2024-12-31-accounts - Lincoln Baptist Church

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LINCOLN BAPTIST CHURCH

Lincoln Baptist Church – Registered Charity 1130524

Consolidated Accounts

For the year ending:

31[st] December 2024

(Including Notes and Subsidiary Accounts)

Independent Examiner’s Report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity, Lincoln Baptist Church for the year ended 31st December 2024 which are set out on pages 3 to 20.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the charity trustees of the Lincoln Baptist Church, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

I report in respect of my examination of the Lincoln Baptist Church 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(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to 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 Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true 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 order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Ryan Rousseau MAAT AATQB

RFBS Accounting Ltd 22 Beechcroft Close South Hykeham Lincoln Lincolnshire LN6 9NB

Date: 14.02.2025

Lincoln Baptist Church

The Trustees Report, the Consolidated Accounts and Notes relating to the year ending 31st December 2024 have been approved by the Leadership Team as Managing Trustees of the Church in compliance with the Statement of Recommended Accounting Practice. Further Subsidiary Accounts relate to the same year and are provided for the information of Church Members for their approval at the March Church Members meeting.

Mrs Marion Watson (Treasurer)

Dated: January 2025

Report of Trustees

Lincoln Baptist Church is governed under God by the Church Meeting, being those properly admitted members under the rules. It is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and holds property under the ultimate trust of the East Midland Baptist Trust Company who permits the Church to manage their affairs locally. Further details are contained in:

The Approved Governing Document (B.U. & Charity Commission) adopted 1[st] February 2009
Baptist Model Trust for Chapels and Halls (BUC B8) obtainable from: The Baptist Union Corporation, Baptist House, 149 Broadway, DIDCOT, Oxon

Under these rules the Leadership Team including the Pastor act as Trustees of a Charity (Lincoln Baptist Church Reg 1130524 13[th] July 2009 and revised in 2017) and Managing Trustees of the property. They are now appointed and elected in accordance with the Governing Document.

Pastor: Rev Daniel Pollin (appointed March 2023)

The following leaders were elected during the last three years to serve on the Leadership Team alongside the Pastor: (when in post)

Leader: (Secretary): Dr. Richard Windle (re-elected in September 2022)
Leader: (Treasurer): Mrs. Marion Watson (re-elected in June 2024)
Leader: Dr. Ola Ogunyemi (re-elected in September 2024)
Leader: Rev Nic Hasnip (elected in March 2022)
Leader: Mrs Patrica Housham (elected in March 2022)

The Trusteeship Secretary of the East Midland Baptist Association is Mr Tim Chowns contactable at the Baptist House (see above).

Agents and Advisors

Ryan Rousseau MAAT AATQB

[RFBS Accounting Ltd] as Independent Examiner

Anthony Collins 134 Edmund Street, BIRMINGHAM B32ES

as Solicitors

Golding and Young Station Road, NORTH HYKEHAM

as Valuers in earlier years

Investment Powers

The Treasurer and other members of the leadership team manage the church's monies independently under the authority of the Church Meeting and are permitted to authorise capital expenditure (according to a schedule of authorities) for repairs, renewals, improvements, investments and loans. Matters concerning sale, lease or license of lands and buildings require consultation with our Ultimate Trustees.

Our Vision Statement is taken straight from the Great Commission. We are focused on seeing people become believers in Jesus, and then growing in their faith.

To make and grow disciples in Jesus

Alongside this sits our Mission Statement, based on Acts 2:42:

Lincoln Baptist Church is devoted to:

Teaching the Bible
Sharing in Fellowship
Sharing the Gospel through Communion
Meaningful prayer

Public Benefit

As a charity, we also need to address the public benefit reporting requirements that now apply. This report concentrates on what the charity seeks to achieve, through the Vision Statement and the activities of the church in seeking to meet the needs of its members, friends and the wider community.

When planning our activities, the Leadership Team have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion in particular. We try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of the community through:

Worship, prayer, preaching and study of God’s word to develop their knowledge of, and trust in Jesus.
Provision of pastoral care for people in our community
Mission and outreach work

Activities

The Pastor, Church Secretary or other members of the Leadership Team normally preside over the main activities of the church which include:

Worship at Sunday services, including communion services
Monthly Leadership team meetings for prayer, planning and administration
Monthly and weekly prayer meetings
Bi-monthly Church meetings
Planning and coordinating the regular House Groups held in locations across the City plus surrounding villages
Coordinating the Family Ministries teaching
Pastoral care, including visitation and assistance of the elderly and sick
Personal counseling of those in need of spiritual support or guidance

The Church meeting and Leadership team delegate authority to others within the fellowship to lead the House groups and other activities.

Sunday church services continued alongside Leadership Team meetings and Church Members meetings. Monthly and weekly prayer meetings continued; House Group meetings were also facilitated by Zoom or in person. Numbers on a Sunday morning have generally increased over the year. Fellowship meals have continued, with 80-100 in attendance each month.

Financial Affairs

Funds are raised in a variety of ways:

Regular giving through standing orders, (many covered by Gift Aid declarations), to the general funds of Lincoln Baptist Church
Occasional special offerings for nominated charities
Occasional sales in support of a particular cause or activity
Contract parking charges in respect of the church car-park
Letting of the premises for the Children’s Centre and other bookings
Charges for weddings and funerals
Legacies and in-memoriam donations

A lease agreement between Lincoln Baptist Church as the landlord, and Lincolnshire County Council (Children’s Services) as the tenant runs to June 2026. This permits use of the Abbey Suite of rooms at the church premises on Croft Street by the tenant each weekday from 8.30am – 5.00pm. Under the terms of the lease which was approved and countersigned by East Midlands Baptist Trust Co. Ltd as well as both parties, calculated utility costs, service charges (cleaning and waste), car parking and premises rent are now invoiced quarterly to the tenant, in advance, according to the terms of the lease.

Small amounts of cash (via a locked collection box in the building) coming into the main church fund are handled by the treasurer. An immediate BACS transfer is witnessed being made into the church general fund by a second member. All payments from the church general fund are managed by on-line BACS payments, debit card payment or other bank transactions.

The main costs of the church are: maintenance of the church building, heating and lighting, and administration; payroll - a full time Pastor from and a part time caretaker.

During 2024 improvements were made to the church building including:

Partition work between the sports hall and lounge
Security fencing around the back step
Upgrade to doors and security at each end of the corridor used by the Children’s Centre
Upgrades to electrical systems

The disbursement of funds beyond the church is equally varied:

Budgeted support for: Baptist Home Mission; BMS World Mission; New Tribes Mission; Tearfund; Shepherd Food Ministries; Leprosy Mission; Challenge Ministries including partner church is Eswatini
Budgeted support for our own church-based missionaries
Small donations to people in need at the discretion of Leadership Team
Donations to the local community (mainly through Monks Abbey School) to meet specific needs
Annual disbursement of money, determined by the Leadership Team, to various causes.

All organisations and individuals who have received significant sums are listed in the accounts.

The Annual General Meeting at the end of 2000 agreed to permit temporary resort to overdraft in future years. Giving to outside causes from unrestricted funds can be reduced if income falls. All employees' contracts include a clause allowing termination within no more than nine months ensuring that the commitments of the organisation can be matched to its actual resources.

The Treasurer Mrs Marion Watson is assisted by Mr Malcolm Morton (Finance Administration). Church member Mr Malcolm Morton and Mrs Marion Watson (Treasurer) are signatories for the church bank accounts, with two required to authorise payments including on-line payments, using the agreed e-mail authorisation and internal audit processes. Following ‘financial direction’ discussions at the November AGM, the Treasurer draws up a budget for approval at the January Church meeting (or at the next quorate Church meeting). This sets out the financial plan and objectives for the year, authorising the Treasurer, Leaders and other delegates.

The following group in the church undertake their own banking via current or savings accounts.

FiSH – Mr Malcolm Morton

Any organisation with its own banking is required to have two signatories for transactions and to adhere to Rules for Church Organisations. These funds are reported in the following Accounts and consolidated into the Church Statement.

Income during 2024 slightly exceeded budget expectations as a result of a slight increase in giving and some specific gifts. Additional expenditure in missions giving occurred as a result of significant payments made of a ‘caring’ or ‘missions’ nature.

The financial performance is tracked during the year and reported on a regular basis by reports and notes circulated amongst the Leadership team and church members. The finance policy, as agreed by church members, is reviewed on an annual basis. There were no changes made this year.

Annual Accounts are presented after Independent Examination to a meeting of Members each spring.

LINCOLN BAPTIST CHURCH

Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 December 2024

		General	Restricted	Total Funds	Total Funds
		Fund	Funds	2024	2023
	Note	£	£	£	£
INCOMING RESOURCES
Offerings		94,394	-	94,394	95,314
Legacies		-	-	-	-
Rental Income		35,245	-	35,245	31,533

Other Income

Other Income TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES USED Staffing Salary and Expenses Property Maintenance and Upkeep Administrative Expenses Church Events and Projects Outward Giving TOTAL RESOURCES USED NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD TRANSFER BETWEEN FUNDS BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD	19,890 - 19,890 18,179 149,529 - 149,529 145,026 39,676 - 39,676 39,940 46,039 - 46,039 50,161 8,044 - 8,044 8,143 17,560 - 17,560 46,674 43,026 - 43,026 39,654 154,342 - 154,342 180,771 (4,813) - (4,813) (35,745) 87,420 50,084 137,504 173,573 - - - - 82,607 50,084 132,691 137,828

LINCOLN BAPTIST CHURCH

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024 Note FIXED ASSETS 4 Tangible Fixed Assets CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank and in hand CURRENT LIABILITIES Loans Creditors & Advanced Receipts NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES FUNDS Unrestricted Funds	2024 £ £ 1,539,984 132,691 132,691 - - - 132,691 1,672,675 508,594 8	2023 £ £ 1,562,097 137,828 137,828 - - - 137,828 1,699,925 535,844	2023 £ £ 1,562,097 137,828 137,828 - - - 137,828 1,699,925 535,844
		137,828 - -
		-
			1,699,925
			535,844

Restricted Funds 1,164,081 1,164,081 Total Funds 1,672,675 1,699,925

LINCOLN BAPTIST CHURCH Notes To The Accounts For The Year Ended 31 December 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and the Charities SORP (Statements of Recommended Practice). The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of the Church land and buildings.

A. Funds

General funds represent the funds of the Church that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the Church. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the trustees are also unrestricted.

The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the trustees are responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church based groups that owe their main affiliation to another body nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

B. Incoming resources

Donations

Collections are recognised when received or certificated by or on behalf of the Church. Planned giving receivable under covenant is recognised only when received. Income tax recoverable on covenants or gift aid donations is recognised when the income is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for as soon as the Church is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due.

Other income

Other income is accounted for when payment is received.

Income from investments

Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable.

C. Fixed assets

The Church land and buildings

The church is regarded as a specialised building under the provisions of Financial Reporting Standard no. 15 and is valued on the basis of depreciated replacement cost. The trustees' best estimate of this value is the rebuilding costs for insurance purposes plus the market value of the land. The surplus over the original cost is credited to a

revaluation reserve which is shown separately on the balance sheet. There are considerable practical difficulties in obtaining the precise measurement of the original cost of the land and buildings, not least due to the passage of time. The Treasurer and Finance team have made the most accurate assessment that is possible in the circumstances. The amount of the Church valuation transferred to the Capital Reserve, therefore, is the best estimate available.

Manse land and buildings

The manse is a non-specialised building and included in the accounts at valuation less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is charged at the annual rate of 2% on cost. A new manse was purchased during 2023 at a cost of £345,000

Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment

Depreciation of equipment used within the church premises is on a ‘straight-line’ basis at the rate of 10% or 20% per annum according to the anticipated 5 or 10 year life of the asset. The register has been updated to reflect the situation at the end of 2023 and to include only those items with a purchase value of £500 or above.

2. EMPLOYEES' REMUNERATION

Total remuneration (all employees) for the year was £39,673 No employee earned £40,000 p.a. or more.

The number of paid staff for the year was: 2

a) Pastor (full-time)
b) Caretaker (part-time)

3. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

The Pastor (when in post) is also a trustee of Lincoln Baptist Church. Remuneration (including salary, pension contributions and travel expenses) for the Pastor was £29,735 during 2023 which included just over £3,500 travel costs to and from Scotland until the manse purchase/move date was completed in June/July 2023

4. FIXED ASSETS - Tangible

LINCOLN BAPTIST CHURCH

FIXED ASSETS - TANGIBLE

Fixtures and Church Manse Equipment Total Note £ £ £ £

COST OR VALUATION

At 1 January 2024 Additions Disposals Revaluation At 31 December 2024 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2024 Charge for the year On Disposals At 31 December 2024 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2024 At 1 January 2024	At 1 January 2024 Additions Disposals Revaluation At 31 December 2024 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2024 Charge for the year On Disposals At 31 December 2024 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2024 At 1 January 2024	1,164,081 345,000 128,210 1,637,291 - - 7,224 7,224 - - - - - - -	1,164,081 345,000 128,210 1,637,291 - - 7,224 7,224 - - - - - - -	1,164,081 345,000 128,210 1,637,291 - - 7,224 7,224 - - - - - - -
		1,164,081 345,000 135,433 1,644,514
		- - 75,193 61,297 - 6,900 22,437 29,337 - - - -
		- 6,900 97,630 104,530
		1,164,081 338,100 37,803 1,539,984 1,164,081 345,000 53,016 1,562,097 Manse Fixtures and Equipment Total £345,000 £128,210 £1,637,291 £7,224 £345,000 £135,434 £1,644,515 £75,193 £75,193 £6,900 £22,734 £29,337
	Church	Manse	Fixtures and Equipment	Total
COST OR VALUATION
At 1 January2024	£1,164,081	£345,000	£128,210	£1,637,291
Additions			£7,224
Disposals
At 31 December 2024	£1,164,081	£345,000	£135,434	£1,644,515
DEPRECIATION
At 1 January2024			£75,193	£75,193
Change for theyear		£6,900	£22,734	£29,337
On disposal

At 31 December 2024		£6,900	£97,630	£104,530
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2024	£1,164,081	£338,100	£37,803	£1,539,984
At 1January2024	£1,164,081	£345,000	£53,016	£1,562,097

Supplementary financial information

Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
INCOME COST CENTRE	£	£
Opening Balance Current Account - Jan ‘24	£87,420.22	£87,420.22
Revenue - Offering Standing Orders, Loose Offering & Other Gifts	£90,000.00	£94,394.38
Revenue - Gift Aid Recovery	£20,000.00	£19,889.77
Revenue - Lettings	£32,000.00	£35,244.70
TOTAL	£229,420.22	£236,949.07

Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
STAFFING COST CENTRE	£	£
Staffing - Ministerial Gross Pay	£34,320.00	£34,262.29
Staffing - Ministerial Pensions Contributions	£3,620.00	£0.00
Staffing - Caretaking	£5,490.00	£5,410.60
TOTAL	£43,430.00	£39,672.89

Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
PROPERTY COST CENTRE	£	£
Manse - Insurance	£600.00	£511.37
Manse - Council Tax, Water Rates.	£3,500.00	£2,675.44
Manse - Maintenance Requirements	£1,400.00	£240.00
Church - Insurance	£4,020.00	£3,918.72
Church - Water	£350.00	£282.00
Church - Electricity	£2,500.00	£2,306.95
Church - Gas	£7,500.00	£8,189.78
Church - Fire, Security, Health & Safety	£4,000.00	£4,228.09
Church - Maintenance Requirements	£34,000.00	£9,476.50
Church - Housekeeping & Cleaning	£14,000.00	£14,210.18
TOTAL	£71,870.00	£46,039.03

Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
ADMINISTRATION COST CENTRE	£	£
Admin - Mobile, Phone & Broadband	£2,000.00	£1,097.92
Admin - Subscriptions & Licences	£5,500.00	£5,604.48
Admin - Misc. Admin incl Auditor, Postage & Photocopier	£1,550.00	£1,111.75
Admin - Bank Charges & Payroll Charges	£250.00	£229.90
TOTAL	£9,300.00	£8,044.05


Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
GLOBAL COMMUNITY COST CENTRE	£	£
Global Community - Online Church	£4,000.00	£3,087.22
TOTAL	£4,000.00	£3,087.22

Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
GLOBAL ACTION & MISSIONS COST CENTRE	£	£
Global Gospel Missions	£16,800.00	£16,200.00
Global Action & Gospel Missions	£13,200.00	£15,400.00
TOTAL	£30,000.00	£31,600.00

Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
LOCAL COMMUNITY COST CENTRE	£	£
Local Community - General, incl Monks Abbey School	£11,000.00	£11,425.63
TOTAL	£11,000.00	£11,425.63

Ledger Reference Description	2024 Budget	Actual Position 31.12.2024	NOTES
LOCAL CHURCH COST CENTRE	£	£
Local Church - Fellowship Meals and Refreshments	£5,000.00	£3,941.39
Local Church - Caring Needs	£7,000.00	£5,552.42
Local Church - Resources - All Ministries	£3,000.00	£2,844.35	I

Local Church - Training & Development	£2,000.00	£981.66
Local Church - Visiting Speaker Fees & Sunday Service Needs	£2,000.00	£1,153.24
TOTAL	£19,000.00	£14,473.06

CURRENT ACCOUNT ACTUAL BALANCE AT 31.12.2024		£82,607.19
SAVINGS ACCOUNT ACTUAL BALANCE AT 31.12.2024		£50,084.08
ALL ACCOUNTS ACTUAL BALANCE AT 31.12.2024		£132,691.27

OTHER MINISTRIES ASSOCIATED WITH LINCOLN BAPTIST CHURCH

FiSH Accounts 2024

INCOME	£	£
Balance Brought Forward	4,208.56
LBC(reclaimed tax)	793.75
Talk donations	45.00
Other donations(11 individuals)	3611.00
TOTAL		8,658.31

EXPENDITURE	£	£
Summer 2024 vouchers	2,310.00
Christmas 2024 hampers	784.07
TOTAL		3,094.07

BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD	(bank account)	5,564.24

Consolidated statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 December 2024

INCOMING RESOURCES	CURRENT BANK ACCOUNT	RESERVES BANK ACCOUNT	TOTAL FUNDS
Standing Orders, Loose offering & Additional Gifts	£94,394
Gift Aid	£19,890
Lettings	£35,245
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES	£149,529

RESOURCES USED
Staffing	£39,673
Property	£46,039
Administration	£8,044
Global Community (online)	£3,087
Global Mission Giving	£31,600
Local Community Giving	£11,426
Local Church Giving & Expenses	£14,473
TOTAL RESOURCES USED	£154,342

NET INCOME/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES 2024	(£4,813)
BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD from 2023	£87,420
BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD to 2025	£82,607	£50,084	£132,691

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024

FIXED ASSETS
Tangible Fixed Assets	£1,539,874
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at bank (Current & Reserves Accounts)	£132,691
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Loans, Creditors, Advance Receipts	£0

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES	£1,672,675

Unrestricted Reserves	£508,593
Restricted Reserves	£1,164,081
	£1,672.674