Hill Cliffe Baptist Church
References and Administrative Details
Registered Address :- Red Lane, Appleton, Warrington WA4 5AL
Registered Charity Number :- 1134511
Trustees :- Timothy Appleton (Treasurer), Deborah Denmade (appointed November 2024), Timothy Grainger, Stephen Gray (Church Secretary), Sarah Harris, Joseph Martin, Graham Palmer, Erica Raggett (appointed November 2024), Rev Stuart McPhail (resigned September 2024), Pamela Lanca-Coelho (resigned September 2024)
Property Trustees:- Baptist Union Corporation Limited, Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT
Bankers:- Santander and Lloyds Bank
Independent Examiner:- Lisa Price
Annual Report for 2024
The trustees present their Annual Report for 2024.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is an unincorporated association governed by a constitution based on the Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches. 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 publicly professing their faith in Jesus Christ.
The members Meeting normally takes place six times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members have appointed seven Trustees, who together with the Minister (who left part way through the year), Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the Members), 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.
Objectives and Activities
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.
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 10.45am and a smaller gathering at 5.30pm. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised on the church website at https://www.hillcliffe.info/ . There is a full children’s programme 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 house groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some members, and further details of these can be obtained from the Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship.
The church runs a café on Friday mornings which is open to all members of the public, with the purpose of providing an inviting place to meet, making links with the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.
From time to time the church runs Alpha courses for people interested in discovering more about Christianity.
The church runs various events for Young People, including groups on a Sunday, both a children’s club and a youth group on a Thursday and summer camps.
The church runs a children’s holiday club “Day Camp” each August for 80+ children which is open to both church families and children from the local area to attend. This involves a significant number of volunteers from the church coming together to run the event.
The church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The church holds regular Men’s Breakfasts and regular Women’s Ministry events.
Hospitality is a key factor of the church’s life, creating a welcoming environment, including many catered events.
The church’s A’Capella group has sung at various venues in the community during the year both within the church and the local community.
The church has held numerous funerals throughout the year, both for families associated with the church and for families in the local area. The church graveyard has been well maintained by a contractor along with volunteers and there have been a number of burials during the year.
The church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and is 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 2024 was a positive year in the life of the church, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2025 with renewed enthusiasm. One baptism was held during the year. At 31 December 2024 the membership stood at 100 members.
In September, we bid farewell to Stuart and Katharine McPhail. Stuart had served as Minister of the church for 12 years and moved on to serve with Katharine as co-pastors of another church in the North West. Throughout 2025 the church will enter into the Settlement process looking to appoint a new Minister. During the period without a Minister, members of the church have been involved in leading of services and preaching and fulfilling various roles and responsibilities.
Average attendance at worship services has increased during the year.
Members also served as volunteers in other local charities and organisations, including Broomfields Youth Project, Active Hope and Warrington Street Pastors. The church linked with Stockton Heath Festival to host a film night and also had a stand on the festival field. The church took part in local initiatives with wider organisations such as Bridgewater Churches Together and Church Warrington.
The church held regular slots during services to develop links with our mission partners based overseas and in the UK.
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 beyond the church was made for funds during the year. Income in 2024 was £166,289.
A significant expense related to the upkeep of church premises, in particular repairs and maintenance one-off costs.
During 2024, the church employed a Minister (until September), a part-time youth worker, a parttime office administrator and a part-time youth work intern.
The church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making grants totalling £32,782 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.
Total expenditure in 2024 was £167,994. The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
During 2024 the church was a participating employer within the Defined Benefit section of the Baptist Pension scheme and during 2024 made ongoing deficit payments of £1 per month to cover the costs of past service of its staff within the scheme until this was no longer required.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy to enable the church to function effectively and meet its obligations in the event of a decline in our income or a major cost. Having considered the relevant risks of changes in income and expenditure, the Trustees have determined that the appropriate level of reserves is in the range £40,000. As at 31 December 2024, the church held total reserves of £44,280
HILL CLIFFE BAPTIST CHURCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT
| Note | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | |||
| Offerings | 2 | 117,306 | 126,600 |
| Income tax recovered on offerings | 31,162 | 24,705 | |
| Youth and Children events | 7,702 | 6,573 | |
| Rents and contributions for use of premises | 1,375 | 880 | |
| Café and catered events | 3,863 | 3,304 | |
| Graveyard | 3,565 | 885 | |
| Other | 909 | 1,172 | |
| Legacies | - | - | |
| Interest | 3 | 408 | 517 |
| Total Receipts | 166,289 | 164,636 | |
| Payments | |||
| Ministry | 4 | 71,462 | 74,345 |
| Mission | 5 | 32,782 | 31,043 |
| Upkeep of church premises | 6 | 46,401 | 26,538 |
| Administration | 7 | 4,227 | 3,918 |
| Children and Youth | 8 | 9,906 | 9,206 |
| Serving, reaching and discipling | 9 | 3,216 | 5,419 |
| Total Payments | 167,994 | 150,471 | |
| Surplus (Deficit) | (1,705) | 14,166 | |
| Cash balance at previous year end | 45,986 | 31,820 | |
| Cash balance at current year end | 44,280 | 45,986 | |
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES | AT 31 DECEMBER 2024 | ||
| Assets | Note | 2024 | 2023 |
| Bank and other cash balances | 25,970 | 28,083 | |
| BUC deposit account | 18,310 | 17,902 | |
| Money received not banked | |||
| Assets Held for Church’s own use | 10 | 3,476,969 | 3,233,685 |
| Total Assets | 3,521,249 | 3,279,671 | |
| Liabilities | Note | 2024 | 2023 |
| Current Liabilities | 11 | ||
| Long Term Loans | 12 | ||
| Pension Scheme liability | 13 | - | - |
| Other liabilities | |||
| Total Liabilities | - | - |
The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages [1 & 2] relating to the year ending 31 December 2024 are as approved by the deacons.
Signed: (Treasurer or other Deacon authorised to sign on behalf of all the deacons)
[Date]
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
1.Basis of Accounts
These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.
| 2. Donations and other income Donations Total Donations and Other Income 3. Investment income Savings interest Total Investment Income 4. Ministry Staff stipends, NI and pension contributions Manse costs Study and conference expenses Total Ministry |
2024 2023 117,306 126,520 117,306 126,520 2024 2023 408 809 408 809 2024 2023 64,484 67,128 5,034 4,185 1,943 1,066 71,462 72,379 |
|---|---|
Stuart McPhail acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Pastor, including the provision of manse accommodation [owned by the church]
| 5. Mission Home Mission BMS World Mission Christians Against Poverty Warrington Youth For Christ Tearfund Active Hope SIM Broomfields Youth Project Warrington Street Pastors Sponsorship and Other mission Engineering In Mission Langham Partnership Prison Fellowship Christian Aid TEK URA Total Mission 6. Upkeep of church premises Energy/Telephone Cleaning |
2024 2023 7,140 6,665 7,140 6,928 - 300 960 960 223 300 1,020 995 6,115 6,115 3,400 1,700 1,020 935 2,344 2,336 2,400 2,400 - 300 - 300 - 300 1,020 510 32,782 30,533 2024 2023 6,175 6,261 1,478 1,598 |
|---|---|
| Insurance Repairs and maintenance Manse Maintenance Minibus Maintenance Graveyard Contractor Total Upkeep of church premises 7. Administration Printing and stationery Subscriptions Total Administration 8. Children and Youth Resources and equipment Day camp Mission and other trips Total children and youth 9. Serving, Reaching and discipling Welcome and Stewarding Teaching and Worship Pastoral Adult/Family outreach Investing in leaders and discipleship Kitchen/catering Total Serving, reaching and discipling |
5,900 3,751 21,214 4,838 2,993 876 1,146 1,737 7,495 7,476 46,401 26,538 2024 2023 827 847 3,400 3,071 4,227 3,918 2024 2023 2,124 2,257 4,935 4,543 2,847 2,406 9,906 9,206 2024 2023 100 94 132 391 - 39 176 2,096 - 224 2,807 2,575 3,216 5,325 |
|---|---|
10. 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]:
Church Premises and Land, (Including Burial Ground), at Red Lane valued in the accounts at £2,724,672 based on insured value
Church Manse at 15A Cobbs Lane valued in the accounts at £570,320 based on insured value. In additions contents are valued at £25,000.
The church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment with an insured value of £156,977
| 11. Current Liabilities Cheques written but not cashed Total Current Liabilities 12. Long Term Liabilities Long term liabilities Total Long-Term Liabilities |
2024 2023 - - 2024 2023 - - - - |
|---|---|
13. Pension Scheme Liabilities
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 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 as at 31 December 2022.
The Church has been advised that the estimated cost for the church to buyout their Pension Scheme liabilities at 31 December 2021 was £255,000.
At the end of June 2022, the Baptist Pension Scheme signed an agreement with the insurance company Just Group (‘Just’) to secure members’ pension benefits under the Defined Benefit (‘DB’) Plan. This agreement is referred to as a ‘buy-in policy’. It follows a similar agreement with Just in 2019 that covered most pensions in payment at that time. The combined agreements mean that Just are now providing financial backing for all DB pensions provided through the Scheme’s DB Plan.
The cost of such policies is largely driven by financial markets and these have moved substantially in the Scheme’s favour, particularly over the course of the last few months. As a result, this transaction takes the Scheme out of a shortfall position for the first time in two decades. Although risks remain, the Baptist Union and the Trustee of the Scheme have agreed that deficit contributions from each participating employer in the DB Plan will reduce to just £1 per month from August 2022.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the trustee5 On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 31 I Z 2oZLk . Responsibilltles and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement aPpkn]. Delete [ l rf not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: ID zo Name: Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (if any): AAT IER Oct 2018
Address: Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material mattels of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wlshes to disclose. IER Oct 2018