Building a Church That Lasts (Paperback)

Daniel J. Ashworth

ISBN 10: 1066674302 / ISBN 13: 9781066674305

Published by Daniel J. Ashworth, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. About this bookFaith starts the church. Structure keeps it alive.Every year, hundreds of UK ministries begin with vision, calling, and the right people - and then run aground on the bureaucracy nobody warned them about. The bank that refuses the account. The Charity Commission queries that won't go away. The trustee dispute that turns spiritual. The HMRC letter that quietly threatens the whole thing.This is the practical guide every UK pastor, founder, and trustee wishes someone had handed them on day one.Written by a chief executive, finance manager, and founding trustee with thirty years across the corporate and charity sectors, Building a Church That Lasts walks you through every legal, financial, and governance decision that turns a calling into a registered, regulated, lasting ministry - without losing the soul of why you started.What's insideChoosing your legal structure - CIO, association, company, or none?The Charity Commission application, section by sectionDrafting charitable objects that pass the testTrustees, conflicts of interest, and the founding meetingOpening a charity bank account when banks keep refusingMoney before the bank: interim financial controls and the four principlesGift Aid, PAYE, and the annual returnMusic licensing - CCLI, PRS, MCPS, streamingInternational ministry, high-risk countries, and counter-terrorism complianceSafeguarding, DBS, and the policies you actually needWhat to do when a predecessor company is dissolvedLong-term development projects: nurseries, community centres, building worksWho this is forPastors and ministry leaders preparing to formalise their work. Trustees joining the board of an existing or new charity. Treasurers and administrators inheriting a complex situation. Anyone who has felt the calling and now needs to get the structure right.Why this book existsThe author was drawn into the world of faith-based charities through a request for help from a ministry in serious administrative trouble. What began as a practical favour became sustained work on charity law, Commission registration, bank relationships, payroll compliance, and long-term development. Building a Church That Lasts is the book he wishes that ministry had on day one.Real-world experience. Biblical wisdom. Practical tools.Helping UK churches build strong foundations and lasting impact. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781066674305

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Building a Church That Lasts (Paperback)
• Publisher: Daniel J. Ashworth
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1066674302
• ISBN 13: 9781066674305
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

About this book

Faith starts the church. Structure keeps it alive.

Starting a church is about calling, vision and people. Keeping one healthy also requires charity registration, trustees, banking, financial controls, Gift Aid, safeguarding and good governance.

Building a Church That Lasts is a practical UK guide for pastors, church planters, trustees and treasurers who need to turn vision into a properly structured, sustainable ministry.

Drawing on thirty years of experience in finance, governance and organisational leadership across corporate, charity and community organisations, Daniel J. Ashworth explains the practical realities of establishing and running a church charity in plain English, while never losing sight of the calling behind it.

What's inside

• Choosing the right legal structure: CIO, association, company or none
• Registering with the Charity Commission
• Drafting charitable objects
• Trustees, conflicts of interest and founding meetings
• Opening and managing a church charity bank account
• Financial controls before and after the bank account opens
• Gift Aid, PAYE and annual reporting
• CCLI, PPL PRS and church music licensing
• Safeguarding, DBS and essential policies
• International ministry and enhanced due diligence
• Dealing with a dissolved predecessor organisation
• Planning future projects including community centres and nurseries

Who is this book for?

Pastors and church planters preparing to formalise a ministry. Trustees taking responsibility for a new or existing church charity. Treasurers and administrators inheriting systems they did not create. And anyone with a calling who now needs to build the structure capable of supporting it.

Based on real experience

The book grew from the author's experience of being asked to help a ministry facing serious administrative and structural difficulties. What began as practical governance support developed into hands-on work involving charity registration, financial controls, banking, payroll, compliance and long-term development.

The result is the practical guide he wishes that ministry had been given at the beginning.

Real-world experience. Biblical wisdom. Practical tools.