## **ACOMB BAPTIST CHURCH TRUSTEES REPORT 2023-4**
**Charity Number 1131491**
**Acomb Baptist Church**
## **Report of the Managing Trustees for the period 1[st] January 2023 to 5 April 2024**
The Managing Trustees present their report and audited financial statements for the 15-month period ended 5[th] April 2024.
## **Reference and Administrative Information**
Charity Name: Acomb Baptist Church Charity registration number: 1131491 Registered operational address Acomb Baptist Church, Ridgeway, York, YO26 5DW
## **Managing Trustees**
Rev. Chris Ray Chairman Mr Andrew Frodsham Treasurer (To December 2023) Mrs Susan Hall Secretary Mr Robert North Trustee
## **Independent Examiner**
Mr Chris Fairburn
## **Bankers**
CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ
Lloyds Bank, PO Box 1000, BX1 1LT
2
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## **Governing Document**
Acomb Baptist Church is a charity registered on 3[rd] September 2009 and is governed by the Constitution accepted by the Charities Commission on that date. On 25[th] November 2021 the Church approved minor amendments to the Constitution, notably to enable Church Members’ Meetings to be held, and voting conducted, in person or by electronic means.
## **Appointment of Managing Trustees**
The Church Members’ Meeting appoints Charity Trustees to be responsible for the governance of the Church. Where there is a Minister that person is a Charity Trustee because of their role and responsibilities. The Church Members’ Meeting also arranges for the appointment of a Church Secretary and Treasurer (or equivalents) who shall by the nature of their responsibilities be Charity Trustees.
The appointment of Charity Trustees is undertaken by processes that are public, clear and open so that all Church Members are enabled to consider prayerfully who should be appointed. The process ensures that notice is given of any forthcoming election so that Church Members may freely nominate prospective Charity Trustees whose names shall be submitted (after they have indicated a willingness to be appointed) for decision to the Church Members with the intention of ensuring that those appointed have a sufficient level of support.
## **Organisational Structure**
Acomb Baptist Church has Trustees, known as the Church Leadership Team, which comprise: the Minister, Treasurer, Secretary and others appointed as Trustees. This group oversees all activities of the Church.
## **Governance**
In the years following the Covid pandemic, the Charity struggled to meet its obligations in relation to filing of its annual accounts. In 2023, to address the delays, the Trustees appointed a financial coordinator, who identified poor record keeping and variations between bank reconciliations and accounts submitted for independent examination. Whilst finding no major impact on the Charity’s operations, finances or external reputation, the Trustees acknowledged the failings in governance and made a Serious Incident Report to the Charities Commission.
The co-ordinator subsequently reconciled the position with bank statements for 2020-2022 and following the introduction of a proper double-entry accounting system, prepared new sets of accounts for re-examination. In his report, the independent examiner expressed his satisfaction at the introduction of new financial procedures at the Charity, along with strengthened record-keeping, reporting and accountability arrangements.
Having aligned its accounting period with the fiscal year, the Charity’s accounts for 2023-24 were approved by the examiner without any qualifying remarks.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The principal purpose of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the Baptist Union’s Declaration of Principle. The Church may also carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world. The Trustees of Acomb Baptist Church are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our Church and become members of our Christian community.
3
When planning our activities for the year, the Trustees have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular the specific guidance to charities on the advancement of religion. We aim to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our Church community through:
- Regular public worship, Communion of the Lord’s Supper and prayer;
- Bible study, preaching and teaching, nurture and growth of Christian disciples;
- Education and training for Christian and community service;
- Baptism, as defined in the Baptist Union’s Declaration of Principle;
- Evangelism and mission, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally;
- The teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people;
- Giving and encouraging pastoral care;
- Supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad;
- Encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians.
## **Worship, Communion of the Lord’s Supper and Prayer**
Our services use a mixture of both old and contemporary music, encouraging people of all ages to engage in worship and prayer. Communion is usually celebrated on the third Sunday of the month as part of the morning service. The Church continues to offer the option of joining on Zoom for the benefit of those with health challenges and those who wish to join the service from further afield.
Worship and Prayer also take place in the context of the Home Groups which meet in homes in different locations across Acomb and York and on different days to make them accessible to as many people as possible. The weekly Zoom Prayer Meeting gives further opportunity for people to develop faith by engaging in prayer.
## **Preaching, Bible study, and Teaching**
Preaching takes place within our Sunday services on themes determined by the Minister in conjunction with others. The Minister is the main preacher, supported by other members of the preaching team. On occasion external speakers are invited to preach and lead at our services giving opportunity for the congregation to hear a wider perspective.
There are weekly opportunities for Bible Study within the Home Groups, drawing on published materials and our own teaching booklets specifically geared to the needs of our members and attendees. The groups are well attended and appreciated. Depending on the needs and preferences of members, groups now meet in person or continue to meet via Zoom.
We are committed to training for all roles within Church life and the Leaders of these groups meet to share ideas and experience and for training three times a year to help them with this task.
## **Nurture and Growth of Christian Disciples, Education and Training for Christian and Community Service**
All aspects of Church life aim to help people grow as Christian Disciples, by developing understanding of what it means to be a disciple and promoting opportunities to put faith into action by service to the Church and to the local Community.
4
## **Evangelism and Mission, Regionally, Nationally and Internationally**
Helping those in need is an expression of our faith and an outworking of the call to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves.’ Over 20 per cent of our donations was given away to organisations and individuals working at home and overseas in promoting Christianity; teaching and training in third world situations and relieving suffering in areas of need. Money was set aside in the 2023 budget specifically for disaster relief.
We give to the Baptist Union Home Mission Fund which helps to support Ministers in Churches which are unable to support their own Minister.
Acomb Baptist Church benefitted from participation in the Yorkshire Baptist Association’s Learning Hub, run jointly with the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. The aim of the two-year programme was to equip and enable Church members to practise their faith and values in their homes and workplaces.
## **Evangelism and Mission Locally**
Church mid-week activities engage with a range of local people across all ages and situations, and give opportunities to build relationships, provide practical support and share our faith. Coffee Bar ran weekly through the year, and ABC Club for parents/carers and Toddlers weekly during term time. The first Sunday of the month was regularly designated a ‘Sabbath Together’ event, where church family and guests were invited to stay for a meal and enjoy social time together through the afternoon.
## **The Teaching, Encouragement, Welcome and Inclusion of Young People**
In all things we aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment for children in which they are helped to develop and understand Christian beliefs, including in both the Sunday services and the mid-week clubs.
Our part-time Children’s worker has been developing ministry among the 8-12 age group. All involved with youth and children’s work undergo an enhanced DBS check and receive training in Safeguarding and Child Protection Issues. We provide a range of good quality, safe equipment and toys for all of our work.
Children are made welcome in our services, learning to worship alongside the adults. Our Children and Young People leave part way through the service for their own groups, with age-related activities to help them understand Christian teaching. The younger group has Bible stories and the opportunity to play and engage with each other in a Christian context.
Reps caters for young people in the age range 11-18 who explore what it means to be a Christian, to worship and to put their faith into practice in a modern world.
## **Giving and Encouraging Pastoral Care**
Pastoral care for members of the Church is provided through the Home Groups, where Christians form close friendships and support each other. This is reinforced through the Pastoral team which provides help and support, often for those who are elderly or frail and where the demand is too great for a Home Group. The Minister also provides pastoral support for those who are bereaved and conducts funeral services allowing family and friends to express their grief and give thanks for the life of a loved one.
5
## **Supporting and Encouraging Charitable Social Action in the United Kingdom and Abroad**
Acomb Baptist Church supports individuals, groups and societies which are engaged in charitable social action. Examples of these include:
- BMS World Mission and other agencies engaged in Mission or relief work in many areas of the world;
- York Youth Trust (YoYo), which promotes and supports Christian activities in local schools.
- Family Matters York, which promotes family values and provides a range of parenting courses and marriage courses. Members of the Church regularly lead parenting courses, mostly in York schools and other Churches.
## **Encouraging Relationships with and Supporting Baptists and Other Christians**
The Church is involved by membership, and directly or indirectly by the Minister’s support, of the various agencies of the Baptist Union, such as the Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA). The annual assembly of the Baptist Union is usually attended by the Minister.
Church leaders of the various denominations in Acomb and in the City of York maintain regular contact to pray and collaborate on joint ventures.
Susan Hall, Secretary January 2025
Approved by the Trustees on 31[st] January 2025.
6
## **Acomb Baptist Church**
## **15 Month Financial Statement Period Ending 5 April 2024**
||**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Endowment**
**2024**
**2022**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**total funds**
**total funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Endowment**
**2024**
**2022**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**total funds**
**total funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**|
|---|---|---|
|**Incoming resources**
**Incoming resources from generated**
**funds**
**Voluntary income**
**Activities for generating funds**
**Total income**
**Charitable Activities**
**Net income / (expenditure) before**
**transfer**
**Transfers**
**Gross transfers between funds - in**
**Gross transfers between funds - out**
**Gains / losses on investments/assets**
**Net movement in funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**
Represented by
**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Balance sheet**|167,160
0
—
169,141
82,745
2,078
0
—
2,078
1,181
169,238
0
—
171,219
83,296
112,082
0
—
114,909
90,624
1,981
0
1,981
2,828||
||57,156
0
—
56,309
-6,698
265
-265
—
—
—
0
—
—
0
0
—
0
194,787
55,462
0
**—**
56,309
**183,106**
2,788,127
265
**—**
2,795,225
**2,612,119**
-847
0
—
0
847
6233||
||2,846,148
0
**—**
2,851,534
**2,795,225**
2,846,148
0
0
2,846,148
2,788,127
0
0
—
0
265
0
0
—
5,386
6,233
**pe 2024**
**ye 2022**
**2674331**
**2689729**
4,283
29,165
136819
81,988
**141102**
**111,153**
**4810**
**5,657**
**136291**
**105,496**
**2810622**
**2,795,225**
**2810622**
**2,795,225**
0
265
5,386
0
0
5,386
2805236
2,788,127||
|**Fixed Assets:**Tangible
**Current assets**
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors
**Net current assets less current**
**liabilities**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets less liabilities**
**Represented by**
**Unrestricted**General fund
**Designated**||**2674331**
**2689729**
4,283
29,165
136819
81,988|
|||**141102**
**111,153**|
|||**4810**
**5,657**|
|||**136291**
**105,496**|
|||**2810622**
**2,795,225**|
|||**2810622**
**2,795,225**
0
265
2805236
2,788,127|
# OFFICIAL
**Restricted**
5386 6,233 **2810622 2,795,225**
**Funds of the church**
## **Detailed accounts**
|**General Receipts & Payment Account**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Note|||2022|15 m to 5/4/24|
|**Receipts**||||||
|Donations and other income||**2**||79658.67|104637.9|
|Gift Aid||**a**|||62521.94|
|Interest||||41.59|82.78|
|Contributions for use of premises||**3**||1140|1995|
|Raised for other causes||**4**||3085.88|1981.1|
|Total Receipts||||83926.14|171218.7|
|**Payments**||||||
|Ministry||**5**||47375.21|62092.73|
|Mission||**6**||22756.9|22800|
|Upkeep of Church premises||**7**||12986.05|20082.54|
|Administration||**8**||7505.91|9934.2|
|Total Payments||||90624.07|114909.5|
|||||||
|Net Receipts/(payments) for the year||||-6697.93|56309.25|
|**Restricted Funds**|||**b**|||
|**J K (Chad)**||||||
|Balance b/f||||500|500|
|Income||||0||
|payments||||0|500|
|Balance c/f||||500|0|
|**Operation Agri**||||||
|Balance b/f||||1180|1700|
|Income||||830||
|payments||||310||
|Balance c/f||||1700|1610|
|**Spurgeons Childcare**||||||
|Balance b/f||||846.5|782.75|
|Income||||184.85|15|
|payments||||163.95||
|Balance c/f||||867.4|797.75|
|**Children's Society**||||||
|Balance b/f||||397.5|428.8|
|Income||||144.85|15|
|payments||||123.9||
# OFFICIAL
|Balance c/f|418.45|443.8|
|---|---|---|
|**J H (Kenya)**|||
|Balance b/f|260|-100|
|Income|120|30|
|payments|480||
|Balance c/f|-100|-70|
|**Home Mission T**|||
|Balance b/f|1200|1100|
|Income|1100||
|payments|1200|200|
|Balance c/f|1100|1300|
|**Mme D**|||
|Balance b/f|44|10|
|Income|33.2|3.2|
|payments|||
|Balance c/f|77.2|13.2|
|**BMS Birthday**|||
|Balance b/f|321.07|134.07|
|Income|67.5|30|
|payments|||
|Balance c/f|388.57|164.07|
|**Water Aid**|||
|Balance b/f|300.89|981.37|
|Income|490.48||
|payments|||
|Balance c/f|791.37|981.37|
|**Christian Aid**|||
|Balance b/f|20|20|
|Income|0||
|payments|0||
|Balance c/f|20|20|
|**York Food Bank**|||
|Balance b/f|254|-25|
|Income|65||
|payments|||
|Balance c/f|319|-25|
|**Harvest Parcel Postage**|||
|Balance b/f|375.99|375.99|
|Income|0||
|payments|0||
|Balance c/f|375.99|375.99|
|**Smart TV**|||
|Balance b/f|200|200|
|Income|0||
# OFFICIAL
|payments
Balance c/f
**TOTAL Restricted funds**
Balance b/f
Income
payments
Balance c/f
ABC restricted
Creditors
Total
Designated Funds
**Mission Account**
Balance c/f
(moved to general a/c 2023)
**Statement of Assets and Liabilities @ye**
**Fixed Assets**
**Note 9**
Church Premises
Church Fixtures & Fittings
Manse
Fixed assets total
**Bank & other balances**
CAF A/c
LLoyds
Cash in hand and in safe
Total
Gift Aid receivable
Note a
Total Assets
Liabilities (Creditors)
Net Assets/(liabilities)
**Notes**
**Donations etc**
**Note 2**
Church collections|0
200
5475.04
3035.88
2277.85|200
6233.07
1981.1
2827.9|
|---|---|---|
||6233.07|5386.27|
||575.99
5657.08|575.99
4810.28|
||6233.07|5386.27|
||265
2271655
123182
294892
2689729
19361.53
58084.9
4542
81988.43
29165
2800882.43
5657.08
2795225.35
79658.67||
**Contributions for use of premises Note 3** Choirs make a donation for hall hire
**Specific giving**
**Note 4**
# OFFICIAL
|Operation Agri
Spurgeon's Childcare
Children's Society
J H (kenya)
BMS Birthday
Water Aid
York Food Bank
Mme D|830
0
335
184.85
0
137.85
144.85
0
137.85
120
0
150
67.5
0
102
490.48
0
190
65
0
0
33.2
128.4|830
0
335
184.85
0
137.85
144.85
0
137.85
120
0
150
67.5
0
102
490.48
0
190
65
0
0
33.2
128.4|
|---|---|---|
|Martin House
RAF|35
5||
|Home mission
**Ministry**
**Note 5**
Minister's stipend
Minister's pension contribution
Phone
Minister's expenses
Youth worker's salary
YW pension contribution
PAYE
YW expenses|1100
800||
||3035.88
0
2021.1||
||21126
28685.93
7165.08
9771.09
226.8
196.8
278.41
1717.11
10500.33
11881
0
8028.59
9840.8
50
47375.21
0 62092.73|28685.93
9771.09
196.8
1717.11
11881
0
9840.8|
The Minister is also a Trustee, and recieves renumeration and other benefits in respect of his services as a Minister This includes the provision of Manse accomodation owned by the church
|**Mission**
**Note 6**
Appeals
Children's Society (Christmas)
Operation Agri (BMS: Harvest)
Spurgeon's Child care (Christmas)
DEC Afghanistan
DEC Coronavirus
DEC Pakistan Floods
DEC Ukraine
DEC Earthquake
BMS World Mission
BMS Link Missionary (Chad)
Home Mission Fund
Key partnership YOYO
Key partnership Family Matters
African sisters
Kenya (Jim Harries)
Starfish Malawi
Martin House
Tear Fund
Wycliffe
Total Mission|123.95
112.5
310
425
163.95
207.5
500
0
500
0
550
0
530
0
0
500
5500
6050
823
1025
6600
6650
2185
2400
2185
2400
0
195
1303
1000
823
1000
0
35
330
400
330
400|
|---|---|
||22756.9
22800|
**Upkeep Church premises**
**Note 7**
# OFFICIAL
|Gas & Electricity
Insurance
Water
Gas servicing
Alarm
Lift servicing
Mtce & Repairs
Other
New Chairs
**Upkeep Manse**
Council Tax
Insurance
Water
Mtce & Repairs
**Administration**
**Note 8**
Account fees
BU GB
CCLI
Other
Learning Hub
Evangelical Alliance subs
Tech equipment
Printing, stationery etc
Catering
Cleaning
**c**
Communications (phone/internet/website)
Events (Holiday club/fun days etc)
Miscellaneous
Adj|3107.76
5833.87
2207.95
2387.03
181.9
570.72
100
120
242.4
237.6
444
228
1285.88
3230.74
1677.81
1682.66
0
2448
1847.45
2131.12
293.54
666.08
424.36
397.72
1173
149|
|---|---|
||12986.05
20082.54|
||81
75
303.8
413.13
776.17
835.28
65.8
0
70
0
100
100
2147.17
0
979.4
1233.66
515.72
507.12
108.28
2964.78
703.68
1357.31
679.18
1525.12
895.18
922.8
80.53
0|
||7505.91
9934.2|
## **Note 9**
No revaluation of the church premises/manse is made. Fixtures and fittings have been written down by 8%
## **Additional Notes for accounts to 5/4/24**
## **Note a**
Gift Aid debt now realistically estimated.
Gift Aid was calculated for year, then divided to get approximation for 3 months/quarter year as a future claim.
Previously we used a "given" figure as best estimate, until we made a claim (part of which was deemed out of time) We received more than expected, hence the increase in funds in period
## **Note b**
Restricted fund balances paid out after balance sheet date, once approved. Adjustment to accounting date made to reflect gift aid cycle
Giving was normally done in autumn, so no extra amounts were paid out in 3 months to 5/4/2024 Balances on restricted funds were paid out in 2024 once ascertained
## **Note c**
# OFFICIAL
Cleaning costs now includes payments to the cleaner under payroll
# OFFICIAL
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
|**Report to the trustees**|Charity Name
Acomb Baptist Church|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|**On accounts for the year**|5 April 2024|**Charity no**|1131491|
|**ended**||**(if any)**||
|||||
|**Set out on pages**|1-10|||
||(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)||(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)|
||I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above|||
||charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended**DD / MM / YYYY**.|||
|**Responsibilities and**|As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the|||
|**basis of report**|accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011|||
||(“the Act”).|||
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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
- **Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
- **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 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 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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
|**Signed:**||**Date:**31/01/2025
~~|~~|**Date:**31/01/2025
~~|~~|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Name:**|Chris Fairburn|||
|||||
|**Relevant professional**|AAT|||
|**qualification(s) or body**||||
|**(if any):**||||
|||||
|**Address:**|23 Marston Avenue|||
**Oct 2018**
1
**IER**
Acomb York YO26 5DG
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
Following the examination of the Acomb Baptist Church accounts, I have found that there has been a lot of work been carried out since the 2022 accounts,
From the work I carried out in 2024 when first looking at the accounts, the small errors have been rectified, and I can see that all entries have been processed correctly.
.
**Oct 2018**
2
**IER**