Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 December 2021
Registered Address
Thames Street, Wallingford, OX10 0BH
Charity Registration Number : 1132946
Trustees
The Revd Simon Hudson [Minister] Mr David Bright [Treasurer] Mrs Judith Payne [Secretary] Mrs Gale Parlett Mr Nick Chancellor Mr Nick Gough Mrs Suzie Willers
Property Trustees
The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RT
Bankers
CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Ave, Kings Hill, West Malling ME19 4JQ
Independent Examiner
Andrew Avery
Website: www.wallingfordbaptist.co.uk
Annual Report for 2021
The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2021
Charitable Object
The Charity is governed by its Constitution (approved in July 2009) which states that the principal purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination to include 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.
The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, on Trusts which are entirely compatible with the above object.
Organisational Structure and Decision making processes
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 induction into the Christian faith to renew their commitment by their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The members met together on five occasions during the year and have responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint Trustees, who together with the Ministers 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 objective.
Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance, or may be raised by members in Church meeting for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
The Trustees are legally responsible for the overall management of Wallingford Baptist Church.
Objectives and Activities
In order to achieve the principal objective which is 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 Him 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 10.30am and have also been available on Zoom and via YouTube. During the year there has been a children’s and youth programme. Initially via zoom and then during the morning services. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services.
The Church runs a series of Life Groups for the growth of faith and discipleship both at the church and in the homes of some members, and further details of these can be obtained from the Trustees, or at the Sunday services of worship. We have also started Missional Groups that seek to focus on areas that we can show the love of Christ to others. These meet on a monthly basis.
The Church is responsible for a Toddler Group which usually meets in the Church premises on Tuesday mornings, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. This attracts a good number of parents and carers with their young children. During the first part of the year we were only able to accommodate limited numbers due to the pandemic but it fully reopened in the autumn.
The Church has established the Thames Street Living Room that usually meets during the daytime every Monday on the Church Premises with the purpose of supporting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. During the time that it is open, tea, coffee and cakes are served together with light lunches.
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An online Alpha course has been run in the spring.
Kintsugi Hope groups have been established to support attendees of the Church and local residents with aspects concerning their mental wellbeing. These have been run via zoom and in person. A weekly Kintsugi Connect drop in café has also been established.
The Church runs various events and activities for Children and Young People and for people in the Third Age.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and are satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public.
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 Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure, but believe that 2021, was another positive year in the life of the church despite the challenges that Covid 19 Pandemic has brought, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2022 with renewed enthusiasm.
The Revd Simon Hudson continued to serve as the pastor, encouraging the Church Members to commit themselves to their faith, and to their service within the community. Under his leadership the Trustees continued to review various aspects of the Church’s life in order to set priorities and ensure as far as possible that the church fully reflects on its calling to be the Baptist part of the people of God in Wallingford.
Mrs Heather Wright served as a part-time Administrator which resulted in improved communication and efficiency within the church. She was instrumental in the Church embracing a new Churchinsight computer system which holds the church address list and diary and facilitates communication with church attendees. She stepped down from this role due to family commitments in June 2021.
Suzie Willers is our part time Family Outreach Coordinator and is responsible for helping to support and develop outreach in the community to include, Toddler Group and Oasis.
Rhonda Sparrey was appointed as our part time Youth Work Coordinator to help shape and develop our youth ministry centred around young people in our fellowship but also seeking to reach the wider Wallingford Community. This post was reconfirmed in Nov 2021.
During the year we have had no new Members, and one member has died. At 31 December 2021 the Church Membership was 93.
Due to the pandemic there have been less opportunities to run large events. Sunday services have continued by using Zoom, Facebook and YouTube and meeting in person, when able to and in accordance with Government guidance. This has enabled the fellowship to meet virtually or in person each Sunday and they are joined by others who are not able to meet with their own congregations and draw in others who had previously not been attending a church service. We have continued with midday prayer (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) on Zoom. Laptops/tablets were provided for those who did not have them to enable them to connect virtually to services, midday prayers and life groups.
Life Groups and Missional Groups have met either virtually, over Zoom, or in 6’s, when allowed.
Youth and Children’s work has been challenging during the pandemic. We have been able to continue to meet and offer support via zoom, door step chats, and messages of encouragement. We restarted in person Sunday School and Sunday Evening Youth Hub and we have also run an online Youth Wellbeing Journey.
The Thames Street Living Room continues as a drop-in centre for anyone who wishes to meet with others during the day. This has been well supported both by people in the church and others from the local
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community. It has been open during the pandemic, whenever possible, including meeting in 6’s and utilising our outside space, to adhere to Government restrictions.
The Church continued to explore the vision of Missional or Geographic Life Groups and has encouraged members to form such groups where they can actively reach out and to seek to meet the needs of neighbours and local communities.
The church also continues to work with other churches to provide the Wallingford Foodbank and the Wallingford CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Advice Centre. Two church members are Trustees of the latter and another member is employed as the Centre Manager and a church member is a trustee and on the management committee of the Foodbank.
We engaged with the Wallingford Churches (CTWA) including a Good Friday Service and a week of joint midday services hosted by various CTWA ministers from Ascension Day to Pentecost. We were also involved with organising the Drive in Carols in a local supermarket carpark at Christmas.
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year.
The Church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making grants to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose.
The Church is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the church’s activities, many of which run with little or no impact on the church’s expenditure, but nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the church’s objectives.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements. The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy, and are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves at the Balance Sheet date, together with ongoing income anticipated, to enable the church to function effectively in the coming year.
The Trustees have made an assessment of the major risks facing the church, and are satisfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks.
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WALLINGFORD BAPTIST CHURCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | |||
| Weekly/monthly offerings | £92,472 | £90,209 | |
| Donations and other income | £2,674 | £5,565 | |
| Income tax recovered on gifts | £19,784 | £22,727 | |
| Interest | £214 | £160 | |
| Hire of premises | £731 | £466 | |
| Total Receipts | £115,875 | £119,127 | |
| Payments | |||
| Ministry | 1 | £49,705 | £50,056 |
| Church running costs | 2 | £15,909 | £33,730 |
| Church Activities | 3 | £26,480 | £11,931 |
| Mission giving | 4 | £12,254 | £13,950 |
| Total Payments | £104,348 | £109,667 | |
| Net receipts / (payments) for the year | £11,527 | £9,460 | |
| Cash balance at previous year end | £40,844 | £47,534 | |
| Transfer to Mission Fund | (£5,952) | (£6,150) | |
| Transfer to Capital Fund | (£1,964) | (£10,000) | |
| Cash balance at current year end | £44,455 | £40,844 | |
| MISSION FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
| Receipts | |||
| Gift Day income | £3,355 | £10,670 | |
| Income tax recovered on gifts | £1,477 | £1,799 | |
| Total Receipts | £4,832 | £12,469 | |
| Payments | 5 | ||
| Gifts to other charitable organisations | £8,138 | £19,315 | |
| Gifts to support members involved in mission | £2,000 | £1,650 | |
| Total Payments | £10,138 | £20,965 | |
| Net receipts / (payments) for the year | (£5,306) | (£8,496) | |
| Cash balance at previous year end | (£746) | £1,600 | |
| Transfer from General Fund | £5,952 | £6,150 | |
| Cash balance at current year end | (£100) | (£746) |
| CAPITAL RESERVE FUND | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | |||
| Total Receipts | £0 | £0 | |
| Payments | |||
| Total Payments | £869 | £1,095 | |
| Net receipts / (payments) for the year | (£869) | (£1,095) | |
| Cash balance at previous year end | £8,905 | £0 | |
| Transfer from General Fund | £1,964 | £10,000 | |
| Cash balance at current year end | £10,000 | £8,905 |
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| GIFTS FUND | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | |||
| Total Receipts | £15 | £3,210 | |
| Payments | |||
| Total Payments | £0 | £1,635 | |
| Net receipts / (payments) for the year | £15 | £1,575 | |
| Cash balance at previous year end | £1,575 | £0 | |
| Cash balance at current year end | £1,590 | £1,575 |
| Summary of Funds | Note | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | £44,455 | £40,844 | |
| Mission Fund | (£100) | (£746) | |
| Capital Reserve Fund | £10,000 | £8,905 | |
| Gifts Fund | £1,590 | £1,575 | |
| Total Funds | £55,944 | £50,578 |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AT 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Note | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | |||
| Bank and other cash balances | |||
| Current Account | £9,027 | £3,875 | |
| BUC deposit accounts | £46,917 | £46,703 | |
| Total Current Assets | £55,944 | £50,578 | |
| Assets Held for Church’s own use | 6 | £2,030,860 | £2,016,152 |
| Total Assets | £2,086,804 | £2,066,730 | |
| Liabilities | |||
| Current Liabilities | £0 | £0 | |
| Pension Scheme liability | 7 | £23,260 | |
| Total Liabilities | £23,260 |
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
Basis of accounts: These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.
ccordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011. |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2. Ministry | 2021 | 2020 |
| F/T Minister’s stipend, pension and NI contributions | £34,585 | £36,799 |
| P/T Minister’s stipend, pension and NI contributions | £0 | £7,437 |
| Pension Deficiency Contributions (see note below) | £4,229 | £0 |
| Contribution to ministerial college fees | £3,900 | £0 |
| Travel and other expenses | £110 | £73 |
| Payroll Fees | £470 | £421 |
| Conferences and Retreats | £0 | £0 |
| Manse costs | £6,411 | £5,326 |
| Total Ministry | £49,705 | £50,056 |
The Senior Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by the church.
Until 2021 pension deficiency contributions were recorded as part of the Minister’s pension contributions as they were collected at the same time.
| 2. Church Running Costs | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity costs and Water rates | £1,582 | £4,127 |
| Phone, TV and Internet | £661 | £758 |
| Insurance | £1,628 | £1,623 |
| Repairs and maintenance | £3,206 | £9,098 |
| Church Administrator salary | £2,846 | £6,080 |
| Admin & comms costs (inc subs, licences & technology) | £3,986 | £10,276 |
| Preaching Fees | £50 | £100 |
| Pastoral Fund | £1,467 | £845 |
| Sundries (inc kitchen and cleaning supplies) | £483 | £823 |
| Total Church Running Costs | £15,909 | £33,730 |
3. Church Activities
| 3. Church Activities | 2021 | 2020 |
| Core Church Activities | £153 | £520 |
| Children’s Groups (inc Holiday Club) | £520 | £294 |
| Youth Work | £4,932 | £1,005 |
| Oasis Events | £23 | £220 |
| Outreach and Community Activities | £2,185 | £1,060 |
| Youth and Community Co-ordinators | £12,513 | £2,792 |
| CAP | £6,000 | £6,000 |
| Other | £154 | £40 |
| Total Church Activities | £26,480 | £11,931 |
4. Mission Giving
| 4. Mission Giving | 2021 | 2020 |
| BMS World Mission | £5,952 | £6,650 |
| Baptist Home Mission | £5,952 | £6,650 |
| Individuals | £350 | £650 |
| Total Mission Giving | £12,254 | £13,950 |
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| 5. Mission Fund Payments | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda Higgin (College Fees) | £650 | |
| A2B | £1,200 | £1,800 |
| A Rocha | £900 | |
| Bin Twinning | £93 | |
| BMS World Mission | £1,170 | |
| Christian Aid | £300 | |
| Disasters Emergency Committee | £500 | |
| Kerusso Trust | £1,000 | £7,500 |
| Matt Godfrey | £2,000 | £1,000 |
| Nasio Trust | £850 | |
| Open Doors | £1,000 | £2,100 |
| Prayer Spaces | £500 | |
| Prison Fellowship | £625 | |
| Scripture Union | £500 | |
| TearFund | £300 | £1,200 |
| Viva | £200 | |
| Total | £10,138 | £20,965 |
6. Assets Held for the Church’s own use
The church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held by the church’s custodian trustee the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd:
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Church premises at Thames Street, Wallingford,
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Church manse at 1 Newnham Green, Crowmarsh
The value of these in the accounts are the insurance valuations as below
2021 2020 Church - £1,677,510 Church - £1,677,510 Contents - £80,640 Contents - £80,640 Manse - £272,710 Manse - £258,002
7. Pension Scheme
The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.
The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund, started in 1925, but was closed to future accrual of defined benefits on 31 December 2011. Prior to this date the main benefit provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan was a pension of one eightieth of final minimum pensionable
income for each year of pensionable service together with additional pension in respect of premiums paid on Pensionable Income in excess of Minimum Pensionable Income. Since 1 January 2012, benefits have been provided through a Defined Contribution (DC) Plan.
A formal valuation of the DB Plan as at 31 December 2019 was undertaken by a professionally qualified Actuary using the Projected Unit Method. At the valuation date the market value of the DB Plan assets was £298 million, whilst the level of assets needed to pay benefits was £316m, giving a deficit of £18m (equivalent to a past service funding level of 94%). The Church and the other participating employers in the DB Plan are collectively responsible for funding this deficit. The next actuarial valuation of the DB Plan within the Scheme is due to take place not later than 31 December 2022.
Under the Schedule of Contributions, the church makes a monthly payment in respect of the DB scheme deficit, currently £357.60 which will increase in line with increases in Minimum Pensionable Income. The Schedule of Contributions foresees these contributions continuing until June 2026. The pension scheme
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liability shown in the Statement of Assets and liabilities is calculated as the current rate per month multiplied by the number of months remaining in the current Schedule of Contributions, which amounted to £19,310 as at 31st December 2021.
The Church has been advised that the estimated cost for the church to buyout their Pension Scheme liabilities at 31 December 2021 was £29,800.
Report of the Independent Examiner(s) to the Trustees of Wallingford Baptist Church On the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Church’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
-
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 Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church 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 an 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 the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention 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 that the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Accounts page 5