2024-09-30-accounts - Church Lands

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period	Trustees' Annual Report for the period
From	Period start date			To	Period end date
	01	October	2023		30	Septemb er	2024

Section A Reference and administration details Charity name CHURCH LANDS Other names charity is known by THE CHURCH LANDS TRUST Registered charity number (if any) 254122 Charity's principal address SWALLOW BARN, PARK FARM, MERTON ROAD AMBROSDEN, OXFORDSHIRE Postcode OX5 2LX

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Ofce (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Russell Thompson OBE	Chair
WendyCheeseman	Secretary
Lucia Hanley	Treasurer
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name		Dates acted if not for wholeyear
Carol Andrews
Martn Richardson
Vince Bailey
David Rhodes
Dawn Seaward
Graham Watson

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts Type of governing document A Constitution and Governance document, which is revised with the assent of (eg. trust deed, constitution) trustees as and when necessary.

How the charity is constituted As a Trust (eg. trust, association, company) Trustee selection methods New trustees are nominated and seconded by existing ones and should meet one (eg. appointed by, elected by) or more of the skills and experiences required. Trustees are elected by a majority of serving trustees and serve a fixed term of three years after which they may be re-elected for another fixed term, if elected, the trustee’s details should be notified to the Charity Commission.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include There are up to 10 unpaid trustees including three (unpaid) officers chosen from additional information, where their number, a chair, secretary, and treasurer. The three officer positions are relevant, about: subject to election at each Annual General Meeting. The three officers form a • policies and procedures standing committee, which may make urgent decisions between meetings on adopted for the induction single items of expenditure of up to £1000. and training of trustees;
• the charity’s organisational The number of trustees must not fall below six. At this point new trustees must structure and any wider be appointed. New trustees must normally be resident in the parish, that is network with which the within Ambrosden, Arncott and Blackthorn, or be a member of St Mary’s Parish charity works; and should be at least 18 years of age. Prior to accepting a nomination as a new
• relationship with any related trustee, he or she should have received a pack of information from the Secretary, parties; explaining the purpose of the Church Lands Trust, its status as a charity and the
• trustees’ consideration of responsibilities and rights of trustees. major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The Church Lands Trust exists to use the income from its land and buildings to fund the maintenance and upkeep of St Mary’s Church in Ambrosden, Oxfordshire. The Trust does not normally undertake fundraising; however, donations are welcome.

The trustees have complied with our duty to have due regard to public benefit based on Charity Commission guidance. Trustees disburse funds to St Mary’s Ambrosden church for the maintenance Summary of the main activities and upkeep of the buildings and those facilities incorporated or attached to St undertaken for the public benefit Mary’s Church Ambrosden, which are used to maintain the functions of St in relation to these objects Mary’s. The Trust will make agreed contributions to certain maintenance or (include within this section the other contracts taken out to prevent damage or deterioration of, and repair to, statutory declaration that trustees the fabric, to maintain the upkeep of St Mary’s and its facilities. have had regard to the guidance By precedent, the Trust has made contributions to the installation and issued by the Charity Commission maintenance of facilities, such as the heating, bells and organ. on public benefit)

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

Youmay chooseto include further statements, where relevant, about: • policy on grant making; • policy programme related investment; • contributon made by volunteers. Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year	The Trustees have agreed that works at Church House, Blackthorn exceeding costs of £200 are subject to the notfcaton and authorisaton of Trustee ofcers. The Trust has instructed the letng agent for the property to this efect. From tme to tme the Trustees formally approve budgets up to a set maximum for works at St Mary’s. Ofcers of the Trust are authorised to spend up to £1000 to pay for sundry repairs or maintenance to St Mary’s or Church House, Blackthorn without seeking separate formal approval from Trustees. A majority of trustees, normally at one of the Trust’s meetngs, must approve projected expenditure over this amount, though a writen circulaton of Trustees may approve urgent spending over this limit.

	As in previous years, the Trust contributed towards the regular upkeep and maintenance of the church. The Trust contnues to seek advice on the small triangular plot of land adjacent to the equestrian tenancy, which our land agent believes to be owned by the Trust The Trustees agreed the sale of the Corner Plot at Church House in Blackthorn. An ofer of £412,500 was accepted in April 2023, however the sale wasn’t fnalised untl Nov 23, thus the 23/24 accounts refect this. The Trustee also agreed the sale of the two felds near March Gibbon totalling 20 acres. An ofer of £300,00 was accepted in May 2024. The Trustees agreed the purchase of a detached house at 2a Lancaster Close in Bicester in May 2024. The purchase price of £370,00 was funded by the sale of the Corner Plot in Blackthorn. The property is currently let to private tenants for £1650.00per month.

Youmay chooseto include further
statements, where relevant, about:
•
policy on grant making;
•
policy programme related
investment;
•
contributon made by
volunteers.
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity during
the year

The Trustees have agreed that works at Church House, Blackthorn exceeding
costs of £200 are subject to the notfcaton and authorisaton of Trustee
ofcers. The Trust has instructed the letng agent for the property to this efect.
From tme to tme the Trustees formally approve budgets up to a set maximum
for works at St Mary’s. Ofcers of the Trust are authorised to spend up to £1000
to pay for sundry repairs or maintenance to St Mary’s or Church House,
Blackthorn without seeking separate formal approval from Trustees. A majority
of trustees, normally at one of the Trust’s meetngs, must approve projected
expenditure over this amount, though a writen circulaton of Trustees may
approve urgent spending over this limit.

As in previous years, the Trust contributed towards the regular upkeep and
maintenance of the church.
The Trust contnues to seek advice on the small triangular plot of land adjacent
to the equestrian tenancy, which our land agent believes to be owned by the
Trust
The Trustees agreed the sale of the Corner Plot at Church House in Blackthorn.
An ofer of £412,500 was accepted in April 2023, however the sale wasn’t
fnalised untl Nov 23, thus the 23/24 accounts refect this.
The Trustee also agreed the sale of the two felds near March Gibbon totalling
20 acres. An ofer of £300,00 was accepted in May 2024.
The Trustees agreed the purchase of a detached house at 2a Lancaster Close in
Bicester in May 2024. The purchase price of £370,00 was funded by the sale of
the Corner Plot in Blackthorn. The property is currently let to private tenants for
£1650.00per month.

Trustees are currently seeking to purchase an additional property to let in Bicester. This will be funded by the sale of the land near Marsh Gibbon.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s Trustees require a reserve balance of no less £20,000 for essential costs policy on reserves associated with its land and Church House Blackthorn.

Details of any funds materially in

deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include The charity’s sources of funding are the rents from Church House, Blackthorn additional information, where and its adjoining land. In addition, rental income is received from a property at relevant about: 2a Lancaster Close Bicester • the charity’s principal sources The Treasurer reported the 2023/24 outturn during the AGM. of funds (including any fundraising); Balance as at 30[th] of September 2024 £ 45,663
• how expenditure has supported Income £ 713,428 the key objectives of the Expenditure £ 385,035 charity;
• investment policy and Balance as at 30[th] of September 2024 £374,056 objectives including any ethical .
investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Chair

Russell Thompson Robert Russell Thompson OBE

Date December 2024

AMBROSDEN CHURCH LANDS TRUST Charlty No.. 254122 End of Year Accounts Top Level Summary 01 Oct 23 - 30 Sep 24 Balanco BIFwd from Previous YearTotal Incomo 45662.39 £713,428.70 Exponditurn £386.035.09 Balanc• CIFWD £374,056.00 Checkod and certFff•d corr•ct Nam•: Slgnatur rrfj.A A T. Dat•: 2f_Ii_z

Ambrosden Church Lands Trust End of Year Statement 01 O¢t 23- 30 Sep 24 Bala¢e brought fonyard 30 Sep 2023 £45.66139 Income Church House Rent 2a Larust6r Close Ranl Blackthorn Land Rent Marsh Gibbon Land Rgnl Sales of Land £12.420.(M) £4,.() £3,900. £SW.C £691.708.70 Tolal Income £713A2&70 Expendllurn Stma 's Maintenance Lands Trust Admin Marsh Gibbon Land Sala E Church House M8int8nance Church Hwse- agents fees 2a Lancastgr Purch2se 2a Lancaster Le al fees for 2a Lancaster Maintenanc• 2a Lancaster - ¥ ents f8es 2 Gerrnander Wa L 01 fees for £5,066.02 £1,319.91 £525.CKI £1.777.24 £1.341.36 £370,CMJ).CK) £2,745 $6 £1,180.80 £529.20 urchase Total Expendlture £386,035.09 Reconclled Balance £374056.00

Lands Trust- Land Transa¢tlons 01 Oct 23- 30 Sep 24 Mlscellaneous Irme Date Details CHAPS Transf8r atln"ixrted to HMG Law HMG Law 1311112023 0910712024 Sab of Wackthom LaThJ Sale of Marsh Gthbon Land TOTAL £400,753.10 £2,955.60 £691,708.70

MeirMiid$stst•M•$01 OGt23.3ts5•p 24 5ts1gment 06110ft3 081IOQ023 iior2023 611TR023 0611 In023 06111n023 11ir2023 C611 t12023 LW1ZQ3 12rt023 (é11212023 r112Q023 c6101024 C6101tttr24 (W01ll024 c1?4 CthtL024 01n024 10112Q24 C102r2024 RentR•¢the Mana mentF•e6 Pad to Bk RentReceNed mEnt FeeG £923.22 ET1178 Ix) tY9800 pioknk Reot Rec•ryed £811.22 £11178 P•d to RentRKthqd £11178 Cmrth Clxych HoLry• Zoo.?t + 1?9.OL 4ttrO OU £14$ £213 42 C63 82 P•d to 8rlk k•rf REC•P4ed merrt F• £000 ce102Q024 08Ill2O24 J102f2024 CéI0024 c610024 03n024 0210¢12024 gthèfrDrn Pd to 8•nk É87 179.02 10 10 ID 57.20 My Pad tD 9¥ Rent Recer•td F••• £111.7• Poiatu 8•ik Ront Rthd F• 12 07105R024 071Q5tt024 07105r2024 07Kr2024 071024 07108n024 071(r2014 0Sm7Q024 U5107Q024

22 £t11.71 P•0 to 13 13 r•nt F•e4 Pd to B•nk R•ThfRe¢•hYd m•nt F• PdtD 8•Trk Rent Recew•d rnlrt F• 10. £713 22 14 £111 0710tr2024 0710er2024 07108ft4 024 IOW2024 09QU24 £92) 22 15 15 £92322 qn P*d to £111.78 TOT Li.7n24 1A0

Mevyifield$ statements 01 Od 23-30 S•p24 Reason forTrans*i RerA Re¢eNed ment Fees FÈe Paid to Bank Rent Re¢eTri anagemern Fees 2a Lster Nlaintenance 2a Lallcaster Mawthn Paid lo Bank fteni Recwd Mana ment F dto Bank 007024 09107tt024 0910712024 0910712024 0710812024 0710eft024 0710812024 07m8r2ff24 07106Q024 0912024 U912024 0610912W24 Pafjdto Bank £1,650. £178.20 £950.00 £481.80 £1.650.ts) £17820 £1C6.80 £84.00 £1281.00 Éifioo.fyJ cterK81 error A olerror £172.80 £1,42720 TOY £4,9WJ £5 £1.t £3,1

Lands Trust- BlaCktIrn Land Tr4n8actlons 01 O¢t 23- 30 Sep 24 Arnounl Received From 0211012023 0111112023 01112r2023 02101r2024 01J02r2024 0110312024 02104r2024 0110512024 IW2023 01n7r2023 01108r2023 02109023 H Jeffri8S H Jthes H J&ffri8S H Jeffries H Jeffn'es H Jeffries H Ugffri8S Jeffrias H Jeffnes H Jeffri8S H Jeffries H Jèffries £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 £325 Total £eoo held cm d8poslt

Land5 Trust- Land Transactions 01 Oct 23- xi Sop 24 Dale Received From Amount 01012023 E & S Burborough TOTAL Marsh GibLx)n Land Rof CLT BMG20230991 £5QK). £500.00

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Ambrosden Church Lands Trust

21/07/2025

Dear Mrs Handley

Having independently examined the Ambrosden Church Lands Trust accounts and its associated working papers. In my professional opinion the accounts reflect a true record of the trust’s activities for the period ending 30th September 2024. I had no issues with the accuracy or presentation of these accounts.

I have noted that this year included the sales of land and the purchase of a residential property for rental income and that this these two events will occur in the 24-25 and possibly the 25-26 financial years.

These events and the rental income will push the charity into a more stringent form of record keeping going forward. Which I’ll be happy to help with.

As previously stated charitable trusts trustees, need to be aware that they may need to review and possibly update their Governance documents. To ensure that it meets the current requirements of the Charities Commission for independent examination or audit. This really applies to the older trusts who may not be aware that this needs to happen.

Yours Sincerely

T Duff

F.M.A.A.T