# **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **STONY STRATFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH** **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1131785** ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **CONTENTS** |**LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**|**3-4**| |---|---| |**CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT**|**5-10**| |**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**|**11**| |**BALANCE SHEET**|**12**| |**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**|**13-25**| |**PENSIONS COMMUNICATIONS**|**26-28**| |**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**|**29**| 2 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** **----- Start of picture text -----**
START OF FINANCIAL YEAR 1st April 2023
END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 31st March 2024
CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd
MINISTER (TEAM LEAD) Reverend Stuart Earl
ELDERS Judy Howson (Appointed Sep 2023)
Zara Lee (Appointed June 2021)
Steve Summerfield (Appointed Dec 2023)
Christine Laughlan (Appointed Feb 2024)
Ruth Bowden (Appointed Oct 2024)
Kenneth Beaton (Appointed Jan 2019)
SAFEGUARDING LEAD Gillian Clarke (Appointed Sep 2023)
CHURCH SECRETARY Barry Howson (Appointed Dec 2023)
TREASURER Neil Hughes (Appointed Apr 2016)
ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES Peter Whybray (Appointed Dec 2023)
Julie Halsey (Appointed Oct 2024)
MANAGING TRUSTEES Ministers
Elders
Church Secretary
Treasurer
Administrative Trustees
Safeguarding Lead
GOVERNING INSTRUMENT The Church is governed by its own constitution
and rules as approved at the Church members'
meeting.
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1131785
OBJECTS The Church exists to proclaim the Christian
faith and to serve the local community through
its work and witness. Its purpose is to turn
people into fully devoted followers of Jesus
Christ.
CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE ADDRESS PO Box 44
129, Broadway
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 8RT
REGISTERED ADDRESS Stony Stratford Community Church
Horsefair Green
Stony Stratford
Milton Keynes
MK11 1JW
**----- End of picture text -----**
3 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** **PRIMARY BANK** Barclays Bank Plc Stony Stratford The Milton Keynes Group 1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS** Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ 4 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** Stony Stratford Community Church is an unincorporated association, governed by its own constitution and rules as approved at the Church Members’ Meeting. The constitution is based upon the Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches provided by the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the constitution which requires them to be or to have been publicly baptised on the profession of faith in Jesus Christ or following other modes of baptism to renew their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The Minister Rev Stuart Earl (Team Leader) is accredited by the Baptist Union. He works with a team of Elders to enable the church to fulfil its commission - namely to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Decisions are made according to Baptist practice by the Church Membership which meets at least four times a year. The Minister, Church Secretary, Treasurer, Elders, and individuals with responsibility for Safeguarding and IT are Trustees of the church with responsibility for general decisions. They are accountable to the Church Members for decisions they make, and important decisions, including finances, are discussed and voted upon at the Church Members’ Meeting. The constitution sets out procedures and thresholds for decision making, though the aim is for decisions to be made by consensus. Trustees are appointed according to rules set out in our constitution. Nominations are made from the church membership, considered by the Elders, and appointed by the members of the church through a vote at a Church Members’ meeting. Trustees are provided with guidance for their role using documents supplied by the Baptist Union, which also sign-posts the Charity Commission guidance Trustees are required to be familiar with. Following the retirement of Rev Jacqui Green at the start of this year (April 2023), Rev Stuart Earl’s role was changed from “Associate Minister” to “Minister (Team Leader)” (July 2023) with unanimous support from the Church Members’ Meeting. Since then, we have expanded our Trustee group to ten. The Church Members have agreed to a team of fourteen and we are continuing to work on recruitment for these positions to increase capacity to meet the various demands faced. The full Trustees group met seven times during the year. 5 **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Mission Statement:** “To know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and to make Him known.” ## **Vision:** “God wants to continue to build us together into a loving family, anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit, reaching out in Jesus’ name to the surrounding community and to all nations.” ## **Values:** G- enerosity R- adical Living A- cceptance C- ommunity Focus E- ngaging in Prayer and Worship Stony Stratford Community Church registered as a charity in 2009. We changed our name to help us become more accessible to the local community but remain a member of the Baptist Union and operate according to Baptist principles. The church conducts public worship services which are open and advertised to those in the locality, as well as conducting regular activities to advance the Christian Faith and serve the community held in our building and in other locations. The Trustees regularly consider ways to maximise effectiveness and have regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. Activities listed in our rules of particular relevance to this public benefit are: - regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching; - the Communion of the Lord’s Supper which shall normally be observed at least once a month; - evangelism and mission; - the teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people; - nurture and growth of Christian disciples; - education and training for Christian and community service; - giving and encouraging pastoral care; - supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom; - encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians. Our buildings and systems are important resources for this to happen, and the Trustees oversee their upkeep and maintenance. 6 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Sunday Worship & Prayer** A public worship service is held each Sunday morning, including sung worship, Bible reading and prayer. First, third and fifth Sundays incorporate a sermon – themes covered throughout the year include mission, our values, the Bible book of Exodus and the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Second Sundays are our “Sundays Out” weeks where we meet together for a shorter time before heading out to share with our local community through activities (see the section on Mission below). On fourth Sundays, instead of a sermon we recount stories of God at work in and through our lives as an encouragement to one another to demonstrate God’s goodness and love to those around us. This is followed by a shared lunch together and some training in sharing our faith with others in order to make Jesus known to those beyond our church community. Groups for youth and children usually meet each Sunday apart from Sundays Out weeks when all participate in the community activities. We also held our first Café Style service on the fifth Sunday in December which was well received, and we plan to make this a regular event when there is a fifth Sunday in a month. We have also continued offering regular Messy Church services, which give a hands-on approach to worship for all ages. These take place on Sunday afternoons and are often attended by families from the area who are not involved in church at other times. We have held six of these events through the year. Each month there is a Prayer and Worship evening on one Sunday which provides more time to engage with key practices of the Christian faith. In addition, a small, but faithful, group meets for daily prayer on Zoom, 5 days a week. ## **Church Family** This year has required the church “family” to come to terms with notable change, especially relating to leadership. We gave thanks and celebrated the ministry of Rev Jacqui Green’s role as Senior Minister for 39 years in April and following the change of role of Rev Stuart Earl from Associate Minister to “Minister (Team Leader)”, there has been a significant expansion of the leadership team (details above) which has been an encouragement to many in the church. In the time covered by this report our membership figure has decreased by two. One member resigned and two, Doug Rixon and Doreen Stockton, were promoted to glory. However, we also gained one new member. A review of our membership list is underway, and we expect that this will lead to a significant reduction for the next Annual Report. The change to one minister has also required a review of how pastoral care is overseen. We now have a volunteer acting as Pastoral Co-ordinator who liaises with individuals/groups and the Team Leader. ## **Youth and Children** As well as the Sunday morning groups, we offer a fortnightly club for children that is open to the wider community on Friday evenings in our building. These sessions include a variety of fun activities and opportunity for socialising, but also for learning and support. 7 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** Volunteer changes meant that the Friday night youth club has had to stop, and the youth team is considering alternative options. ## **Mission** We have engaged in a wide range of activities as means by which we seek to advance the Christian faith in ways which also demonstrate clear public benefit. We have also begun a wide-ranging review of our community engagement using the 5D Framework from Share Jesus International. The first phase of this is an exploration of needs, resources and possibilities and has involved a group of around twenty church members in discussion and research, with wider input from stakeholders inside and outside the church. It is hoped that this will allow us to identify changes needed to what we do in order to respond better to the needs of the local community. ## **Sundays Out** Sundays Out is our monthly service where we get out of the building to serve the community, share with people and speak the Good News of Jesus to them. The activities include a service in Magdalen House (supported living for older people), litter picking in partnership with the Residents’ Associations of Galley Hill and Fullers Slade, community football, Operation Blessing (usually giving away flowers) and other opportunities to engage people in conversation on the street and pray for them. ## **Missional Communities** The three groups seek to balance worship and care for one another, with work in evangelism and service to the community. Details of these groups are publicly available on our website. The Hope Group continues to develop the Hygiene Bank for Milton Keynes, providing personal care items to those who need them through community partnerships. They are also working with partners to expand Kintsugi Hope wellbeing sessions in the area, including provision for young people. A pilot project was run this year with Loughton Baptist Church to trial running the course with this age group. The Thursday Group runs our Messy Church events (see the section on Sunday Worship & Prayer) and continues to provide regular cake drops for the staff of three local schools to encourage them. The community football events that run as part of Sundays Out are also a project of this group. The “CONNECT” group runs the monthly Souper Saturday events and has continued work with Parks Trust members to establish a community orchard. ## **Life Groups** The church has six mid-week “Life Groups” which meet in people’s homes or using the church building. These provide an opportunity for spiritual growth and discipleship, as well as providing pastoral care for the group members. Information regarding these groups is also available on our website. 8 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **Community Outreach** We provide a variety of regular sessions to reach out and serve a wide cross-section of our community: Weekly: Mini Blessings (our parent/carer and toddler group) and Drop In (providing a meal and social contact – mainly attended by older people). Fortnightly: Memory Club (dementia friendly social time). Monthly: Fellowship Tea (social event for older people). Souper Saturday (Soup and social time). Winter Months: Winter Night Shelter (homeless provision fortnightly from December to March - providing venue, co-ordinator and some team) Annually: Folk on the Green concert town event (we gave away 1600 bottles of water on a very hot day), and Christmas Lights switch on town event (we gave away around 900 cups of hot chocolate). In August we ran a free treasure hunt activity for families utilising QR code technology, video clips, and activities. In 2023 we decided to take our Easter Sunday celebration outside onto the Green which went very well, and this was also repeated for 2024. ## **Buildings/Facilities** 2023 was the 200[th] anniversary of the main part of our building – built on the site of the previous chapel. An event to celebrate was held, including food historical photos. Our neighbours were invited to attend. Much of the work conducted this year on the building has been routine maintenance, rectifying problems, and ensuring safety (e.g. through PAT testing). There is plenty more to do and we need to appoint a Trustee with specific responsibility for building issues. ## **Office** The office has not had regular open hours since before the pandemic in 2020. With the appointment of a new office worker in January 2024, the office has once again been open regularly (Monday-Friday mornings) to deal with enquiries and the administration carried out by the new employee is helping us towards greater efficiency. ## **Accessibility** The Church has appointed a volunteer to work as Accessibility Co-ordinator, and we engaged the Growing Hope organisation to help us review and improve our accessibility to better achieve our objectives. We are pleased to say that we were given a Silver Accessibility Award based on their criteria. The Trustees are committed to consolidating what is already in place and hope, in time to move to the Gold Award status. 9 Ston Stratford Communit Church CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (contlnued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST PAARCH 2024 Safeguardlng The Church has necessary policy and procedures in place and operates systems to ensure that all people working with chiklren and vulr*rable adults are appropriately vetted by the Disclosure and BarfiThJ Service. CONCLUSION The Truslees are satisfied that the activities out11r￿1 above cleaTly demonstrate thal the charity is providing a benefit to the public.with regard to the Charrty Commission guidance. This year has been one of significant thange in the life of the church. The Trustees wish to record their thanks here for the faithful service of Rev Jacqui Green who was a minister of the church since 1984, and Senior Minister for 29 years. We have navigated the changes and aro now engaged in a new 8ea8on of building capaGty for the future to allow us to meet our chaiitable objectives, and most importantly to be faithful to what God is calling us to do together. Rev Stuart Earl, Minister (Team Leader) TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILMES The Charities Act 2011 require the trustees to prepare financial slatements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charty and of the surplus of Ihe Charty for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to.. Select Sultal￿e accounling policaes and apply them consistentty: Make judgernents and estirnates that are reasonable and prudent. Prepare financial statements on the going Con￿rn basis unl&ss it is inappropriate to presume that the lJust will continue in existen￿. The tsustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting iecor(k, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hen￿ fortsking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Trustees on: Signed on their behalf by Trustees: Printed Name: io ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **Statement of Financial Activities** **For the period from 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024** ||**Notes**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Prior Year**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|**Total Funds**| |**_Incoming resources_**|||||| |Donations, Legacies and similar incoming resources|**3a/3c**|132,435|9,883|142,318|174,246| |Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects|**4b**|2,318|0|2,318|0| |Investment income|**3b**|734|2,664|3,399|3,430| |Other incoming resources|**3d**|369|0|369|552| |**Total income**||**135,857**|**12,548**|**148,404**|**178,228**| |**_Resources used_**|||||| |Costs of generating funds|**4e**|2,454|28|2,482|34| |Grants payable in furtherance of charity's objects|**4a**|423|11,165|11,588|23,304| |Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects||70,705|0|70,705|110,297| |Support costs|**4c**|20,466|0|20,466|51,831| |Expenditure on managing-administering the charity|**4d**|6,614|0|6,614|4,906| |**Total expenditure**||**100,662**|**11,193**|**111,855**|**190,372**| |**Net income / expenditure resources before transfer**||**35,194**|**1,355**|**36,549**|**(12,144)**| |**_Transfers_**|**5**||||| |Gross transfers betw een funds - in||1,342|9,412|10,754|19,996| |Gross transfers betw een funds - out||(10,715)|(40)|(10,754)|(19,996)| |**_Other recognised gains / losses_**|||||| |**Net movement in funds**||**25,822**|**10,727**|**36,549**|**(12,144)**| |**_Reconciliation of funds_**|||||| |**Total funds brought forward**||**171,683**|**1,323,340**|**1,495,023**|**1,507,167**| |**Total funds carried forward**||**197,505**|**1,334,068**|**1,531,572**|**1,495,023**| There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown 11 Ston Stratford Communi Church BALANCE SHEET Stony Stralfonl Community Church BalaA¢• Shaat AB at 31 March 2024 r￿￿or•I ￿l￿1¢tod AsAt AsAt Fsjnd Fund• Fund• 31103rL024 31103J2022 FIApdo55815 Tangbkn ass8t8 ntsge a88ets Total Flxed a59ets 153 877 220,200 1,032,979 1253,In 220,730 1.032,979 1253,7J9 223.￿8 1,032.979 1,254317 153 Current as*ts Sts¢ks •KI wcrt l) pr¢orèss C*¥¢or8 CBsh at barkk &nd in han Total curre￿ as¥8ts 21.975 160.088 17{063 1.9 23,909 25.FJ2 1.830 78,961 790 252,9S8 278.686 212,852 235.507 EtOF8: lthy (￿year V41 G￿rren1 A98¥¢s Of Mablltkn8 {981 80.889 171.145 238,706 Totsl as••ts 108¥ c￿rrIn1 ItablltUe$ 171.296 26209 1J406B 1.531.6n 1.49E.023 Total n•t 05s9ts or IlablKI•• 171296 1,334.068 1.551.sr2 1M9S.023 IT1, 171.296 26.2Dg 1,834.CO8 150.742 20.941 1,￿.342 1.3¥068 nd8 01 th8 church 17t396 IfjX09 IA34￿8 1,631.S12 1A95.023 Thero may be mimr dtSCRF4nGie3 ID the tot81s If the perKe are rbjt ￿Ing shov Approved by the Trustees on: Signed on their behalf by Trustees: Printed Name: 12 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of Preparation & Assessment of Going Concern** The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015) (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011. The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. ## **Assessment of Going Concern** Preparation of the accounts is on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. ## _**Recognition of Incoming Resources**_ These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when: - the charity becomes entitled to the resources; - the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and - the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability ## _**Incoming Resources with Related Expenditure**_ Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate. ## _**Grants and Donations**_ Grants and Donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources. ## _**Tax Reclaims on Donations and Gifts**_ Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate. ## _**Contractual Income and Performance Related Grants**_ This is only included in the SOFA once the related goods or services has been delivered. ## _**Gifts in Kind**_ Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity. Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SOFA as incoming resources when receivable. 13 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)** ## _**Donated Services and Facilities**_ These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received. ## _**Investment Income**_ This is included in the accounts when receivable. ## _**Investment Gains and Losses**_ This included any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year. ## **Expenditure and Liabilities** ## _**Liability Recognition**_ Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources. ## _**Governance Costs**_ Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of the trustees' meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters. ## _**Grants with Performance Conditions**_ Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output. ## _**Grants Payable without Performance Conditions**_ These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to a grant which remain in control of the charity. ## _**Support Costs**_ Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of the resources, eg allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capital, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage. ## _**Pensions**_ The Charity is an employer participating in a pension scheme known as the Baptist Pension Scheme (“The Scheme”). The Scheme is a separate legal entity which is administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). Contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme. The pension contributions include additional payments related to the current deficit recovery plan for the Defined Benefits branch of the Baptist Pension Scheme. 14 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)** ## _**Pensions**_ Further details related to this matter can be found in the last section of this report. ## _**Assets**_ Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity, these are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt. ## _**Investments**_ Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange are valued at market value at the year end. Other investment assets are included at trustees' best estimate of market value. ## _**Depreciation**_ Depreciation is calculated at a rate to write off the cost of all tangible fixed assets on a straight-line basis over an assumed useful life of four years. The rates applied per annum are thus 25% across all tangible fixed assets. No depreciation is charged to freehold property as the properties are maintained to such a standard it is considered the residual value will not be less than cost. There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year. 15 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **Tangible Fixed Assets** ## **Financial Year 2023-24** ||**Restricted**|**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**Freehold**
**Property**|
**Purchased**
**Equipment**|

**Purchased**
**Equipment**|

**Total**| |**Gross Block**||||| |Costs As At 01/04/2023
Additions
Revaluations
Disposals
Costs As At
31/03/2024|1,253,179
0
0|16,968|89,397
0
0
0|1,359,544
0
0
0| ||1,253,179|16,968|89,397|1,359,544| |||||| |**Depreciation**||||| |As At
01/04/2023
Charge
As At
31/03/2024
_Equipment Y/E 2021_
_Equipment Y/E 2024_
_Equipment Y/E 2023_
_Equipment Y/E 2022_|0
0
0
0
0|16,968
0
0
0
0|86,258
0
0
530
2,079|105,989
0
0
530
2,079| ||0|16,968|88,867|108,598| |||||| |**Net Book**||||| |**As At**
**31/03/2024**
As At
31/03/2023|**1,253,179**|**0**|**530**|**1,253,709**| ||1,253,179|0|3,139|1,256,318| |||||| The annual commitments under non-cancelling operating leases and capital commitments are as follows: 31st March 2024 : None 31st March 2023 : None 16 **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **3. INCOMING RESOURCES** ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **Incoming Resources** ## **Selected period: 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Notes Unrestricted Designated Restricted This Year Last Year
3a) Donations, Legacies and similar incoming resources
Bank Transfer Donations 5 59,798 0 4,535 64,333 66,162
Recovered Gift Aid & GASDS 5 21,553 1,631 1,663 24,846 52,865
Offerings at services 5 4,547 0 50 4,597 5,232
Other regular donations 5 27,680 0 110 27,790 29,814
Non regular donations 5 7,146 0 100 7,246 6,086
Communion offering 5 0 0 881 881 781
On trust giving 5 0 619 1,227 1,846 4,875
Memory Club 5 0 0 369 369 458
Online donations 5 2,781 115 948 3,844 1,000
Legacies 0 500 0 500 0
Building Maintenance & Development 0 6,065 0 6,065 6,974
Sub Total 123,505 8,930 9,883 142,317 174,247
3b) Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects
DropIn Donations 2,318 0 0 2,318 0
Sub Total 2,318 0 0 2,318 0
3c) Investment income
Interest on bank accounts 5 734 0 2,664 3,399 317
Property Lettings 0 0 0 0 3,113
Sub Total 734 0 2,664 3,399 3,430
3d) Other incoming resources
Hire of premises 0 0 0 0 90
Weddings & Funerals 0 369 0 369 462
Sub Total 0 369 0 369 552
Incoming resources Grand totals 126,557 9,299 12,548 148,404 178,228
**----- End of picture text -----**
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown NB. Whilst the income line related to “Recovered Gift Aid & GASDS” has almost halved compared to the figure recorded last year, this is due to a change in accounting practices implemented in last year’s accounts. The figure this year reflects the actual income to be received for Gift Aid claimed on donations received in this reported financial period. 17 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **4. RESOURCES USED** ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **Resources Used** ## **Selected period: 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Notes Unrestricted Designated Restricted This Year Last Year
4a) Grants payable in furtherance of charity's objects
Family fund 0 0 0 0 5,850
MSG 5 0 0 8,561 8,561 11,136
On trust payments 5 0 423 2,604 3,027 6,318
Sub Total 0 423 11,165 11,588 23,304
4b) Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects
Books 297 0 0 297 489
Conferences 1,032 0 0 1,032 1,258
Evangelism 2,384 0 0 2,384 1,441
General pastoral 516 0 0 516 341
Leadership training 108 0 0 108 63
Manse Costs 2,682 0 0 2,682 4,572
Office 93 0 0 93 321
Telephone 744 0 0 744 655
Photocopying 454 0 0 454 262
Public address system 75 0 0 75 584
Salary Pensions NI Accommodation 58,916 0 0 58,916 96,929
Special events 1,321 0 0 1,321 171
Transport 1,173 0 0 1,173 1,603
Children & Youth 878 0 0 878 507
Community Care 31 0 0 31 848
Sabbatical Costs 0 0 0 0 250
Service Costs 0 0 0 0 5
Sub Total 70,704 0 0 70,704 110,299
4c) Support costs
Building & Maintenance 5,125 0 0 5,125 29,086
Cleaning Services 446 0 0 446 699
Church Kitchen Supplies 729 0 0 729 1,023
Insurance 2,763 0 0 2,763 2,647
Miscellaneous payments 168 0 0 168 0
Utilities 7,399 0 0 7,399 2,225
Property letting 0 2,219 0 2,219 14,137
0 65 0 65 0
Internet Based Services 1,504 0 0 1,504 2,006
Safe Guarding 48 0 0 48 10
Sub Total 18,182 2,284 0 20,466 51,833
4d) Expenditure on managing-administering the charity
Comms General 54 0 0 54 48
Bank charges 60 0 0 60 72
Professional fees 1,502 0 0 1,502 1,417
Computing 0 167 0 167 0
Subscriptions 1,250 0 0 1,250 428
Resource Copyright 972 0 0 972 904
Depreciation (Designated) 153 2,456 0 2,609 2,037
Sub Total 3,991 2,623 0 6,614 4,906
4e) Costs of generating funds
Fund raising expenses 2,374 0 0 2,374 0
Bank charges (fund raising) 5 76 4 28 108 34
Sub Total 2,450 4 28 2,482 34
Resources used Grand totals 95,328 5,334 11,193 111,855 190,372
**----- End of picture text -----**
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown 18 **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **5. RESTRICTED FUNDS** ## **Stony Stratford Baptist Church** ## **Restricted Funds** ## **Selected period: 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024** |On trust - MSG
On trust - Funds
On trust - Family Fund
Sanctuary Buildings
Manse Purchase Fund
Building Development Funds
Building Development Funds Phase 2
Memory Club Fund
Missional Development Fund
Manse Refugee Fund
Pakistan Flood Fund
DNIPRO Hope Fund
St. Marks Meals Fund
Retirement Gift Fund
East Africa Famine Fund
World Vision Gaza Appeal|**Brought**
**Forward**
**Incoming**
**Resource**
**Outgoing**
**Resource**
**Transfers**
**Gains And**
**Losses**
**Carried**
**Forward**| |---|---| ||15,969
1,132
7,886
9,360
0
18,575
3,838
2,204
2,111
0
0
3,931
3,885
5,540
19
0
0
9,406
1,032,979
0
0
0
0
1,032,979
264,745
2,664
0
0
0
267,409
746
0
0
0
0
746
97
0
0
0
0
97
654
511
471
0
0
693
(600)
0
0
0
0
(600)
770
13
0
0
0
782
50
38
38
0
0
50
21
49
70
0
0
0
21
49
70
0
0
0
180
310
490
0
0
0
(13)
38
38
13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0| |**Totals**|**1,323,342**
**12,548**
**11,193**
**9,373**
**0**
**1,334,068**| There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown Restricted funds in deficit are considered to be on-going activities and are replenished during the coming financial period, except where noted below. The restricted funds held are represented by the Charity's cash reserves and fixed assets investments and are to be expended as specified above. **Mission Support Group (MSG) –** this is categorised as a restricted fund in these accounts. The MSG fund currently receives funds from the general fund and is administered by a team appointed by the church. **On Trust Funds -** these are donations made for specific causes (notably but not exclusively, personal support of some of our missionaries). Income for these purposes are held in & disbursed from cause specific on trust funds, summarised here. **On Trust Family Fund -** this fund operates in a similar fashion to the Mission Support Group. Funds are provided via a communion offering plus personal specific donations. The fund is used to assist those within the congregation experiencing unexpected financial difficulties. 19 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** **Manse** - In buying the new manse (75 Boundary Crescent) it was deemed necessary to raise additional finances since the existing fund would be insufficient. This was achieved by a special appeal to the congregation. When this was agreed at the church meeting it was also agreed that any funds remaining after the completion of the purchase would be used for the future development of the Church premises on the Horsefair Green site. It should also be noted that the fund value reflects the recorded value for the tangible asset that is the property at 75 Boundary Crescent. **Building Development Funds** – This fund reflects the consolidation of all previous funds related to the financing of phase one of the building development programme, the repayment of which was completed during 2020/2021. **Building Development Funds Phase 2** - This fund reflects the donations received and funds raised for a possible Phase 2 of the building redevelopment programme. **Memory Club Fund** – This fund holds income received for the purposes of operating a support group for those afflicted with dementia and other memory related diseases. There are two primary sources of income: a local authority grant to assist with operational expenses; donations received at each event. **Missional Development Fund** – this fund holds donations received by our missional groups specific for the work of these groups, and as such represents a restricted fund. Expenditure from this fund is backed by a church designated fund from which this reserve fund is replenished annually should its expenditure outstrip its income. **Manse Refugee Fund** – this fund was setup to receive donations towards the cost of upgrading the décor of the church Manse in anticipation of hosting a refugee family from Ukraine. During this reporting period a family from Ukraine have been our guests in the Manse. **Pakistan Flood Fund** – this fund was setup to receive donations towards the Pakistan Flood appeal. These donations have been distributed in the following financial period not recorded here. The remaining funds listed were set up to receive donations made by individuals in the church, to the church, in the expectation of those funds being forwarded to the relevant organisations. These funds were forwarded to the relevant organisations during this accounting period. As such, these funds are now classed as closed. 20 **Stony Stratford Community Church** # **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **6. CASH AT BANK & IN HAND** **Stony Stratford Baptist Church Cash At Bank & In Hand** ## **As at: 31 March 2024** |BB_CURR : Barclays - Current Account
BB_FF : Barclays - No 2 Account
CAFCURR : CafCash Current Account
CAFPLAT : Caf Platinum
BU Corp: Manse Account Funds
Online Stripe Payments Account
PC-ALPHA : Petty Cash - Alpha catering
PCDROPIN : Petty Cash - Drop In
PCTREASURY : Petty Cash - Treasury
PC_OFFICE : Petty Cash - Office
PCMEMORY : Petty Cash - Memory Club
PAYPAL : Virtual Bank|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**| |---|---| ||12,644
419
207
13,270
16,694
0
0
1,782
1,782
1,782
125,257
13,489
26,620
165,366
125,945
11,254
10,000
0
21,254
20,787
0
0
49,704
49,704
47,039
446
1
269
716
0
83
0
0
83
83
380
0
0
380
235
20
0
0
20
20
5
0
0
5
44
0
0
379
379
222
0
0
0
0
0| |**Totals**|**150,089**
**23,909**
**78,961**
**252,959**
**212,851**| **BU Corp: Manse Account Funds** – These funds are held on trust by the Baptist Union Corporation for SSCC, and represent the remainder of the proceeds from the sale of a former Manse, following the clearing of the mortgage on SSCC’s remaining manse property at 75 Boundary Crescent, in accordance with the agreement of the Baptist Union Corporation. **PAYPAL: Virtual Bank** – This account arises from our attempt to donate funds direct to a missionary operating abroad. Unfortunately, this approach failed and alternative methods were employed. Whilst the account still exists, it is not currently used. 21 **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **7. DEBTORS & PREPAYMENTS** **Stony Stratford Baptist Church** **Debtors & Prepayments** **As at: 31 March 2024** |Accounts Receivable
HMRC Gift Aid Recovery Year End Accrual
HMRC Gift Aid Recovery Pre Payments|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**| |---|---| ||423
279
352
1,054
967
21,553
1,643
1,478
24,674
25,166
0
0
0
0
173| |**Totals**|**21,976**
**1,922**
**1,830**
**25,728**
**26,306**| 22 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** # **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **8. CREDITORS: AMOUNT DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** **Stony Stratford Baptist Church** **Creditors: Amounts Due Within One Year** **As at: 31 March 2024** |Agency Collections
Accounts Payable
HMRC Gift Aid On Negative Costs|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**| |---|---| ||0
0
(98)
(98)
(98)
996
0
0
996
900
(75)
0
0
(75)
0| |**Totals**|**921**
**0**
**(98)**
**823**
**802**| **HMRC Gift Aid On Negative Costs** – This is an anticipated negative liability (i.e. an amount we expect to receive) due to gift aid on donations that we intend to offset against incurred costs (hence the classification as a liability). ## **8a. CREDITORS: AMOUNT DUE AFTER ONE YEAR** **Stony Stratford Baptist Church As at: 31 March 2024** **Creditors: Amounts Due After One Year** ||**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**| |---|---| ||| |**Totals**|**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**| 23 **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **9. STAFF COSTS & NUMBERS** **Stony Stratford Community Church Staff Costs & Numbers Financial Year 2023-24** |**_Staff Costs_**
Gross Wages & Salaries
Employer's National Insurance
Employer's Pension|**This Year**
**Last Year**| |---|---| ||41695
62057
0
1017
4871
11055| |**Total**
**_Staff Numbers_**
Engaged in activities in furtherance of Charity's Objectives|46566
74129
**This Year**
**Last Year**| ||3
2| |**Total**|3
2| **Gross Wages & Salaries** – As recorded in our previous accounts, there is in place a manse agreement between the church and each of its ministers whereby the church leases each minister’s property in order to fulfil its obligation to provide accommodation for each minister. As a lease arrangement this falls outside the scope of PAYE and is borne as a cost to the church. **Employer’s Pension** – These contributions include additional payments related to the current deficit recovery plan for the Defined Benefits branch of the Baptist Pension Scheme. Further details related to this matter can be found in the last section of this report. **Staff Numbers** – This report indicates three members of staff were employed during the period of accounting. Whilst this is technically true, as noted earlier in the Church Annual Report, Rev. Jacqui Green retired during this period. Also during this period the church employed office support staff to assist with the running of the church office. Thus, the church currently employs two members of staff, one of whom is the current church minister. 24 **Stony Stratford Community Church** # **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **10. TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES** **Stony Stratford Community Church Payments To Custodian Trustees And Affiliated Groups Financial Year 2023-24** |**Financial Year 2023-24**|| |---|---| |**_Nominal Account_**
Baptist Home Mission
Baptist World Mission|**This Year Last Year**| ||0
1,200
0
1,200| |**Total**|0
2,400| |**_There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence a_**|**_re not being shown_**| The difference in payments made in this financial period compared to Last Year is on account of an oversight in donations not being paid to the respective organisations. This has been rectified and will be accounted for in the next accounting period. No other payments were made to the custodian trustees or any persons/organisations connected with them during this financial period. No other material transaction took place between the charity and the custodian trustees or any person/organisation connected with them. ## **Ministers:** Payments made to Ministers as Salaries and Pensions are shown in Note 9, and in Note 4a under Staff Costs, Transport Costs and Manse. Any other expenses paid to them or any person connected to them were reimbursements of expenses incurred whilst carrying out their activities for the Church. 25 **Stony Stratford Community Church** **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** ## **11. RELATED PARTIES** The custodian trustee of the church is the Baptist Union Corporation Limited which is a registered charity (number: 249635), and which is controlled by the Baptist Union Council. The church is also a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. ## **12. RISK ASSESSMENT** The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks. ## **13. RESERVES POLICY** During this period the Trustees adopted a more formalised reserves policy that seeks to quantify the targeted level for the reserve fund, that the Trustees wish to hold so as to mitigate any financial risks to the charity in uncertain times. The figure agreed is to be assessed annually at the end of each financial year. For the forth coming financial year the targeted reserves figure agreed by the Trustees is set at £98k. This is to be held as cash reserves spread across the charity’s bank accounts. ## **14. PUBLIC BENEFIT** The Trustees acknowledge the requirement to demonstrate clearly that the Church must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the Church has achieved this are provided in the Church Annual Report located at the start of this report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake. 26 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **PENSIONS COMMUNICATIONS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** The following communication was received on 13[th] September 2023 regarding the Baptist Pension Scheme. For further information on the history behind this communication please consult prior year account reports. -------------- **The Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”) – Defined Benefit (“DB”) Plan Update on securing the DB Plan and removing future risk exposure** To all employers participating in the Scheme’s DB Plan, This email is being sent to you jointly from the Baptist Union and the Trustee of the Scheme as a participating employer in the DB Plan. It follows on from our 26 July 2022 email on steps being taken to fully secure the Scheme’s DB Plan benefits with the insurance company Just Group (“Just”). Those steps helped to improve the security of members’ benefits in the Scheme and allowed us to reduce the contributions from employers towards the DB Plan to £1 per month. ## **What has happened since July 2022?** Broadstone have continued to administer the Scheme, working closely with Just to make sure we have accurate data to pass over to them in due course. We are planning to fully transition the responsibility for DB Plan benefits to Just during 2024. This is known as a buy-out and involves the following steps. - Just will issue all DB Plan members with an individual contract setting out their entitlements. - - Just will take over administration of the DB entitlements from Broadstone. - When the buy-out completes, DB entitlements will no longer be part of the Scheme. - - Your commitments as a participating employer in the DB Plan will come to an end. Making this transition means that the benefits and options of some non-retired members will need to change slightly. The Trustee and the Baptist Union have been working to consider these changes and to look at how any negative impacts can be compensated or mitigated. ## **Member consultation** Our current expectation is that members who are affected by any of these changes will be contacted by the Baptist Union later this year. That communication will set out the changes and the proposed mitigations. This will be a formal consultation by the Baptist Union on behalf of employers under the Scheme. There are no changes for members whose pensions are already in payment. When Just take over the arrangements they will continue to receive their pension on the same terms as now. ## **What about the Defined Contribution (“DC”) Plan?** When the DB Plan transitions to Just, the DC Plan will continue to be run as the Baptist Pension Scheme. If you are currently contributing to the DC Plan then this will continue as before. ## **DB Plan finances and risk exposure** The objective of the buy-out is to remove permanently the employers’ risk exposure to future deficit contributions. However, we are not there yet as risks remain at this stage. In the process of buy-out there are still a number of factors being discussed between the Baptist Union and the Trustee with 27 ## **Stony Stratford Community Church** ## **PENSION COMMUNICATIONS (continued)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024** regard to mitigating benefit changes for members. The terms on which these can then be secured with Just will depend on financial markets at the time. Further, the Trustee continues to dispose of its remaining assets, and the amount it will receive remains uncertain. There are also substantial costs in the buy-out process as well as ongoing operational costs. These are all being closely monitored as the project develops. As things currently stand, we are expecting the existing DB Plan funds to be adequate and a relatively small surplus may emerge. Discussions over the use of surplus are ongoing but we cannot rule out the possibility of a shortfall. ## **Deficit Recovery Contributions (DRCs)** In light of the above uncertainties, the Trustee will continue to collect £1 per month from each employer so that the direct debit facility remains open should there be a significant change in circumstances. If there is a significant detrimental change, employers may be asked to increase their contributions. This requirement will cease when the buy-out completes and we move towards wind-up of the DB Plan. ## **What about cessation events?** Until buy-out is complete, the Scheme still operates under a legislative regime that has strict rules about cessation events (triggered when an employer stops having any active members participating in the DC Plan). The processes set out on the Scheme website (Baptist Pensions | Cessation Events, Baptist Pensions | Periods of Grace and Interim Ministers) should still be followed. Employers should continue to contact the Scheme administrator promptly if they expect to experience a cessation event. Any cessation events that took place prior to 1 July 2022 still have to be processed on the basis of the shortfall position that applied prior to the buy-in transaction being completed. There are a small number of debts which have been notified to employers and these are being addressed with the Pensions Team. ## **Periods of grace** We have received legal advice which confirms that the Trustee will not be able to offer new period of grace facilities as we approach buy-out. Employers will have other options that will be explained by the Pensions Team when required. Employers in an existing period of grace will currently be unaffected. However, where that period of grace relates to a cessation event before 1 July 2022 it is still possible that a debt might arise. The Pension Team will be in touch with employers in this situation to discuss their options. If you are in a period of grace with a cessation event after 30 June 2022, when buy-out completes we anticipate there will be no charge as all employers will leave the DB Plan at that point. ## **Next steps** When the member consultation takes place we will be in touch with employers as well to keep you in the picture and provide a further update. Yours sincerely Chris Maggs Tim Jackson Moderator of the Scheme’s Trustee Board Moderator for the Baptist Union’s Employers’ Group Issued for and on behalf of the Baptist Pension Scheme 28 Ston Stratford Communi Church INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS Report to the trusteesl members of Stony Stratford Community Church on the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024 set out on pages 11 to 25. Respective Responslblllties of Trustees and Examiner The charity'5 trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's twstees 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 examinakn'on is needed. It is my responsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Ac( to follow the prO￿dureS laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities ACC and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of Independent Examinerfs Statement My examination was Carried out in accordance with general Directions gNen by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The prO￿dureS undertaken do not provide all the eviden￿ that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examinerfs Ststement In connection with my examination. no matter has ￿rne to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance wtth section 130 of the Charities Act" and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting reqUire￿EntS of the Charities Act have not been met,. or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention shoukl be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. K. Collaku MAAT Castle View Ac￿unting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ Dated." 14 November 2024 29