2024-10-31-accounts - First Church Of Christ , Scientist, Walton And Weybridge

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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 2024

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 7.15pm 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 joint sponsored an online Christian Science lecture in December.

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.

20.11.24

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 the Bible. 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

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 £85,133. Expenditure was £79,861 and a surplus for the year of £5,272 was therefore recorded.

Restricted Funds

There were no movements in these funds during the year, other than insurance valuation changes.

Total Assets

Current assets of the church as at the year-end were £368,960 comprising cash and bank account balances and the market value of investments. Stock at the reading rooms amounted to £14,440 and the insurance valuation of property and other assets at the year-end was £4,907,829

Future Activities

20.11.24

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)

Robert Thomson (from 17.1.22, retired 16.1.23) 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 (till September 2024)

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

Mark Adams 6 Wendover Place, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 3DG

Solicitors

Coole Bevis, 14 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1DZ

Approval

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by

Robert Longman (Chairman)

……………………………………………………………. ………………………………….. (Board member) (Date)

20.11.24

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2024

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Unrestricted Funds Income Collections & donations Donation from closed church Interest Income tax repayment (gift aid) Weybridge reading room sales Egham reading room sales Rent from 60A Baker Street (gross) Rent from Happy Days nursery Investment portfolio income Other income (Note 2) Total Income Expenditure Payment for services, W & W (Note 9) Payment for services, Egham Music fees Church operating expenses (Note 3) Church renewals, maintenance and repairs Donations paid (Note 4) Committee on Publication Advertising and fairs Lecture expenses Reading room purchases Weybridge Reading room purchases Egham Weybridge reading room operating costs (Note 6) Egham reading room operating costs (Note 8) Accountancy and professional fees Surplus/(deficit) in year Cash flow statement Cash balances - at start of year Surplus/(deficit) in year Invested in securities (Waverton) Cash balances - at end of year Total Expenditure	2024 £ £ 16,216 25,000 3,014 3,035 1,105 2,145 9,590 18,000 5,868 1,160 85,133 5,791 11,169 9,390 18,304 5,328 2,456 345 474 358 3,631 2,633 8,114 9,223 2,645 79,861 5,272 136,856 5,272 142,128	2023 £ 16,708 2,840 3,802 1,670 2,351 9,600 17,000 3,218 1,077
		58,266 6,545 11,129 9,150 15,951 6,943 3,130 350 696 2,897 3,724 2,923 6,115 13,761 4,035
		87,349
		-29,083 365,939 -29,083 -200,000
		136,856

28/12/22

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2024

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 OCTOBER 2024

Monetary assets Lloyds Bank current account Lloyds Bank 32 days notice account Cash floats Waverton investment Current liability Non-monetary assets Weybridge reading room stock Egham reading room stock For information only: Values of buildings and property for insurance purposes Church building Church fixed and moveable contents Weybridge reading room building Weybridge reading room fixed and moveable contents Egham building Egham fixed and moveable contents Total value for insurance purposes Total monetary assets	2024 £ 18,657 122,961 510 142,128 226,832 368,960 0 4,486 9,954 14,440 2,905,678 129,568 266,184 45,606 1,333,893 226,900 4,907,829	2023 £ 18,356 117,990 510
		136,856 197,639
		334,495
		0 3,857 9,060
		12,917
		2,823,788 129,568 258,682 45,606 1,296,300 226,900
		4,780,844

The financial statements were approved by the Board on and signed on their behalf by:

Name:………………………………………………………………….

Position…………………………………………………………………

28/12/22

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2024

The notes on pages 3, 4 and 5 form part of these accounts

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024

1 Accounting policies

(a) These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis
(b) Reading room stock is valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value.

Closing stock valued at Lloyds Bank October 2024 $/£ exchange rate.

2 Other income Egham sundry income Refund of direct debit charge Legacy Rent for register office use of car park 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	2024 £ 10 1,150 1,160 3,737 8,875 3,639 722 31 1,020 280 18,304 300 500 300 350 350 179 172 200 105 2,456	2023 £ 70 7 1,000
		1,077
		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

28/12/22

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2024

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024 (continued) 2024 5 Weybridge reading room trading summary £ Receipts Sales to public 1,105 Literature for use by the church or reading room at cost 1,523 Total receipts 2,628 Payments Purchases and subscriptions 3,631 (1,003) 629 Trading surplus/(deficit) (374) 6 Weybridge reading room operating costs Cleaning 385 Heat, light, water 2,430 Telephone & internet 231 Printing, postage and stationery 231 Equipment Renewals, maintenance and repairs 4,837 Sundries Total 8,114 7 Egham reading room trading summary Receipts Sales to public 2,145 Literature for use by the reading room 590 Total receipts 2,735 Payments Purchases and subscriptions 2,633 101 894 Trading surplus/(deficit) 995 Excess/(deficit)of receipts over payments Increase/(decrease)in stock over period Excess/(deficit)of receipts over payments Increase/(decrease)in stock over period	2023 £ 1,670 2,165
	3,835
	3,274
	561 311
	872
	385 1,440 341 123 (375) 4,056 146
	6,115
	2,351 590
	2,941
	2,923 18 (1,997)
	(1,979)

28/12/22

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Walton and Weybridge

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2024

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024 (continued) 2024 8 Egham reading room operating costs £ Cleaning 1,204 Window cleaning Heat, light, water 2,362 Printing, postage & stationery 12 Telephone & internet 926 Renewals, maintenance and repairs 865 Insurance 2,780 Car parking 960 Garden Sundries 112 Total 9,223	2023 1,456 270 2,273 128 1,044 5,984 1,021 960 544 83
	13,761

9 Officers' payment for services

As recorded in the minutes of the members' meeting held on 8 October 2023, the readers, clerk, treasurer and Weybridge librarian were entitled to receive total remuneration of £6,600 during the year, of which £5,975 was waived.

28/12/22

CASH SUMMARY FOR YEAR TO 31 OCTOBER 2023

Balances at 01.11.22 Lloyds current account Lloyds 32-day deposit account Cash floats: Weybridge reading room Egham reading room Letting agent APW Cash surplus/(deficit) for year 2022-23 Change in value of Waverton investment Total Balances at 31.10.23 Lloyds current account Lloyds 32-day deposit account Waverton investment Cash floats: Weybridge reading room Egham reading room Letting agent APW Total	100,245 265,334 80 30 250
	365,939 5,272 (2,361)
	368,850
	18,356 117,990 197,639 80 180 250
	334,495

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 2024 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:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners in section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act, and
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
a) to keep accounting records in accordance with S.130 of the 2011 Act; or
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.

Mark Adams 6 Wendover Place Staines Middlesex TW18 3DG

6 December 2024