## **TAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH REVIEW OF 2020** ## **for Charity Commission** ## **REVIEW OF THE YEAR** ## **REGULAR ACTIVITIES** The regular activities of the Church continued until March 2020 when COVID 19 lockdown prevented us meeting in person. During the early part of lockdown our minister prepared morning services which were made available on You Tube. In August 2020 we moved these services to the Zoom platform so that more people could participate and the services could be held live. In September and October 2020 we were again able to resume live services with limited numbers socially distanced and wearing masks in the church sanctuary and with many others continuing to join in by Zoom. Some also joined to listen on the telephone. Total numbers worshipping in this way were generally about 90 to 100 people. During the second lockdown in November and throughout December 2020 attendance in the sanctuary was halted again and services were held exclusively on Zoom. The following activities were also held on Zoom during the lockdown period. - **Club Sunday and Sparkz** (Sunday activities for children and young people). - **Men at TBC –** meeting by Zoom made it possible to have speakers who would not have been able to attend - live meetings due to distance. - **“Girls Together” -** a monthly meeting for ladies on a Monday evening. - **Messy Church,** a monthly event for children and their parents and carers, providing opportunities for worship - and creativity. - **Home Groups** - **Knit & Natter** - A monthly **prayer meeting** and **prayer cells** . Being a church means that meeting together with one another for worship and prayer and the study of God’s Word is important to us, as is the mandate to reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ. Pastoral care is also an important part of our life together, providing support for those facing particular problems and difficulties. With a considerable number of elderly people in our congregation, this is an important area of work. Our Home Groups are at the core of this work and several members are involved in home and hospital visits. These activities were limited by Covid but many contacts with those in need continued by phone calls and Zoom meetings. Involvement of children and young people is also an important part of our activities and we run children and youth clubs and other events for children and young people from the locality. These are aimed at introducing people to the Christian faith in the context of fun and a variety of activities. ## **EXTERNAL ACTIVITES** These were limited due to COVID but to the extent possible with other churches we have continued to support, and have members involved in:- **Taunton Street Pastors** which supports people on the streets of Taunton at weekends through the evenings into the early morning, helping to make the town safer; ## **The Hospital Chaplaincy;** **Open Door** which provides practical support for rough sleepers in Taunton; A **Town Centre Chaplaincy** project whereby volunteer chaplains are allocated to participating stores, offices and other places of employment and other locations such as a homeless hostel to be available to provide a listening ear or encouragement, etc. to staff and others; The **Taunton Foodbank** which provides emergency food for local people in crisis; **Charis** which has successfully provided accommodation and support to Syrian refugee families and advice to others working with refugee families; ## **Taunton Area Debt Advice** ## **MINISTRY AND FAMILIES WORK** Revd Richard Matcham who had commenced his ministry on 28 September 2019 continued to serve as our minister through 2020 adapting his ministry to be mainly online during the year. Our Families Worker, Lauren Jewhurst, also kept in contact with families by use of Zoom meetings and limited activities when possible. Harvey Gollins continued as a trainee children’s worker until August 2020, when he went to Moorlands College for further study. During the early part of 2020 we discussed proposals for employing an outreach worker to work amongst those aged 14 to 30, an age range which is significantly under-represented within our church. These proposals were accepted by the Church meeting in September 2020 and we are presently seeking to make an appointment. ## **LEADERSHIP** Our annual church meeting could not be held In March 2020 but took place in September 2020 with some members present and others attending by Zoom. We held the elections for deacons and officers electronically and elected Janet Blake and David Fletcher as new deacons. ## **CHURCH WEEKEND** Our church weekend away was held in Paignton (31[st] January – 2[nd] February) and was attended by just over 100 people. ## **CHURCH MEMBERSHIP** We welcome 3 new members in January 2020. 6 members died during the year. None of these was caused by Covid 19. Numbers attending and contributing to the life of the church fellowship were disrupted by Covid 19. ## **Membership Statistics:** |**embership Statistics:**|| |---|---| |Membership as at 31st December 2019:|146| |New members added|+ 3| |Less number of deaths in 2020:|- 6| |Less resignations/removals|- 6| |Membership as at 31st December 2020:|137| TAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 'DEPENDE￿'T EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF TAUNTON BAFfisT CHURCH I rewrt on the accounts of Taunton Baptist Church for the year ended 31 December 2020, which incory)orale the Statement of Financial Activities, The Balance She¢t and accompanying Notes to the Accounts. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examlner Tlie Charity's trustees are rtsponsible for the preparation of accounts. The charÉty's truste¢s consider that an audit is not rcquiremenl for this year under section 144(2) ofthecharities Act 2011. The chartty's trustees have requested ine lo undertake an independent exainli￿t10n and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. It is my r&8poI)sibility to. examine the accounts under section 145 of Ilie 2011 Acl. to follow procedures laid down in the General Directions 8iveTh by tlie Charity Commissioner under se¢lion 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. and to state wh¢iher particular maller have come lo niy aiienlion, Basis of independent examlDer's report My examination was cArried out in accordance with the General Direction5 givell by the Charity Commissioiier. That examination iiiclud¢s a review ot'ihe accounting records tnainlaii)cd by IlieTrustees ai)d a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual ilcms or disclo.4ures in the accounts and seeking explai)alions froin the Trustees concerning such iy)atters. The procedures uiiderlaken do not provide all Ihc cvidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion is given as lo wliether th¢ accounts present a 'ttue and fair view, and the report is limited lo Iliose matters sel out iii the $lat¢m¢nt below. IndepeDdent ex&￿Iller s Statement tn cOnn￿li0n with my examination, no maller has comc lo my attention: (i) which gives me reasonablc causc lo believe that in any mat￿la1 respect the requirements to k¢¢p accounting records in aecoi'dance witli section 130 oftlie 2011 Act. and lo prepare accouiits wl)ich Accoi'd with the acLounling records and comply with the requirem¢nls of the 2011 Act. have not be¢Th niet; or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should b¢ drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the aceounts to be reached. Amherst & Sh4pland (Tallnton and Wiveliscombe) Cliartered Accountants 141 Staplegrove Road Taunton Telephone.. 01823 326555 21 March 2021 TAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 Decembei. 2020 Unrestricted Restricted Fllnds Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2020 2019 Note INCOMING RESOURCES Jpicopiiiiig i'esouycesfropn doiioi's 104,407 104,407 101,425 Otliei. volunlaiy i17comiiig resouYce.s 17,623 3,573 21,196 7,865 In¢oinefroiJi cliarilable and ancillary ti'ading 15,499 15,499 29,110 117copnefYoin investinei7fs 1,534 1,534 2,543 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 139,063 3,573 142,636 140,943 RESOURCES USED Gi'anls 18,317 2,648 20,965 24,312 Aclivifzes relo¢ing dii-ectly io ihe Iwi'k of tlie cjiui cli 102,667 102,667 76,600 Chiirch nianogeinent and admiiiisti'ation 39,210 39,210 32,101 TOTAL RESOURCES USED 160,194 2,648 162,842 133,013 NET (OUTGOING) / INCOMING RESOURCES (21,131) 925 (20,206) 7,930 NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (21.131) 925 (20,206) 7,930 BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD 183,194 196,000 379,194 371,264 BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD 162,063 196,925 358,988 379,194 Page I TAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH BALANCE SHEET As at 31 December 2020 2020 2019 Note FIXED ASSETS Taiigiblefixed assets 207,021 203,488 Inveslments - Redwvod Bank 87,009 85,916 CURRENT ASSETS Debtol's 3,834 4,375 Cash at bap2k and in lioiid io 67,120 95,473 70,954 99,848 LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS IALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 5,996 10,058 NET CURRLI NT ASSETS 64,958 89,790 NET ASSETS 358,988 379,194 FUNDS Unrestricted 162,063 183,194 Reslrieted: li Special collections 925 925 Endowment 12 196,000 196,000 358,988 379,194 Approved by the Trnstees and Si￿ed on tlieir b¢half by: Page 2 TAUNTON BAPTIST CIIURCMI OTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 December 2020 I ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financial statements have been prepar￿ in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended PYactic¢. The fmancial stateinents have been prepared under tli¢ historical cost convention except for the valuation of investment assets, which are shown at market value. (ll) Consecrated and ben¢fi¢¢d property is excluded from the accowits. No value is placed on moveable cliurch ￿m]ShingS whicli are reS￿"ded as inali¢nablc froin the churcli buildings. Improvements to the church buildings are written off in the year expended, Equipinent is capitalised at cost. (b) Depreciation is calculated to write off assets on a straight line over l O years from the dale of purchase. (c) Incoming Resources: All incoming resources are recognised once the charity has entitlement to th¢ r¢sources, it is certain that the r￿oUrceS will be receiv¢d wid tli¢ inonetary value of incoming resources can b¢ ineasured witli sufficient reliabibty. (d) Resources expended: Liabilities are recognised as resourc¢s ¢xpended as soon as there is a legal or coii8tructiv¢ obligation coi]Thittin¥ the chaiity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been ¢la8sified undcr headings that aggr¢&)ate all Costs related to the category. (e) fuiids: Unrestrtcted fl￿dS represent fuiid5 of the Church that are not subject to any restrictions reg￿.dIng their use and are available for application to gen¢ral puryoses. Restricted fi￿]d8 are funds which arc to be used ii) accordajice with specific restriLlions iinposed by tlie donor or trust deed. Details are in note I I to tlie &ccounts. 2 INCOMING RESOURCES FROM DONORS Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2020 2019 Offerings Tax recoverable Sundry grants and donations 79,726 15,136 9,545 79,726 15,136 9,545 76,230 16,455 8,740 104,407 104,407 101,425 Page 3 TAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Continued For the year ended 31 December 2020 3 OTHER VOLUNTARY INCOMING RESOURCES Unrestricted Rcstrictod Funds Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2020 2019 Doiiations Linked groups Legacies 3,573 3,573 1,334 16,289 2,289 5,576 1,334 16,289 17,623 3,573 21,196 7,865 4 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE AND ANCILLARY TRADING Unre5trlcted Restricted Funds Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2020 2019 Rents 15,499 15,499 29,110 15,499 15,499 29,110 5 INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS Unre$trl¢ted Restrlcted Fund$ TOTAL FUNDS 2020 2019 Interest 1,534 1,534 6 GRANTS - CHARITABLE GIVING Unrestricted Restrlcted TOTAL FUNDS Funds Funds 2020 2019 Baptist Missionary Society Hon￿ Mission B M S Christmas Appeal B M S Birthday Scheme Bmsother Other 6,471 6,246 6,471 6,246 1.538 I,iio 1,000 4,600 8,231 9,273 884 1,013 392 4,519 1,538 I,iio 1,000 4,600 18.317 2,648 20,965 24,312 Page 4 TAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH OTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued For tbe ycar ended 31 December 2020 7 ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH Unrestricted Rcstricted Funds Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2020 2019 Ministry Team Cliurch building maintenance Pulpit supplies Insurance Lighting ￿la healin Rates and water Weekaid Cliildr¢n and Youth work Music and books Training - SWYM Outreach Depreciation Linked groups 36,882 36,641 1,905 6,502 3,972 744 1,060 11,083 36,882 36,641 1,905 6,502 3,972 744 1,060 11,083 13,118 19,006 10,249 6,025 5,117 1,182 1,590 11.505 959 3,175 700 936 3,038 1,600 200 1,431 647 1,600 200 1,431 647 102,667 102,667 76,600 8 CHURCH MANACEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Unrestricted Restricted Funds TOTAL FUNDS 20211 2019 Administrator and caretaker Stationery 8nd office expenses Miscellaneous Other property maintenance Accountancy 24,520 7,404 350 6,756 180 24,520 7,404 350 6,756 180 24,626 5,204 1,990 65 216 39,210 39,210 32,101 Page 5 TAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued For the year ended 31 December 2020 9 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Uni'estrficted Restricted Funds Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2020 2019 Land - pui'chased Manse at valuation 4,000 196,000 4,000 196,000 4,000 196,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 Equipment and furnishings Book value at l January 2020 Addttions 3,488 4,964 8,452 1,431 7,021 3.488 4,964 8,452 ,431 7,021 2,886 1,538 4.424 936 D¢preciation 3,488 Total 7,021 200,000 207,021 203,488 Items of fijrnilurc and equipment held since bcfore 1996 are not iiieluded iii thc abov¢, The church buildii)gs ￿]d conteiits wcre insured for the following