St Cleers Chapel - Charities report

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 10484893 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1170400

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 5 April 2025

for

St Cleers Chapel

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

6

Independent Examiner's Report

7

Statement of Financial Activities

8

Balance Sheet

9

to

10

Notes to the Financial Statements

11

to

16

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The charity is an independent Christian church that is affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance (EA) and the Partnership Group of Churches. On 1st January 2018, in view of the planned redevelopment of the building, and increasing numbers of employees, 'St Cleers Trust' was transferred to 'St Cleers', a charitable limited company.

On June 15th, 2019, the Leadership Team had an away day to consider St Cleers Chapel Mission and Vision Statements specifically. While St Cleers Chapel evolved from Open Brethren beginnings, those who gather for worship of God, the teaching of Bible based Christian doctrine and fellowship of believers, come from differing denominational backgrounds or none. The Leadership felt the chapel needed Mission and Vision statements that reflected more closely the spiritual, social, and practical benefits offered by a contemporary Christian church. This was then presented to the Trustees and church membership and adopted as the foundational basis of St Cleers Chapel in September 2019.

Objective - Vision Statement

The Leadership team sought to define the purpose of St Cleers Chapel in a simple but all-encompassing statement.

'Sharing Jesus: Sharing Life'

Aims - Mission Statement

To fulfil the Vision Statement, three routes were identified that each had three areas to encourage the spiritual, practical, and serving application of biblical Christian living, in the church and in the wider community.

Reaching Out: - Making Mission a priority - Challenged to serve our community - Being good neighbours

Being Part of It: - Dynamic prayer and worship - Applying God's word to our lives - Commitment to one another

Pressing On: - Responding to God's call - Practicing our gifts - Serving wholeheartedly

Services and meetings are held to worship God, to teach Bible based Christian doctrine, for the fellowship of believers and to welcome all comers to share in the spiritual, social, and practical benefits associated with a contemporary Christian church.

Central to the role of the charity is a holistic view of the Christian gospel, which also seeks to relieve practical need wherever possible in the course of its activities, meeting with persons not necessarily active members of the church but who need a helping hand.

The charity receives gifts from members and supporters but does not appeal for funds from the general public. However, small grants have been applied for and allocated from outside charitable trusts towards facilitating the building project. A small supplementary income is received in the form of donations offered by community groups using the church facilities. A local firm, IJT, makes a contribution for the weekday use of the carpark by their employees.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding training for both children and vulnerable adults continues to be maintained through appropriate external providers, with regular updates in line with statutory guidance.

Church Orientated Activities

Sunday Services

During the extensive building works, the chapel moved services on a Sunday to West Street Church, Somerton but returned to St Cleers Chapel during July 2023. Following the return to the chapel, the main Sunday service runs from 10:30am to 11:30am. Some of these services are available to view following the service via our own website www.stcleers.org or Youtube. We have continued throughout to greatly benefit from Richard Cole's consistent, gifted preaching, plus that of a number of guest preachers.

Mission Group

This group has not been functioning since the death of Dr A Webb in October 2023 although it is the intention to reinstate the Mission Group as soon as possible. However, Mission support has continued via one off payments to Loving Actions; The Lord's Larder; Makers Place; Tear Fund; Counties Evangelists; Martock Christian Fellowship - Transforming Lives.

"Not Just for Ladies" Meetings

This group's name was amended to include those who wish to fellowship on a Thursday afternoon with singing, Bible readings and a talk from a visiting speaker. They enjoy refreshments at the end of the meeting. During the building work this group has been able to continue meeting in the Barn.

Youth Work

This restarted in April 2024 with a group for Year 7 and above youngsters. This met weekly on Friday evenings, with a programme including semi-organised games and activities, with a short devotional 'God slot' to finish.

Family and Children's Worker

Provided by Mrs. Linda Sambell, this is now an established role within St Cleers that seeks to maintain and broaden contact with parents and children (0 to 10 years of age) in the community who have connections to St Cleers, through regular church attendance, community outreach groups and events initiated by St Cleers, or through CTIS (Churches Together in Somerton). We aim to provide pastoral, practical, and spiritual guidance as an outcome of a relational understanding of families' needs and situations. (See Y Church and Toddler Group)

Y Church

With the return to St Cleers Chapel, the children participate in the main service on Sunday morning for the first 15 minutes and then leave for their own activities and worship around a theme. After a short time together, children separate into age-appropriate groups for further activities.

Home Groups

A number of adults attended one of four established groups who have begun meeting in homes for study and prayer during the week.

Prayer Groups

There are three regular prayer groups that meet through the month, for specific purposes including chapel pastoral needs, grandchildren and the situation in Ukraine.

Men's Breakfasts

Our bi-monthly Saturday breakfast gatherings at St Cleers Chapel for men across the local community restarted, and have been running two monthly since then with a wide variety of speakers.

Music

We enjoy live music performed at the chapel on a Sunday morning by a variety of musicians working on a rota basis.

Pastoral Work

The pastoral team, led by Mr Justyn Maynard, one of the Leadership Team, continue to support people with a range of needs.

Ecumenical Cooperation

The relationship between all the churches in Somerton remains warm with good cooperation and support for each other, and now also on a more formal basis, with two monthly meetings at St Michael's Vicarage.

Alpha Course

The Alpha Course is an established outreach at St Cleers and run once or twice a year. Once completed, this is followed up by further Bible study courses designed for those new to the Christian faith

Social investments

Toddler Group

Bump to Five (as the toddler group is known as) continues to thrive and meet every Friday morning during term time. This is led by Linda Sambell with a number of helpers, familiar to regular attendees. Our usual activities include "ride on" toys, music, puppets, crafts and special services at Easter, Harvest and Christmas, as well as our annual sports day, local farm visit and Christmas party in December

Youth and Children's Work

During the year, a Friday night Youth Group for children in Year 7 and above was started. Archies Extra, a group meeting on a local sports field once a week, provides hot drinks and chat with youngsters.

Day Centre (St Cleers Friendlies)

This activity has not reopened since the pandemic.

Coffee and Company

Coffee and Company was set up to support vulnerable members of our community, providing nourishing food at a nominal cost, plus support to those who attended. It also allowed lonely people the opportunity to make new friends. It has gradually increased its activities and makes good use of the premises.

Community Kitchen/Warm Hub

Following a government initiative, St Cleers set up a Warm Hub as a warm place to meet during the cost-of-living crisis during and following the pandemic. The initial idea was to teach families how to cook nutritious meals together, alongside providing a hot meal to them and other members of the community. However, it became apparent that there was a greater need to provide a hot meal and company for the many people in our community who live alone or are lonely, so the Community Kitchen concentrates on this now.

Guides

We have three different groups of brownies/guides using the Chapel premises during the week for their meetings.

Website

St Cleers has its own website, www.stcleers.org, which is regularly updated, and which contains information about the church, its personnel, and meetings, together with recordings of previous sermons.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Property, Facilities and Assets

Improvement, Repair and Development of Facilities

As long ago as 2015, the catalyst being the poor physical state of one of the roofs of the chapel, and to meet the changing needs of the chapel, the Leadership Team initiated a plan to refurbish and extend the Chapel. Another local church, West St Chapel in Somerton, very kindly offered St Cleers Chapel the use of their building for Sunday services, for the duration of the rebuilding, for which we were very grateful. The refurbishment was started in January 2022 using a local building firm, J Symes and Son, and a Cardiff-based architect, Hiraeth Architects. The work was largely finished by July 2023, when the church was able to reoccupy the building, being finally signed off in early 2025. Grants of about 9% of the final costs were received from both local and national charities, but the remaining 90% was raised by the enormous generosity of members of the chapel, meaning that the whole project had been fully paid for by the time the chapel was reopened

Fixed Assets

The register is updated on a rolling basis and reflects the current value of assets at the time the Trustees' report is submitted. Values are adjusted on either straight-line depreciation or variable declining balance as appropriate to the individual assets. The property in Polham Lane, Somerton remains the chief asset with an insured value of £2,776,278 in 2025. Non 'Real Estate' assets in the chapel and Portacabin are insured for £82,738, the Portakabin building £45,890, making the total insured sum £2,894,906.

Accounts

The attached accounts give details of Receipts and Payments during the period ended 5 April 2025. The Trustees are most grateful to the Church Treasurer, Mrs Linda Sambell together with Jeff Bailey and Martyn Hornby, for their hard work and diligence. The charity continues to enjoy sound finances solely due to the generosity of members of the chapel who remain very supportive.

Reserves Policy

St Cleers Chapel has been a small, straightforward, well insured charity with no mortgage on its property and no significant liabilities. They approached a large rebuilding project between 2021&2023 with care, the Trustees being aware of their responsibilities for good financial governance of this. The project was fully paid for by the time the building was reopened. The Trustees seek to maintain sufficient reserves to enable the charity to operate for three months in the absence of income. Trustees remain confident that St Cleers Chapel Ltd will be able to live within its means, has not potentially overstretched itself in future plans, and expends funds in a manner commensurate with its stated objectives.

Investment Policy

The charity has no investments per se; monetary assets are held on deposit and kept under review for the most advantageous interest terms.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

The charity is a registered charity governed by a constitution adopted on 13 April 1993 and amended on 8 February 1999. On 31st December 2017, it was transferred to a charitable company, St Cleers Chapel 1170400.

Trustees and Leadership Team

The Trustees and the Leadership Team are appointed by unanimous resolutions of their respective boards and subsequently commissioned during a Sunday morning service. The Trustees' board includes six members, only one of whom is now on the Leadership Team as well. Using Zoom, the Trustees met as a full board with the Leadership Team 4 times during 2024/25, and the Leadership Team's managing committee met once a week. A quorum on either board consists of a simple majority of members attending the meeting. These minuted meetings are usually augmented by occasional "away days" when the church Leadership Team considers in depth the state and direction of the church. Our annual church business meeting, open to all church members and giving the opportunity for anyone there to raise issues of concern, was held on 26th March 2025, with updates on all aspects of the church, including the current financial position.

Treasurer

Our Treasurer, Mrs Linda Sambell, together with Mr Jeff Bailey and Mr Martin Hornby, have developed a financial team to spread the workload and improve our governance. A financial statement is provided monthly and prior to every meeting of the Trustees or the Leadership Team.

Deacons

The board of Deacons continues its monthly minuted meetings to administer and execute the practical tasks associated with keeping the property and equipment in good order, and to ensure the smooth, safe running of activities on the property. Recommendations for Deacon appointments may be made by any church member; these are subject to approval by the Leadership Team and new deacons are commissioned in a Sunday morning service.

Safeguarding Leads

Mr Richard Coles. School Teacher and Preaching Pastor

Mrs Lisa Webb Retired Nurse

Their contact details are available on the St Cleers Chapel Website

Involvement of Members

Trustees, Leadership Team and Deacons are themselves members of the church and are both accessible and approachable. Any member of the church may raise an issue for consideration by any of the foregoing boards, especially activity leaders and office bearers. An annual Church Business Meeting provides an open forum for all church members..

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

10484893 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1170400

Registered office

St Cleers Chapel

Polham Lane

Somerton

Somerset

TA11 6SP

Trustees

Mr M Bryer Engineer

Mr A Carruthers Retired Head Teacher (resigned 2.7.25)

Dr A J M Quayle Retired GP

Mr C L P Weedon Chartered Surveyor

Miss S E Huggett

Mrs L M Webb

Mr T C Webb (appointed 19.5.25)

Company Secretary

Mrs L L Sambell

Independent Examiner

Somerset Accountancy Services Ltd

22 Wessex Park

Bancombe Business Estate

Somerton

Somerset

TA11 6SB

Bank

TSB

Market Place

Somerton

Somerset

TA11 7NB

LEADERSHIP TEAM

DEACONS

TREASURER

Mr J Maynard

Mrs H Depasquale

Mrs L Sambell

Mrs C Marsh

Mr M Bryer

Mr R Jones

Mr R Coles

Mr K Richardson

Mr M Chapman

Mr T Maclellan

Mrs R Maynard

Mrs S Richardson

Mrs V Austin

Mrs L Boulter

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 5 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Dr A J M Quayle - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of St Cleers Chapel ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 5 April 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

4.

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

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 B Evans

Somerset Accountancy Services Ltd

22 Wessex Park

Bancombe Business Estate

Somerton

Somerset

TA11 6SB

5 December 2025

5.4.25

5.4.24

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

87,814

7,175

94,989

128,247

Other trading activities

2

-

220

Investment income

3

1,115

109

1,224

4,338

Total

88,929

7,284

96,213

132,805

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

4

69,168

-

69,168

80,336

Other

4,589

19,398

23,987

264,396

Total

73,757

19,398

93,155

344,732

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

15,172

(12,114

)

3,058

(211,927

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

25,090

13,970

39,060

250,987

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

40,262

1,856

42,118

39,060

5.4.25

5.4.24

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash at bank and in hand

40,769

1,856

42,625

42,034

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

8

(507

)

-

(507

)

(2,974

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

40,262

1,856

42,118

39,060

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

40,262

1,856

42,118

39,060

NET ASSETS

40,262

1,856

42,118

39,060

FUNDS

9

Unrestricted funds

40,262

25,090

Restricted funds

1,856

13,970

TOTAL FUNDS

42,118

39,060

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 5 April 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 5 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

Dr A J M Quayle - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

2.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

5.4.25

5.4.24

£

Fundraising events

-

220

3.	INVESTMENT INCOME

5.4.25

5.4.24

£

Rents received

965

2,347

Deposit account interest

259

1,991

1,224

4,338

4.	RAISING FUNDS

Raising donations and legacies

5.4.25

5.4.24

£

Pastoral work

42,078

38,227

Mission support

2,750

3,015

Speakers fees

525

450

Youth and Children Resources

585

725

Caterings

972

2,065

Fundraising expenses

-

707

Support costs

22,258

35,147

69,168

80,336

5.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 5 April 2025 nor for the year ended 5 April 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 5 April 2025 nor for the year ended 5 April 2024.

6.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

5.4.25

5.4.24

Administrative

3

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

7.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

93,176

35,071

128,247

Other trading activities

220

-

220

Investment income

2,641

1,697

4,338

Total

96,037

36,768

132,805

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

80,336

-

80,336

Other

96,970

167,426

264,396

Total

177,306

167,426

344,732

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(81,269

)

(130,658

)

(211,927

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

106,359

144,628

250,987

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

25,090

13,970

39,060

8.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

5.4.25

5.4.24

£

Trade creditors

477

2,892

Pension

30

82

507

2,974

9.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 6.4.24

in funds

5.4.25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

25,090

15,172

40,262

Restricted funds

Designated - Building

13,970

(12,114

)

1,856

TOTAL FUNDS

39,060

3,058

42,118

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

88,929

(73,757

)

15,172

Restricted funds

Designated - Building

7,284

(19,398

)

(12,114

)

TOTAL FUNDS

96,213

(93,155

)

3,058

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 6.4.23

in funds

5.4.24

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

106,359

(81,269

)

25,090

Restricted funds

Designated - Building

144,628

(130,658

)

13,970

TOTAL FUNDS

250,987

(211,927

)

39,060

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

96,037

(177,306

)

(81,269

)

Restricted funds

Designated - Building

36,768

(167,426

)

(130,658

)

TOTAL FUNDS

132,805

(344,732

)

(211,927

)

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

movement

At

At 6.4.23

in funds

5.4.25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

106,359

(66,097

)

40,262

Restricted funds

Designated - Building

144,628

(142,772

)

1,856

TOTAL FUNDS

250,987

(208,869

)

42,118

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

184,966

(251,063

)

(66,097

)

Restricted funds

Designated - Building

44,052

(186,824

)

(142,772

)

TOTAL FUNDS

229,018

(437,887

)

(208,869

)

10.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 5 April 2025.