Trust••s' Annual Report Year Endlng December 2023 Reference & Admonistrative Inforniation: ton Baptist Church Trust ton Ba tist Church: ABC 1049403 76A London Road Maidstone Kent ME16 ODT Barbara Mitchell (Chair) Matyn Collcy (Elder) Malcolm Knee Margaret Knee John Lambert Naffe of Cha Othw Names Chari istration Number Princi l Address Names ofTrustees on ts date the Names of Other People who have been Trustees durin ear Officers or Staff responsible fcff day4¢ day delegated management or part management Matyn Colley (Pastor) Other Relevant Organisations or Jeff Wilkinson (Payrdl and Gift AKI) Sluart Doyle ITreasurer} StrUGre, Governan & Management The tharity was under the Deed ofTrust dated 22 May 1995 and is run by the Trustees in conjunction with the Elder5 of the Church. New Trustees are appointe(I by the existirKJ Trustees from those who regularly attend the church in accordan with the Deed of TrusL the agreement of the Eldership and the approval of those in regular attendance at the church. There were four members of the Eldership Team during 2023 induding the Pastor. The Pastor is also a Trustse. Tt church had two paid wothers during 2023. Volunteers carry out all other church community and outreach acbvibes. The Trustees Monit( varIS financial and non-financial risks, indudir¥J Health & Safety, Fire Safety. Child ProtectK)n and Data Protection. We subscribe to regular updates on legal and regulakny changes from vduntary seth organisations such as Stewaroship Swices and thirtyle.e19ht (fomierfy CCPAS). The insurance cover was reviewed arKI renewed in mid-2021 and is (ecked annually. All reasonable measures are taken to ensure the church remains solvent and there is responsible and prudent use of charitae furKls and assets to further its purFKtses. Financial procedures arKI controls are in place to ensure that transactio arKI financial decisions ara safeguarded trn risks of fraud and mismanagement. Objectives a1 activities of the Trust as listed in the goveming document are: a) To advance the Christian faith in the Cnty of Kent and in suth other parts of the United Kingdom or the worfd as the Trustees may from time to time think fft.
b) To relieve persons who are in corKlitions of need or hardship cf who are aged or sid( and to lieve the distress (zused thereby in the said County and in Such other parts ofthe United Kirtyom ly the world as the Twstees may from bme to time think fit, c) To promote and fuffil su(* other charitable purposes beneficial to the communty in said County and in such other parts of the United Kiwlom or the world as the Trustees may from time to b.me think fft. ThThxigh the year regular aTrY occasional activibes induded: Regular Sunday services - durirKJ year post-CovKJ the number of services on a SurKJay moming was reduced to one except for once a month when there is an earty communion service. Trre were also regular monthly Family Services. and special Christrnas services. The regular Sunday service is also available on YouTube for anyone unable to attend or wishing to view at an altemab've time. Once or tvite a m¢)nth there is also an evening DVD teaching sessbon. Weekty men's and women's kn.ble studies Acbvitses to eThJage children and youth using themes taken from SurKlay servi( Regular prayer meetir Activities >7 year olds. Messy Church Regular Youth meetings providirKJ a sbwctured programme of fvn and bible teachirvJ. A Mums arKI Tots programme Get Together, a FrfCMJramn for over SOS. with a series of monthty so(aal events was restsrted mbd-year. There was also (Kcasional ministy to local nursing arKI residentlal homes for elderly people. Onwline physical home fellowship groups continue for further bible SdY arKI regular prayer meetings that a open to au. Table Tennis for adults. An ALPHA course. a programme helping non£hristians to explore the Christian faith. A series of ladies, outreach events designed to attract new. unchurched, women to a social event with existing church attendees. A men's breakfast is also held severd times durirvJ the year Provisi of food parcels for those in need. The past(x chairs the Maitstone Bible Week C(xnmittee. whith organises an annual event people from churches across and beyond the town. Community carol singirrfj at the Mid-Kent Slwping Centre. Other events induded an Annual 'AdY Day. Vth an invited guest speaker. The thurth buildings continue to be used by several extemal and community grP$. Gifts have been made to support Maidstone Homeless Care. The Maidstone Churches. Winter Shelter, Maidstone Family Trust. the Kenward Trust, MADM a local Christian charity, overseas missionaries (OMF, Latin Link. LeFKOSy Mission). Angel Prq'ect (supporb'ng women prisoners). relief to chiklren and [X)r communities in Malawi arKI Uganda via other charilies, Open Doors, Tearfund. Christian Ccern and the Christian Inslittrte. son financial pastoral support was also lded where needed. Some members of ABC continue to support the Maidstone area communty by working as volunteers for the Street PastorirMJ Servi. The Maidstone Winter Sheiier project operated from before Christmas 2023 arKJ will contsnue until Easter 2024. providing meals and accommodation at drfferent churches and housed ovemight guests in a hotel.
The Pastor provides a recognised contact point for those in the Fellowship as well as other churches and peoFAe in the locality. An infonnal but effective network supports members arKI otPErs who a hOuSebnd. sick or in other need. t)edications. baptisffts and fvnerals are arran9e(l as require(l. Achievements and PerforniarKe: ABC has continued to alfract a wide audience to w(Kship services. bible studies and acbvitses to share the goskxl of Jesus ChrisL The number and diverslty of atterKJees is encouraging. An 18 year land lease was agreed with the County Cwnal in October 2015 and an increased rent agreed. The churth owns the two buildings used in syoviding its services. Flnancial Review: the gross income of the Tnjst is below £250k per annum. aThJ the charity is nol constituted as a company. so the accounting is undertaken Using the Receipts and Payments option open to small Charit {s133 Charities Act 2011). The aCC(nts have been indeperKlenty examined arbd fwnd to be in keeping with the relevant requirements of the Charities A(a. The Trust relies mainly on vduntary contributions funding. It does not accept monies from the National or any other lottery on ethical grnds. The Trust uses its income in ways that will fuir its ot4'edNes. The Trust is constrained by the terffts of lease when considerirvJ ts level of reSPCs1b1e investsnent in any new fixed assets.. Trust reported an overall surplus in 2023 of £20,426 tti totsl irKome of £95,478 against expenditure of £75,052. Hall hrirNJ receipts post Covid increased by £2.596 year to year. and there was an increase in general giving of £2,786. Speiific donations of £8,178 were also made durirvJ the year towards fvnding for a new Assistant Pastor posL Just over fifty percent of the church's expefKliture re to employment costs induding training {£39.071). £7.070 of mission gifts were made to both local and national organisations in pursuar)ce of the thurch's objeth'ves: and pastoral gifts of £2.316 were made to relieve hardship. The largest oVertd costs for the church we the propety ground rent (£6.409). the insurance ver (£2.244), and utility costs (£1,952). The General fvnd in(xeased by £12,454 in the y&3r with £56.529 held at the end of the period. A balance is held in reserves accortling to the Trust's firk8ncial risk policy. The Trustees consider that sufficient funds should be held in serve to allow for dilapidations should we need to terminate the lease early or have unforeseen em 0Yrnent c¢)sts. arKI have identifi&d Suff from Ihe General fund to reserve against these risks. The size and use of each of these fvnds is kept under periodic VIeW at Trustees, meetings and communicated regularfy to Ihe church membership. Serious Incidents: there wwe no serKxJs irKadents to repcxt durirrfJ the year. Publlc benefit statemenL" direct beneficiaries of the Trust are those who atterKJ church services and other thurth run activits"es, trK)se in receipt of pastoral or care home visits and recipients of missionary payments. Indirect beneficiaries indude community grp$ arKI their clients who use the halls at modest and often discountsd ratss, and ttr who benefit from grfts made via other chartses.
Plans for Future Periods: the church vision f(useS on our spiritual and other resreeS as effeC'vely as possible to develop existing ministries in outreach, prayer, Pa(al ca, mission support. WShIp/music, yourvJ people and kyeaching and spiritual development Challongas: a new role of Assistsnt Pastor is LEing cor6idered to support the current Pastor arKJ the growth in outrexh and Supp for attermdees. Sgnwj and on behalf of the Elders Trttees of Allington Baptist Church Trust Barbara Mitc*ell John Lambert Chair of Trustees Secxetary to Trustees Date: 25fv% Od¢bW 28ZS
Allin8ton Baptist Churth 76•. Ro+J. PIdStl K4nt ME16 IX)T in 6L9nn 603157 S9J73.U XL4MOJ 56.J87. 425. Y¥x ILSW37 593.$2 ug 165.33 JL'J od l•blts & ToJdltr fA OK Total Incom• 47Y.91 32.917.26 JX6&70 O.L)) 172. OE•r J•mL20 219.lil 2.113.6D 2221 633.47 $1.99 ' 7Q> IJSL9D 1.445.$4 1.971.Y 5> ILI.92 LXXs,05 IiQSg VlsllStY grer eifts I1} L773.17 U1&95 l)14 P•xonl C•E Iso
JIL 137. ZL91 , X17J6 747 Gr4ryn VolJJAt¢•f Tral IAX[l) s S lodthws S65 47. 144,gJ $6.47 tssy 4 F•M¢ CxATh•th 5Jg JJ9 76 Grt Towt 72 Tot•1 Expenditure 7WI,74 Surplus/(Deficit) hi yev 20.426.17 41 BIANCt It 31rt O•c•fflb•r 2023 82399.95 61J73.n Tf¥A latkn ithk o. 0.0) L(. o.co scn. Lcr) 0.P le•rFw S¢( smcr) 00) 25Q fy) 6fft TIX so.c 1%). 184 •iJ4 o¢y) J16 iio
U7&05 o) o) 00) IW&35 É 14JQ25 4.1.13.71 14JQ2S Iw&si .4SJ.7J YJ MENT AND AT D•c 2023 39WJ. JJ.012. 10283.17 IISK b•nk. CwrertAIc .241JJ .50Y. o.tyj 82399.95 6L9TJ.78 Gtfver•l Fwr•l lur¥%11ed Fvr¥ll S6?6 37J2 .075 163 55 4JJS 140AK• &J28fj5 rrirrfh Sur¥1 {A•Stri¢ F) 73 IX16 81399.95 61,97178
, IDd¢peDdeut UXmiD&s rqxbrt to the Iruth of AIIiDziott Bam1 Chqr¢& Tr•st I rewrt on the accounts TTht for the year 3 l De¢emlr 2. which are Set out QD pages I to 3. The ¢barity's trustees are rwnsible for the pre5mr of thc xc¢)unts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is wt required for this year section 144(2) ofthe awities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and thai an irrfkpctht cxamination 15 neede It is my responsibility to: examine the tKc(Kmts under stttion 145 of the 2011 Act: to follow thc Prdur¢S laid down in thc 8cneral DiTfCtions given by the Ch CommisOn und¢r s¢¢tiou 145(5Xb) of thc 2011 ACL and to sta particular matkrs have come to my aiteniioiL BASIS of Indepe•deAt txAml•er's repori My examination was Cri in &cOrdat with the general Dir¢thions given by the Clwity CoMriO An eXamiOn inclth a review of thc acwunting records kcO by the dwity a comparison of the xcounts wesethl with thogc rcwrds. It also incl consideration of any unal items or disclosurc5 in th¢ and 3c¢kin8 exp]On10nS from you as Ie¢S conc¢rning any such mattcT5. Thc PrdureS undeztaken do provide all th¢ ¢vidcnce that would be rcquitcd in an audii and consequendy no opinion is given as to whcthcr the accounts presenl a 'tr and fair view. aAI the rewt is litnitrd to those matt¢ts sel oui in the below. Indep¢ndet euminer's ststoment In connection with my no matter has com¢ io my attcntion: (l) whÈch gives me reag)nable cause to ttlievc tkn in any matcrial the requiranents: to kttp aCUnting records in 8£¢Ord with SlI0n 130 ofthe 2011 ACL and to ptpare accounts wtiich accord with thc OUntIng r¢¢ords and comply the acjn requirements of the 2011 Act have N)t been me4 or Q) io whicK in my opinior4 attention should be dra in order to enable a proper uNlU{k¥. Ef.the 2cc(Junts Name: Mr FAnrnAnI Ejiofor Relevant tyofessional qualificaiion or tK)dy." FCCA Addrrss: 3. Meteor Ro. We# Mallin& KenL MF.19 4TH Dat¢: 25° Cktobcr 2024