First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge 70 Oatlands Drive, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 9JA
A branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, USA
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023
Definitions
The trustees of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge (“the church”) are referred to in the church’s by-laws as “charity trustees”, “board members”, and collectively as “the executive board”.
Statement of the Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees arrange for the preparation of financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the church, and of its income and expenditure for that period. The trustees are therefore responsible for the keeping of proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the church and reading rooms. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the church and two reading rooms and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. A brief annual written report is also prepared.
Status of the Church and Reading Room
The church is a charitable trust which was registered until 25 February 2003 under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855, and incorporated a reading room separately registered as a charity under Charity number 271683. On 25 February 2003 the reading room registration was widened, so that both the church and the reading room became registered under the original registration number 271683. In 2022 the church acquired a second reading room in Egham High Street by merging with Christian Science Society, Egham.
Constitution and Object
The church is a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The church is constituted under the terms of Trust Deeds dated 8 December 1946 and 22 October 1983 (“the Trust Deeds”).
The principal object of the church as set out in its Constitution and Rules is “to promote the understanding of Christian Science, as set forth in the Bible and in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (the discoverer and founder of Christian Science), thus bringing healing to this community”.
Policies, Activities and Developments during the year
To achieve its object, the church has held services, which are fully open to the public, throughout the year. Sunday services have been held weekly at 10.30am. A testimony meeting has been held each Wednesday evening at 8.00pm and since May at 7.15 pm which provides the congregation with the opportunity to share healings and experiences that have resulted from their study and practice of Christian Science. The church holds a Sunday school as required at 10.30am on Sunday mornings for those under twenty years of age, which students can also access remotely by the internet. All these services were also available by Zoom; details of joining were on the church website. The church sponsored a Christian Science lecture in-person in March in the Egham Reading Room and at church on consecutive days, and will hold a midday Thanksgiving service on January 1 2024.
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7.12.23
The Egham High Street reading room operates in a similar way to the one at 60 Baker Street. It was open to the public during the year for a period every Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday.
The reading room at 60 Baker Street, Weybridge was open to the public during the year for a period every weekday except Wednesdays, and on the first Saturday in each month. Both readings rooms closed on public holidays. The reading rooms stock the Bible, the Christian Science textbook and other authorised Christian Science literature, including the periodicals. The reading rooms operate as sales outlets for those wishing to purchase the products stocked, and spaces are set aside for quiet study and prayer. Computer networks with broadband internet connection are available for visitors to use, providing access to The Mother Church websites, as well as to other Christian Science branch churches around the world. A Reading Circle continues to be held via the internet on Tuesday evenings to read Mary Baker Eddy’s writings and the Bible. Egham Reading Room holds an in person and online meeting each Wednesday to listen to a CSPS podcast and read from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Members of the public are welcome to take part in both these activities.
The church has a website which includes details of both reading rooms and activities and is easily accessible by mobile phones for the benefit of public information.
In September 2020 a lease was signed with a local day nursery permitting it to operate a pre-school nursery on weekdays in the former Sunday school. The nursery continued to operate throughout the year providing a valuable benefit to the community and income to the church.
Accounting Policies
The church prepares its unrestricted funds accounts on a receipts and payments basis, using current cost accounting principles, and has them independently examined by its Independent Examiner.
The restricted funds of the church are represented by the church property and buildings as laid down in the Trust Deeds. The insurance valuation of these funds is reported in the financial statements and reviewed annually.
Reserves Policy
Regular giving, is in the weekly church collections and by regular donations. Projects are only undertaken following a vote of the church membership at business meetings, which are held each quarter. Contracts are not entered into until the necessary funds for the project have been secured. Any surplus income is held to be used at the discretion of members to further the charity’s objects.
Review of Financial Activities
The merger with CSS Egham resulted in the church receiving cash totalling £300,404. A large proportion of this has been invested for growth and income which will ensure the Egham reading room remains operational for many years.
Unrestricted Funds
Other than referred to above, the income of the church and reading rooms during the year consisted primarily of donations, made regularly and through collections at services and members’ business meetings and receipts from the sales activities of the reading rooms. Other income came from rent received from the use made of the church’s property.
Total receipts for the year from all sources amounted to £58,266. Expenditure was £87,349 and a deficit for the year of £29,083 was therefore recorded.
Restricted Funds
There were no movements in these funds during the year, other than insurance valuation changes.
Total Assets
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Current assets of the church as at the year-end were £334,495 comprising cash and bank account balances and the market value of investments. Stock at the reading rooms amounted to £12,917 and the insurance valuation of property and other assets at the year-end was £4,780,844.
Future Activities
The church intends to continue and expand where possible its present activities and to spread further the knowledge and understanding of Christian Science amongst its members and visitors, and in the local community. When planning the church’s activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit including the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular the church seeks to further its object by encouraging the public to attend its services, testimony meetings and lectures, and to use its reading rooms.
Church Officers
Appointment of church members to be trustees and other officers of the church is undertaken annually in December by election in accordance with the church’s Constitution and Rules . Those members who have served as trustees and in other principal capacities during the year are shown below.
Trustees (members of the Executive Board)
Merlin Alty (from 18.01.21) retired 16.1.23 Sarah Blackah (from 18.01.21) retired 16.1.23 Anthea Ramsbottom (from 18.01.21) retired 16.1.23 Robert Thomson (from 17.1.22) Janet Bland (from 16.1.23) Judy Macpherson (from 16.1.23) Robert Longman (from 16.1.23) Peter Ramsbottom (from 16.1.23)
President
John Roxburgh (from September 2022)
Clerk Linda Cox
Treasurer Merlin Alty
First Reader Anthea Butler
Second Reader
Merlin Alty
Bankers
Lloyds Bank plc, 83 High Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 1DU
Independent Examiner
Crilly and Co, Wyvern House, 1 Church Street, Great Bookham, KT23 3PD
Solicitors
Coole Bevis, 14 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1DZ
Approval
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This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by
Robert Thomson (Chairman)
……………………………………………………………. ………………………………….. (Board member) (Date)
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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2023
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
| Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ £ Income Collections & donations 16,708 Interest 2,840 Income tax repayment (gift aid) 3,802 Weybridge reading room sales 1,670 Egham reading room sales 2,351 Rent from 60A Baker Street (gross) 9,600 Rent from Happy Days nursery 17,000 Rent from SCC for car park 1,000 Other income (Note 2) 3,296 Total Income 58,266 Expenditure Payment for services & allowances, W & W 6,545 Payment for services & allowances, Egham 11,129 Music fees 9,150 Church operating expenses (Note 3) 15,951 Church renewals, maintenance and repairs 6,943 Donations paid (Note 4) 3,130 Committee on Publication 350 Advertising and fairs 696 Outreach Lecture expenses 2,897 Reading room purchases Weybridge 3,724 Reading room purchases Egham 2,923 Weybridge reading room operating costs (N 6,115 Egham reading room operating costs (Note 13,761 Accountancy and professional fees 4,035 87,349 Surplus/(defcit) in year (29,083) Balances - at start of year 365,939 Surplus/(defcit) in year (29,083) Change in value of Waverton investment (2,361) Balances - at end of year 334,495 Total Expenditure |
2022 £ 19,368 144 3,299 1,725 2,735 9,320 12,000 1,000 300,404 |
|---|---|
| 349,996 6,264 7,473 8,196 14,022 3,497 5,076 636 1,024 2,386 4,764 1,788 8,362 5,050 1,870 |
|
| 70,409 | |
| 279,587 88,443 279,587 |
|
| 365,939 |
28/12/22
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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2023
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 OCTOBER 2023
| 2023 Monetary assets £ Lloyds Bank current account 18,356 Waverton investment 197,639 Cash foats 510 Lloyds Bank 32 days notice account 117,990 334,495 Current liability 0 Non-monetary assets Weybridge reading room stock 3,857 Egham reading room stock 9,060 12,917 For information only: Values of buildings and property for insurance purposes Church building 2,823,788 Church fxed and moveable contents 129,568 Weybridge reading room building 258,682 Weybridge reading room fxed and moveable contents 45,606 Egham building 1,296,300 Egham fxed and moveable contents 226,900 Total value for insurance purposes 4,780,844 Total monetary assets |
2022 £ 100,245 360 265,334 |
|---|---|
| 365,939 | |
| 0 3,546 11,057 |
|
| 14,603 | |
| 2,423,852 107,973 222,045 38,005 1,294,851 213,465 |
|
| 4,300,191 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board on and signed on their behalf by:
Name:………………………………………………………………….
Position…………………………………………………………………
28/12/22
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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2023
The notes on pages 3, 4 and 5 form part of these accounts
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2023
1 Accounting policies
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(a) These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis
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(b) Reading room stock is valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Closing stock valued at average $/£ conversion rate.
| 2 Other income Income distribution from Waverton Egham sundry income Legacy (share of fnal residue) Received from CSS Egham on acquistion 3 Church operating expenses Cleaning Heat, light and water Insurance Telephone & internet Printing, postage and stationery Garden and grounds Sundries Total church operating expenses 4 Donations paid Whitehaven Trust Lime Tree House CS Nurses Fund Focus JCSRRUK CS Monitor for prisons CS Sentinel for prisons Police Community Clubs Easter Camp The Mother Church Total donations paid |
2023 £ 3,218 70 7 3,296 3,807 5,563 3,609 1,329 34 1,380 229 15,951 300 500 300 850 350 185 178 195 200 72 3,130 |
2022 £ 300,404 |
|---|---|---|
| 300,404 | ||
| 4,536 3,404 3,178 709 46 1,866 284 |
||
| 14,022 | ||
| 500 500 500 1,000 1,000 196 188 130 500 63 |
||
| 5,076 |
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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2023
| NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED | 31 OCTOBER | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| (continued) | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| 5 Weybridge reading room trading summary | £ | £ |
| Receipts | ||
| Sales to public | 1,670 | 1,725 |
| Literature for use by the church or reading room | 2,165 | 1,520 |
| Total receipts | 3,835 | 3,245 |
| Payments | ||
| Purchases and subscriptions | 3,274 | 4,764 |
| Excess/(defcit)of receipts over payments | 561 | (1,520) |
| Increase/(decrease]in stock over period | 311 | (857) |
| Trading surplus/(defcit) | 872 | (2,377) |
| 6 Weybridge reading room operating costs | ||
| Cleaning | 385 | 330 |
| Heat, light, water | 1,440 | 956 |
| Telephone & internet | 341 | 291 |
| Printing, postage and stationery | 123 | 68 |
| Equipment | (375) | 5,663 |
| Renewals, maintenance and repairs | 4,056 | 1,029 |
| Sundries | 146 | 26 |
| Total | 6,115 | 8,362 |
| 7 Egham reading room trading summary | ||
| Receipts | ||
| Sales to public | 2,351 | 2,735 |
| Literature for use by the reading room | 590 | 285 |
| Total receipts | 2,941 | 3,021 |
| Payments | ||
| Purchases and subscriptions | 2,923 | 1,788 |
| Excess/(defcit)of receipts over payments | 18 | 1,233 |
| Increase/(decrease)in stock over period | (1,997) | 0 |
| Trading (defcit)/surplus | (1,979) | 1,233 |
28/12/22
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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2023
| NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER | NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| (continued) | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| 8 Egham reading room operating costs | £ | |
| Cleaning | 1,456 | 458 |
| Window cleaning | 270 | 150 |
| Heat, light, water | 2,273 | 1,119 |
| Printing, postage & stationery | 128 | 164 |
| Telephone & internet | 1,044 | 505 |
| Equipment | (260) | |
| Renewals, maintenance and repairs | 5,984 | 327 |
| Insurance | 1,021 | 1,823 |
| Car parking | 960 | 640 |
| Garden | 544 | |
| Sundries | 83 | 111 |
| Total | 13,761 | 5,037 |
28/12/22
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees Of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge Charity number 271683
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 October 2023 which are set out on pages 2 to 4.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act:
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners In section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act, and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those accounts. 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 a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent Examiner's Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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a) to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or
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b) to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met, or
2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Aidan crilly BA FCA
Wyvern House 1 Church Road Great Bookham Surrey KT23 3PD
11 JANUARY 2024