**Dagnall Street Baptist Church** Registered Charity Number 1127791 ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **FOR** ## **DAGNALL STREET BAPTIST CHURCH ST ALBANS** Page1 **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023** The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2023. ## **Objectives and activities** The principal purpose of the charity (which throughout this report will be referred to as the Church) is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination to include the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine. When planning our activities for the year, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. The trustees try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our Church community. In order to achieve the principal objective which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord. Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place most Sundays at 10.30 am. Worship also takes place at other times. The Church seeks to be a friendly welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services. Prayer is offered after morning worship. Prayer weeks are organised on an occasional basis. The Church runs a prayer and share group for the growth of faith and discipleship at the Church and a prayer hour is held once a month. Also, from time to time, the Church runs courses for people interested in discovering more about Christianity and study groups are organised at various times eg. during Lent. The Church is responsible for a weekly term time Toddler Group which meets on the Church premises on Wednesday mornings and monthly, on Saturday mornings, 'Who Let the Dads Out' meets with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. The Church encourages and enables Children and Young People to engage with local Christian organisations who run youth events and activities. The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Church has two Designated Persons and their photographs are displayed alongside the photographs of the minister and deacons and employed staff at the Church and Cross Street Centre Limited. The Cross Street Centre cafe is wholly owned and run by the Church, open four days a week for four hours each day. The directors of the company limited by guarantee - Cross Street Centre Limited - manage the cafe. The surplus from trading is covenanted to the Church each year. The Cross Street Centre provides a meeting point for both formal and informal meetings. Many community groups use the church premises on a regular and also on a one off basis. The Cross Street Centre also runs a games group, a scrabble club and a book library. These are all open to members of the community. A monthly magazine is available to all and copies are displayed in the Cross Street Centre and in Church to highlight services, activities, church news and to encourage engagement and participation with what is on offer ## **Achievements and Performance During 2023** The Church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure, especially given the disruption to activities over recent years, but believe that 2023 was a positive year in the life of the Church, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2024 with continued enthusiasm. At 31 December 2023 the membership stood at 92 (2022: 93). There was 1 new member added during the year, 2 members died and nil transferred to other churches. The Church is actively promoting the use of the premises by groups that are working for the benefit of the local community. This means that the Church premises are occupied for around 40 hours from Monday – Saturday. The groups that use the premises are pastorally supported by the Cross Street Centre staff and by the ministry team. ## **Financial Review** The Church continues to raise the funds, which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. Some income is generated from hire of premises and the annual covenant from Cross Street Centre Limited. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year. The most significant 'Ministry' expense represents the costs of the Minister - Rev Simon Carver - who leads and coordinates the Church's activities including the Sunday Services, provides pastoral care for the congregation and other people, and equips and encourages the membership in their life, Christian witness and service. The Church employs a fulltime site manager, Mr. David Hobbs. The minister and site manager live in accommodation provided by the Church. Page2 30/10/2024, 23:28 img083.jpg https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/jrjtXJSVwDNdKGkmBwwCxlcqQwtwJmkdbttCTkSDFwDRvBfJNRZHxrzWBTHMlkdPjfgcMGKq?projector=… 1/1 **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **Reference and Administration** Registered Name: DAGNALL STREET BAPTIST CHURCH ST ALBANS Charity No. 1127791 Church Address: 1 Cross Street St Albans Hertfordshire AL3 5EE Trustees: Simon Carver (Minister) retired 3 September 2023 Chris Penn (Secretary) Trevor Oakley (Finance Deacon) Alison Ashmore Paula Iddiols Janis Morse (Safeguarding Trustee) Diane Saunders Janet Movery-Peers Jill Potter ## **Bankers** NatWest 10 St Peters Street St Albans Hertfordshire AL1 3LY ## **Independent Examiner** Valerie Harden Page4 30/10/2024, 23:27 Page 5.jpg **----- Start of picture text -----**
Date: 30
**----- End of picture text -----**
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/jrjtXRGPMLLwLnfBRlcCLlsPXHKBwJRDtlBzGgtxfsGrSPdCxkqwjPgtSgBfRKdcGxpKcpDr?projector=1&m… 1/1 **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **2023 Statement of Financial Activities** ||**Notes**|**Unrestricted Restricted**|**Unrestricted Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**funds**|**& Endowment**|**funds**|**funds**| ||||**funds**
|**2023**|**2022**| |**Incoming and Endowments from:**||£|£|£|£| |Offertory and hire income|2|131,573|1,801|133,374|130,744| |Charitable activities||42,320||42,320|11,147| |Investments||4,565||4,565|1,548| |Other income||44,966||44,966|45,006| |**Total**||**223,424**|**1,801**|**225,225**|**188,445**| |**Expenditure on:**|||||| |Charitable activities|3 - 6|232,607|1,731
|235,338|156,293| |Other|12|22,245||22,245|21,426| |**Total**||**255,852**|**1,731**
|**257,583**|**177,719**| |**Net (expenditure)/income**||**(32,428)**|**70**|**(32,358)**|**10,726**| |**Transfer between funds**|8|-|-
|-|-| |**Net movement in funds**||**(32,428)**|**70**
|**(32,358)**|**10,726**| |**Reconciliation of funds**|||||| |**Total funds brought forward**||701,398|2,925,681
|3,627,079|3,613,353| |**Total funds carried forward**||**668,970**|**2,925,751**
|**3,594,721**|**3,627,079**| Page6 30/10/2024, 23:29 img084.jpg https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/jrjtXJSVwDNdKGkmBwwCxlcqQwtwJmkdbttCTkSDFwDRvBfJNRZHxrzWBTHMlkdPjfgcMGKq?projector=… 1/1 **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **Notes to the Accounts** ## Year ended 31 December 2023 ## **Note 1** - **Accounting Policies** ## _Basis of preparation_ The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting Regulations set out under the Charities Act 2011 and with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard FRS102 and the UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GMP) as they apply from 1 January 2015. _Going Concern_ The Church meets its day to day working capital requirements through its cash facilities. Projections are prepared that take into account possible changes in income and expenditure. Having assessed the principal risks, the Trustees consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. _Donations_ Donations are accounted for gross when received. _Legacies_ Legacies are accounted for when 'there is legal entitlement; they are measurable and their receipt is probable. _Investment Income_ Investment income is included in the accounts in the year in which it is received. _Fund raising and publicity costs_ The Church does not make formal appeals for funds, and expenditure on these items is therefore not material. _Grants payable_ The Church makes grants to other organizations whose charitable objects complement its work. They are accounted for in the year in which they are paid. ## _Governance costs_ This represents direct expenditure on the governance of the Church. Volunteers carry out most of the management without charge. This intangible cost is not included in the Statement of Financial Activities since there is no measurable cost to the volunteers for their service. _Fixed Assets_ The Church premises, the manse and 37 and 39 Spencer Street are included in the balance sheet at historic insurance value when first capitalized in 2006, because reliable cost information is not available, and valuation would incur significant costs which would be onerous compared with the additional benefit gained by the user of the accounts. _Depreciation_ Depreciation has not been charged on the Church or other premises, because in the opinion of the Trustees, the buildings are maintained to a good standard. **Note 2** - **Special Collections including tax refund** |Christian Aid
Gift Day
Birthday fund
**Total**
**Note 3 Ministry**
Minister
Admin costs of Ministry
Music and Books for Ministry
**Total**|**2023**
**£**
**2022**
**£**
70
954
852
1,285
879
694

**1,801**
**2,933**
**2023**
**2022**
**General General**
33,916
49,853
4,002
3,873
1,980
2,571
**39,898**
56,297| |---|---| Page8 **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **Note 4 - Mission Spending Paid Over** |**ote 4 - Mission Spending Paid Over**|| |---|---| ||**Mission Budget**| |**Overseas Mission**|£| |BMS World Mission|6,000| |BMS Relief Appeal|| |Christian Aid|| |Release International|| |TWAM|| |Manipur Charitable Trust|300| |J Cook & Vokhuls|400| |**Total Overseas Mission**|**6,700**
| |**National Mission**|| |Home Mission|7,000| |Regents Park College|700| |Bible Society|300| |Projects -CBA|200| |**Total National Mission**|**8,200**| |**Local Mission**|| |STEP|300| |Herts refugees|300| |Saltmine|370| |Open Door|| |YWAM|500| |Unlock Walk|| |Regional Ministers Fund - CBA|200| |Fund for the Future|300| |**Total Local Mission**
|**1,970**| ||**16,870**| Page 9 **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **Note 5 – Property Costs** |Insurance
Utilities
Caretaker and cleaning
Spire repairs
Maintenance and repairs
**Total**|**2023**
**General**
**2022**
**General**
£
£
6,777
6,141
22,157
4,700
27,510
25,851
80,187
-
22,859

29,298
**159,490**
65,990| |---|---| ## **Note 6 - Expenditure on Charitable Activities** ||**2023**|**2022**| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Mission Spending|16,870|17,220| |Ministry Costs|39,898|56,297| |Property Costs|159,490|65,990| |Admin Costs|15,417|12,250| |Designated Funds|1,932|1,331| |**Total**|**233,607**|**153,088**| ## **Staff Costs and Trustee Expenses – included within above** The staff costs (excluding CSC) were as follows: ||**2023**|**2022**| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Salaries|54,479|61,353| |Social security Costs|4,327|5,433| |Pension costs|3,607|10,923| |**Total**|**62,413**|**77,079**| The average number of employees in the year was 3 (2022: 4) No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000 in the year (2022 none). The Minister was the only Trustee to receive money for expenses: £5,617 (2022: £6,063) The Church previously paid pension contributions for its Ministers to the Baptist Ministers Pension Trust Limited, which was a final salary defined benefit scheme until 31st December 2011, which was not contracted out of the State second pension. The scheme is a multi-employer scheme and it is not possible to identify the assets and liabilities of the scheme, which are attributable to the Church. In accordance with FRS17 therefore, the scheme has been accounted for as a defined contribution scheme (see Note 11). Since 1st January 2012, pension provision has been made through a defined contribution scheme. Page 10 **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **Note 7 - Tangible Fixed Assets** |**Cost****_or Valuation_**
1st January 2023
Additions
Disposals
31st December 2023
**_Depreciation_**
1st January 2023
Charge for the year
31st December 2023
**_Net Book Value_**
**31st December 2023**
31st December 2022|**Church**
**including Cross**
**Street Centre**
£
**The Manse**
£
**37 and 39**
**Spencer**
**Street**
£
**Total**
£
2,924,562
248,684
211,677
3,384,923
2,924,562
248,684
211,677
3,384,923| |---|---| ||**2,924,562**
**248,684**
**211,677**
**3,384,923**
2,924,562
248,684
211,677
3,384,923| For the first time in 2006 we included our buildings on the Balance Sheet as Fixed Assets. We included them at insured value as at 01.01.2006 and then capitalised the building work, which took place during 2006. This work was performed on the Manse and 37 and 39 Spencer Street. ## **Note 8 - Designated Funds** |Manse, 37&39 SS
Special Reserve
Equipment Reserve
Toddlers
Others
**Total**|**01.01.2023**
**460,361**
**60,000**
**14,401 **
**3,295**
**926 **|**Transfers**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**ln(Out)**
**31.12.2023**
**460,361**
**60,000**
(808)
**13,593**
1,157
(1,124)
**3,328**

**926**| |---|---|---| ||**538,983**|**1,157**
**(1,932)**
**-**
**538,208**| _Manse, 37 and 39 Spencer Street_ This fund represents the Manse and 37 and 39 Spencer Street. _Special Reserve_ This represents funds that are not immediately needed for the current activities of the Church. It is held in the event of an unknown expense for ministry, mission or property. The balance held at the year-end is based on the estimated cost of covering circa four months expenses in the event of a loss of funding (£60,000). Additional funds are held in general reserve. _Equipment Reserve_ This represents money paid to the Church from Cross Street Centre Limited for the hire of all the kitchen equipment. This money is kept separate to finance the next purchases of equipment. _Toddlers_ This represents income and costs for the DSBC Toddler Group. A weekly amount is collected and pays to run the group. _Others_ This comprises the Flower Fund. Page 11 ## **Dagnall Street Baptist Church** ## **Note 9 - Restricted and Endowment Funds** |Restricted
Daycare
Special Collections
Endowment
Church premises
**Total**|**01.01.2023**
£
614
505
2,924,562|**Transfers**
**Incoming**
£
**Outgoing**
£
**ln/(out)**
£
**31.12.2023**
£
1,801
(1,731)
614
575
2,924,562| |---|---|---| ||**2,925,681**|**1,801**
**(1,731)**
**-**
**2,925,751**| ## **Note 10 - Analysis of Net Assets** |General Funds
Designated Funds
Restricted Funds
Endowment
**Total**|**Fixed Assets**
**Net Current**
**Assets and**
**Investments**
**Total**
£
£
£
130,762
130,762
460,361
77,847
538,208
1,189
1,189
2,924,562
2,924,562| |---|---| ||
**3,384,923**
**209,798**
**3,594,721**| ## **Note 11 – Pensions** The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers. The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund, started in 1925, but was closed to future accrual of defined benefits on 31 December 2011. Prior to this date the main benefit provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan was a pension of one eightieth of final minimum pensionable income for each year of pensionable service together with additional pension in respect of premiums paid on Pensionable Income in excess of Minimum Pensionable Income. From January 2012, pension provision is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan within the Scheme. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Broadstone Corporate Benefits Ltd. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited. Members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%. The Scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102. Because it is not possible to attribute the Scheme’s assets and liabilities to specific employers, the scheme is accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. A formal valuation of the DB Plan as at 31 December 2019 was carried out by a professionally qualified Actuary using the Projected Unit Method. At the valuation date the market value of the DB Plan assets was £298 million, whilst the level of assets needed to pay benefits was £316m, giving a deficit of £18m (equivalent to a past service funding level of 94%). The Church and the other participating employers in the DB Plan are collectively responsible for funding this deficit. The key financial assumptions underlying the valuation were as follows: |**Type of Assumption **|**% p.a.**| |---|---| |RPIpriceinflationassumption|3.20| |CPIpriceinflationassumption|2.70| |Minimum PensionableIncomeincreases (above CPI)|0.5| |Assumedinvestmentreturns:|| |- Pre-retirement|2.95| |- Postretirement|1.70| |Deferred pension increases:|| |- PreApril 2009|3.20| Page 12 |**Dagnall Street Baptist Church**|| |---|---| |
- PostApril 2009|2.50| ||| |Pension Increases|2.70| Mortality is assumed in accordance with 80% of the S3NA standard mortality table. Future improvements projected from 2013 in line with the “CMI 2019” projection with a long-term rate of improvement of 1.75% p.a. for males and 1.5% p.a. for females with the core smoothing parameter and with additional initial mortality improvement factor A=0.5%. The next actuarial valuation of the DB Plan within the Scheme was due to take place not later than as at 31 December 2022. However, the DB Plan is to be wound up, and the process to wind it up was started with effect from 31 March 2024 and therefore no formal valuation is due to take place. ## **Recovery Plan** In addition to the contributions to the DC Plan set out above, where a valuation of the DB Plan reveals a deficit the Trustee and the Council agree to a rate of deficiency contributions from churches and other employers involved in the DB Plan. Following the 2019 valuation a Recovery Plan was signed in September 2020 under which deficiency contributions were payable until June 2026. On 30th June 2022 the Baptist Pension Scheme signed an agreement with the insurance company Just Group (“Just”) to secure DB Plan members’ pension benefits. Just are now providing financial backing for all pensions provided through the Scheme’s DB Plan and, following this transaction, the Scheme no longer has a shortfall. An updated Recovery plan was then signed in August 2022 under which recovery contributions from each participating employer in the DB Plan reduced to £1 per month from August 2022. These contributions are payable under the recovery plan until June 2026. The outstanding deficiency contributions due under the Recovery Plan are not considered material and therefore have not been included in the balance sheet. ## **Note 12 – Related Party Transactions** The ‘Cross Street cafe’ is wholly owned and run by the Church. The directors of Cross Street Centre Limited, a company limited by guarantee, manage the cafe. The two director shareholders are the Finance Manager, Mrs Liz Blight and the Church Secretary, Chris Penn and they hold their shares as nominees for the church. During the year Cross Street Centre Limited paid the Church for use of premises £Nil (2021 £nil) and the trading profit which it covenants to the Church. In 2023 this trading profit is confirmed to be £8,321 (2022: £9,180). In addition, Cross Street Centre Limited reimbursed the following costs incurred on its behalf by the Church; wages £22,245 (2022 £21,426). There are no other related party transactions. Page 13