CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 102712 First Church of Christ Scientist Unaudited Financial Statements 31 March 2025 AUBREY CAMPBELL & COMPANY Chartered accountants 631 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 7GT
First Church of Christ Scientist Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2025 Page Trustees, annual report Independent examiner's report to the trustees Statement of financial activities Statement of financial position Notes to the financial statements
First Church of Christ Scientist Trustees. Annual Report Year ended 31 March 2025 The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. Reference and administrative details Registered charity name First Church of Christ Scientist Charity registration number 102712 Principal office Unit 2 Leslie Office Building 393 Holywood Road Belfast The trustees Mr R Birch Mr M Boyd Mr D Walker Independent examlner John Magee Aubrey Campbell & Company 631 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 7GT Structure, governance and management The governance and management of the Church is made up of Trustees and Elders. All decisions regarding church affairs and how church funds are spent is handled by the Trustees. Objectives and activities We hold services on Sundays. and a Sunday School: also a meeting on Wednesdays for readings. discussion, prayer and testimony. We also organise public talksllectures and other meetings. All these are open to the public. Our Charitable purposes are "to promote the Cause of Christian Science in such ways only as are strictly consonant with the teaching and practice of Christian Science set forth in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and with the Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ. Scientist, Boston, Mass., USA"
First Church of Christ Scientist Trustees. Annual Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025 Achlevements and performance The Church's Board of Directors (Charity Trustees) are satisfied that both aspects of the public benefit requirement are met; The direct benefits flowing to the members and attendants include access to regular study of the Bible and of our text-book, 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, as well as other literature published by our'mother Church, in Boston, USA. for the worldwide movement. This leads to understanding more about, and living by. proven moral standards. Personal prayer and collective worship are encouraged. The moral and ethical framework of the church leads to practical acts such as those of our ' Christian Science Practitioners, of personal devotion to help and heal others in need, for example through visits and prayers. Christian Scientists believe that improved mental and physical health can directly arise from their faith and are encouraged not to rely on doctors, chemists or hospitals for treatments and drugs etc. but rather rely on their faith and prayers for good health and healings. There is, however, no compulsion to rely exclusively on spirilual healing and each individual is free to make their own decision in the circumstances with mainstream healthcare always being an option open to them. The Church harms nobody, but rather it lives to bless our fellow-man in whatever way possible. These benefits are demonstrable through the clear existence of a moral, spiritual and ethical code of beliefs which encourages the practical application of religion in in society, attendance at our religious services which are conducted in public. testimony of attendees suggesting higher levels of well-being and happiness and of the practical help and healings that their prayers have provided. Our Church in Boston also publishes periodicals, a weekly Sentinel and the monthly Journal. These contain verified accounts of healings. Our benefits are open to all. Anyone is welcome to come and share in our Services on Sundays and Wednesday Testimony Meetings, to use our public Reading Rooml Library facility on our premises and to attend our public lectures. Individuals apply for membership volunlarily (when helshe feels ready for it) and likewise may leave at any time. There is no pressure or exclusivity. Since it is totally a lay-church. there are no paid ministers or officials. Any existing 'private benefits, are very small payments to our Readers, Librarian or Soloists which cover little more than travelling expenses and which are in practice frequently paid back in donations. The church does have 'Christian Science Practitioners, people who devote themselves, when they are called upon. to helping and healing through visits to and prayers for those in need. Again 'payment' is frequently given by the patients for the time and help given. but this is on a voluntary basis. and the poor are not excluded: they would pay whatever they could afford and perhaps in certain circumstances no payment is given. Financial review Collections increased to £18,290 (2024 £13,367). Church costs remained at a similar level at £23,255 (2024 £23.201). This resulted in a deficit of £4,965 (2024 £9,874 deficit). The trustees, annual report was approved on 10 October 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Mr D Walker Trustee
First Church of Christ Scientist Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of First Church of Christ Scientist Year ended 31 March 2025 I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of First Church of Christ Scientist ('the charity,) for the year ended 31 March 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 2008 (the .2008 Act.). You are satisfied that your charity is not required by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination. I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements as carried out under section 65 of the 2008 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the 2008 Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with my examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept as required by with section 63 of the 2008 Act: or the financial statements do not accord with those records; or the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of the 2008 Act- or the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports} Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Jo gee brey Independen bell & Company Examiner 631 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 7GT
First Church of Christ Scientist Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 March 2025 2025 Unrestricted funds Total funds Total funds 2024 Note Income and endowments Donations and legacies Investment income other income 8,509 8,138 1,643 8,509 8,138 1,643 10.864 285 2,178 Total inGome 18,290 18,290 13.327 Expenditure Expenditure on charitable activities Total expenditure 23,255 23.255 23,201 23.255 23,255 23,201 Net expenditure and net movement In funds (4.965) (4.965) (9.874) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried foNard 547,882 547,882 557.756 542,917 542,917 547.882 The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 6 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
First Church of Christ Scientist Statement of Financial Position 31 March 2025 2025 2024 Note Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 14 352.557 358,711 Current assets Stocks Cash at bank and in hand 15 1,026 189,334 1.026 188,145 190.360 189,171 Net current assets 190.360 189,171 Total assets less current liabilities 542,917 547,882 Funds of the charity Unrestricted funds: Aid fund Maintenance fund Other unrestricted income funds 1,000 28,310 513,607 1,000 28.310 518.572 Total unrestricted funds 542,917 547,882 Total charity funds 16 542,917 547,882 These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 10 October 2025. and are signed on behalf of the board by: DWJ Mr D Walker Trustee The notes on pagos 6 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
First Church of Christ Scientist Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2025 General information The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in Northem Ireland and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is Unit 2. Leslie Office Building, 393 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2LS. Statement of compliance These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland,, the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Ihe Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 1021 (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. Accounting policies Basis of preparation The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis. as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure. The financial statements are prepared in sterling. which is the functional currency of the entity. Going concern There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue. Disclosure exemptions The entity satisfies the criteria of being a qualifying entity as defined in FRS 102. No cash flow statement has been presented for the charity. Judgements and key sources of estimatlon uncertainty The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements. estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Fund accounting Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes.. r8Stricted income funds or endowment funds.
First Church of Christ Scientist Notes to the Financial Statements (¢ontinuedJ Year ended 31 March 2025 Accounting policies (contlnuèd) Incoming resources All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity. it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably. legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established. income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which Gase the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers. income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and retumed if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted. Resources expended Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates: expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods. expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries. including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities. other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities. All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned beeen the activities they contribute to on a reasonable. justifiable and consistent basis. Tanglble assets Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
First Church of Christ Scientist Notes to the Financial Statements fcontlnued) Year ended 31 March 2025 Accounting policies (¢ontlnu9d) Tangible assets (¢onllnued) An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses. unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses. except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities. Depreciation Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset. less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows: Fixtures and fittings 10 /0 Straight line Impairment of fixed assets A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date. For the purposes of impairment testing. when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset. an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. For impairment testing of goodwill. the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date. allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units. stocks Stocks are measured at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to COTnplete and sell. Cost includes all costs of purchase, costs of conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the stock to its present IoGation and condition. Financial instruments A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a paty to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Basic financial Instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs. Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted. Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
First Church of Christ Scientist Notes to the Financial Statements (contlnuedj Year ended 31 March 2025 Accounting policies (contlnued) Financial instruments (contlnuedj Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment. Other financial instruments, including derivatives. are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument. Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship. Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment. an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised. For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. other financial assets are either assessed individuaSly or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics. Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised. Donations and legacies Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2025 Funds 2024 Donations Church collections Donations - Gift Aid Income Tax Refund on Gift Aid Donations - General 5,558 1.080 1,071 5,558 1,080 1,071 4,577 4,260 1,102 126 4,577 4,260 1,102 126 Legacies Legacies 800 800 799 799 8,509 8,509 10,864 10,864 Investment Income Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2025 Funds 2024 Bank interest receivable - General fund 8.138 8,138 285 285
First Church of Christ Scientist Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025 other income Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2025 Funds 2024 Sales of literature etc 1.643 1,643 2.178 2,178 Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2025 Funds 2024 Library Fund Support costs 1,218 22,037 1,218 22,037 2,588 20,613 2,588 20.613 23.255 23,255 23.201 23,201 Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type Activities undertaken directly Support Total funds costs 2025 Total fund 2024 General Fund Library Fund 22,037 22.037 1,218 23.255 20,613 2.588 1.218 1,218 22,037 23.201 Analysis of support costs Analysis of support costs Total 2025 Total 2024 Premises Communications and IT Finance costs Governance costs Support costs - Other costs type 1 8,078 1,498 69 8.078 1,498 69 8,387 917 69 1,806 9,434 12.392 12,392 22,037 22.037 20.613 10. Net expenditure Net expenditure is stated after chargingl(crediting): 2025 2024 Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 6.154 6,435 10
First Church of Christ Scientist Notes to the Financial Statements (contlnugd) Year ended 31 March 2025 11. Independent examination fees 2025 2024 Fees payable to the independent examiner for: Independent examination of the financial statements 1,806 12. Staff costs No salaries or wages have been paid during the year. 13. Trustee remuneration and expenses No Trustees were in receipt of Honorarium payments during the year. 14. Tangible fixed assets Land and Fixtures and buildings fittings Total Cost At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 350,457 60,841 411,298 52.587 6.154 52,587 6,154 58,741 58.741 Carrying amount At 31 March 2025 350,457 2,100 352,557 At 31 March 2024 350.457 8,254 358.711 15. stocks 2025 2024 Raw materials and consumables 1,026 1,026 11
First Church of Christ Scientist Notes to the Financial Statements (eontlnu8d) Year ended 31 March 2025 16. Analysis of charltable funds Unrestricted funds At 31 March 20 25 At 1 April 2024 Income Expenditure General funds Sunday School account Lecture Fund account Library Account Aid Fund maintenan Account 514,971 369 209 3,023 1,000 28,310 16,647 (22.037) 509,581 369 209 3,448 1,000 28,310 1,643 (1.218) 547.882 18,290 (23,255) 542,917 At 31 March 20 24 At 1 April 2023 Income Expenditure General funds Sunday School account Lecture Fund account Library Account Aid Fund Maintenance Account 525,663 369 209 2,205 1.000 28,310 8,026 (18,718) 514,971 369 209 3,023 1,000 28,310 2,123 3,178 (2,123) {2.360) 557.756 13.327 (23,201) 547,882 17. Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2025 Tangible fixed assets Current assets 352.557 190.360 352,557 190,360 542,917 Net assets 542,917 Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2024 Tangible fixed assets Current assets 358,711 189,171 358,711 189,171 Net assets 547,882 547.882 18. Financial instruments For financial instruments measured at fair value. the basis for determining fair value must be disclosed. When a valuation technique is used, the assumptions applied in determining fair value for each class of financial assets or financial liabilities must be disclosed. If a reliable measure of fair value is no longer available for ordinary or preference shares measured at fair value through profit or loss. this must also be disclosed. 12