Tilehouse Street Baptist Church Annual Report 2021
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 Paul Chamberlain (Designated Person for Safeguarding) Mrs Margaret Granger (Safeguarding Trustee) Mrs Sheila Hallas (Secretary) Mr John Maguire Mr Malcolm Mallett Revd. Ian Stears-Handscomb Mr Andrew Turner (Treasurer)
Motto Text Proverbs 3 verses 5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
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 deacons have met at least monthly to consider prayerfully and discuss the life of the Church. All the meetings this year have been held electronically.
The church members and regular worshippers have also gathered monthly on ten months out of the twelve. During the first half of the year the meetings were held via Zoom. From July onwards they have been conducted in hybrid form i.e. some persons present in the building and others participating virtually.
In line with the requirement of the Charity Commission, the decision was taken at a special church meeting that a vote taken electronically would be valid, with the proviso that more church members were present in person and voting than were taking part remotely.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding team has continued to ensure that Disclosure and Barring Service checks and policies and procedures are all up to date.
The Level 1 training video was screened during a service and also at the Annual General Meeting. Some of the trustees undertook online training aimed at Levels 2 and 3. Others attended a face to face Level 3 session.
Membership
There were 51 members at Tilehouse Street at the start of the year. Sadly, one lady died in early January and the membership has remained constant at 50 since then. In September, we had the joy of sharing in the baptisms of two ladies from our daughter chapel in Lower Stondon. They were subsequently received into membership, bringing their total to 11.
Stondon’s pastor, Michael Campbell, retired from ministry there at the end of September.
Worship
Sunday morning services were held online for the first half of the year. In July, we returned to worshipping in the sanctuary whilst adhering to the Covid 19 regulations. The services were live - streamed to the Church’s YouTube channel and they have been watched by a number of friends unable or unwilling to return in person.
The Minister has covered various themes in her sermons including an in depth and ongoing look at Mark’s Gospel. During Advent and Christmas we thought about journeys, both physical and spiritual.
Jane was absent on sabbatical leave throughout August and September. The Church was admirably served during this period by a number of visiting preachers from a range of backgrounds and traditions.
A Communion service is held on one Sunday afternoon a month. Although the congregation is small in number this opportunity for peaceful reflection is greatly valued.
Prayer Meetings
The fellowship has continued to pray together in homes and also more formally at the monthly Saturday morning meeting in the church and every Wednesday morning on Zoom.
Bible Studies
Two groups meet regularly to study God’s Word, one on the Church premises and the other in a member’s home.
Open Church
On Thursday mornings the Church opens its doors to offer a welcome, chat and refreshments to all. It is good to meet people, some who come regularly and others only occasionally, who would be reluctant to attend a service or more formal event.
Pastoral Care
Despite the difficulties imposed by the pandemic, Jane, the pastoral care team and others have done their best to keep in touch with every member of the fellowship and to help those in need, whether they are within or outside the Church family.
In November, the annual memorial service took place, giving anyone who has been bereaved an opportunity to remember their loved ones.
Use of the Buildings
More than fifty years ago the Church set up a playgroup which grew into a Pre-school and then a Nursery too. This year a lease was signed, severing the formal links between the Church and the Pre-school and Nursery but it continues to occupy the premises. The children’s art work and other decorations are a great improvement to the otherwise dreary decor.
A wide range of groups and societies hire rooms bringing in some much needed income. The Father’s House gathers for worship in the Church but, sadly, The International First Born Church of the Living God is no longer able to meet.
It has been a year of two distinct halves. Until June everything took place online and then in July, the decision was taken to re-open the buildings and rebuild our community life in changed circumstances whilst also keeping everyone safe. We have begun to consider how we face a future with an ageing and diminishing congregation and a declining income but we have always trusted God to show us the way forward and we will continue to do so as a company of his people in Tilehouse Street Baptist Church.
Sheila Hallas Church Secretary January 2022
Minister’s Reflection
2021 was another year of uncertainty, change and a need to constantly monitor and update Covid risk assessments. Those involved in that work are to be commended for their vigilance and thoroughness. As many of our in-person gatherings for worship and other activities did not resume until the summer we took the opportunity to repair and refresh many of the windows of the church building and the facade. Again, those involved in supervising that work are to be commended for their efforts. Just two areas typical of the commitment and hard work of so many of the church community.
Whether it be in pastoral work, governance, preparing for worship, prayer and bible study, financial giving or serving coffee etc. there continues to be a community, at the heart of Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, who love God and love their neighbour.
And as we move into the more settled (hopefully) year of 2022 our focus will be on how we continue to practise that in the new living-with-Covid era.
Revd. Jane Robson Minister February 2022
Tilehouse Street Baptist Church
Registered Charity no. 1135132
Income and Expenditure Account for the year
1st January to 31st December 2021
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 Mr P Chamberlain 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
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31st December 2021
| INCOME Voluntary income Fundraising activities Interest Charitable activities Total Receipts EXPENDITURE Charitable expenses Governance costs Total Payments Deficit/Surplus of income over expenditure Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
2021 Unrestricted Funds £ 85,002.20 - 298.78 14,586.86 99,887.84 17,686.78 93,880.91 111,567.69 (11,679.85) 189,653.03 177,973.18 |
2020 Unrestricted Funds £ 85,519.67 - 521.14 10,255.13 |
|---|---|---|
| 96,295.94 | ||
| 19,015.83 82,666.51 |
||
| 101,682.34 | ||
| (5,386.40) | ||
| 195,039.43 | ||
| 189,653.03 |
Page 3
Tilehouse Street Baptist Church
FUND ACTIVITIES for the year ending 31st December 2021
| FUND ACTIVITIES for the year ending 31st December 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL FUND 2021 £ Offerings 37,066.44 Donations and fees 10,326.69 Gift Aid - Income tax recovered 10,769.26 HMRC JRS payments 2,149.91 Lettings 14,114.86 Outlook contributions 140.00 Holiday at Home contributions - Interest received 33.02 74,600.18 Expenditure Ministerial (including stipend, expenses pension & pulpit supply) 31,139.53 Manse expenses 3,457.03 BU pension deficit payment 4,060.68 Standing charges - Heat & light 5,565.38 Water 313.98 Insurance 4,785.59 10,664.95 Domestic - Cleaning 8,625.76 Grounds 5,258.63 Refreshments - 13,884.39 Organist, licences & piano tuning 428.33 Outreach & publicity - General 152.12 Outlook - Holiday at Home - 152.12 Office - Administrator 5,720.04 Stationery & stamps 178.84 Computer supplies 444.56 Telephone & broadban 400.21 Photocopier 527.15 7,270.80 Equipment - Subcriptions & gifts 954.20 Professional fees 1,506.00 Conferences & Training 95.00 Donations 2,200.00 Sundries 62.50 (1,275.35) 75,875.53 Less transfer to Pastoral Care fund 100.00 Less transfer to Building maintenance fund 10,500.00 not used SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR YEAR (11,875.35) BALANCE 1st JANUARY 25,177.74 Reserve policy transfer (from Legacies fund) 12,000.00 BALANCE 31st DECEMBER 25,302.39 Income |
4,996.05 405.57 4,701.22 |
2020 £ 36,095.83 7,093.24 9,318.39 4,545.31 9,645.13 259.00 154.45 66.80 |
| 67,178.15 30,026.07 3,023.28 2,992.86 10,102.84 13,419.49 677.98 1,228.75 7,096.29 - 1,091.87 2,524.32 15.00 2,200.00 128.50 |
||
| 8,270.82 5,076.00 72.67 |
||
| 234.50 808.00 186.25 |
||
| 5,460.00 102.04 420.41 430.05 683.79 |
||
| 74,527.25 300.00 3,000.00 |
||
| (10,649.10) | ||
| 26,826.84 9,000.00 |
||
| 25,177.74 |
Page 4
Tilehouse Street Baptist Church
FUND ACTIVITIES for year ending 31st December 2021
| 2021 £ PASTORAL CARE FUND Balance 1st January 1,004.18 Income - Transfer from General fund 100.00 Interest 1.75 1,105.93 Gifts & Loans 70.00 Balance 31st December 1,035.93 BUILDING MAINTENANCE FUND Balance 1st January 1,534.39 Transfer from General fund 10,500.00 Interest - 12,034.39 Expenditure - general 873.28 church & halls boiler maintenance 2,965.60 exterior painting 5,511.00 sash window repair 1,930.34 Balance 31st December 754.17 ORGAN FUND Balance 1st January 13,651.80 Donations - Interest 22.92 13,674.72 Expenditure - tuning 310.00 blower maintenance 301.85 Balance 31st December 13,062.87 LEGACIES FUND Balance 1st January 80,184.28 Estate of Peter Bleasby - Estate of Stan Smith - Interest 137.73 80,322.01 Reserves (transfer to General fund) 12,000.00 Balance 31st December 68,322.01 |
2020 £ 1,013.62 - 300.00 2.46 |
|---|---|
| 1,316.08 311.90 |
|
| 1,004.18 | |
| 1,998.37 3,000.00 - |
|
| 4,998.37 1,463.98 1,000.00 1,000.00 - |
|
| 1,534.39 | |
| 13,612.70 - 39.10 |
|
| 13,651.80 - - |
|
| 13,651.80 | |
| 82,937.47 1,000.00 5,000.00 246.81 |
|
| 89,184.28 9,000.00 |
|
| 80,184.28 |
Page 5
Tilehouse Street Baptist Church
FUND ACTIVITIES for the year ending 31st December 2021
| BADMINTON CLUB Balance 1st January Income - Subscriptions Expenditure - shuttles & sundries Donation to General fund Balance 31st December DONATIONS FUND (see notes on page 8) Balance 1st January Donations received Gift Aid claimed General fund donations Church donations paid Balance 31st December OUTREACH & MINISTRY FUND Balance 1st January Interest 350th anniversary expenses Balance 31st December FLOWER FUND Balance 1st January Contributions Expenditure Balance 31st December FRIDAY GROUP FUND Balance 1st January Income - charity donations Donation to Stand By Me Balance 31st December |
2021 £ 357.06 229.00 586.06 28.00 300.00 258.06 100.00 9,456.00 1,791.25 2,200.00 13,547.25 11,728.83 1,818.42 14,236.07 24.45 14,260.52 - 14,260.52 263.07 505.00 768.07 428.20 339.87 - - - - - |
2020 £ 740.05 340.00 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,080.05 22.99 700.00 |
||
| 357.06 | ||
| 20.00 7,101.50 1,583.75 2,200.00 |
||
| 10,905.25 10,805.25 |
||
| 100.00 | ||
| 14,267.20 40.87 |
||
| 14,308.07 72.00 |
||
| 14,236.07 | ||
| 401.82 140.00 |
||
| 541.82 278.75 |
||
| 263.07 | ||
| 63.58 36.42 |
||
| 100.00 100.00 |
||
| - |
Page 6
Tilehouse Street Baptist Church
FUND ACTIVITIES for the year ending 31st December 2021
| STONDON CHAPEL FUND Income Offerings Income tax recovered Furlough payments Donations Grants Little Treasures Coffee mornings & fund raising Lettings Other income (Harvest & Christmas appeals) Interest Expenditure Pastorate Preaching fees Standing charges - Heat & light 368.33 Water 339.37 Building - Maintenance 467.48 Cleaning 704.04 Projects 1,450.00 Insurance, fire extinguishers 1,179.08 Music licence Outreach & publicity Trailblazers/Junior church Little Treasures Training Equipment Donations - Home Mission 600.00 BMS 600.00 Baptist Twinning 800.00 Appeals 1,099.75 Other - Sundries DEFICIT/SURPLUS FOR YEAR BALANCE 1st JANUARY BALANCE 31st DECEMBER |
2021 £ 9,543.00 1,824.25 134.40 400.00 - - - 243.00 896.00 78.91 13,119.56 5,184.00 237.80 707.70 3,800.60 271.33 - - - - 143.88 3,099.75 - 13,445.06 (325.50) 53,144.44 52,818.94 |
595.71 236.47 |
2020 £ 9,676.64 1,717.50 322.94 240.00 - 205.70 17.00 270.00 1,012.00 125.10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13,586.88 6,768.00 120.00 832.18 2,005.14 270.78 46.45 - - - 52.47 3,487.50 17.70 |
|||
| 420.09 672.00 - 913.05 |
|||
| 600.00 600.00 800.00 1,257.50 230.00 |
|||
| 13,600.22 | |||
| (13.34) | |||
| 53,157.78 | |||
| 53144.44 |
Page 7
Tilehouse Street Baptist Church
| DONATIONS FUND NOTES Home Mission BMS Birthday Scheme Operation Agri CTiH Phase Regents Park Baptist College Foodbank Garden House Hospice Garden House Hospice Foodbank Foodbank Christian Aid Christian Aid Stand by Me Garden House Hospice CTiH PHASE Garden House Hospice Parkinsons Christian Aid Spurgeons Child Care Total: |
2021 £ 2,421.87 2,271.88 201.25 944.00 1,600.00 300.00 300.00 1,818.75 944.00 166.67 807.91 435.00 686.25 1,053.67 13,951.25 |
2020 £ 3,283.13 3,346.62 191.25 697.50 1,600.00 300.00 300.00 165.00 603.75 100.00 130.50 52.50 15.00 see note 4 see note 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 10,785.25 |
Notes (for 2021)
see note 1 see note 2 (and following) see note 3 Harvest offerings
donation from General Fund donation from General Fund donation from General Fund donation from General Fund
Church Anniversary Harvest offerings Individual donations Christian Aid Week DEC Appeal
Friday Group donation Coffee morning Individual donations Individual donations
Christmas Card sorting Christmas Day Service Spurgeons Update Service
Notes 5,6
Notes (for 2021):
-
includes £120.00 HM envelopes; £1,835.00 Gift Day; £466.87 gift aid
-
includes £1,835.00 Gift Day; £436.88 gift aid
-
gift aid is claimed wherever possible; total claimed on donations £2,175.25
-
members were invited to donate directly (2020)
-
the total includes £404.00 received in 2022
-
the total donations are equivalent to 18.7% of the church income
Other notes:
-
i) 2020 Mission Gift Day total was £6,306.25 (including £1,226.25 gift aid)
-
ii) 2021 Mission Gift Day total was £4,573.75 (including £873.75 gift aid)
Page 8
Tilehouse Street Baptist Church
Statement of Assets & Liabilities as at 31st December 2021
| 2021 £ Current assets CAF bank - Cash account 11,294.52 CAF bank - Gold account 12,556.47 Baptist Union - Deposit account 96,440.66 Nat West bank - Badminton Club 258.06 Cash in hand - Sunshine committee - Stondon Chapel - Santander UK Plc 14,834.03 Baptist Unions deposit account 37,984.91 Total at bank and in hand 173,368.65 Prepaid insurance 3,974.53 Lettings 630.00 Total assets 177,973.18 Current liabilities None - Net assets over liabilities 177,973.18 Unrestricted Funds General fund 25,302.39 Pastoral care fund 1,035.93 Flower fund 339.87 Building maintenance fund 754.17 Organ maintenance fund 13,062.87 Badminton Club 258.06 Donations fund 1,818.42 Legacies fund 68,322.01 Outreach & Ministry fund 14,260.52 Stondon chapel fund 52,818.94 Total funds 177,973.18 Sundry debtors |
2020 £ 8,541.24 7,555.34 116,221.92 357.06 2.59 15,238.44 37,906.00 |
|---|---|
| 185,822.59 3,830.44 - |
|
| 189,653.03 - |
|
| 189,653.03 | |
| 25,177.74 1,004.18 263.07 1,534.39 13,651.80 357.06 100.00 80,184.28 14,236.07 53,144.44 |
|
| 189,653.03 |
Page 9
rilehouse Strt Baptist Church Notes to the Accounts TIthI ouse Street Baptst thurch has a resVe$ vA)Kth is lo retsin a nImuM of Basi with knKJn 133 Charities kt 2011 Value of for Chu Propety. The Churth is the i)Lia1 oww (sub]t to TEleryant trusts) rf the folknryrrfji title to vthich is hekl ty the Baw un Ctypwtvjn: Churth pranises Man 4,560,444 248,799 479,924 5,289,167 Other. Organ, PIar, fixtures, Ftttirgs a1 Equilwt Manse fthjres & fftting5 134,612 25,139 79,988 5 528 906 The Accryjnts and StatenEnt rf Assets a1 Liabllilie5 5& out on Page5 1 to 10 relatiThJ to the year erKI1j 31 D&ember 2021 are as lry the Truslees PagE 10
Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees of ritehouse Street Baptist Church. Hitchin On accounts for the year ended 31° December 2021 Charity no (rfany) 1135132 Set out on pages 1 to10 Respectfve The charivs trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charitls trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and •xwniner urxler sec*ion 144 of the Charities Ad 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independerrt examination is needed. It is my responsibilty to. examine the accounts urthr section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid d(Ybvn 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 accordan with general Directions given examinerfs ststement by the Charity Commrssion. An examinatron includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a ry)mparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes consKleration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The Fxocedures undertaken do not provide all the evKlence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true arKI fairf wew and the re[ is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent In connecaion with my examination. no matter has come to my attention oxamlnerfs Statement (other than that disdosed below") 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in. any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordan with section 130 of the Charities Act" and to prepare accounts vthith accord th the accounting records arKI comply with the accounting requirements of the Charrties Act have not ten 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 Ihe wortls in the brackets rfthey do not appty. Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualificationls) or body (if any): Address: ITC"WibJ IER February 2022
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material problems. Give here brief detalls of any items that the examinerwishes to disclose. IER February 2022
TllelK)use Street Ba "st Church Accounts for the Year 1° Janua TSBC Inde ndent Examination of 2021 to 31. December 2021 The examination followed the directions as per the Charity Commission's recommendations for )Unts maintained on a "ret and paymenf basis. Direction 1 Eli ibilit for In ndent examination. I checked the www.gov.uk websrte section on chanty accounts independent eXaMinatn to ensure that l am eligible to cary out an examinats"on. Accounts show total re[ptS for the year of £99,888, and net assets of £177,973. This puts TSBC atx)ve the £25,0(X) threshold where examinatN)n is required, but bebw the £250,0(K) incomel £3,260,(KK) assets threshold where an examinatton by a professionally qualified person, orfvll audit is reqUed. Receipt amount includes Stondon Chapel re(xipts. a subsidiary of TSBC. Direction 2 - Documentation I have a letter of appointment from Janet Impey (fonner treaSur) dated 17 September 2009 stating that I have been unanimously appointed by the members of TSBC. I have confimed that the minutes of the AGM on 18 March 2021 show that rt was agreed that I be appointed for year 2021. I have copied and will keep for 6 years the financial statement, balan sheet and general account P&L. I will keep a copy of both this workng report and the summary report. DI110n 3 - Understsndin TSBC I have a copy of the COnst[tIon for TSBC dated November 2(K19. 1 have look8d throLKJh this and in partujlar sethon 26 whh related to Record Keeping and Accounting. I have not seen anIng that goes against the direcb.ons in the constitutson. I have talked generally with the current and fonner treasurer arrfj one of the Church Deacons. ThÉs is now thirteenth year I have been doing the independent examination. and I feel I have an urKlerstanding of the organisation and finan of TSBC. Direction 4 - Accountin Records The accounts are kept in a dear, organised and detailed Manner. The fanCIal statement is presented in summary fonn witrt supporbng docurrentation showng
indivKlual transaction details. Procedures in Direction 5 will verify wtsther or not the accounts are reasonably comp]ete. DirectÈon 5- Com arison of Acccmjnts with Accountin Records first checked the statement of assets arKI llabilrties in the financial reFrfJrt with the 31" December baiance sheet these are in agreement. I looked for independent supporting documentatton of the major assets in the balan sheet. End of year bank statements show these figures to be accurate. The smaller funds (Friday dub, badminton csub and sunshine committee) were accepted without detaId verificats'on. I checked that the opening balances for all accounts are the same as the dosing balances of the same accounts in the copy for the 2020 financ4al report that I retained for my records. I checked the movement of funds during the year, and that the balance sheet value for the end of 2020 plus receipts for 2021 less payments and cuwent liabilities for 2021 equalled the balance sheet value for end of 2021. Direction 6- Anal ical Procedures Initial examination shows an increase of about £7,5CK) in general receipts for 2021 against 2020. This is Lqrgely made up of an increase of about £3,500 in rental income plus an increase of about £3.0(J) in donab'ons. General expenditure in 2021 of £75,875 was broadly similar to the amount of £74,527 spent in 2020. Buildingslmaintenance expendrture in 2021 was about £7,5CK) higher than in 2020, mainly due to exierior decoration and boiler maintenan. l also checked random payments to ensure there were invoices to support them. DirEction 10 - Examinerfs Re I have signed a copy of the summary examinef s re ort as I believe the accounting requirements have been met. Dated 13 February 2022. Matters of Material S. nifican I have not found any matters of matertal Significan that need to have attention drawn to them.