## 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 



mARsHALS￿CK 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 r￿ipts 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￿ w￿h 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. DOna￿onS 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 Par￿ake 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 Ap￿015 to te reC￿ded 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 ap￿lS
Others - Special Appeals
Total Donatlons to other causes
1,268
245
1,415
h. Church actlvltles costs
2024
2,714
2023
LI￿nCeS 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 - Inde￿ndert 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
lo￿ard
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￿ t￿ether 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 D￿ember 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 therefc*e have not been i￿luded 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