Church Business
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Worship Group
The Worship Group meets regularly to review and plan the worship life of the church.
It provides support for the minister and lay preachers and aims to encourage more people, young and old, to offer their gifts in music, reading, drama and prayer. See the calendar for details of meetings.
The meeting is open to anyone interested in this crucial part of church life.
Fabric Group
The Fabric Group meet to discuss the maintenance and upkeep of the building. They hold monthly working parties where they undertake small maintenance activities around the church buildings. See the calendar for the date of the next Working Party.
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Finance Group
This group meets regularly to discuss the financial health of the church, preparing budgets for the year and keeping tabs on our income and expenditure. The group next meets regularly, please the calendar for details.
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Youth Forum
This group looks at all aspects of our provision for babies, children and young people in the church. Please see the calendar for their next meeting.
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Outreach Group
This group looks at everything from local outreach within Romsey, our interface with other churches in the town, our work with local charities and worldwide agencies such as Christian Aid and Commitment for life. Please check the calendar for details.
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Above the front door of the church in the tower are some carvings which we think of as gargoyles. However, these sculptures are not depicting angry animals or devils that the term suggests but eccentricities of the architect to suggest the building is more ancient than it actually is. But on a damp day in January the gargoyles were joined by a more modern figure clinging to the wall.
John Horton hitched his mountaineering gear and lowered himself over the edge of the roof to open up a blocked water hopper. It is there to guide rainwater down to a gulley on the lower roof and eventually gushes out into the river by the church front garden. What other talents are hidden within the church fellowship? My guess is that we will need John's expertise again. Next time we will make sure that we are equipped with a camera to record the event. This ‘gargoyle’ was not of the scary medieval, devilish sort but one more modern and Christian.
The Abbey United Reformed Church is registered charity number 1132706
The objective of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church and has regard to the Charity’s Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
The Charity provides regular public worship for all, promoting the Christian faith, teaching the faith to all ages, provides training, nurture and activities for children and young people. It serves the community, giving pastoral care and support to members and others in need, particularly those in sickness, distress or poverty. It provides premises and resources for community groups and activities.
Weekly Services of Worship normally take place on Sunday at 10.30 am and 6.30 pm. The morning service includes provision of a crèche, activities for children and a monthly discussion group for young people.
There are BALM (Bereavement support) and MOT (Moving on together) Groups, Badminton Club, Table Tennis Club, Lunch Club and was until 2015 a Choir. A monthly magazine and weekly notice sheet are published. Page 4
Activities such as social evenings, concerts, fund raising events etc. are well supported.
Abbey United Reformed Church is a joint pastorate with Braishfield United Reformed Church.
A number of weddings and funerals are held and many of the congregation are involved in support of national and international charities. The church regularly donates to various other charities.
Here is an overview.
Page 1 – Introduction
The accounts are presented in a format that follows the requirements of the accounting regulations introduced by the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (the FRSSE)(effective 1st January 2015) for Charities with an annual income of less than £250,000 and interpreted, as approved, for religious orders.
Pages 2-6 – Trustees Annual Report
These pages contain the annual report of the Trustees, which cover the following aspects: Administration, Organisation structure, Objectives, Achievements and Financial Review.
Page 7 – Balance Sheet
This page shows the Church’s assets and liabilities. The “tangible fixed assets”, comprising the church, hall, manse and caretaker’s residence, being vested in the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust Limited as trustee, are not capitalized into the accounts
Page 8 – Statement of Financial Activities
This statement is a receipts and payments account and combines all of the Church’s funds together. It shows separate columns for the General Funds, Designated Funds and Restricted Funds, all of which are shown in detail on the subsequent pages.
Page 9 – General Fund
The General Fund represents the funds that can be used for any purpose without restriction. 2016 income/expenditure is compared with that for the previous year.
Pages 10 & 11 – Designated Funds and Restricted Funds
The Suspense Fund is the only Designated Fund. It is the aggregate of bequests, which do not have any restrictions on their use. The Church is free to bring such resources back into the General Funds if so wished.
Restricted Funds are those that can only be used for the purpose specified at the time the funds were received. They include: the Communion Fund (set aside for the assistance of those in hardship and used at the discretion of the Minister of the Church), the TWW Fund (a bequest by a former organist of the Church for the replacement/refurbishment of the organ), the Organ Fund (also for the replacement/refurbishment of the organ) and the new Historical Research Fund
Page 12 – Notes to the Accounts
These notes provide technical information about the basis of preparation of the accounts.
Page 13 – Report by the Independent Examiner
This independent examination of the accounts is a requirement of the Charities Act 2011. Whilst less comprehensive than an audit, it is designed to be suitable for an organisation of the Church’s type and size.
To view the accounts for 2016 in full click on the link to the charity commission website. Accounts
The Abbey United Reformed Church is registered charity number 1132706
The objective of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Union of the United Reformed Church. The Charity provides regular public worship for all, promoting the Christian faith, teaching the faith to all ages, provides training, nurture and activities for children and young people. It serves the community, giving pastoral care and support to members and others in need, particularly those in sickness, distress or poverty. It provides premises and resources for community groups and activities.
Abbey United Reformed Church is a joint pastorate with Braishfield United Reformed Church. The Church works closely with its sister church in Braishfield and also with the other churches in Romsey, through the Association of Romsey Churches.
The Rev Terry Hinks moved to another pastorate In April 2015. A Pastorate Call Group was put in place with the purpose of constructing a pastorate profile to be made available to prospective ministerial candidates. This was submitted to Wessex Synod in November 2015 and the group will be involved in looking at candidate profiles, meeting with candidates and, if both sides are agreeable, the candidate will be invited to come and preach. A majority of 85% is required for the minister to be called.
Here is an overview.
Page 1 – Introduction
The accounts are presented in a format that follows the requirements of the accounting regulations introduced by the Statement of Recommended Practice 2005 for Charities with an annual income of less than £250,000 and interpreted, as approved, for religious orders.
Pages 2-6 – Trustees Annual Report
These pages contain the annual report of the Trustees, which cover the following aspects: Administration, Organisation structure, Objectives, Achievements and Financial Review.
Page 7 – Balance Sheet
This page shows the Church’s assets and liabilities. The “tangible fixed assets”, comprising the church, hall, manse and caretaker’s residence, being vested in the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust Limited as trustee, are not capitalized into the accounts
Page 8 – Statement of Financial Activities
This statement is a receipts and payments account and combines all of the Church’s funds together. It shows separate columns for the General Funds, Designated Funds and Restricted Funds, all of which are shown in detail on the subsequent pages.
Page 9 – General Fund
The General Fund represents the funds that can be used for any purpose without restriction. 2014 income/expenditure is compared with that for the previous year.
Pages 10 & 11 – Designated Funds and Restricted Funds
The Suspense Fund is the only Designated Fund. It is the aggregate of bequests, which do not have any restrictions on their use. The Church is free to bring such resources back into the General Funds if so wished.
Restricted Funds are those that can only be used for the purpose specified at the time the funds were received. They include: the Communion Fund (set aside for the assistance of those in hardship and used at the discretion of the Minister of the Church), the TWW Fund (a bequest by a former organist of the Church for the replacement/refurbishment of the organ), the Organ Fund (also for the replacement/refurbishment of the organ) and the new Historical Research Fund
Page 12 – Notes to the Accounts
These notes provide technical information about the basis of preparation of the accounts.
Page 13 – Report by the Independent Examiner
This independent examination of the accounts is a requirement of the Charities Act 2011. Whilst less comprehensive than an audit, it is designed to be suitable for an organisation of the Church’s type and size.
To view the accounts for 2015 in full click on the link to the charity commission website Accounts
The 2016 Prayer Handbook, Hidden in Plain Sight is now available. The online store sells the full range of URC publications including the 2016 URC diaries – in midnight blue, purple, baby blue and red – a range of commentaries and Grove booklets as well as old favourites.
Please let a member of the secretarial team know if you want a copy of the Prayer Handbook.
The structure of the United Reformed Church is one where key decisions are taken by its members, under the guidance of God.
Our Church Meetings are held to enable all Church Members to listen to and share in discussions, become informed on the background to the decisions required to be made and, guided by God, to reach a consensus on the way forward.
Only members of the congregation who have been accepted as Church Members of Abbey United Reformed Church, Romsey and Braishfield United Reformed Church can vote at their respective Church Meetings, although all are welcome to attend and share in the debate.
If you would like to know more about becoming a Church Member please do contact Angela Bevan for more details. Tel 07483 319618.