Secretary’s Report for Charity Commission
Church Membership and Fellowship
The year 2024 has been one of consolidation and spiritual growth for our church community. We began the year with a membership of 77. During the year, four members moved on to new opportunities, and we remember with gratitude one member who has passed into God’s presence. In December, we welcomed a new member into our fellowship, bringing our total membership to 73 as of 31st December 2024.
Many within our congregation have faced significant health challenges over the past year. We are thankful for the medical teams who have provided care, as well as the support, prayers, and compassion offered within our fellowship. Some members have experienced difficulties related to housing and employment, and we continue to provide encouragement and assistance where possible, hoping that 2025 will bring stability and blessings.
Worship and Spiritual Enrichment
Our Sunday morning services have continued to thrive, with attendance ranging between 80 and 110. The warmth and fellowship shared in worship and over refreshments remain a cornerstone of our community. We are grateful for the musical gifts within our church, including our young Sunday Club Music Makers, who have brought joy to our worship.
We give thanks for the spiritual leadership of our minister, who has guided us through enriching explorations of the Old Testament’s Big Bible Stories, the Fruits of the Spirit, the letters of Peter, Frontline Sundays, and our Advent journey. These teachings have deepened our faith and understanding.
Community Engagement and Outreach
In 2024, we were delighted to launch a new community youth group in partnership with Young Life Organisation, offering young people a space for growth and support. Our weekly activities have continued to develop, including Community Link, Kanga & Roo, Table Tennis, Jigsaw, Connect & Play, and special one-off events. These initiatives reflect our commitment to outreach, providing opportunities for connection, enrichment, and glimpses of God’s love in action.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we enter 2025, we remain dedicated to worship, service, and community-building. We embrace new challenges with faith and trust in God’s guidance, seeking to build upon our foundations while remaining open to His plans for our church’s future.
We give thanks for God’s abundant generosity. As His faithful servants, we commit to offering our gifts, time, and talents in service to Him and to our community here at Marshalswick.
Helen Little
mARsHALSCK BAPTisf FREE CHURCH CHARITY NUMBER: 1129235 FINANCIAL ATEMEr FOR THE PERIOD I JANUARY 2024 TO 31 DECEMBER 2024 RECEIPTS & PAYMEIU ACCOUNT Total funds Last funds funds Nrte £ Al Receipts Voluntary income Raised for other causes (b) (c) (d) 60.728 12,294 2.098 4.588 73,022 2,098 5,763 36,405 9,771 127,059 73,635 1,970 4,263 33,860 37,444 151,171 Investment income 1.176 36,405 Hall hire Other income (e) 765 107,315 19,745 A2 Assets & investments sales Totsl CeIpts 107,315 19,745 127,059 151,171 A3 Payments Ministry costs (f) Donations to other causes (g) Church activities Costs (h) Maintenance of d)urch properties (i) Governance & admlnlstration costs U) 37,117 10,115 7,482 29,160 8,907 92,781 14,424 37,117 12,916 7,659 29, 160 8,907 95,759 18,689 28,920 13,007 10,807 26,944 8,258 87,936 11,550 2,801 177 2,978 4.265 A4 Assets & Investments purchases Total payments 107,205 7,243 114,448 99,486 Excess of ripts over payments iio 12,501 12,611 51,686 AS Transfers between ndS 2,191 62,412 64.715 -2,191 111.151 121.460 A6 Cash fvnds last year Cash funds this year end (k) (k) 173,563 186,174 121,879 173,563 Note.. The Charity has no Endowment Funds Page3of8
STATEMENT OF ASSEfs AND LIABILrrES AT 31 DECEMBER 1024 Bl Cash funds Lktsils Unrestrlcted funds Restrlcted funds Current account HSBC Deposit accounts BUC Equals Prepaid card Cash Totsl 11,953 52,763 3,842 117,618 64,715 121.460 B2 Other monetary assets Details Unrestrirted funds Restrirted funds Nrte None B3 Investment assets tktails Fund to whlch Current value asset belongs None B4 Assets retained for the chaiitys own use Fund to whlth Current value asset belongs Details Church, Sherw&xi Avenue Manse, 4 Sherwood Avenue Fixtures and fittings- church Organ (m) (m) (m) (m) General rthneral neral General 3,097,835 544,454 187,068 543,390 BS Llabllltles Cetsils Fund to whlth Current value belongs Baptist Pension Scheme liabilty (n) General The accounts and ststement of assets and liabilities relating to the year ending 31 December 2024 were approved by the trustees {deacons} on February 2025 and are slgned on behalf of all trustee% Signed: C Chu (Treasurer) H G Little {Secretary) Page4of8
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS a. Basis of accounts These accounts have prepared on a'receipts aThJ payments. bags aThJ in accordan wh Section 133 Charities Art 2011. b. Voluntary Income 2024 60,474 2023 59,974 Offerings and Donatlons Tax recovered - Gift Aid Total Voluntary Income 73,022 73,635 c. Raised for Other causes 2024 1.051 270 778 Z098 2023 1,050 305 615 1,970 BMS World Mission- member donations BMS World Mission- Birthjay 5dkmel Special Appeals Total Raised for Other se$ d. Investment Income 2024 2023 CEpK&t interest Total Investment Income 5,763 4,263 The church has placed funds in 7&y notice and 3-month notitr deposit attounts with the Baptisi Unlon Corporation. e. Other income 2024 1,591 7,000 2023 1,663 Electricity Sokl Legacies Donation from Trin Baptist Church Kanga & Rcx) Other income Miscellaneous Income Total Other Income 35,000 200 580 200 378 602 9,771 37,444 In March 2024, we received a Wuest, which was allc(ated to the General Fund and used to contribute toward the air conditioning installati¢M for the upper hall. f. Ministry costs 2024 31,464 3,918 923 813 2023 20,412 2,931 1,528 679 Minister's stiFend Pension contribution Visiting preacher fees and expenses other ministry Costs New Minister Costs Total Ministry Costs 37.117 28,920 The Minister aLts as one of the d)urch's trustee5 and r&eives remuneration and other benefits in re5peLt of their services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by the church. Page5of8
g. DOnaonS to other causes 2024 5,040 5,040 1.321 255 500 760 11916 13,008 Special Appeals in 2024 total El,260. comprising the followiThJ.' i) E297.30 from 2023 Crisis Christmas Appeal; ill £110.98 from the Parake Party. donated to Emmaus St Albans; iii) £52. 13 from the Easter Breakfast, donated to Open Cwr,. iv) £5LK) from Harvest donations, donated to BMS Worfd Mission- and v) £300 from the 2024 Christmas Appeals, donated to the Leprosy Mission (with the remaining contributions from the Christmas Ap015 to te reCded in 2025). 2023 Home Mission - church donats.ons to CBA BMS Wodd Mission- church donation BMS World Mission- member donatior6 BMS Wodd Mission- Birthday Scheme BMS Wodd Mission- Special aplS Others - Special Appeals Total Donatlons to other causes 1,268 245 1,415 h. Church actlvltles costs 2024 2,714 2023 LInCeS and sutiscriptions Printing and stationery Church groups, clubs, outreach and pastoral care Total Church actlyltles costs 1,018 7,659 10,807 l. Malntenance of churth propertles 2024 8,645 360 3,890 3.848 5,115 2023 6,477 360 2,016 3,808 5,763 Church Broadband Council Tax Manse Insurance Cleaning - wages and materia Repairs and maintenance Total Malntenance of church proFVtles 29.160 26,944 The above costs relate to the church premises in ShwwoLK1 Avenue and the manse at4 Sherwcxjj Avenue. The significant increase in utility exwses is attributed to the expiration of our previous 5-year fixed rate contract in June 2024. Upon renewal, the church&J opted for a on+year fixed rate contract, which refiects the increased utility costs in the ojrrent market. Governance and administration 2024 155 180 2023 189 Bank Charges Professional fees - Indendert Examiner Payroll fees Church finan Alministrator salary & equipment Equals Prepaid card fees Total Administration 413 7,476 8,076 io 8.907 8,258 The (hurch has appointed a Churth FinatKe Administratr*. The thurch has appointed West of England Baptyst Payroll Company tiMIt for payroll seNices. The d)urch has Equals Prepaid Mastercards for the Treasurer aThJ the Church Finance Administrator. Cards are topped up when needed to make a payment which (anl made by bank transfer. Page6of8
Movement of funds The thurch has the following fiJrKls. Surplll5 in the General FurKI is moved to the Reserve Fund at the end of the year. Restricted Funds are funds whith must used for a spLrific purpK)se. Fund name Fund balances brought loard Income Expenditsre Transfers Fund balances carried forward Unrestrirted funds General fund Community Link Frog Kanga & Rc(J Lighthouse Recreation Club ReseNe Fund Totsl Vnrestrirted 105,177 1,939 -106,601 -604 3,191 -1,000 1,767 3,082 748 323 71 688 58,037 64,715 2,747 748 123 71 2Crf) 58,037 62,414 107.316 -107,205 2,191 Restricted funds Organ Fund Piano Fund Project 50 Phase 2 Project 50 Phase I Special Offertories Youth Alpha & Outreach Youth Work Total Restrlcted 1,610 1,610 105,527 2,191 &18 419 750 111,150 16,973 4,265 118,235 .2,191 2,521 250 -2,801 -177 368 492 750 121,460 19,745 -7,244 -2,191 TOTAL FUNDS 173,564 127,060 -114,448 186,175 Note these are rounded figures. In 2024, the Project 50 Phase I fund has been wound down, as Project 50 Phase l is considered complete. Any future expenses related to residual work from Project 50 will be allocated to the General Fund. as such expenses are categorized as maintenance costs. Assets Held for the Church's own use The church is the beneficial owner of the assets listed (subject to the relevant trusts} the legal title to whlch is hdd by the church's custodian trvstee the Baptist Union COr[ratIOn Ltd.. The values shown are insurance values as at the renewal of the policies with Baptist Insurance on 24 June 2024. Page7of8
n. Pension Scheme Liabilities The Church is a participating employer in the Bapts'st Pension Stheme fthe Stheme?, which is a separate legal entity administereé by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust "Mited}. The assets of the Scheme are hdd separately from tlTh)se of the Employer the other participating empk)yers. 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 (DBI Wan was a pension of one eightieth of final minimum pensionable income for each year of pensionable Sem tether with additional penson in respect of premiums paid on Pensionable Income in excess of Minimum Pensionab Income. From l January 2012, pension provision Is beiNJ made through the Defined Contribution (tK) 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 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 SeNice Benefits. administration costs and an assoaated Insuran policy which provides Income Protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has en insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited. A formal valuation of the DB Plan as at 31 Dember 2019 was tarried out by a professionally qualified Artuary 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 defiot 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 next actuarial valuation of the DB Flan within the Scheme was due to tske Pl 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 arted with eff&t from 31 March 2024. Therefore, no fonnal valuatlon is due to tske place. In addition to the contributions to the CC plan set out above, where a valuation of the DB plan reveals a deficit the Trustee and the Council agree to a rats of deficiency contributions from thurches and other employer5 involved in the DB Plan. Following the 2019 valuation a Recovery Plan was $1gned in September 2020 under which deficiency contribution5 were payable until June 2026. On 30th June 2022 the Baptist Pension Scheme signed an agreement wfch the Insuran company Just Group r'just? to secure DB Plan members, pension benefits. Just are now providing financial backing for all pensions provided through the Sd)eme's DB Wan and following this transath"on, the Scheme no longer has a shortfall. An updateij Recovery plan was then signed in August 2022 under which recovery contributions from each partiupatirvJ employer in the DB Plan reduted to £1 per month from August 2022. These aSed in November 2024. The outstandiNJ deficiency contn"butions due under the Recovery Plan are not considered material and therefce have not been iluded in the balan sheet. Page8of8
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of Marshalswck Baptist Free Church On accounts for the year 31 December 2024 ended Charlty no (if any) 1129235 Set out on pages 1 to 8 {including these 2 pages) I report to the trustees on my exomin8tion of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust") for the year ended 3111212024. Responslbllltles and basis of report As the charivs Intstees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all Ihe applicable Directions given by the Chanly Commission under section 14515)Ib} of the Act. Independent I have ccrtnpleted my examination. I confimi that no material matters have examlner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordanc8 Wlth sèction 130 of the Charities Act.. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement Ihal the accounts give a 'lrue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Signod: D Warren Date: 1110212025 Namo: Darren Warren - Paxton Independenl Examiners Relevant professlonal qualificationlsl or body lif any): FMAAT Address: 61a High Street South Rushden, Northants NN10 ORA Pagelto8
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of con¢em {see CC32, Independenl examination of charily accounts.. directsons and guidance for examiners}. Give here brief details of any items that the examinerwishes to dlsclose. Page2to8