## Annual Report 2024
## Bunyan Baptist Church
Charity Registration Number: 1128843 Registered Address: Basils Road, Stevenage, Herts SG1 3PY Trustees: Mr Michael Price (Secretary) Mrs Judith Turner (Treasurer) Mr Eric Beach Mrs Margaret Bugyei-Kyei Mr Alan Curtis Mr Paul Feltham Mr Peter Homfray-Cooper Mr Stephen Jackman Mrs Hannah Mettle-Mensah (from 28[th] November 2024) Mrs Sheila Smith Mrs Titilope Soyinka Property Trustees The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House 129 Broadway Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 8RT Bankers National Westminster Bank Independent Examiners Brian Kelly
The Trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2024.
Bunyan Baptist Church Annual Report 2024
## Charitable Object
The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document which states that the principal purpose of the charity 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.
The Church occupies premises, which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, on Trusts, which are entirely compatible with the above object.
## Organisational Structure and Decision-making processes
Bunyan Baptist Church is an unincorporated association with Charity Trustees appointed by a meeting of members.
Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution. Baptism by immersion upon personal profession of faith is the normal mode of entry into the membership of a Baptist church. Bunyan Baptist Church operates open membership so that persons seeking membership who have not been baptised may at the discretion of the Church Members’ Meeting be accepted for full membership based on their own public profession of faith.
The Members Meeting normally takes place five times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint Elders and Deacons, who together with the Ministers, Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the Members), are responsible for the day-to-day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. They are collectively known as the Charity Trustees.
All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective.
The Church Members Meeting is an opportunity to consider and review routine matters associated with the life of the Church including issues related to church membership, the appointment of the Charity Trustees and the approval of the budget. There will also be opportunities for considering proposals from the Charity Trustees or other Church Members for the development of the Church and the advancement of its purpose through its activities.
Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
Objectives and Activities
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.
We are an all-age community with a passion for Jesus and sharing the good news of His love. We get together regularly, with groups and events for all ages. Our Sunday services are held at 10:30am (which is also live-streamed onto YouTube) and at 6:30pm in the evening. There are occasional services at other times which are advertised in the Church Notices
Bunyan Baptist Church Annual Report 2024
and the website at www.bunyan.org.uk. There is a full children’s and young people’s programme during the morning services. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services.
The Church runs a series of house groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some members, and further details of these can be obtained from the Charity Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship.
The Church is responsible for a Toddler Group (Twinklers), which meets in the Church premises on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings during term time, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. It also runs a group called Tiny Twinklers for parents/carers with new-born babies until 12 months, which meets later on a Tuesday morning during term time.
Weekday Welcome meets on Wednesday afternoons from 3.15 pm to 4.15 pm, which provides an after-school meeting place for families, and will offer a space to sit, chat and play, over a cuppa and some cake!
The Church runs a Monday Youth Club for young people aged 11 to 18 during term time. They regularly enjoy the comfort of the Lounge in our refurbished premises, as well as enjoying a programme of outdoor activities and outings. These are all properly supervised by a trained team of youth workers.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted regarding the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The Church runs a daytime group (Time Out) for adults of all ages which meets twice per month.
## Achievements and Performance
The Church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas such as fellowship and encouragement.
The Trustees continued to search for a new Lead Minister throughout 2024, but as the year drew to a close, a candidate was writing to us with an expression of interest that was to bear fruit in 2025. We continue to celebrate baptisms, dedications, and weddings, and to enjoy a full programme of events, both inside, and outside in our local parks.
Following a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ, seven young people were baptised, and one person was received into church membership. At 31 December 2024 the membership stood at 152, four less than a year earlier.
We are also encouraged by the positive part the church plays in the life of the community of Stevenage, since in addition to activities formally linked to the church, members also served as volunteers in other local charities and organisations. This included work with a local homeless charity called The Haven, serving as volunteers in local youth, children’s and community charities, helpers at local schools, and the foodbank.
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year.
The Church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making grants to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives
Bunyan Baptist Church Annual Report 2024
compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose.
The Church is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the church’s activities, many of which run with little or no impact on the church’s expenditure, but nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the church’s objectives.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy, and are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves at the Balance Sheet date, together with ongoing income anticipated, to enable the church to function effectively in the coming year. The Trustees have assessed the major risks facing the church, and are satisfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks.
Bunyan Baptist Church Annual Report 2024
## Bunyan Baptist Church
Annual accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024
Bunyan Baptist Church, Basils Road, Stevenage, Herts. SG1 3PY Registered charity no 1128843
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Seclion A
Independent Examinerfs Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Bunyan Baptist Church. Stevenage
On a¢¢ounts for the year
ended
31 Decembw 2024
Charity no
lif any)
1128843
Set out on pages
1and2
Irerr.embèr to IndudÈ the page numbers ol 4¢dititTrn4i1 snEelE I
I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended 31112 12024.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in acC(dan wth the requirements of the Charities Act
2011 {"the Acf).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directs"ons given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5Xbl of the Act.
I have completed my examinab"on. I confimi tbal no material matters have
come lo my attention
n connection with
the examination which gNes me cause to believe that in. any material
respect:
accx)unling records were not kept in accordance with se¢tion 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's statsment
I have no concems and have rne aeross no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order lo enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
. Please delete the words in Ihe brackefs rfthey do not apply.
Slgned:
Date:
241212024
Name:
BRIAN KELLY
Relevant professional
qualificationlsl or body
(rfany):
8.A. PGCE
Address:
346 Grace Way
Stevenage
SG1 SAP
IER
October 2018
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32,
Independent examination of chanty accounts.. direGtion5 and guidance for
examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
gxaminer wishes to
disclose.
Note .' Please see High Ve1 summary of the years 2016 - 2024
IER
Octol)er 2018
BBC SOFA 2024
## **Bunyan Baptist Church**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Notes**
**Incoming resources**
Donations & Tax Refunds
2
Investment Income
3
Hire of Church & Hall
**Total incoming resources**
**Resources expended**
Charitable expenditure
Grants payable
4
Cost of charitable activities
5
**Total resources expended**
Transfers between funds (Des/Restr)
Transfers between funds (Unrest/Rest)
Net movement in funds
Total Funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total 2024**
**Total 2023**
153,947
-
8,930
162,877
194,010
3,394
-
-
3,394
3,570
2,545
2,545
1,631|
|---|---|
||£159,886
-
8,930
£168,815
£199,211|
||31,540
-
5,519
37,059
32,832
64,566
-
2,468
67,034
76,192|
||£96,106
-
£7,987
£104,093
109,024|
||0
0
0
0
0
11,356
0
-11,356
0
0
75,136
0
-10,414
64,723
90,187|
||£1,533,820
£20,000
£38,408
£1,592,228
£1,502,040
£1,608,955
£20,000
£27,994
**£1,656,950**
£1,592,228|
Page 1 of 7
04/03/2025 18:03
SOFA202
B•ptrot Church
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEAIBER 2024
Notes
2024
T*)94b Fixèd a$6ets
1.463,531
1.438,515
Current A$s81$
DÈbtotS
ank & Cash
27.433
166 584
194.017
'36'.?.?
Current Liabilitkes
Creditors due wlhin l year
Long Temi Creditors
22 C49
10
$97
£193,419
£133,852
t assets
£1.056,950
£1.592 227
Ch8ritable Funds
Restricled
D&si9n¥led
UnrnÈknc
27.994
20 000
1.608 955
12
1.533.820
t.6S6.950
£1.592 22B
not8s on pages 3 to 6 forrn an integral part of Ihe88 accounts.
se arUnts w8r8 appro¥ed by the Trusts85 m 6th Mareh 2025
8NJ $vJn8d on Ihair beha by
Judrth Tumer
Hon. Tro8surer
Mikg Price
Secfetary
Paw2oF7
252025 1647
BBC SOFA 2024
## **BUNYAN BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## 1 **ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
- a Basis of Preparation
The accounts have been prepared on a "receipts and payments" basis in accord with S133 Charities Act 2011.
- b Donations
Donations are accounted for gross when received.
- c
## Investment Income
Investment income is included in the accounts in the year when it is payable.
- d
## Grants Payable
The church makes grants to other organisations whose charitable objects complement its work. They are accounted for in the year in which they are payable.
- e
## Fixed assets
Buildings : The Church premises are included at their insurance valuation which was reviewed in 2022 by the Baptist Insurance Company
At 31 December 2024 the buildings were insured for £2.175m.
Furniture & Equipment : Assets are shown at cost less depreciation
## f Depreciation
Electrical equipment - assets are written off over 3 years on a straight-line basis Other furniture etc - assets are written off over 10 years on a straight-line basis.
Page 3 of 7
04/03/2025 18:03
BBC SOFA 2024
## 2 **Donations & Tax Refunds**
|**Donations & Tax Refunds**
Offerings
Gift Aid refund
Other Income
Twinklers Income|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total 2024**
**Total 2023**
116,664
8,021
124,685
148,890
23,249
909
24,158
29,949
3,155
-
3,155
4,588
10,878
10,878
10,584|
|---|---|
||153,947
-
8,930
£162,877
£194,010|
_"Other Income" includes CTIS admin contribution, EasyFundraising income and funeral donations_
_Restricted Offerings includes Building Fund £2,024, Foodshed/Broadwater Fair Trade £2,204 and_ Familia Moja £2,633, before Gift Aid. Payments are shown under Grants Payable
|3
**Investment Income**
Bank etc Interest
4
**Grants Payable**
Baptist Missionary Society
Home Mission Fund
Bridgebuilders
Familia Moja
WEC - Smiths
AIM - Pughs
Broadwater FairTrade/Foodshed
Other|3,394
3,394
3,570|
|---|---|
||3,394
-
-
£3,394
£1,210|
||200
200
200
5,500
5,500
7,620
3,300
3,300
3,537
6,925
2,478
9,403
1,481
3,665
3,665
3,300
11,750
11,750
13,150
3,042
3,042
3,544
200
200
-|
||£31,540
£0
£5,519
£37,059
£32,832|
Page 4 of 7
04/03/2025 18:03
BBC SOFA 2024
|5
**Cost of Activities**
Notes
Ministry
a
Mission
b
Premises
c
Other expenditure
d|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total 2024**
**Total 2023**
29,789
-
523
30,312
32,528
5,754
-
-
5,754
7,062
20,051
-
-
20,051
19,399
8,972
-
1,945
10,917
17,203|
|---|---|
||£64,566
£0
£2,468
£67,034
£76,192|
_Unrestricted payments totalled £75,035 in 2023 and Restricted payments totalled £1,157_
## a **Costs of Ministry**
|Salaries
Social Security costs
Pension costs
Other costs
Total
b
**Costs of Mission**
Evangelism
Children's work
Youth work
Training
Hardship Fund
Twinklers
c
**Costs of Premises**
Electricity, Gas & Water
Insurance
Cleaning
Upkeep of church premises
Hire of premises
d
**Other Costs**
Travel
Office Costs
Telephone & Internet
PA & Worship materials
Affiliation fees
Refreshments
Sundries
Bank Charges
BU Loan Interest Charges
Depreciation|25,723
25,723
28,613
-
0
242
1,115
-
1,115
1,323
2,951
523
3,474
2,350|
|---|---|
||£29,789
£0
£523
£30,312
£32,528|
||729
729
189
791
791
968
783
783
158
12
12
1,120
1,000
1,000
1,262
2,439
2,439
3,365|
||£5,754
£0
£0
£5,754
£7,062|
||7,757
7,757
4,632
3,157
3,157
3,070
46
46
351
9,090
9,090
11,345
-
0
-|
||£20,051
£0
£0
£20,051
£19,399|
||-
0
843
2,899
2,899
3,444
412
412
386
656
1,945
2,601
1,716
1,217
1,217
1,217
670
670
2,354
256
256
441
892
892
945
474
474
5,856
1,497
1,497|
||£8,972
£0
£1,945
£10,917
£17,203|
Page 5 of 7
04/03/2025 18:03
BBC SOFA 2024
|6
**Fixed assets**
01-Jan-24
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation
31-Dec-24|**Premises**
**Furniture**
**Computers**
**Total 2024**
**Total 2023**
**& Fittings**
**& Equpt.**
1,457,034
-
1,541
1,458,575
1,419,369
558
5,895
6,453
39,206
-
0
1,497
1,497
0|
|---|---|
||1,457,592
£
-
£
5,939
£
1,463,531
£
£1,458,575|
_Money spent during 2024 on the building project has been capitalised to reflect the increased value of the property. Interest charges on the BU Building Loan have NOT been capitalised._
|7
**Debtors**
Prepayments/Funds advanced
Gift Aid to claim
_Prepayments represents 2025 insurance_
8
**Bank & Cash**
BU Deposit A/c (7-day notice)
BU Deposit A/c (3-month notice)
Natwest Current A/c
Natwest Savings A/c
Equals Money prepaid card
Twinklers Current A/C
9
**Creditors**
Baptist Union Loan (for repayment due within 1 year)
Sundry Creditors*
_*includes £380 held for Timeout as well as outstanding donations to Missionaries be paid_
10
**Long Term Creditors**
Baptist Union Loan
11
**Restricted Fund**
This represents money given for particular purposes, not yet expended:
New Building Project
Building Loan Fund
Streaming Funds
12
**Designated Fund**
Long Term Maintenance|3,230
3,157
24,203
30,018|
|---|---|
||£27,433
£33,175|
||25,524
30,029
96,912
44,132
27,357
45,853
5,186
5,112
136
51
11,468
10,945|
||£166,584
£136,122|
||-
21,682
597
417|
||£597
£22,099|
|||
||-
£13,546|
||27,994
28,552
-
7,911
-
1,945|
||£27,994
£38,408|
||20,000
20,000|
||£20,000
£20,000|
_This represents money set aside for Long-Term Maintenance_
Page 6 of 7
04/03/2025 18:03
BBC SOFA 2024
## 13 **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 Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund, started in 1925. At the beginning of the financial year, the scheme comprised of a defined benefits scheme which was closed to future accrual on 31 December 2011 and a defined contribution plan which was opened in January 2012.The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.
For the current financial year, the pension provision for members of the Scheme is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. 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. Furthermore, members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.
In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased and the £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date.
Page 7 of 7
04/03/2025 18:03
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent ExamineT'S Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Bunyan Baptist Church. Stevenage
On accounts for the year
ended
31 December 2024
Charity no
Ilf any)
1128843
Set out on pages
1 and2
IremLJinbor 10 InclLJde rhe p3ce numbers ¢f additional sh.¥vl.
I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ("the Trust'l for the year ended 31112 12024.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accoLtnls in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act
2011 1 the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of thè Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145{51{b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have
come lo my attention
in connection with
the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material
respect=
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of
the Acl or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examÉner's statement
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Please delete rhe words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signèd:
Date:
241212025
Name:
BRIAN KELLY
Relevant professional
qualiflcatlon{s) or body
(if any):
B.A. PGCE
Address:
346 Grace Way
Stevenage
SG1 SAP
IER
October 2018