Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2024
MDCP Accountancy 25 Merton Road Seen Kings Greater London IG3 8PB
Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative Information | 3 |
| Report of the Trustees | 4-6 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts | 7 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 8 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 |
Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Legal and Administrative Information For the year ended 31 March 2024
Charity Name
Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead is registered with the Charities Commission under Section 30 (2) (b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Registered Charity Number
1132482 (England & Wales) registered 5th November 2009
Affiliations
The Church is a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, The London Baptist Association and the Evangelical Alliance.
Principal/ Registered Address
Emmanuel Church, Yarnton Way, South Thamesmead, Kent, Greater London, DA18 4DR
Governing Document
The Church’s governing document is the Church Constitution from the model Baptist Union GB produced version adopted on 27 September 2009 as amended on 02 Jun 2020.
Charitable Object
The principal purpose of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination including the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the church shall determine.
Trustees
The Trustees who served during the year or who were serving at the date of this report were:
Holding Trustees: The custodian/holding Trustees are as follows: The London Baptist Property Board (Church) The London Baptist Property Board (Manse)
Managing Trustees: The Church Minister and Officers who have been in post are as follows:
Revd Angela Bacon Chairperson Mr. Johnson Afari Interim Church Secretary from December 2023 Mr. Eric Engmann Treasurer Mrs. Janet Croucher Ms Bola Esan Mr. Emmanuel Ogunsanwo Mr. Peter Musembi
Property/ Custodian Trustees
The London Baptist Property Board, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EL
Bankers
Santander, Bridle Road, Bootle, Merseyside L30 4GB
Independent Examiner
Mr John Helm ACA, Tandem Accounting, 17 Heathville Road, London N19 3AL
Accountants & Bookkeepers
MDCP Accountancy, 25 Merton Road, Seen Kings, Greater London, IG3 8PB
Solicitors
As retained by London Baptists (LBA)
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
The trustees as detailed above present their Annual Report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared based on the accounting policies set out on page 9 of the church’s statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Charitable Object
The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document which states that the principal purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination including the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine.
Organisational Structure
Recruitment and appointment of Trustees
The London Baptist Property Board is the Custodian Trustee. The Managing Trustees are the Diaconate of the Church, consisting of 6 elected Deacons, including an elected Secretary, an elected Treasurer, and the appointed Minister. Nominations are invited annually for election to fill any vacancies on the diaconate. Deacons are elected by majority vote by those members present and voting at the church members’ meeting. They normally serve for a period of 3 years, at the conclusion of which they are eligible for nomination and re-election. The nomination procedure for deacons excludes non-members.
Induction and training of new Trustees
Guidance documents published by the Charity Commissioners and the Baptist Union of Great Britain are made available to all Trustees.
Several deacons serve for more than one term, producing accumulating experience within the body of Trustees. Arrangements are made to ensure that not all the deacons retire at the same time. All deacons acknowledge the need for divine wisdom and where necessary, professional advice. The Trustees meet at agreed intervals, usually once a month, for prayer and business. Secretarial support is provided by a paid part-time Church Administrator.
Church membership
Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which recommend 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 Members Meeting takes place at least four times per year, including the Annual General Meeting and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church including the review of appointments when needed.
In accordance with the Constitution, the Members appoint up to eight Deacons, including a Church Secretary, and a Treasurer who together with the Minister are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All Members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objectives. Relevant matters may be raised by members in Church meetings for further consideration by the deacons, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
Relationship with other faith organisations
Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead is in full accord with the objects and motivation of the Evangelical Alliance and full fellowship continues with the Baptist Union of Great Britain, especially through the London Baptists. Believing that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and human; this church supports world evangelisation and extends friendship to all irrespective of race or religion.
Risk Management
The church has an appointed health and safety officer in the person of Yomi Adebiyi and we are careful to establish and review practices and routines which maintain biblical orthodoxy and comply with applicable legislations. Where these appear to conflict, greater care and training is accepted as obligatory. There are also 4 fully trained first aiders.
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
Objectives and Activities
To achieve its principal objectives as set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ as living Lord.
Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday at 11.00 a.m., and there are regular Bible classes for all age groups conducted from 10.00 am every Sunday. Special services at other times are advertised on the Church Notice Board, Church Website, through leafleting and by sending emails to members. There is a full children’s programme during each Sunday morning service serving preschool and primary age children. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is free to attend any of these services.
The Church runs a range of ‘’new life’’ groups for the growth of faith and discipleship on the church premises where both members and non-members are welcome to attend.
Young Foundations Preschool meets in the Church premises Monday to Friday mornings during school term time with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.
Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead continues to provide premises and other support for the work of the Greenwich Food Bank which distributes food to those in need after referral from local professionals. This strengthens effective pastoral links with local schools, senior teachers, social workers, and other community care teams.
Achievements and Performance
The Church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. The Church recognises that these are difficult to measure; Sunday services resumed post Pandemic, and we have continued to offer online services to those members who are unable to attend physically.
Overseas mission activity
In addition to regular support for BMS World Mission the church continues to support Evangelical Action Brazil, a charity working in Paraiba, in the northeast of Brazil. Regular updates are received from John and Liz Medcraft who head up the EAB Charity.
Local outreach and Social Activities
With the support and generous giving of the congregation we made donated a total of 150 Christmas vouchers to people and families in the local community. We also run, in conjunction with the Greenwich Food Bank, a food distribution centre each Tuesday and Thursday morning.
Public Benefit
The Church leaders are satisfied that the activities outlined above demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public and local community.
Trustees' responsibilities in relation to financial statements
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of each year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently, make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent, state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements,
-
Prepare the financial statements on the assumption that the charity will continue in business.
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
Financial Review
The full financial Statement for 2023-24 is attached.
The church continued to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation.
The Church is very dependent on, and very grateful for, the voluntary work undertaken by many church members in all aspects of church life.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks facing the church and are satisfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks, including appropriate PL (public liability) and EL (employer’s liability) insurance.
On 31 March 2024 the Church had net free reserves of £107,325 (2022-23: £110,538) as follows:
| 2023-24 | 2022-23 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cash reserves | 136,999 | 110,538 |
| Less: restricted funds | (29,674) | (12,674) |
| Free reserves | 107,325 | 97,864 |
| Free reserves requirement: | ||
| 6 months’ budgeted routine expenditure | 30,000 | 50,000 |
Responsibilities of the Trustees for the Financial Statements
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of each year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently, make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent, state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
-
Prepare the financial statements on the assumption that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees on 26 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Revd Angela Bacon Minister and Chairperson
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Independent Examiner’s Report on Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2024
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023-24 set out on pages 8-14.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (and with amendment 2022).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charity are not required to be audited under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts to:
-
Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act
-
To follow the procedures laid down in the general Direction given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the Charities Act
-
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in the audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Church as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
John Helm ACA
Independent Examiner
Tandem Accounting Ltd 17 Heathville Road London N19 3AL
6 February 2025
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Receipts and Payments Account For the year ended 31 March 2024
| Note | Unrestricted Funds 2023-24 £ Restricted Funds 2023-24 £ |
Total 2023-24 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2022-23 £ Restricted Funds 2022-23 £ Total 2022-23 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts from: 2 Donations and legacies Other Trading Activities Investments Other Income Total Receipts Payments on: Charitable Activities 3 Total Payments Net receipts Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Total Cash Brought Forward Total Cash Carried Forward |
122,654 3,600 2,000 45,188 912 11 6,834 13,070 |
126,254 47,188 923 19,904 |
127,631 1,427 129,058 - - - 291 - 291 |
| 132,400 61,869 |
194,269 | 127,922 1,427 129,349 |
|
| 126,939 40,869 126,939 40,869 |
167,808 167,808 |
96,384 937 97,321 96,384 937 97,321 |
|
| 5,461 21,000 |
26,461 | 31,538 490 32,028 |
|
| 4,000 (4,000) |
- | - - - |
|
| 9,461 17,000 97,864 12,674 107,325 29,674 |
26,461 110,538 136,999 |
31,538 490 32,028 66,326 12,184 78,510 97,864 12,674 110,538 |
The notes on page 10 to 14 form part of these accounts.
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Statement of Assets & Liabilities As at 31 March 2024
| Note Unrestricted Funds 2023-24 £ Restricted Funds 2023-24 £ 4 374,412 2,920,581 |
Total 2023-24 £ 3,294,993 ~~-~~ |
Total 2022-23 £ 1,600,764 |
|---|---|---|
| 374,412 2,920,581 5 22,806 - 6 107,325 29,674 |
3,294,993 22,806 136,999 |
1,600,764 11,000 110,538 |
| 130,131 29,674 within one year 7 3,211 - |
157,047 3,211 ~~—~~ |
121,538 324 |
| 126,920 29,674 |
156,594 ~~—~~ |
121,214 |
| 8 - 80,523 |
80,523 ~~=~~ |
92,157 |
| ~~=~~ | ||
| 497,991 2,873,073 |
3,371,064 | 1,629,821 |
The notes on pages 10 - 14 form part of these accounts.
Approved by the Trustees on 26 January 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Revd Angela Bacon Minister & Chairperson
Mr. Johnson Afari Interim Church Secretary
Mr Eric Engmann Treasurer
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024
1 Accounting Policies
These annual accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (and with amendment 2022). In 2022-23 they were prepared on an accruals basis. A reconciliation between the reserves accounted for on an accruals basis and reserves accounted for on a cash basis as at 31 March 2023 can be found in note 12.
| 2 Receipts Donations and Legacies Offerings Donations Sundry Donations Tax Refunds Other Trading Activity Regular Lettings Investment Income Interest Other Income (Insurance Claim) Total Receipts 3 Payments Ministry Minister’s Net Stipend Minister’s Expenses Administrator’s Salaries Pension Ministry Support Visiting Speakers Conferences/Courses |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds 2023-24 £ Restricted Funds 2023-24 £ 118,348 - - 3,600 - - 4,745 - 123,093 3,600 2,000 45,188 912 11 6,834 13,070 |
Total 2023-24 £ 118,348 3,600 - 4,745 127,693 46,469 923 19,868 |
R&P Total 2022-23 £ 107,165 - 1,917 19,976 129,058 - 291 - |
|
| 133,119 61,869 |
194,269 | 129,349 | |
| Unrestricted Funds 2023-24 £ Restricted Funds 2023-24 £ 30,668 - 10,878 - 3,140 - 4,038 - 367 - 800 - 2,324 - |
Total 2023-24 £ 30,668 10,878 3,140 4,038 367 800 2,324 |
R&P Total 2022-23 £ 31,153 3,019 9,788 2,451 456 550 - |
|
| 52,215 - |
52,215 | 47,417 |
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024
| 3 Payments (continued) Mission -Local Outreach Catering & Hospitality Food Bank Stock Events (Conference) Publicity & Marketing Kings Kidz Youth Young Foundations Salaries Hardship Payments Gifts Mission – Supporting Gifts and Grants Home Mission Overseas Mission Home Relief Agencies Overseas Relief Agencies Rates & Insurance Insurance Council Tax Utilities Water Gas & Electric Maintenance Cleaning & Waste Collection Fabric Fixture & Equipment Maintenance Administration Printing, Stationery, Postage Telephone & Internet Subscriptions Royalties & Licenses Travel Bank Charges Management & Governance Accountancy Independent Examination Other Professional Fees Total Payments |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds 2023-24 £ Restricted Funds 2023-24 £ 2,637 135 200 - - - - - - - - - - 35,612 - - - - |
Total 2023-24 £ 2,772 200 - - - - 35,612 - - |
R&P Total 2022-23 £ 131 - 735 972 93 627 - 1,295 1,702 |
|
| 2,837 35,747 - 8,650 - 2,550 - - - 200 3,617 |
38,584 8,650 2,550 - 3,817 |
5,555 6,400 5,620 300 - |
|
| 11,400 3,617 5,223 786 1,811 - |
15,017 6,009 1,811 |
12,320 3,339 - |
|
| 7,034 786 4,378 - 11,028 - |
7,820 4,378 11,028 |
3,339 496 7,193 |
|
| 15,406 - 8,236 76 21,344 - |
15,406 8,312 21,344 |
7,689 - 15,546 |
|
| 29,580 76 675 409 2,166 - 2,241 155 2,395 - - 7 - 72 |
29,656 1,074 2,166 2,396 2,395 7 72 |
15,546 - - 1,747 1,785 - 72 |
|
| 7,467 643 1,000 - - - - - |
8,110 1,000 - - |
3,604 - - 1,851 |
|
| 1,000 - |
1,000 | 1,851 | |
| 126,939 40,869 |
167,808 | 97,321 |
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024
4 Tangible Fixed Assets
| Net Book Value At 31 March 2023-24 At 31 March 2022-23 |
Freehold land & building: £ Equipment £ Total £ 3,213,167 81,826 3,294,993 |
|---|---|
| 1,310,480 290,284 1,600,764 |
The basis of valuation of land and buildings is the insurance value as quoted each year on insurance cover renewals. The other categories are based on an historical cost basis.
All the fixed assets are used for charitable purposes.
5 Debtors
| Gift Aid/GASDS Income Tax Recoverable Loan (Young Foundations Redundancy Contingency)) Trade Suppliers Prepayments |
2023-24 £ 17,043 - 1,279 4,484 |
2022-23 £ 4,675 6,325 - - |
|---|---|---|
| 22,806 | 11,000 |
Young Foundations nursery is a project that is responsible to the church trustee board. It is being included in the church accounts this year for the first time. The debt of £6,325 to the church for a redundancy payment to an employee made some years ago by the church on behalf of the nursery, is not shown for the current year compared to the prior year’s published accounts.
6 Cash at Bank and in Hand
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cash in Hand Santander Current Santander Savings London Baptist Property Board Deposit HSBC (Young Foundations) |
2023-24 £ 4,170 67,365 30,102 18,245 17,117 |
2022-23 £ 2,493 71,527 17,398 19,120 - |
| 136,999 | 110,538 |
Young Foundations nursery is a project that is responsible to the church trustee board. It is being included in the church’s accounts in 2023-24 for the first time and is being treated as a Restricted fund. The Young Foundations closing balance at 31 March 2023 was (£13,034) has been included as Other Income in 2023-24.
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024
7 Creditors – Amounts falling due within one year
| Creditors – Amounts falling due within one year | ||
|---|---|---|
Wages & Salaries PAYE Accruals |
2023-24 £ - - 3,211 |
2022-23 £ (28) 352 - |
| 3,211 | 324 |
8 Long Term Loans
| Long Term Loans | ||
|---|---|---|
LBA John Bradford Fund LBPB Loans Creditors Barclays (remaining manse mortgage) |
2023-24 £ 24,375 56,023 - 125 |
2022-23 £ 29,715 61,742 575 125 |
| 80,523 | 92,157 |
9 Restricted Funds
| Restricted Funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampers New Building Young Foundations |
At 1 April 2023 £ 620 12,054 - |
Receipts £ Payments £ Transfers £ Gains/ (losses) £ 3,500 (3,617) - - - - - - 58,369 (37,252) - (4,000) |
At 31 March 2024 £ 503 12,054 17,117 |
| 12,674 | 61,869 (40,869) - (4,000) |
29,674 |
In 2023-24 the Church operated the following restricted funds with receipts and payments as follows:
-
Hampers is a fund to support struggling families during the Christmas period.
-
New Building is a fund that is used to carry out maintenance works in the church.
-
• Young Foundations is a pre-school nursery which operates on the church premises.
The transfer of £4,000 from restricted to unrestricted was in respect of rent payable to the church by Young Foundations.
10 Unrestricted Funds
| 0 Unrestricted Funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladies Ministry General |
At 1 April 2023 £ 1,749 96,115 |
Receipts £ Payments £ Transfers £ Gains/ (losses) £ - - - - 132,400 (126,939) 4,000 - |
At 31 March 2024 £ 1,749 105,576 |
| 97,864 | 132,400 (126,939) 4,000 - |
107,325 |
- Ladies Ministry fund is a designated fund that contributes towards their Annual Ladies Conference.
The transfer of £4,000 from restricted to unrestricted was in respect of rent payable to the church by Young Foundations.
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Thamesmead
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024
11 Pensions
The minister and church pay contributions into the Baptist Pension Fund at 4% and 6% respectively of gross earnings.
12 Reconciliation of Prior Year (2022-23) Accounts Accruals basis Reserves to Receipts & Payments basis Reserves
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Net Assets* | 1,629,821 |
| Less Total Debtors | (11,000) |
| Add Creditors within 1 year | 324 |
| Add Long Term Loan | 92,157 |
| Less Fixed Assets | (1,600,764) |
| Closing Balance Cash at bank | 110,538 |
*Reserves in the 2022-23 published financial statements were stated as £1,630,673. However, due to fixed assets and debtors having been included incorrectly on the balance sheet, the correct net assets/funds figure of £1,629,821, a difference of £852, was not reported.
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