WOODVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Martin Waterworth Limited
Bronwylfa Llangunnor Road Carmarthen SA31 2PB
WOODVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
CHARITY INFORMATION
Pastor:
Joshua Parmar – Appointed 1/4/2023
Deacons: Justin Chaloner Alastair Clarke – Resigned 26/4/2023 Judy Davies (Secretary) Henry Forrest Tom Fok David Garner – Appointed 20/9/2023 Elders: Annabel Chaloner Stuart Hardisty Martin Pearce Governing Document: Constitution adopted 20 January 2010 There is also a Charity Commission scheme dated 11 December 1923 which applies to the church property
Charity Registration number: 1134695 Custodian Trustee: Baptist Union Corporation Registered office: Crwys Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4ND
Independent Examiner: Martin Waterworth Martin Waterworth Limited Bronwylfa Llangunnor Road Carmarthen SA31 2PB
Bankers:
Co-operative Bank
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Charity Information | 2 |
| Trustees Report | 3 – 5 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 8 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 9 – 10 |
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WOODVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year.
Objects of the charity
The Trust seeks to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by being a church in the Cardiff area.
Government
Church leadership follows a Pastor/Elders/Deacons pattern. The Pastor and Elders are charged with the general oversight and direction of the church with the Pastor and Deacons responsible for matters including financial and material needs. The Church also employs a part-time Children and Youth Team Leader, who passes on information to the Trustees as required for Church governance. Final decisions are made by meetings of all Church members.
Review of Activities
The Church has a mission statement, which provides an overall framework for the Church's activities. The statement agreed by the Church is: Woodville Baptist Church is "a community changed by faith in Christ, united in our love for Jesus, empowered to demonstrate God's Kingdom and leading others to him". Our vision is summed up in ‘Love God, Love each other, Love Cathays’.
We continued with our new style of Sunday services first trialed in 2021, but with some minor changes. We have had more ‘traditional’ service formats on the first and third Sundays of each month, one of which includes communion and has separate children’s provision and the other as a whole-church “BIG Woody” service; the sermons for both these services were recorded and subsequently made available, with subtitles, online. On the other two weeks we held ‘Woody CAFÉ [Community and Family Event] gatherings which were very different in format and put children and the community at the centre. The CAFÉ services included a short time of meeting together for worship followed by children’s activities in the main hall, a café in the lounge and a space for prayer and ministry in our upper room. Subsequently, after a church meeting that reviewed our service patterns, the elders felt led to starting a sermon-based discussion in room 1. This has proven to be really successful and given the congregation a chance to ask any relevant questions that might have come to mind from listening to the preach. There was also a team picking litter from the streets of Cathays as a way to serve the community. Sermons on Woody CAFÉ weeks were pre-recorded for online viewing or listening. We had tried a variety of options for the few fifth Sundays each year, but after consulting members we have gone back to having a more traditional service on those dates.
During the year the Church continued to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by serving the community locally and across Cardiff. This has included:
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a) The Church continues to be a distribution centre for Foodbank. Church member involvement in this has reduced in recent years so we were mainly a host venue for a service run by members from other churches and others. Vouchers are provided by agencies such as social services or doctors and these can be redeemed for emergency food supplies.
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b) Supporting students within Woody activities rather than dedicated student activities due to reduced numbers.
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c) Little Acorns, the weekly Parents and Toddlers Group, which is open to those in the community, remained popular, and was seeing relationships develop. Many of the families involved in Little Acorns also attend our CAFÉ services and some have joined our other Sunday services as well.
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d) We have a weekly prayer meeting in our upper room, with one session per month as a larger praise and worship evening.
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e) Activities with Cathays Compass have not restarted since the pandemic, but we continued with building relationships with those who had been involved in Compass.
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f) Life Groups –six Life Groups ran throughout the year: a British Sign Language group, a weekly theology and bible study discussion group, a discipleship group, a young adult’s group, a Justice group and a ‘Bible Explorers’ group for those new to the Christian faith. Our less formal Knit and Natter group stopped in March as the members felt it had run its course.
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g) The informal Men’s Group developed into regular Men’s Ministry events, including a monthly evening meeting called ‘The Code’.
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h) From April onwards, our Women’s ministry involved a weekly term-time morning Bible study and a monthly event called ‘Captivated’.
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i) Mentoring relationships continued, with the church encouraging this support across the generations.
In planning the activities, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission in December 2008.
Other community groups which used Woodville Christian Centre during 2023 included:
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Woodville Road Playgroup,
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A breastfeeding support group run by midwives,
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A French-speaking African Church Sunday Service and other meetings
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A gospel choir holding rehearsals and events periodically
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A mortgage broker company using one of our offices
Staffing:
Our new pastor joined us in April. Our other staff remained the same: a Children, Youth and Families Worker; a Social Media and Content Manager; and an Administrator. The staff have continued to have weekly prayer meetings and monthly staff meetings and the pastor has regular individual line management meetings with the team.
Our permanent cleaner has been on long-term sickness absence since February and this role has been covered by two other church members.
Financial Review
The church relies on the gifts of those who attend for its income. Whilst this is the main source of income the other important source of income during 2023 included the shop unit rental.
Our income during the year has enabled us to pay staff and to administer the charity. The financial outturn for the year was, in aggregate, broadly in line with the budget, with shortfalls in some areas being covered by excesses in others.
The church is committed to supporting those involved in mission both in the UK and overseas mainly through a commitment to give a certain percentage of income to BMS World Mission and the Baptist Home Mission Fund plus direct support to individuals from the fellowship involved in mission activity.
Transactions and Financial Position
The Financial Statements follow this report. In November 2013 the Trustees updated the reserves policy by increasing the free reserves held by the charity by £10,000 to £30,000 where funds allow. It was decided this amount better reflected our continued commitments. Our actual reserves exceeded this amount at the end of 2023 and the Trustees consider the reserves position to be satisfactory.
Risk Statement
The Trustees have reviewed the risks to which a small church operating with few employees is exposed.
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Appropriate procedures are in place to identify, monitor and review these risks on a regular basis.
Trustees' Responsibilities
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which give a true and fair view of the state of the charity and of its income and expenditure for the year.
We are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently,
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
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State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts and
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Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the Trustees on 24[th] April 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
J Davies (Secretary)
S Hardisty (Trustee)
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF WOODVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In connection with the examination which gives cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and 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.
Martin Waterworth F.C.A. 24 April 2024
For and on behalf of: Martin Waterworth Limited Bronwylfa Llangunnor Road Carmarthen SA31 2PB
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WOODVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| Note RECEIPTS Voluntary receipts: 2 Activities for generating funds Investment Property rental Hall hire income Shop rental Investment and other income Loan Receipts Total Receipts PAYMENTS Charitable activities 3 Loan capital repaid - net Independent Examination Total payments Net Receipts/(Payments) before transfers Transfers between funds Bank balances at 1 January Bank balances at 31 December |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds Total Funds £ £ 2023 £ 2022 £ 125,041 - 125,041 73,123 409 - 409 13,077 16,738 - 16,738 9,127 28,000 - 28,000 28,000 3,330 10,000 - - 3,330 10,000 2,890 - |
|---|---|
| 183,518 - 183,518 126,217 172,279 - 172,279 120,987 5,100 - 5,100 4,664 500 - 500 500 |
|
177,879 - 177,879 126,151 5,639 - 5,639 66 - - - - 49,281 - 49,281 49,215 54,920- 54,920 49,281 |
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WOODVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
1. Fixed Assets
| The value of assets owned are: Freehold Buildings: Church premises Investment Property Manse Total buildings Equipment |
Insurance Value 2023 £ 2,503,707 979,104 324,077 3,806,888 111,897 3,918,785 |
|---|---|
2. Other Assets and Liabilities
| Assets Bank Accounts Tax recoverable Other debtors and prepayments Liabilities Principality loan Loan from member Shop unit rent received in advance Accruals and other creditors |
2023 £ 54,920 5,000 1,105 61,025 19,390 10,000 7,000 3,252 39,642 |
2022 £ 49,281 11,045 896 61,222 24,490 - 7,000 1,329 32,819 |
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|---|---|---|---|
The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 24[th] April 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
J Davies (Secretary)
S Hardisty (Trustee)
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WOODVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
1. Accounting Policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis with a statement of assets and liabilities.
| 2. Voluntary receipts General donations Special collections Tax recoverable 3. Charitable activities a. Direct Charitable Costs Ministry Manse Property Worship Evangelism Fellowship Grants and giving Note 3c b. Support and Administration General administration Loan Interest Combined charitable activity cost c. Grants and giving Baptist Union GB Home Mission Fund BMS World Mission New Wine Cymru Other grants totaling less than £2,000 |
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ 100,409 - - - 24,632 - 125,041- |
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ 100,409 - - - 24,632 - 125,041- |
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ 100,409 - - - 24,632 - 125,041- |
Total 2023 £ 100,409 - 24,632 125,041 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ 58,540 - 41,513 - 24,500 - 4,568 - 23 - 3,367 - 19,011 - |
Total 2023 £ 58,540 41,513 24,500 4,568 23 3,367 19,011 |
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| 151,522 - |
151,522 | |||
19,616 - 1,141 - |
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| 20,757 - |
20,757 17,354 |
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| 172,279 - |
172,279 120,987 |
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| Total 2023 £ Total 2022 £ 6,300 6,800 4,600 5,100 1,200 1,200 6,911 6,985 |
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| 19,011 20,085 |
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4. Staff and Trustees
The charity had a monthly average of 4 employees, none of whom received a salary in excess of £60,000. Its activities are generally carried out by volunteers.
The Minister (Pastor), J Parmar, received a stipend of £20,250 in the year plus contributions to his Baptist Union pension scheme £2,560 and to light and heat costs of the manse £1,440 in his role as Minister of the church, and not as a trustee.
Judy Davies received remuneration of £9,628 in the year plus contributions to her Baptist Union pension scheme £963 in her role as Administrator of the church, and not as a trustee.
No remuneration was paid to any other trustee during the year or to any person connected to them.
5. Loans
The Principality Building Society loan is at a variable rate of interest. The loan is secured on the freehold church land and buildings.
In 2023 the charity received a £10,000 loan from a member of the Church. This loan is not interest bearing, is unsecured and is repayable on demand.
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