## **Tilehouse Street Baptist Church Annual Report 2020** Charity Registration Number: 1135132 The charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document which states that the Church engages in a range of activities for the purpose of the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world. ## **Trustees (Deacons)** Revd. Jane Robson (Minister) Mrs Joyce Bleasby Mr Malcolm Mallett Mrs Margaret Granger Mr Andrew Turner (Treasurer) Mrs Sheila Hallas(Secretary) Revd. Ian Stears Handscomb Mr John Maguire ## **Motto Text Philippians 1 v.6** I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. ## **Aims** The Church’s primary aim is to worship God, make known His love and to share the good news of the Gospel with local people and the wider world. ## **Governance** The Church is led by the Minister and the team of deacons. The diaconate, church members and other members of the congregation have met regularly to consider and discuss church affairs, both spiritual and practical. The Church Members’ Meeting held on January 16[th] took the decision to invite all other regular members of the congregation to attend and speak at church meetings but they would not be entitled to vote on any matter. ## **Safeguarding** The Safeguarding Team has continued to work to ensure that policies and procedures which conform to the Baptist Union’s guidelines are in place and followed. Paul Chamberlain was appointed as the Designated Person for Safeguarding. A training session for volunteers was held in March. The Church complies with General Data Protection Regulations. It also has Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities and Lone Worker policies. Both the Church building and the Memorial Halls are Covid secure. ## **Membership** The membership of Tilehouse Street stood at 50 in January and rose by one during the year, as we were delighted to welcome a lady who transferred her membership from a Church in a neighbouring town. There are seven members at our small but active daughter chapel in Lower Stondon. ## **Worship** The year began as any other with worship in the building, monthly prayer, deacons’ and members’ meetings and weekly events including ‘Open Church’, Bible Study and discussion groups. All these events were brought to a sudden halt in March when the arrival of the Coronavirus pandemic in the U.K. resulted in the introduction of restrictions. Sunday services were then held via electronic means. People who were unfamiliar with technologies such as Zoom and You Tube soon gained confidence in using them and numbers accessing the services grew to between 40 and 45 most weeks. As the year progressed, it became apparent that a return to in person meetings would not be permitted for some considerable time so other activities began to take place on line. Church Meetings resumed in July and the Annual Church Meeting, having been postponed from March, was held in September. Prayer meetings have been well supported and there is a weekly Bible Study group. The Minister has worked very hard to maintain a strong feeling of togetherness, despite the physical separation. The services are always relevant and encouraging. During the year, Jane has led three series - The Giving Principle, Nehemiah and Mark’s Gospel. At times of celebration, such as Easter, Harvest and Christmas, the Church doors, windows and garden have been imaginatively decorated as a witness to people in the vicinity that Church life is continuing. A highlight of the year was being able to hold the Christmas Carol service in the Church, during a period when restrictions had been relaxed. ## **Children** The youngsters with whom the Church has connections have not been forgotten. From time to time, they have been sent cards and small gifts. The children who attend Pre-school and Nursery contributed some paintings for the harvest display. ## **Pastoral Care** This has mainly been continued by phone calls, letters or socially distanced conversations on doorsteps. Many folk have ‘gone the extra mile’ to keep the church family together. The Church has continued to financially support a number of, local, national and international charities, including Phase, the Foodbank, Christian Aid and BMS World Mission. ## **Fabric** The facade and most of the window frames on the Church building are being redecorated – a project which is still awaiting completion in early 2021. The community of Christians who have worshipped at Tilehouse Street for over 350 years have put their trust in God throughout the good and bad times. 2020 has undoubtedly been a difficult year for many but we continue to put our faith in the one who began a good work in us and we know He will bring it to completion in the fullness of His time. Sheila Hallas Church Secretary February 2021 ## Minister’s Review Alongside the efforts to keep the church community together and maintain worship and carry out various meetings via Zoom, 2020 has also been a year for looking ahead. Not only to the immediate ‘life after Covid’ but also to the long-term future. Many of the deacons meetings’ and church meetings’ agendas during 2020 have included the item ‘Looking to the Future’. It has been recognised that it will take time to come to the right decision and there will need to be an undergirding of prayer, but discussions have already led to a number of options being considered. Just what will Tilehouse Street Baptist Church look like as we moved into the third decade of the 21[st] century? We hope and pray that in 2021 this will be revealed to us but in the meantime we wait upon the Lord. Revd. Jane Robson Minister March 2021 ## Tilehouse Street Baptist Church Registered Charity no. 1135132 Income and Expenditure Account for the year 1st January to 31st December 2020 Page 1 Tilehouse Street Baptist Church ## Trustees Rev J Robson Minister Mrs S Hallas Secretary Mr A Turner Treasurer Mrs M Granger Deacon Mr M Mallett Deacon Rev I Stears-Handscomb Deacon Mr J Maguire Deacon ## Address Tilehouse Street Baptist Church Upper Tilehouse Street Hitchin, Herts SG5 2EE Property Trustees Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House 129 Broadway Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 8RT Main Bankers CAF Bank Ltd PO Box 289 West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House 129 Broadway Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 8RT Santander Uk Plc 2 Triton Square Regents Place London NW1 3AN Page 2 ## Tilehouse Street Baptist Church ## FUND ACTIVITIES for the year ending 31st December 2020 |FUND ACTIVITIES for the year ending 31st December|2020|2020| |---|---|---| |GENERAL FUND
2020
Income
£
Offerings
36,096
Donations and fees
7,093
Gift Aid - Income tax recovered
9,318
HMRC JRS payments
4,545
Lettings
9,645
Outlook contributions
259
Grounds contributions
-
Cracker contributions
-
Holiday at Home contributions
154
Photocopying
-
Interest received
67
67,178
Expenditure
Ministerial (including stipend, expenses
pension & pulpit supply)
30,026
Manse expenses
3,023
BU pension deficit payment
2,993
Bright Sparks
-
Standing charges - Heat & light
4,996
Water
406
Insurance
4,701
10,103
Domestic -
Cleaning
8,271
Grounds
5,076
Refreshments
73
13,419
Organist, licences & piano tuning
678
Outreach & publicity - General
235
Outlook
808
Cracker
-
Holiday at Home
186
1,229
Office -
Administrator
5,460
Stationery & stamps
102
Computer supplies
420
Telephone & broadband
430
Photocopier
684
7,096
Equipment
-
Subcriptions & gifts
1,092
Professional fees
2,524
Conferences & Training
15
Donations
2,200
Sundries
129
74,527
Less transfer to Pastoral Care fund
300
Less transfer to Building maintenance fund
3,000
SURPLUS FOR YEAR
(10,649)
BALANCE 1st JANUARY
26,827
Reserve policy transfer (from Legacies fund)
9,000
BALANCE 31st DECEMBER
25,178|_2019_
_£_
_35,652_
_2,512_
_9,956_
_-_
_25,571_
_772_
_457_
_159_
_301_
_51_
_197_
_75,628_
_29,306_
_3,590_
_3,904_
_-_
5,896
464
4,565
_10,925_
8,371
6,192
364
_14,928_
_1,316_
227
1,384
106
415
_2,132_
1,763
125
166
426
462
_2,942_
_193_
_1,403_
_-_
_436_
_2,200_
_63_
_73,337_
_350_
_4,000_
_(2,060)_
_28,887_
_26,827_|| |||_75,628_
_29,306_
_3,590_
_3,904_
_-_
_10,925_
_14,928_
_1,316_
_2,132_
_2,942_
_193_
_1,403_
_-_
_436_
_2,200_
_63_| |||_73,337_
_350_
_4,000_| |||_(2,060)_| |||_28,887_| |||_26,827_| Page 3 |2020
£
PASTORAL CARE FUND
Balance 1st January
1,014
Income
-
Transfer from General fund
300
Interest
2
1,316
Gifts & Loans
312
Balance 31st December
1,004
BUILDING MAINTENANCE FUND
Balance 1st January
1,998
Transfer from General fund
3,000
4,998
Expenditure - general
1,464
church & halls boiler maintenance
1,000
exterior painting
1,000
Balance 31st December
1,534
ORGAN FUND
Balance 1st January
13,613
Donations
-
Interest
39
13,652
Expenditure - tuning
-
other
-
Balance 31st December
13,652
LEGACIES FUND
Balance 1st January
82,937
Estate of Peter Bleasby
1,000
Estate of Stan Smith
5,000
Interest
247
89,184
Reserves (transfer to General fund)
9,000
Balance 31st December
80,184|_2019_
_£_
_2,901_
_900_
_350_
_13_| |---|---| ||_4,164_
_3,150_| ||_1,014_| ||_860_
_4,000_| ||_4,860_
_2,862_
_-_
_-_| ||_1,998_| ||_14,014_
_-_
_98_| ||_14,113_
_300_
_200_| ||_13,613_| ||_82,349_
_-_
_-_
_589_| ||_82,937_
_-_| ||_82,937_| Page 4 ## Tilehouse Street Baptist Church |BADMINTON CLUB
Balance 1st January
Income - Subscriptions
Expenditure - shuttles & sundries
Donation to General fund
Balance 31st December
DONATIONS FUND (see notes on page 7)
Balance 1st January
Donations received
Gift Aid claimed
Other church group donations
General fund donations
Other church group donations
Church donations paid
Balance 31st December
OUTREACH & MINISTRY FUND
Balance 1st January
350th anniversary donations
Interest
350th anniversary expenses
Balance 31st December
FLOWER FUND
Balance 1st January
Contributions - via church
Expenditure
Balance 31st December
FRIDAY GROUP FUND
Balance 1st January
Income - charity donations
Expenditure - food, etc.
Donation to Stand By Me
Donation to Tearfund
Balance 31st December|2020
£
740
340
1,080
23
700
357
20
7,102
1,584
-
2,200
-
10,905
10,805
100
14,267
-
41
14,308
72
14,236
402
140
542
279
263
64
36
100
-
100
-
-|_2019_
_£_
_623_
_752_| |---|---|---| |||_1,375_
_60_
_575_| |||_740_| |||_-_
_7,777_
_1,530_
_295_
_2,200_
_-_| |||_11,802_
_11,782_| |||20| |||_14,610_
_612_
_103_| |||_15,325_
_1,058_| |||_14,267_| |||_482_
_765_| |||_1,247_
_845_| |||_402_| |||_103_
_256_| |||_359_
_-_
_-_
_295_| |||_64_| Page 5 ## Tilehouse Street Baptist Church |STONDON CHAPEL FUND
Income
Offerings
Donations
Income tax recovered
Furlough payments
Grants
Little Treasures
Coffee mornings & fund raising
Lettings
Interest
Sundry receipts for other causes
Expenditure
Pastorate
Preaching fees
Standing charges - Heat & light
596
Water
236
Building - Maintenance
420
Cleaning
672
Projects
-
Insurance, fire extinguishers
913
Music licence
Outreach & publicity
Trailblazers/Junior church
Little Treasures
Training
Equipment
Donations -
Home Mission
600
BMS
600
Baptist Twinning
800
Appeals
1,258
Other
230
Sundries
DEFICIT/SURPLUS FOR YEAR
BALANCE 1st JANUARY
BALANCE 31st DECEMBER|596
236|2020
£
9,677
240
1,718
323
-
206
17
270
125
1,012
13,587
6,768
120
832
2,005
271
46
-
-
-
52
3,488
18
13,600
(13)
53,158
53,144|_641_
_397_|_2019_
_£_
12,323
115
2,135
-
-
300
209
603
320| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||_16,005_
_6,624_
_262_
_1,038_
_2,587_
_233_
_405_
_-_
_-_
_52_
_210_
_2,200_
_99_| ||420
672
-
913||_930_
_673_
_-_
_984_|| ||600
600
800
1,258
230||_600_
_600_
_1,000_|| |||||| |||||_13,710_| |||||_2,295_| |||||_50,863_| |||||_53,158_| Page 6 ## Tilehouse Street Baptist Church |DONATIONS FUND NOTES|2020|_2019_|Notes (for 2020)| |---|---|---|---| ||£|_£_|| |Home Mission|3,283|_2,717_|see note 1| |BMS|3,347|_2,715_|see note 2| |Birthday Scheme|191|_156_|see note 3| |Relief Fund|-|_1,672_|Anniversary service 2019| |Operation Agri|698|_1,091_|Harvest offerings; see note 4| |CTiH Phase|1,600|_1,600_|donation from General Fund| |Regents Park Baptist College|300|_300_|donation from General Fund| |Garden House Hospice|300|_300_|donation from General Fund| |Foodbank|165||Harvest offerings; see note 4| |Stand by Me|100||Friday Group donation| |Garden House Hospice|131||Coffee morning| |Christian Aid (DEC Appeal)|604||see note 5| |CTiH PHASE|53||Individual donations| |Garden House Hospice|15||Individual donations| |Knit for Peace||_67_|| |Tearfund||_295_|Friday Group donation| |Keech Hospice||_37_|Retiring collection| |Macular Society||_157_|Christmas card sorting| |Foodbank|see note 6|_167_|Carol Service| |Christian Aid|see note 6|_194_|Christmas Day Service| |Spurgeons Child Care|see note 6|_335_|Toy & Gift Service| Total: 10,785 _11,802_ Notes (for 2020): 1. includes £120.00 HM envelopes; £2,540.00 Gift Day; £643.13 gift aid 2. includes £131.00 BMS globes; £2,540.00 Gift Day; £625.62 gift aid 3. includes £36.25 gift aid 4. includes £122.25 gift aid 5. including gift aid - other members donated directly 6. members were invited to donate directly Other notes: - i) 2019 Mission Gift Day total was £5,198.00 (including £956.25 gift aid) - ii) 2020 Mission Gift Day total was £6,306.25.00 (including £1226.25 gift aid) Page 7 Tilehouse Street Baptist Church ## Statement of Assets & Liabilities as at 31st December 2020 |Current assets
CAF bank -
Cash account
CAF bank -
Gold account
Baptist Union -
Deposit account
Nat West bank -
Badminton Club
Cash in hand -
Sunshine committee
Friday Group
Stondon Chapel - Santander UK Plc
Baptist Unions deposit account
Total at bank and in hand
Sundry debtors
Prepaid insurance
Lettings
Total assets
Current liabilities
None
Net assets over liabilities
Unrestricted Funds
General fund
Pastoral care fund
Flower fund
Friday Group fund
Building maintenance fund
Organ maintenance fund
Badminton Club
Donations fund
Legacies fund
Outreach & Ministry fund
Stondon chapel fund
Total funds
-|£
8,541
7,555
116,222
357
3
-
15,238
37,906| |---|---| ||185,823
3,830
-| ||189,653
-| ||189,653| ||25,178
1,004
263
-
1,534
13,652
357
100
80,184
14,236
53,144| ||189,653| ||| Page 8 Tilehouse Street Baptist Church ## **Notes to the Accounts** ## Reserves Policy Tilehouse Street Baptist Church has a reserves policy which is to retain a minimum of three months expenditure in the General Fund. ## Basis of Accounting These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and accord with Section 133 Charities Act 2011 ## Insured Value of Assets held for Church's own use Property - The Church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following, the legal title to which is held by the Baptist Union Corporation: |Church premises
Manse
Stondon premises
Other -
Organ, Pianos, Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment
Stondon, Pianos, etc.|4,393,968
242,732
458,818| |---|---| ||5,095,518
129,698
76,470| ||5,301,686| The Accounts and Statement of Assets and Liabilities set out on Pages 1 to 9 relating to the year ending 31 December 2020 are as approved by the Trustees Treasurer ……………………………………. Date ……………………………………. **----- Start of picture text -----**
…………………………………….
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page 9 **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees of** Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin |**Report to the trustees of**|Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin||| |---|---|---|---| |**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**|31stDecember 2020|**Charity no**
**(if any)**|1135132| ||||| ||1 to 9||| **Respective** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. **responsibilities of** The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year **trustees and examiner** 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, - 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** My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given **examiner’s statement** by the Charity Commission. 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 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 matter has come to my attention ~~(other than that disclosed below *)~~ 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act - have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. - _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ **IER** **February 2021** 1 **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems. **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . **IER** **February 2021** 2 Tilehouse Street Ba "st Church Accounts for the Year 1. Janua TSBC Inde endent Examination of 2020 to 31° December 2020 The examination followed the directions as per the Charity Commission's recommendations for accounts maintained on a "receipt and payment. basis. n1-Eli ibilrt for Ind endent examination. I checked the w•M.gov.uk websrte section on chanty accounts independent examinatK)n to ensure that l am eligible to carry out an examination. Accounts show total receipts for the year of £96,296, and net assets of £189,653. This puts TSBC above the £25,000 threshold where examination is required, but bebw the £250,0(YJ income1 £3,260,OCK) assets threshold where an examination by a professionally qualified person, or full audrt Is required. Receipt amunt includes Stondon Chapel re￿￿t5, a subsidiary of TSBC. Direction 2 - DIKumentation I have a letter of appointment from Janet Impey (former treasurer) dated 17 September 2009 stating that I have been unanimously appointed by the members of TSBC. I have confirmed that the minLrtes of the AGM on 17 September 2020 show that rt was agreed that I be appointed for year 2020. I have copied and will keep for 6 years the financial statement, balance sheet and general account P&L. I will keep a copy of both this wort(ing report and the summary report. Direction 3 - Understandin TSBC I have 2 copy of the Constitution for TSBC dated November 2(Y)9. 1 have looked through this and in particular section 26 which relaled to Record Keeping and Accounting. I have not seen anything that goes against the directions in the constitution. I have talked generally with Ihe current and fomEr Ireasurer and one of the Church Deacons. This is now the year I have been doing the Independent examination, and I feel I have an understanding of the organisation and finances of TSBC. Direction 4 - Accountin Records The accounts are kept in a dear, organised and detailed manner. The financbal statement is presented in summary fomi with supporting d¢nJmentation showing individual Iransaction details Pr(Kedures in Directs'on 5 will verrfy whether or not the accounts are reasonably complete. Direction 5- Com arison of Accounts wth Accountin Records I first checked the statement of assets atNY liabilities in the financial report with the 31 De￿rnber balance sheet, these are in agreement. I looked for independent supporting d￿uMentatiOn of the major assets in the balance sheet. End of year bank statements show these figures to be accurate. The smaller funds (Fnday club, badminton dub and sunshine committee) were accepted without detailed verrfication. checked that the opening balancES for all ac£ounts are the same as the dosing balan￿S of the same accounts in the copy for the 2019 financial report that I retained for my ￿cOrdS. I Checked the movement of funds dunng the year, and that the balance sheet value for the end of 2019 plus r￿IPtS for 2020 less payments and current liabilities for 2020 equalled the balance sheet value for end of 2020. Direction 6- Anal ical Procedures Initi21 examination shows a decrease of just under £8,500 in total receipts for 2020 against 2019. This is Lqrgely due to the fact that a drop in rental income of just under £16,IKIO was mitigated by £4:545 Income trom the HMRC Corona Virus Sche￿￿ arKd just over £4:500 increase in donations. Expenditure in 2020 of £74,527 was broadly similar to the amount of £73,337 spent in 2019. l also checked random payments to ensure there were invol￿$ to support them. Direction 10- Examinerfs Re I have signed a copy of the summary examineff s report as I believe the accounting requirements have been met. Dated 5 February 2021. Matters of Material Si nifican I have nol found any matters of materi81 Signfflcan￿ that need to have attention drawn to them.