FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, READING

Registered charity 1040054 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH READING, FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST READING

Christian Science Church, Reading Room and Sunday School, holding church and Sunday School services every Sunday at 10.30am, and Testimony Meetings at 7.45pm on Wednesdays. Reading Room and bookshop open during working hours most days of the week. Annual lecture to public.

Objects

TO MAINTAIN AND SPREAD THE TRUTH AS SET FORTH IN THE BIBLE AND INTERPRETED IN "SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES", BY THE DISCOVERER AND FOUNDER OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE, MARY BAKER EDDY, AND SO DEMONSTRATE THIS TRUTH "BY BRINGING FORTH THE FRUITS OF LOVE, CASTING OUT ERROR AND HEALING THE SICK," (SCIENCE AND HEALTH P.35) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXAMPLE AND COMMAND OF CHRIST JESUS.

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED, IN PRACTICE READING AND SURROUNDING AREA.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that total unrestricted funds decreased from £1,242,404 to £1,242,404 (note: SOFA shows Total Funds Carried Forward 1,244,328, but Note 6 breaks down Unrestricted as 1,242,404 and Restricted as 1,927, summing to 1,244,328. Previous year Unrestricted was 1,191,318 and Restricted 1,927, summing to 1,193,245. Wait, SOFA Total Funds Carried Forward 2024/25 is 1,244,328. 2023/24 is 1,193,245. The charity reported a net outgoing of £20,434 before investment gains/losses, but realized gains of £4,884 and unrealized losses of £4,363 resulted in a net decrease in total funds of approximately £19,914. Despite the operational deficit, the charity holds significant unrestricted reserves of over £1.2 million, which the trustees consider appropriate for future activities.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

• Complaints handling
• Conflicting interests
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Investment
• Paying staff
• Risk management
• Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
• Volunteer management

Trustees · trustee networks

• Amanda Jane Prince
• John Robert Palmer
• Paul Terry Gilford

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Hampshire · Oxfordshire · Reading · West Berkshire · Wokingham

Income and spending

Common questions