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2023-12-31-accounts

THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE

(CHURCH HOUSE CHARITY)

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 255448

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

AND

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE Charity Registration Number 255448 TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

CONTENTS

Page
Charity informaton 1
Trustees’ report 2
Independent examiner’s report 4
Receipts and payments account 4
Statement of assets and liabilites 6
Notes to the accounts 8

CHARITY INFORMATION

HARITY INFORMATION
Chairman of Trustees The Revd Christopher Rector of Hitchin Parish
Bunce
Trustees Elizabeth Cranfeld Churchwarden, St Mary’s Church
Terry Brazier Churchwarden, St Mary’s Church
Anne Senechal Member of St Mary’s DCC
Charity registraton 255448
number
Working name Church House Charity
Ofces and registered Church House Telephone 01462 452758
address Hitchin
Hertordshire
SG5 1HP
Treasurer Optma Accountancy 7 Paynes Park Hitchin, SG5 1EH
Services ltd
Independent examiner Trevor Groom 6 Bell Close, Hitchin, SG4 9NJ
Bankers Lloyds TSB Bank plc 1 Bancrof
Hitchin
Hertordshire
SG5 1JG

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THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE

Charity Registration Number 255448

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

The Trustees present their report for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity was founded by a Deed regulated by a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners dated 16 August 1929 as affected by Schemes of the Charity Commissioners dated 11 June 1965 and 22 October 1975. However, the Deed was redrawn in February 2019 to reflect the sole use of the building by St Mary’s. Since the other churches have their own halls there was inefficiency in the management of the building by other Church’s Wardens.

Since the formation of the Hitchin Team Parish in 1977 the incumbency of St Mary’s Church was taken over by the Team Rector of the Parish of Hitchin and the local duties by the Vicar of St Mary’s, although these roles are in practice held by the same person. The Charity continues to provide its former function for the incumbent but, as only residual use was being made of the hall or offices by the other churches in the Parish, the Deed has been changed to reflect this. Now only the Churchwardens of St Mary’s act as Trustees along with the Vicar of St Mary’s and one outside Trustee is appointed who is deemed to have relevant experience. No Trustee receives any remuneration or expenses. In the next financial year, 2024, the Parish has been reorganised to comprise solely of St Mary’s Church and its PCC.

Newly appointed Trustees receive guidance on trusteeship, appropriate to their position, from existing Trustees, and additional professional training may be arranged if required.

Unless otherwise approved by the Charity Commissioners the charity must invest any surplus funds in approved charity investments. Currently there are investments in the Charities Official Investment Fund and Charinco Income shares under permissions granted by the Charity Commissioners.

The Charity holds unrestricted General Funds and restricted Furniture Fund and Extraordinary Repairs Fund.

Risk Management

The Trustees maintain a continuing risk review policy concerning the structure and contents of Church House, consistent to the resources available.

Objectives and Activities

The Charity was created to maintain land and property bequeathed by the late Edith E M Wilshire to provide an office for the Vicar of St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin, and accommodation for the caretaker if required and for the holding of social functions.

Since the original bequest, land has been sold and the current Church House building was erected in 1968. The objects of the Charity continue largely unchanged, with some recent variation. Previously Church House provided a flat for the verger of St Mary’s Church but, as this role is no longer exists, this 2-bed accommodation, Flat 1, along with Flat 2 (1 bed) are available for letting and the income to date has been retained by the Church House charity.

The offices are needed for the Vicar and the Parish administrator who assists him and maintains printing facilities for the Parish. The hall is let for a variety of purposes to local community groups. It is no longer practical for the front office to be staffed by volunteers and it is simply a second office space.

Achievements and Performance

During the year the hall is let most weekdays and evenings, while on several Saturdays of the month coffee mornings or craft fairs are held and some private functions booked intermittently. This allows various organisations to advertise their services at a central location in the town and provide valuable financial support for the Charity to cover the increasingly heavy costs of maintenance and repairs. This year it has been necessary to completely replace the wooden front doors of the building, which are fitted with quick release bars and handles in compliance with Fire safety regulations. Some redecoration was carried out to the rented flats. Repairs to lighting and wiring as well as plumbing are often required.

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THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE

Charity Registration Number 255448

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

St Mary’s Church uses the hall for committee and council meetings when the Church is too cold, and some social functions, for instance the Diamond Jubilee celebration reception after the civic service. The congregation and groups hiring the Church must also use the toilet facilities in the hall as none exist in St Mary’s. Water from the kitchen is taken over to Church and coffee is served there instead of in the hall since Covid. The verger’s role was dissolved post 2020 during the Covid pandemic, as it proved impossible to recruit a full time member of staff for these duties, so the flat has been refurbished and let with the second flat throughout the current year. The Rector’s secretary continues to provide secretarial services to the Trustees and negotiation is under way over charges for this with the new St Mary’s Parochial Church Council.

Reserves

The Trustees seek to hold in reserve an amount of cash reasonable to the financial activities of the Charity. Reserves may be accumulated to meet future planned major expenditure, mainly repairs to the building.

Investments

The Charity holds investments in the Charities Official Investment Fund and Charinco Common Investment Fund. Details of units held and market value at the end of the year are shown on page 7 to the accounts.

The Charity’s investments increased in value by net amount of £15062 (2022 decrease of £18377). Total returns (combined income and capital) on the investments during the year vary from fund to fund because of sales and purchases in the year at different times, but returns on those shares held throughout the period were as follows:

Investment Fund 2023 2022
% Return % Return
Charites Ofcial Investment Fund Income Shares 12.18 -8.99
Charites Ofcial Investment Fund Accumulaton Shares 12.37 -8.99
Charinco Common Investment Fund Income Shares 1.65 -17.29

General

The Trustee’s freehold property, Church House, Hitchin, part of the original bequest, is not shown at valuation in the accounts, not having been valued in recent years. It is classified as a Band B exempt property (estimated valuation £40,000-£52,000 at 1st April 1991) for Council Tax purposes. Costs of fixtures and equipment have similarly been excluded, and routine replacements have been written off in the year of expenditure. The building was insured for £985,070 and the contents for £45,553 as at 25[th] March 2019.

Plans for Future Periods

Plans included the installation of a ramp and new entrance doors to the front of the property to enable unrestricted access to all members of the community and the trustees are currently looking into the feasibility of this project. The trustees are also keeping possible areas for further refurbishment and preventative maintenance under review.

Approval

This report was approved by the Trustees on 4[th] June2025 and signed on their behalf by

REVEREND CHRISTOPHER BUNCE

Chairman of Trustees

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Charity Registration Number 255448

THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

I report to the trustees on the accounts of the above named charity for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 4 to 8.

Respective responsibilities of Trustee 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:

Basis of Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity 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 you as 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 in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s statement

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed TREVOR GROOM Dated 4[th] June 2025

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THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE Charity Registration Number 255448 TRUSTEES, REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Uni95trirted Restricted All Fund5 Getbeial Fuiniture Fund Fund All Fund5 2023 2022 Ncitpb RECEIPTS Operatingactiviti85 11,808 14,Obe Rpi-lt ot-1gtS Inve5ttbientinconie 19,u09 19,009 Bdnk. &4 Charineq deposit Intere?t, etc, Iniie?tment withdrawal othei ieceipt5 1,187 195 1.382 fif.ifit I,non TOTAL RECEIPTS 32,004 195 32.199 35,874 PAYMENTS Chaiitableacriviries- operatingc05t5 13,b48 13,648 1,885 Coiitri bui ijli to Ljerger costs Lsundrsl. clpani rig r@fus& coll&cnon H@.3t, light, water R.ate- 2,b84 1,391 11,y25 10,u52 10,052 I ncurance 2, 479 ,479 Prinyng41-Id-tanonpry Accountancy 720 30,801 30.861 21,440 othei Payrbient5 Rocriiiprnpnt Qrdpi-s TOTAL PAYMENTS 30,861 30.861 21,440 RECEIPTSI(PAYMENTS) FOR THE YEAR 1,143 195 1,338 14,434 (.3qh and banl,. balanftps at bpginning of 4, 44h CASH, BANKAND INVESTMENT BALKINCES AT YEAR END 19,684 4.641 24.325 22,987

THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE

Charity Registration Number 255448

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

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THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE

Charity Registration Number 255448

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

NOTE 1.

PERMANENT ENDOWMENT

The following investments are held under the specific authority of or restriction by, the Charity Commissioners:

Note 2

Provision has been made for unpaid re-coupment orders over the last seven years.

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THE CHARITY OF EDITH ELISABETH MARIE WILSHERE

Charity Registration Number 255448

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Note 3

Extraordinary Repairs Fund

The Charity Commissioners made an Order on 20 December 1967 that provided for an annual sum of not less than £50 to be invested to provide for extraordinary repair, improvement or rebuilding of Church House. This Fund should be used before any permission is sought to withdraw from the Permanent Endowment capital under provisions of recoupment.

Note 4

Furniture Fund

The Trustees agreed to continue the Fund by appropriating an annual sum from General Fund but, in view of additional expenditure directly from General Funds in recent years, agreed to suspend transfers for the time being.

Approval

This report was approved by the trustees on 4[th] June 2025 and sign on their behalf by

REVEREND CHRISTOPHER BUNCE

Chairman of Trustees

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