Apsley Hall Assembly Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity NIC101167
Apsley Hall AssemlAy, Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 Reference and administrative information Charity Name and Number Apsley Hall Assembly Registered Charity NIC101167 HMRC Charity Referen Number: XN46018 Correspondence Address James Thompson 66 Magheralave Meadows Lisburn BT28 3NT Web Presence w: http-//apsleyhall.net/ info@apsleyhall.net f: http://enb.facebookcom/ApsleyStreetHall t: http://twitter.com/apsleyhall Trustees J M Fitihugh S Rogers AII trustees are resident in Northern Ireland. Elders J M Fitzhugh T Reid S Rogers Deacons l Udaiyar Staff The assembly employs no staff. Caretakin& catering duties Youth work, relief work and Christian ministry were undertaken by a team of 30 volunteer thurch members and regular attenders. We have paid a deaner every other week slnce September 2022. Bankers Danske Bank Forestside, Belfart, BT8 6FX & Barclays Bank UK PLC 17 Ca511e Place, Beltast, BTI IEL Independent Examlner Samantha Martin. FCA Martin Bookkeeping and Accountancy Services 5 Magheralave Manor Lisburn BT28 3EN Solkftors Hewttt & Gilpin 14-16 James Street South Belfast BT2 7GA
Apsley Hall AssemNy. Retelpts and Payments Ac£ounts fr•r the year ended 31 December 2023 Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Churth for the year ended 31 December 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting poliaes set out in Note A, and comply with the trust deed and applicable law. Objectives and artivities The objectives of the Assembly, as stated in the Trust Deed are: {1) to glorify God and advan the Christian faith by bearing witness in word and action to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and to the truths of Christiantty (in accordan with the Statement of Beliefs)," {2) to relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or servitss of any kind. induding through the provision of counselling and support. 13) to advance education," (4) to establish new local thurches. (5) to advan citizenship by In[Cating Christian ethical behaviour in and among people of all ages," and (6) to promote reconaliation. These objects may be pursued in the United lfjngdom or Ireland or the world in suth ways as the Trustees from timeto time maythink fit. In furtheran of the principal object of the Charity the Trustees maintain Apsley Hall as a place for the worship of God, the preaching of the gospel of God and the fellowship and edification of the Christian believers who constitute the Assembly. This is mainly done by weekly meetings for the Lord's Supper (communion Servi), the preathing and teathing of the Word of God• prayer and fellowship. and the weekly Apsley Bible Club for young people. sin the preaching of the gospel is not restrirted to any one location or community, it has been the practice of the Assembly, following the example of the New Testament, to encourage interest in missionary work at home and abroad, and to use Assembly funds, over and above what is needed to maintain the fabric of the building and fund local meetings, to support missionary work worldwide. During 2023 such support was given to 15 evangelists and mis5ionaries/missionary couples and 16 mission. relief and support organizations. Achievements and performance The objects of the Assembly are spiritual and qualitative, and therefore are difficult to measure in many respects. A high proportion of members continue to be engaged in serving the Lord in a variety of ways in the Assembly. (l) Glorifying God and advancing the Christianfaith The Assembly provides a variety of thurch services and activities throughoutthe year. Membership at the end of 2023 was 35. as we welcomed 3 new members but also said goodbye to 3 members. In person worship serbices and activities were able to be carried on a5 in the previous year. Servi5 continue to be available online for those of our older members who are still unable to attend servi in person. The Trustees are delighted with the way the assembly continues to support many missionaries and mission organisations at home and abroad through prayer. financial giving and volunteerirE. During the year 15 evangelists and missionaries/missionary couples were supported in the work of evangelism and Bible teathing in Ireland (north and southl. and also in England, Albania. China, cyprus, Fran, Moldova, and Zambia. The Assembly enjoyed reports from several missionaries representin8 Christian rnission work that the Assembly supported in 2023 in Moldova, Zambia, Eastern Europe and worldwide Chrislian publishing.
Apsley Hall Assembly. Receipts and Paents Alxounts for the year ended 31 Dernber 2023 Some members of the assembly were able to make trip5 to aid in medical relief work during the year. One member continues to work as a volunteer with Bible Centred Ministries Intemational, and another as a volunteer editOT for Bible Educational Services. Several members regularly preach in other Christian churthes throughout Ireland. Four current and former members are involved full- or part-time with the Myrtlefield Trust a worldwide Christian publishing ministry. As in previous years, the assembly continued to offer Bibles free of charge to website visitors. A total of 144 Bibles were posted during 2023 to addresses in the UK and Ireland. The Trustees receive benefit from this objert in the same way as the public at large. This is regarded as incidentsl. (2) Relieving sickness andfinancial hardship and pmmoting and preserving good health The church has an annual offering for Chitokoloki Mission Hospital in Zambia, where several of our members have seNed in various capaaties in recent years, induding 2023. Regular support is given to a children's home in Albania that several members of the thurch have visited in the past. Funds were sent to help virtims of the earthquake in Turkey arKI Syria through Open Doors. to whom we also sent our regular annual offering for the suffering d)urch throughoirt the world. Our annual offering for Mission Aviation Fellowship also helped support a variety of relief efforts worldwide. And through Manara Intemational support was also given to refugees from Syria and Iran. now located in Jordan. During 2023 we continued to provide food to several families known to members as part of a relief scheme, helping with the cost-of-living crisis. (3) Advancing education Duringthe yearthere have been offerings to support Christian mission schools in Burundi, Cyprus and Zambia where three of our past members have previousty taught We also supported Manard International's work in running camps for young people in Jordan. We had an annual offering for Bible EduG3tional Seriices, which provides materials to sd)ools and individual young people in Ireland and in a large number of languages and countries across the world. In addttion, a local homework dub has used our premises during school ternis as public health regulations permitted. The assembty has continued a series of informal Sunday evangelistic evenings, discussing stories recorded in the Gospels. There has been an encouraging number of interested visitors coming to these events. (4) Establishing new local churches Many of the missionaries supported during the year are engaging in building up thurthes established recently. One evangelist was supported who is artively seeking to estsblish a new church in Northern Ireland. (5) Advancing citizenship The Christian gospel clearly teaches respect for, and submission to, lawfully appointed human authority, and active participation in the societies where church members live. Such teaching contributes to the advancing of citizenship, and is an integral part of all teathing given to adults and children who participate in the church's activities. (6) Promoting reconciliation This past year we continued to support and staff a cross-community residential on behalf of BCM. The Trustees have had regard to the statutory guidaTh in respect of the Public Benefit Requirement publ1sFd by the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland.
Apsley Hdl Assembty, Receipts and Payments Accounts forthe year ended 31 Dernber 2023 Financial review Results The Trustees are On again thankful for the Lord's blessing throughout another year and are grateful for the continued generosity of members of the Assembly. and regular atterrflers at the meetings, particularty in the fa of the difficult financial and personal circUmstanS arising from the COVID pandemtc and the cost-of-living crisis. Gifts ond gift making policy It is the assembly polici to make gifts to Christian workers commended by the Assembly to the Lord's work. former members of the Assembly and others known to the elder5 and members of the Assembly who are engaged in Christian ministry in Ireland and worldwide. During the year 15 evangelists and missionaries/missionary couples reiVed gifts totsllirE £17.650 and 10 mission organizations and Christian schools overseas received £6,800. Further gifts totalling £14,776 were made to give practical relief in Albania, Jordan, Kenya. Turkey/Syria. Zambia the UK, and to the suffering Christian thurch worldwide. Reserves policy The Trustees aim to have sufFicient funds from year to year to maintsin the meeting hall and to make a significant ongoing contribution to Christian mission work in Ireland and worldwide. The Trnstees have set aside an amount equal to approximately one yearfs essential costs to maintain the hall and regular d7urth meetings, and three months of regular missions giving. Reserve funds are invested in a Spread of low to moderats risk funds that are ethically invested. The Trustees are CUTTently seeking to increase reserves in the building fund with a view to a possible future building proiert. Risk monagement The Trustees have examined the major business and operational risks which Apsley Hall Assembly fa5. They have apFx)inted a qualified accountant as honorary treasurer. All offerings are counted by two people who Sign a record of the amounts received. and all cheques issued are signed by two people from a panel of four authorized signatorie& The Trustees monitor the finances regularly throughout the year, and are confident that the risks are relatively minimal given the Trature of its work. the donations made to it and the modest costs that it incurs. Taxation status As a charity recognized by HM Revenue and Customs the Assembly has no liability to LI1t10n on tts charitsble activities. Structure. governance and management Apsley Hall Assembly 15 an independent local churth and a tharity reojgnized by HM Revenue and Customs {HMRC), originally constituted under a trust deed dated 10 Marth 1921 which was replaced by a modern deed dated 30 September 2014. with a minor modification in July 2015. It is reEi5tered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland as of 28 January 2015 as required by the Charities Act INothern Ireland) 20081as amended). Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees arK4 serve for an indefinite period. Those Trustees who have served during the year are set out on p4e 2. The Trustees meet annually, but have delegated the spiritual oversight of the assembly to elders who are appointed by the elders from within the churth membership. The elders are assisted in the ongoing management of the assembly funds and fabric by deacons. Elder5 and deacons are 5elerted on the basis of the biblical qualifications given in i fimothy and fitus, and serve for an indefinite period. The elders meet once a month, and at least one elder meets with the deacon(s) On a month also. No trustee is remunerated for their services as trustee, but they are reimbursed for auth0ri5ed payments they have made for assembly expen.
Ap51ey Hall A55ernbly, Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 Dernber 2023 Risk The Trustees consider that there are two main areas of risk faang the Assembly. as follows: Finonciol.. The Assernbly relies almost entirely on the income received from freewill offerings whith enables the Assembly to achieve its tharitable objectives. This past year there was an excess of eipts over payments of £19,640, exduding the transfer of the Epworth fund balanS to the Cash Plus account (compared to an eXsS of payments over receipts of £4,786 in 2022). Voluntsry donations during the year increased by 6.0%, with weekly boxes down by £6,525, but other gifts up by £13,904, largely due to some large one-off gifts towards the Building Fund (See a150 disclosure in C2 below). Gift Aid decreased by £3,405. The cost of maintaining the building and holding services increased by £339 during 2023. Costs of repairs to the fabric of the building were £2,443 less than in 2021 The Trustees consider that any additional costs should not pose a significant risk in 2024. Should income be redUd significantly, the Trustees would implement a cost reduction programme and seek additional sources of income to ensure the Assemblrfs finanaal stsbility. Reputational.. A child protection policy has been drawn up in relation to work with thildren and the elders have appointed a designated child protection Offir. This policy is reviewed annually, and everyone who assists with the children's work is vetted. A safeguarding poliry has been drafted and is currently going through approval checks. Trustees. responsibilities in relation to the financial ststements The law applicable to charities in Northem Ireland requires the Trustees to prepare finanaal ststements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the a)aiitys finanaal artiNities durir¥ the year and of tts financial position at the end of the year. In preparing tho* financial statements. the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting poliaes and then apply them consistentl. make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. state whether applicable accounting stsndards and ststements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disdosed and explained in the financial statements," and prepare the financial statements on the going Conrn basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in busines& The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records whith disdose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial ststements comply with the Charitie5 Act (Northem Ireland) 2[ (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hen for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved bythe Trustees and Elders on and signed on their behalf by J Fitshugh & Stephen Roger5 2¥c)912