## Witham Baptist Church Serving Christ and Our Community
# Trustees Annual Report 2022~2023
## **Trustees**
The Church currently has three Trustees: Rev’d. Michael R Child (Chairman); Mrs Ann M Coleman (Secretary); Philip J West (Treasurer). The Trustees met once during the year.
## **Membership**
As at end of March we had 5 members.
## **The Diaconate**
The Church is served by a diaconate of two: Ann Coleman, Philip West.
## **Baptismal Service**
There were no Believers’ Baptisms during the year.
## **Giving**
Members and Friends are still giving sacrificially and generously to the work of the Church. The Building Fund is continuing to grow.
The Church supports the ministry of Leslie and Elizabeth Message (Belgium), we were delighted that they join us for Sunday services and Wednesday prayer meetings via Zoom.
During the period April 2022 to March 2023 the Church gave a donation to the Baptist Missionary Society’s Ukraine appeal, the Leprosy Mission and the Harvest Thanksgiving monetary offering was divided between the Witham Food Bank and the Mill Grove Centre, South Woodford. The Church also donated shoe boxes this year for the Samaritan’s Purse “Operational Christmas Child” appeal. The Carols by Candlelight Service offering was given to Farleigh Hospice.
## **Services and Auxiliaries**
We held weekly Sunday Services for Worship, Prayer and Preaching at the Royal British Legion Hall and also held mid week prayer meetings on a Wednesday via Zoom. A service of Reflection and Thanks Giving for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was held on Sunday 11[th] September.
Our Pastor continues as Honorary Chaplain to the Royal Air Forces Association and Royal Air Force Air Cadets (Air Training Corps).
## **Church Premises**
The Trustees are still actively seeking a suitable site or premises for Sunday Services and to develop the Church’s ministry.
## **Baptist Union of Great Britain**
Witham Baptist Church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
## **Eastern Baptist Association**
Witham Baptist Church is also affiliated to the Eastern Baptist Association.
## **Churches Together in Witham and District**
We continue to be part of Churches Together in Witham and District.
## **Harvest**
Harvest Thanksgiving was held on Sunday 25[th] September 2022 the monetary offering was divided between the Witham Food Bank and the Mill Grove Centre , South Woodford, a Christian charity working with children and deprived families in Woodford.
## **Special Services**
The Church celebrated its 25[th] Anniversary on Sunday 4[th] December 2022.
We joined our friends at Maldon Baptist Church for a Carol Service on Sunday 18[th] December 2022.
The Annual Carols Service this year took place via Zoom on Sunday 18[th] December 2022 and the offering sent to the Farleigh Hospice.
We are thankful to God for His loving faithfulness to us throughout a difficult and challenging year and for providing for our needs and we trust Him for all that is to come as we seek further ways of serving our community.
.
Revd Michael R Child Pastor and Chairman of the Trustees
## **WITHAM BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **Accounts for the Year to 31 March 2023**
## **Receipts and Payments Account (General Purposes Fund)**
|**Income Receipts**
Donations
Weekly Offerings
L & E Message
Leprosy Mission
D & A Boyle
Millgrove
BRE Ukraine
Farleigh Hospice
Preacher’s Fees Gifted Back
Other
Trading Activities
Subscriptions and Tuck Sales
Investment Income
Bank and Building Society Interest
Income Tax Rebate
Total Receipts
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Hire of Premises
Minister's Stipend and NI
Minister's Council Tax
Preacher's Expenses
**Other Expenditure**
Advertising
Churches Together in Witham
Baptist Union Subscription
Donations
Millgrove
L & E Message
Data Protection
D & A Boyle
P C Help
Farleigh Hospice
CCL Licence
Insurance
The Leprosy Mission
Website Costs
Stationery
Transfer Building Fund
Sundry Expenses
**Total Payments**
**Net (Payments)/Receipts for the Year**
Cash and Bank balances at 31 March 2022
**Cash and Bank balances at 31 March 2023**|
|£
18067
2145
80
200
95
90
110
80
-
1700
17752
2838
745
|£
20867
-
4
20871
4198
25069
23035
312
55
24
65
95
2145
40
200
53
110
92
401
80
-
-
-
262
26969
(1900)
4474
2574|**2022**
18427
1525
-
1850
65
-
75
-
115
-
-
22057
4418
26475
1013
18087
2725
510
22335
312
-
24
65
65
1525
40
1850
-
75
127
396
-
-
-
-
265
4744
27079
(604)
5078
4474|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
## **WITHAM BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **Accounts for the Year to 31 March 2023 Receipts and Payments Account (Building Fund)**
|**Income Receipts**
Donations
In Memory Of
Other
Sundry
Tax Reclaimed on Covenants and Gift Aid
Trading Activities
Buy a Brick
Knitting
Sundry Sales
Investment Income
Bank and Building Society Interest
Total Receipts
Other Expenditure
Total Payments
**Net Receipts for the Year**
Building Fund Balance at 31 March 2022
**Building Fund Balance at 31 March 2023**|**£**
50
-
-
-
|**£**
50
-
30
-
604
684
-
-
684
144064
144748|**2022**
250
-
-
-
250
-
21
-
914
1185
-
-
1185
142879
144064|
|---|---|---|---|
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Witham Baptist Church**
We report on the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 March 2023.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145 (5)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to our attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
- (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- .
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
- . to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
RONALD W CHIVERS & CO ACCOUNTANTS
61 Manor Street Braintree Essex CM7 3HP
10 October 2023
Ronald W Chivers & Co is the trading name of Ronald W Chivers & Co Ltd, company no. 11919594 registered in England and Wales, registered office address as above.