appears lo be materially misstated_ If we entify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements. we are required to delemiine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 11. based on the work we have performed. we conclude that there is a material misstatement ol this other infomats"on. we are required lo report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Mattels on which we are required to report by exception We have nothing to report In respecl of the follwng rnatters in relatw to whith the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report lo you if, in our opinion-. the information given in the financial ststernents is inconsistenl in any material respect with the trustees report., or suffiuent accounting records have not been kept: or the financial 5taternenis are not in agreemenl with the accounting records.. or we have not received all the information and explanations we reqLJire for our audit

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Responsibilities ot trusteès As explained more fully in the statement of bustees spOnsibl11be$. the (rustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial slalemenls and for being satisfied that they give a true and lair view. and lor such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary lo enable ihe preparab.on ol finanual statements that are free from material misstalemenl, whether due lo Irau¢J or error. In preparing the finanaal statements, the trustees a responsible lor assessing the charity's ability to conlinve as a going concem. disclosing. a5 applicable. matters related lo going concern and using the going concern basis of accountiry unless the trusiee5 either intend to cease opeialiolls, or have no realistic altemats.ve but lo do so. Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements We have been appointed as auditor under section 145 of the Charilies Act 2011 and rew)rt in accordance with the Acl and relevant regkjlations made or having effect thereunder_ Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assuran abtsJt whether the financtal statements as a whole are free from material misstatement. whether due to fraud or error. and to issue an audtto¢s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level ol assurance but is not a guararslee that an audTI conducted in accordance with ISAS IUKI will always detect a tnaterial mi5Staternent when it exists. Misstaternenis can arise from fraud or error and are considered malenal rf. indNidualty or in the aggregate. they could reasonably be expected to influenc8 the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these finanryal statements. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecling irwularities, induding fraud, is detailed below. A further desGripknon of our responsibilities is availabfe Ihe Finan(ial Reporting Counol s website aL. https'.11 ww4.frc.org.uklauditorsresponsibilities. This descriptiw fomis part of our auditorfs report. Other matters Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared financial statetnenls in accordance with -Accounti and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Finanryal Reporing Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 las amendedl in preference lo the Accounb'ng and Reporting by Charities.. Slalement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred lo in the extant regulations but has now been withdra. This ha5 been done in order for the financial statements to provide a ttue and fair view in accordance with current Gen8rally Accepted Accounting Practic8. Use of our report This report is made solely to the company s members. as a bcMJy. in accordance with seclion 391 of the Companies Acl 2014. Our audit wod( has been undertaken so ihal we mighl state lo ihe company s members Ihose matters we are required to state to them in an audilorfs report and for no other purpose. To Ihe lullesl extent permitted by law, we do llot accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's tnembers as a body, for our audil work, for this report. or for the opinions we have formed.

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Mr So105 Christtsphi FCCA Isenior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Aston Shaw LimÈted Chartered Accountants Slatutory Auditor ,jalo¥/ ooig Chartered Cerbfied Accxjunlants StatutoryAuditor Thè Union Building. 51-59 Rose Lanè Norwch Norfolk England NR1 IBY Aston Shaw Limited is eligible for appcxntment as audttor ol the charity by virtue of its elTrgibility for apnllent as uditor ol a company undef section 1212 of the Companies Acl 21M)6.

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Unrestricted funds 2023 Unrestricted funds 2022 Notes In¢ome and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments Other material income Other income 16,179 6.988 6.495 4,167 75 75 584 10.014 4.975 4.421 Total income 33,979 19.994 Expenditure on.. Raising funds Charitable acts"vities Other expenditure 13.756 41.533 3,361 11.699 9.668 2,040 10 Total expenditure 58.650 23.407 Net expendlturt and mov•m•nt In funds 124.6711 13,4131 Re¢onciliation of funds-. Fund balances at 1 January 2023 81.542 84.955 Fund balances at 31 December 2023 56.871 81,542 The slalement of financial activities indudes all gains and losses rectyJnised in the year. AJI income and expenditure derive Irorn continuing acts"wties.

THAXTED UNrrED REFORMED CHURCH BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 In¥ÈsknÈnts 16 .925 17 416 24,901 Cash at and Di harvj .183 25217 on• ygor Net ¢xrrert8s96ts 24,617 .871 81.542 InGomTr lur Designated knnds: FutKI R Bert Leg Trinity Mead Flnd StebbiThJ U.FiC Memcrfw FÈ*wJ 6.178 6.1n 53.496 841 19 35.017 21.851 6S.017 16,$25 General ynrestrktsd f 51 &SA71 81,542

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Accounting policies Charity infomiation Thaxted Uniled Refomied Church is a unincorporated tharity. 1.1 Accountln9 convention The financial stalements have been prepared tn accordance the charity's Igoverning documenll. the Charities Act 2011. FRS 102 "The Finanaal Reporting Stand8rd applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" I"FRS 102.1 and the Charities SORP 'Accounling and Reporng by Charites.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities pieparing their acwunls in accordance wlh the Finanual Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic ol Ireland IFRS 1021- leffectsve 1 January 20191. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102. The charity has taken advantage gf the provisions in Ihe SORP for charities not to prepaie a Statement tsf Cash Fkiws. The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Re9ulabons 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departu has inVVed following the Stalernent of Recorntnended Practice for charitEs applwng FRS 102 ralher than the versKJn of the Statement of Re¢ommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulab"ons but which has Sir been wthdrawn. The financial statements are ppared in slerfing. which is the function81 currency of the ch8rty. Monetary amounts in these financial statements a rounded lo Ihe nearest £. The financial statements have been prepaTed under the historical cost convenlion.The principal accounting policies adopted are sel out below_ 1.2 Going concern Al the lime of approving the financial statements. the trus(ees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequale resources lo continue in operalK)nal exislence for the foreseeable fulure. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concem basis ol accounD"ng in preparing Ihe financial statements. 1.3 Charitable funds Unreslricled funds a available f use al the dIsCon of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives. Reslricled funds afe subject lo specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how Ihey may be used. The purposes and uses ol the reslricted funds are sel out in ihe notes to the finanoal statements. Endowment funds are subject lo specific condilions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity. 1.4 Income Inc0e is recognised wthen the charity is legally entilled lo it aftef any performance conditions have been met. the amounts can be measured ieliably. and it is probable Ihal income will be CeIved. Cash donations are recognised on receipt Other donations are recognised On the charity has been notified of the donation. unless perforrnance condits.ons require defe3] of the amount. Income tax recoverable in lation to donations received under Giftd or deeds of cA)venanl is recA)gnised at the time of the donab"on.

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Accounting policiès Icontlnuedl 1.5 Expenditure Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive oblatIon to transfer economic benefit lo a third party, it is probable that a transfer of econom benefits will be required in setuement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is dassilied by activity. The costs ol eath activity are rnade up of the total of direct costs and shared costs. including support costs involved in undertaking each actiwty. Direct costs attributablè to a single activity are allocated direcdy to thal activity. Shared costs which rx>nthbtJie to more than one activity and support costs which are not 8ttribut8lJe to a single acb'vity are apporboned beiween those activities on a basis consistent wlh the use ol resources. Central staff costs are alk)cated on the basis of time spent. and depreciation charges are allocated on Ihe port ol the asset's use. 1.6 Fixed asset inveslments Fixed asset investments are initialty rneasured at Cl)5t and 5ubséquentfy measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investrnents are assessed for irnpairment al each reporting dale and any impairment losses or reversals of impaimienl losses are recognised imrnediatety in net incornellexpenditurel for the year. 1.7 Cash and cash equivalents Gash and cash equivalents include cash in hand. deposits held at Call wth banks. other short-tertn liquid investments wth original maturities of three months or less. and bank overdrafts. Bank overdraft5 are shown within borrowtngs in current liabiles. 1.8 Financial instruments The charity ha5 elected to apply the provisNMS ol Section 11 '8asic Financial Instrurnents. and SeclK*n 12 'Other Financial Instruments Issues- of FRS 102 tts all ol its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the charilys balance sheel when the tharity becomes party to the contractual provisions ol the instnjment. Finallcial assets and liabilrties are offset. wth the net amtyjnts psented in the finanual statements. when there is a legally enforceable right to set off Ihe recogni5ed amounts and thefe is an intentitsn to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and setue the liability sirnultanèously. Basic financlal assets Basic financial assets. which include debiors and Ggsh and bank balances. ar8 Illitial rn8asur8d al transaction pn including transaction costs and are subsequentty carried at amorbsed cost using ihe effective interest melhcxl unless the arrangement consttiutes a finanung transacbon. where the transaction is ea5ured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate ol interest. Financial assets classilied as receivable wlhin one year are rK)t atnorbsed. BasiG financial liabilities Basi¢ financial liabilities. including creditors and bank k>an5 are initially rectNJnis8d at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. where the debt instrument is measured at the present value ol the future payments discounted a¢ a market rale of interest. Financial liabilities classified 85 payable thin one year are not amortised. Debt instrumenls are subsequenuy rarried al amortised cost. using Ihe effective interest Kate meih(xl. Trade ¢dItorS are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operab.ons from suppliers. Amounts payable a d3ssified as current liabtlities if payment is due within one year or less. If not. they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequenuy measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Attounting pollcles Icontinued D8r8cognition of financial liabiliti85 Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity's coniraciual obligations expire or are d*scharged or cancelled. Critical accounting estimates and judgements In the application of the charitys accoEJnting Oiaes. the trustees are required to make judgements, estirnates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilibes that are rt readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumpiions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Aclual results may differ from Ihese esbmaies. The ests"males 2nd underfying assumplions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in whith the esb.mate is rewsed Whe ¢he revision affects only thal period. (>r in the period of the revision and future peri<)ds Whe the vIsion affects both current and future period5. Other Income Unrestricted Unrestricted funds funds 2023 2022 Donations and gifts 16.179 CollectFoll5 unstrICted n$tl¢ted Funds Funds 2023 2022 Cash Covenants 936 6,052 1,412 8,602 6.988 10.014 10

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Income from Church Hire et¢. unstrICted Unrestricted funds funds 2023 2022 Income from Church Hire- Thaxted Festival Thaxted Flower Club Guildhall Girls Thaxted Singers Gardeners weekend Funer81 Th3Xted Sewer5 Chartes Hey Dunmow Players 600 295 245 1.090 sso 1.735 31K) 390 9(10 450 945 4,125 4,315 Income from Vestry Hire: Bridge Club SWCLP UDC 645 385 1,575 225 2.220 660 Income from Car Park.. Lettings Income from Church Hire Ètc. 6,495 4,975

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Income from investments Unrestricted Unre$tri¢ted funds funds 2023 2022 Weddirws Charifund Units Detx)sit Inteiest 500 2.938 729 4.256 165 4.167 4.421 Other Incom• Unrestricted Unrestricted funds funds 2023 2022 Other receipt 75 Ministerial Expenses Unrestricted Unrestricted funds funds 2023 2022 Maintenance ol the Ministy Pulprt Supplies 12.600 1.156 11,124 575 13,756 11.699 12-

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Church Costs Unrestricted Unrestricted Funds Funds 2023 2022 Caretaker & materials Water Rates Electricty Insurance Repairs & rnainlenan Charity donations 620 560 2.832 1,412 4,244 468 6.028 1.989 31,908 300 41.533 9,668 10 Sundry •xpenses Unrestricted unStrICted funds funds 2023 2022 Stationery & Photocopying Audit MisTrllaneous Ico Noticéboard 70 1,240 191 35 1.825 40 1,100 900 3.361 2.040 11 Net movement in funds 2023 2022 The net movement in funds is stated after chafgiWlcredth"rrfJl". Fees paYae lor the audil of Ihe charivs finanaal statements 7} 700 12 Auditols rèmunèration Fees payable to the charitys auditor and assooates.. 2023 2022 For audit sèrvicès Audit ol the financial siatements of the charity 700 700 13

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 13 Trustees None ol the trustees lor any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year. 14 Employees The average monthly number of employees during Ihe year was.. 2023 Number 2022 Number Tol81 There were no employee5 whose annual rernUnerati was more Ihan £60,000. Remuneration of key management personnel The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows= 15 Taxation The charity is exempt from taxation on ils actNilies because all its in)Me is apled fo¥ Gharitable purposes. 16 Flxed asset investments Equtties Investment Fund for Charhties Charities Official Irbvestrnent Fund Total At Cost At 1 January 2023 Valuation changes 56.866 130.0001 59 56.925 130.0001 At 31 December 2023 26,866 59 26.925 Carying amount At 31 Oecember 2023 26.866 59 26.925 At 31 December 2022 56.866 59 56.925 14-

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 16 Fixed asset inves¢ments Icontinuedl Fair value of finan¢ial assets carried at amortised cost Except as detailed below the trustees believe that the caftyng amounts of financial assets carried at amortised cost in the financial statements approximate lo their lair values. Financial assets Carrying amount Farr value 2023 2023 2022 2022 Equities Investrnent Fur for chariti.es Charities Official Investment Fund 26,866 59 31.381 17.424 61.455 192 59 17 Debtors 2023 2022 Amount5 falling due within one year. Prepayments 463 416 18 Creditors: amounts falling duÈ within one year 2023 2022 Accruals and deferred income 700 700 19 Unrestricted funds The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject lo speafic conditions by donors and grantors as to h(w they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside oul of unrestricteil fvnds by the trustees for specific purposes. At 1 January 2023 Incoming resources Resources Èxpended Gains and losses At31 December 2023 Legacy Fund R Bennel Legacy Trinity Mead Fund Slebbing U.R.C Memorial Fund General funds 6.178 53.498 4,500 6,178 23.498 4.500 130,(KK)I 16.525 33.979 {58.6501 30,000 21,854 81.542 33.979 158,6501 $6,871 15-

THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 19 Unrestricted fvnds Icontlnuedl Previous year. At 1 January 2022 In¢oming resOue$ Resources expended Gains and losses At31 December 2022 Legacy Fund R Bennet Legacy Trinity Mead Fund Stebbing U.R.C Memorial Fund General funds 6.178 53.498 4,500 6,178 53.498 4.500 19.938 19.994 123,4071 16,525 84,955 19.994 123.4071 81.542 20 Related party transactions The were no disclosable related party lora¢On5 during the year12022- none). 16-

Charity regtstration number 247545 THAXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

The Board of Trustees

Thaxted United Reformed Church Bolford Street, Thaxted Essex, CM6 2PY England

2[nd] August 2024

Dear Trustees,

RE: REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31.12.2023

Following the completion of our audit work and preparation of the audited accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2023, we are formally writing to yourselves to communicate any matters that have come to our attention during the audit, of which you should be made aware.

Our audit has been conducted on a test basis, and on a review basis, and so by this, we are unable to provide a comprehensive statement of weaknesses which may exist in the accounting, bookkeeping, and internal control systems or of all improvements which have come to our attention as a result of the audit procedures which we have performed.

The matters we are required to report to yourselves are as follows:

a) Expected modifications to the audit report

We do not anticipate any modifications to the audit report.

b) Audit journals

There were just a few adjustments which we have made to the drafted accounts. The adjustments were communicated to you and the accounts have now been reviewed and signed by yourselves documenting your approval.

c) Significant deficiencies in the accounting and internal control systems

We have not identified any weaknesses in the accounting, bookkeeping, and internal control system which we consider contain significant deficiencies, during the course of our audit work.

d) View about the quality of the accounting practices and financial reporting

We have no matters that we wish to bring to your attention in respect of the quality of the accounting practices and financial reporting.

e) Independence issues

We consider that there are no independence issues.

f) Matters specifically required by other International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) to be communicated to the trustees and those charged with governance

There are no other matters specifically required to be communicated to the trustees.

Please note the following limitations with regards to the content of this letter:-

a) They have been prepared for the sole use of the Trustees of Thaxted United Reformed Church
b) They must not be disclosed or quoted to a third party, in whole or in part, without our prior written consent. c) We assume no responsibility to any other person.

Yours faithfully,

Aston Shaw Limited