Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner The Church's Trustees are responsible for the preparat￿n of the ac￿unts. The Church's Trustees consider that an audrt is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities kt 2011 (the Charit￿ ktl arKI that an independent examination is needed. It is my resrK)nsibilty to- . examirE the accounts under seCt￿n 145 of the Chariti8s PLt. to follow ttE proCedU￿S laKI down in General Di￿tionS grven by the Charty CoMmiss￿n (under section 145(5Xbl of the Charities Act), aTh . to state whèther Part￿Ular matters have come to my attentK)n. Basis of Independent Examinerfs statsment My examination was Carri￿￿ out in aCCo￿ance with the General Directions given by the Charty CommissK)n. An examination inclLNJes a reV￿W of the accounting records kept ty the ChLJrch and a comparison of the accounts presented with those rewrds. It also includes consideratK)n of any unusual items or discbsures in the accounts, se8king explanations f￿)M the Trustees conc8mirvJ any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that Y￿uld be required in an audit. and consequ8ntly no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'truo arnl fair, view and the report is limrted to those matters set OLrt in statement below. Independent Examinerfs statement In connection with my examination. no material matter5 hav8 come to my atterrtion which gives me cause to b8li8ve that in. any material res￿. . accounting reCo￿S vtsrB not kept in accorda[￿e with sectK)n 130 of the Charttses N£t or . the acwunts do not accord with the a￿Untiry records . the accounts do not comply wtth Ihe applica￿8 requirements concerning the form aTh content of accounts set out in the Chartti8s {A£counts and Re￿rts) Rwjulations 2008 ot￿r than ary requirerrEnt that accounts give a 'true and fair view. which is not a matter consid8rBd as part of an i￿le￿rNY0nt examimtion. I have come across no other mattets in COn￿tIon with the examination to which attention should t* drawn in order to enable a proper ur)derstarKling of the accounts to be reached. Signed by or on behatf of the Examiner Date Name: J Clarf(e Relevant P￿)fessiOnal Qualifications or tthy Addr&8s: 98 East Sheen Avenue. London SW14 8AU fcA 2t P￿1019 ## **EAST SHEEN BAPTIST CHURCH CHURCH OFFICERS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024** The Church Officers present their report and accounts for the year ended 31st December 2024. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Church’s Trust Deed and the Charities Act 2011. ## **Structure, Governance and Management.** The Church was established in 1920 and formally constituted by a charitable trust deed in 1930. Following changes in legislation requiring individual Churches to be registered as separate entities, rather than under the overseeing bodies registration, in this case the Baptist Union of Great Britain, East Sheen Baptist Church was registered during the year 2009 and now operates as an independent U.K. registered charity, No.1129174. The Trust Deeds for the property are retained by The London Baptist Property Board Limited. The day to day administration of the working funds of the Church is under the administration of the Church Officers, who are all Trustees in compliance with our new charitable status. The Church Officers/Trustees who served during the year were: Rev. Dr. Louisa Hearn (Senior Minister) Ms Doris Humphrey Mr. Ian Hearn Mr Isaac Cheung (Church Treasurer) Mr. Martyn Jackman Mrs Abi Aminu Rev. Emanuel Anatey (Accredited Minister: Ghana Baptist Convention) Rev. Joel Asare (Accredited Minister: Ghana Baptist Convention) Mr. Kayode Arokodare (Church Secretary) As the need arises, new Church Officers (Trustees) are recruited from within the Church Fellowship. After prayerful consideration suitable candidates are nominated by the Church members. The ultimate decision on the appointment of a new Officer, or the returning of a retiring Officer, rests with the members, who vote by secret ballot, the result of which is then reported openly at a Church members meeting. The Church Officers have assessed the major risks to which the Church is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to these risks. Page of 2 9 ## **Objectives and Activities.** The Church’s main mission objective is to promote the Christian faith, in accordance with the principles of the Baptist Denomination, to people of all ages and backgrounds by holding regular services, prayer meetings, Bible studies and other meetings. The Church provides appropriate support freely to its formal members, its congregation and also to the local community, irrespective of their faith perspective (or none), background or circumstances. In addition the Church conducts adult baptisms, dedications, marriages and funerals when required. When planning our activities, the Church Officers take into account the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. The Church also reaches out to and supports the local community through the provision of suitable educational and social activities mid-week. These provide public benefit; many of those attending these are not members of the Church or congregation, but they do see this as their Church. This is particularly true of the young people attending during the week, Children and young people are provided with a safe and secure environment in which they can learn and play and develop, and this is greatly appreciated by their parents and carers. Other weekly local outreach activities include a parent and toddler group, a mid-week club for younger people, a dynamic café, and a Ladies Craft Group and fellowship. The latter sponsors a child in the Third World. Once a month there is a Men’s Fellowship, which meets to share problems and to debate discuss topics of Christian concern, both personal and wider social issues from a Christian perspective. All of these activities provide social support in the local community. Further expansion of our outreach initiatives, including lunch for the homeless, is under way for 2024 and beyond. The Church continues to offer food and snacks to passers-by on special occasions, such as Halloween, the annual summer barbecue, and some concerts. The Church plays its part in the community in a number of other ways, including allowing the Council to use the premises as a polling station for local and national Elections, hosting local police liaison sessions and initiating a local, and successful, campaign to have a public access defibrillator installed in the area. The Church has also hosted defibrillator training sessions. The Church also supports the international community through a number of spiritually focused missionary organisations working to relieve hunger, disease and poverty, particularly in Third World countries. Page of 3 9 ## **Achievements and performance in 2024** The developments flagged last year in this section of our report covering goals and aspirations for 2023 continued and expanded beyond expectations in 2024. Within the church there was a significant rise in the number of worshippers, many bringing their young families, at our Sunday services. Men’s and Women’s fellowship groups were started, there was a revival of our Youth ministry, expansion of the younger children’s ministry at our Sunday services, Our community outreach showed considerable growth as well. Thanks to the dramatic growth in our music ministry in the past two years, inspired by our part-time worship leader and our Hong Kong Chinese worshippers, we were able to stage a number of international evenings featuring concerts using in some cases local instruments, which raise money for charitable causes. These events attracted a lot of outside interest, both local and indeed from elsewhere in London and the ‘Home Counties’, The success of the Solid Rock Café has continued, and remains an attractive forum for informal sharing of the Gospel and for relaxed discussion of related issues over delicious coffee and home made food. The weekly Little Angels Toddler group continues to be very popular, as does the children’s music and dance class Rhyme Time. The expansion has continued throughout 2024 and we remain very positive in our aspirations for the future of the Church. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW 2024** From late 2022 we have been letting out some of our various premises, including the church flat and (for certain external mid-week activities) the Church Hall. This change was the result of Members allowing the Church, at the instigation of our Senior Minister, to use its hall and flat to raise funds. Up until then funds could only have been raised by direct giving. Consequently income has been running at higher levels in the past two years. The 2024 surplus was £13,606. This was just over half the surplus in 2023, but there was exceptional expenditure of some £25,000 on the Church roof in 2024. Without this essential significant expenditure on the premises our operational surplus would have been approximately double that of 2023. Collection revenue was down 6% on last year’s levels, but was still 20% above the 2022 total. The congregation size rose in 2023 and has continued to rise in 2024; and giving per head remains encouragingly high, despite further cost-ofliving pressures. Income from external use of the hall and church flat rental held at 2023 levels and now constitutes about one third of total receipts, and thanks to interest rates remaining at fairly high levels the income from bank deposits and charitable investments were up significantly on 2023. The value of our quoted investments in 2023 recovered after falling in 2022. The financial position of the Church overall has strengthened, and there has been further recovery in 2024. The reserves policy is regularly reviewed by the Church Officers. The main objective of holding funds is to be able to adequately remunerate and provide suitable accommodation for its existing ministerial staff (who need to live near the Church in order to fulfil their Page of 4 9 ministerial responsibilities) and to enlarge the ministerial work force as necessary. Funds are also retained to keep the Church buildings in good order and carry out repairs and maintenance so as to ensure they can serve their proper function. In accordance with the Trust Deed the Church Officers have the power to invest any funds not immediately required for the Church’s objectives in such assets as they see fit. It is the Church’s current policy to seek secure income at minimum risk and accordingly monies available are placed in cash deposits with a number of different U.K. Banks and Building Societies in order to spread financial risk. Funds have also been placed in the Charibond Charities Investment Fund in order to achieve a higher rate of return than banks are currently offering. Funds are also maintained in accounts with varying maturity dates in order to spread interest rate risk. ## **Our goals and aspirations for 2025** It is hoped that we will be able to sustain the growth in the number of worshippers into 2025, and also see a rise in the numbers attending our outreach events. Our two Ghanaian interns, both qualified baptist ministers in the Ghanaian Baptist Convention, were called by the church members to permanent ministerial positions at the end of their two year internship. They were inducted as ministers in training at East Sheen Baptist Church in the last quarter of 2024. This is a significant step as they will continue to have a significant focus on outreach but will also take on more of the general ministry alongside our Senior Minister. We hope that in 2025 we will see greater fruit from their ministry. The morning activities at the Church, such as the nursery and dance class, are all increasingly becoming environments for airing spiritual issues in an informal manner. The monthly Men’s Fellowship, at which spiritual issues can be shared and discussed in greater depth, has attracted a significant and loyal following. The Ladies craft and fellowship groups continue to provide a valuable service to the older members of the local community. These activities will be strengthened in 2025. Looking forward to 2025, the outlook is promising both spiritually and financially. Growth in the Church is allowing expansion of outreach activities whilst income should rise further as a result of growth in the Church; a modest rise in rental income from letting out the Church premises, and the persistence of higher interest rates through 2025. Page of 5 9 ## **EAST SHEEN BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS** ||||||||**2024**|**2023**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||||||| |**RECEIPTS**
**Collections**
**Tax Refunds**
**Bank Interest**
**Investment Income**
**Thank offering**
**Donations**
**Other**
**Legacies**
**Transfers in**
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**|**Not**||**e**
Unrestricted
Funds £|Designated
Funds £|Restricted
Funds £||**Total**
**£**|**Total**
**£**| ||||£60,946
£0
£12,947
£12,538
£47,315
£4,320||£520
£1,333||**£61,466**
**£0**
**£12,947**
**£12,538**
**£1,333**
**£47,315**
**£4,320**|**£65,116**
**£13,316**
**£4,092**
**£7,080**
**£450**
**£46,174**| ||||£138,066||£1,853||**£139,918**|**£136,228**| |||||||||| |**PAYMENTS**||||||||| |**Staff Costs**
**Support of Ministry**
**Establishment**
**Administration**
**Evangelism and Missionary**
**Mission (Direct)**
**Benevolent giving**
**Vehicle Replacement**
**Small fund transfers**
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
**NET RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS)**|**£53,960**
**£50,064**
**£7,294**
**£8,289**
**£43,498**
**£13,546**
**9**
**£7,415**
**£15,144**
**£1,910**
**£2,077**
**£21,382**
**£10,214**
**£811**
**£1,641**
**£0**
**£0**
**-£9,956**
**£9,413**
**£126,312**
**£110,387**
**£13,606**
**£25,841**
£53,960
£7,294
£43,498
£7,415
£1,910
£21,382
£0
£811
£0
£0
-£9,956
£135,458
-£9,146
£0
£2,608
£9,146
£1,853||£53,960
£7,294
£43,498
£7,415
£1,910
£21,382
£0
£0
£135,458|£811
-£9,956
-£9,146|£0
£0||**£53,960**
**£7,294**
**£43,498**
**£7,415**
**£1,910**
**£21,382**
**£811**
**£0**
**-£9,956**
**£126,312**|**£50,064**
**£8,289**
**£13,546**
**£15,144**
**£2,077**
**£10,214**
**£1,641**
**£0**
**£9,413**
**£110,387**| |||||||||| ||||£2,608|£9,146|£1,853||**£13,606**|**£25,841**| |||||||||| |**Transfers From general fund**||**£0**
**£0**||||||| |||||||||| |**Net after Transfers**
**Balances B/F 01/01/2024**
**Balances C/F 31/12/2024**|||£2,608|£0|£0||**-£10,182**|**£765**| ||||£370||£21,757||**£895,661**|**£894,896**| ||||£0||£5,897||**£885,479**|**£895,661**| Page of 6 9 EAST SHEEN BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF AssEfs AND UABIUTIES AS AT" ":" ' . . :. .: ,, ..:. .... 314)oc.24 2024 2023 Uftrostricled Fun De￿￿ated Funds Re8tric*ed Funds Y•ars' Total YoAr4' Cash Funds Cash Balances BankCurr¢nt kcounts Dtsposit Aco)unts £79.164 £101 232 £180 396 £79.1e4 £151232 £101m £121184 £50 O)0 £50 £0 Inv¢stment Ass•ts Term Dapo¥ts Quoted Inv8Stments Prosxtty Othef £346,978 £295,Xg7 £12,897 £359,875 £359.875 £642 185 £12 897 703 Tow ¢ash & Inv Ass•ts £12897 478 Non Monatsry Assets Retsined For ChU￿h Use Churth Builong Ministerfs House Ass MiTh8tsrf8 Hat E¢wipnent Chur¢h Motor Vehide £2,2￿,510 £418.641 £307.333 £135,070 £4.295 200,510 £414641 200,510 £411641 £307,333 £134070 £134070 £4295 £0 £0 054 TOTAL ASSETS £3 294 520 £69 £12 897 LlabSlltles £0 £0 £0 N¢t Assets £3 079 794 £898 052 £3 958 714 The unts ww• ap th•ir behall . Dr. L￿1$a Hmm {S•nlor Minister) Mr I Choung (Treasurer) Page7of9 ## East Sheen Baptist Church ## Notes to Financial Year Ending 31 December 2024 ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 on the Receipts and Payments basis. ## **2. CLASSIFICATION OF FUNDS** (a) UNRESTRICTED FUNDS may be used by the Church for any of its ordinary purposes. The movements in the fund are as shown in the Receipts and Payments Account. (b) DESIGNATED FUNDS represent sums set aside out of ordinary unrestricted funds for designated purposes, but they can be transferred back into general funds at any time. (c) RESTRICTED FUNDS represent monies given for a specific purpose. These funds may only be spent on the specific purpose for which they were given unspent must be carried forward as a balance on that fund and cannot be absorbed into general funds. ## **3. INVESTMENT ASSETS** Quoted investments represents 272,138 income shares held in Charibond investments These quoted investments are shown at market value at 31/12/2024 of £295,207 (£304,828 in 2023) All other investments shown are cash assets. ## **4. ASSETS FOR CHURCH PURPOSES** Assets and property which are retained for or are occupied for Church purposes and which are not investment assets are listed on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as nonmonetary assets. The Church is the beneficial owner of the Church premises, the Manse and Flat. However, the legal title to these assets is held by the Church's Property Trustee, The London Baptist Property Board Limited. These buildings are shown at insured value on those owned prior to 1997 and at cost for additions thereafter. ## **5. PAYMENTS TO TRUSTEES** |**5. PAYMENTS TO TRUSTEES**|||| |---|---|---|---| ||2024|2023|| |Expenses paid to trustees (other than ministers)||0|0| |Number of trustees paid expenses|0|0|| |Trustees receiving other benefits||0|0| Page of 8 9 None of the Trustees received any payment during the year in their capacity as Trustees. However Rev. Dr. Louise Hearn, and Mr E Fauss were paid in their capacity as ministers, and Mr Hearn received £2,929 (2023, £2,154) in payment for caretaker tasks provided to the church and church properties in the year. |||2024|2023| |---|---|---|---| |Rev Dr Louise Hearn|Senior Minister|38,368|35.200| |Mr E Fauss|Lay worship Pastor|1,214|9,848| |Pastor Emanuel|Accredited Minister|5,704|-| |Pastor Joel|Accredited Minister|5,704|-| ## **6. STAFF COSTS** These include the following:- The Church is an employer participating in a pension scheme known as the Baptist Pension Scheme ("the Scheme"). Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Minister(s) [and some members of the church staff] is/are eligible to join the Scheme. As From January 2012, pension provision is 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 Legal and General Life Assurance Society Limited. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income (or 3% if the employer is in the segregated DC section) to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members in the event that they are unable to work due to long term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Pastor Britain with AVIVA. Members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income and their employers also pay a total of 5%. The total pension cost for the Church in 2024 was £3,180 (2023 £2,862) Page of 9 9