**Charity Registration Number: 519755** ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** # **Financial Statements** **for the year ended 31st December, 2024** Page 1 ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** ## **Trustees' Report for the year ended 31st December, 2024** The trustees present their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31st December, 2024. ## **Trustees** The trustees who served during the year are as stated below: Ruth Kennedy Mandy Sheard (From 27/10/24) Belinda Hughes Roger Ward (Up to 03/10/24) ## **Structure, Governance and Management Governing document** The charity is an unincorporated charity governed by its constitution and bylaws adopted 19 March 1923 as amended 8 January 1987 and 26 February 1987,".It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. ## **Appointment of trustees** The trustees of the charity, under the charity's constitution and bylaws, are known as the trustees. Under the requirements of the constitution and bylaws, the Trustees are eligible to appoint additional trustees from amongst the Church's membership. ## **Organisation** The board of trustees, which must have a minimum of 2 members, administers the charity. The board meets regularly through the year to review matters relating to the charity. ## **Objectives and activities** The objects of the charity are to uphold and spread the truth as set forth in the bible and interpreted in the Christian Science textbook "Science and Health with key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy in accordance with the Manual of the Mother Church, The First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston Massachusetts. The activities undertaken by the Church to further its objectives were: - Church Services. - Meetings for testimony of the saving and healing power of God on our lives. - Maintaining a room for private study of the Bible and the Christian Science text book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and publications of the church. - All activities are free and open to all. When planning our activities for the year, the trustees gave consideration to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance to charities concerned with the advancement of religion. ## **Achievements and performance during the year** The members of Fourth Church of Christ Scientist, Manchester continued to provide spiritual support to our local community throughout 2024 through the provision of regular Sunday church services and Testimony Meetings every Wednesday evening. The Reading Room which is attached to the church continued to offer visitors a calm and welcoming space in the city centre for quiet prayer and reflection. As part of its healing ministry the church also hosts free Christian Science lectures for the benefit of the local community and the wider public. In April 2024 our church members were grateful to be able to host an inspirational meeting in support of the Periodicals published by the Christian Science Publishing Society which was well attended by Christian Scientists from a number of local churches of Christian Science. During the year a number of required maintenance projects were completed and we were able to make progress on improving the church’s online presence Page 2 ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** ## **Trustees' Report for the year ended 31st December, 2024 (continued)** ## **Financial Review** ## **Results for the year** The results for the year are set out on page 4. ## **Reserves policy** The trustees have established the level of reserves (that is those funds that are freely available) that the charity ought to have, which is equal to twelve months’ of normal unrestricted expenditure. Reserves are needed to even out any short term funding gaps between spending and the related income. The trustees therefore consider that the ideal level of reserves as at 31st December 2024 would be £22,000 (2023: £26,000). ## **Related Party Transactions** There were no related party transactions during the year ## **Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements** Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its surplus or deficit for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable Accounting Standards and Statements of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 21st October 2025 and signed on its behalf by: Ruth Kennedy Trustee Page 3 ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** ## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st December, 2024 which are set out on pages 4 to 7. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent Examiner's Statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act: or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and 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. **Mr P J Collins F.C.A Collins & Co Suite 13 Hattersley House 1 Hattersley Court Ormskirk L33 4DF 21st October 2025** Page 4 ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** ## **Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December, 2024** |**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Note**
**£**
**RECEIPTS**
Collections
1
70,722
2
0
Investment receipts
3
8,572
Receipts from charitable activities
4
1,390
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**
80,684
**PAYMENTS**
5
2,366
Buildings and grounds
6
19,465
Miscellaneous administration costs
7
34,934
Lecture Costs
8
0
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
56,765
23,919
0
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
23,919
8,358
32,277
**SUMMARY OF UNRESTRICTED CASH FUNDS**
**At 01/01/24**
**Receipts**
General Fund
8,358
79,294
Reading Room Activity Fund
0
1,390
8,358
80,684
**SUMMARY OF RESTRICTED CASH FUNDS**
Damp repair Fund
0
6,780
Insurance Claim Fund
0
5,000
Building Expenses Fund
0
2,163
0
13,943
Activities for generating funds
Total cash funds brought forward at 1st January,
2024
Total cash funds carried forward at 31st
December, 2024
**NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) BEFORE**
**TRANSFERS**
**TRANSFERS FROM/(TO) FUNDS**
Reading Room resources|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
6,780
0
0
7,163
13,943
0
8,943
5,000
0
13,943
0
0
0
0
0
**Payments**
55,375
1,390
56,765
6,780
5,000
2,163
13,943|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
77,502
6,325
0
2,152
8,572
8,572
8,553
5,186
94,627
22,235
2,366
1,877
28,408
27,279
39,934
2,065
0
1,930
70,708
33,151
23,919
(10,916)
0
0
23,919
(10,916)
8,358
19,274
32,277
8,358
**Transfers**
**At 31/12/24**
0
32,277
0
0
0
32,277
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
**TOTAL FUNDS**| |---|---|---| The notes on pages 6 to 7 form part of these accounts. Page 5 ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** ## **Statement of assets and liabilities as at** ## **31st December, 2024** |**FUND**
**CASH FUNDS**
TSB Bank Account
See Page 2
**INVESTMENT ASSETS**
£142,875.79 6% Treasury Stock 2028
Investment Fund
(Value 31st December 2024 £151,577 - 2023: £152,348)
**ASSETS PARTLY RETAINED FOR CHARITY'S OWN USE**
Church Land and Buildings at cost
Property Fund
(Insurance valuation 11/11/24 £5,930,742)
**OTHER ASSETS**
Reading Room Stock
General Fund
Gift Aid Tax Reclaim
General Fund
Recharge of service charges
General Fund
**TOTAL ASSETS**
**LIABILITIES**
Creditors
General Fund
**ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES**|**2024**
**£**
32,277
32,277
123,773
2,000,000
1,500
1,218
6,512
2,165,280
1,136
2,164,144|**2023**
**£**
8,358
8,358
123,773
2,000,000
0
0
0
2,132,131
0
2,132,131| |---|---|---| Approved by the Board of Trustees on 21st October 2025 and signed on its behalf by: ……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… Ruth Kennedy Belinda Hughes The notes on pages 6 to 7 form part of these accounts. Page 6 ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** ## **Notes to the accounts** ## **for the year ended 31st December, 2024** |**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**1**
**Collections**
Planned Giving:
Gift Aid donations
3,030
Income Tax recovered
2,354
Other Collections
1,838
Donations and legacies
63,500
70,722
**2**
**Activities for generating funds**
Lecture Income
0
0
**3**
**Investment receipts**
Government Bond Interest
8,572
8,572
**4**
**Receipts from charitable activities**
Reading Room
Books and Periodicals
1,390
Insurance claim re defalcation
0
Contributions to building expenses
0
1,390|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
0
0
6,780
6,780
0
0
0
0
0
5,000
2,163
7,163|**TOTAL**
**Unrestricted**
**2024**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
3,030
1,680
2,354
0
1,838
2,000
70,280
2,645
77,502
6,325
0
2,152
0
2,152
8,572
8,572
8,572
8,572
1,390
0
5,000
0
2,163
0
8,553
0|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,186
5,186|**TOTAL**
**2023**
**£**
1,680
0
2,000
2,645
6,325
2,152
2,152
8,572
8,572
0
0
5,186
5,186| |---|---|---|---|---| Page 7 ## **Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Manchester** ## **Notes to the accounts** ## **for the year ended 31st December, 2024** |**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Charitable activities**
**5** Reading Room resources
Publications & Quarterlies
2,366
2,366
**6** Buildings and grounds
Utilities
5,910
Insurance
11,660
Repairs and maintenance
1,455
Major repairs - Damp
0
Window cleaner
440
19,465
**7** Miscellaneous administration costs
Zoom subscription
156
Trustee's expenses
35
Defalcation
34,743
Sundry expenses
0
34,934
**8**
Lecture Costs
Lecturer Fees & Expenses
0
0|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
0
300
1,548
315
6,780
0
8,943
0
0
5,000
0
5,000
0
0|**TOTAL**
**Unrestricted**
**2024**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
2,366
1,877
2,366
1,877
6,210
15,664
13,208
4,137
1,770
2,292
6,780
0
440
0
28,408
22,093
156
150
35
0
39,743
0
0
1,915
39,934
2,065
0
1,930
0
1,930|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
0
0
0
5,186
0
0
0
5,186
0
0
0
0
0
0
0|**TOTAL**
**2023**
**£**
1,877
1,877
15,664
9,323
2,292
0
0
27,279
150
0
0
1,915
2,065
1,930
1,930| |---|---|---|---|---|