Rock Baptist Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
CHARITY INFORMATION
Trustees Sarah Ackroyd Brian Hayden-Smith Cheryl Lancaster Glenford Mapp Michael Partridge Keith Proffitt Phil Griffin Matthew Peckham (resigned on 31 August 2024) Sarah Abraham (resigned on 28 May 2024) Governing Document Trust deed dated 24th February 2000 Charity Number 1135133 Registered Office 115 Coldhams Lane Cambridge CB1 3JB Independent Examiner Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB Bankers The Co-operative Bank p.l.c. Kings Valley Yew Street Stockport Cheshire SK4 2JU
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Charity Information | 1 |
| Report of the Trustees | 2-3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 5 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 6 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 7-8 |
Page 1
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year.
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a trust deed and is constituted as a trust.
The Trust seeks to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by advancing the Christian faith and education in the UK and overseas.
Governance
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Charity.
Review of Activities
The Church had a busy year, not only meeting every Sunday morning with a full teaching programme for children but also, during term time, meeting in the evening as well. There were also weekday meetings for parents and toddlers, Young People and Older People. There was also a Church away day, an opportunity for teaching and fellowship.
In planning activities the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Financial Review
Income in the year was £166k (£173k in 2022/23) and expenditure was £176k ( £189k in 2022/23). As a result the cash held by the charity decreased by £10k, to £127k.
The Church had again set a deficit budget, the continuation of a deliberate decision five years earlier to use some of its reserves to fund an Assistant Pastor post. Although expenditure was slightly higher than the budget, income was considerably higher, so the draw on reserves was lower than anticipated. The Church still has a level of reserves higher than the minimum described below.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have established a policy whereby free reserves held by the charity should be maintained at a prudent level, equivalent to a minimum of three month’s expenditure, allowing ongoing activity to continue for the coming year, should income not reach budgeted levels, and to provide for unplanned contingencies of the Church, its members and missionaries. With reserves well in excess of this minimum, a decision was made to appoint an additional full-time member of staff in 2019, with the Church planning to run deficit budgets for a few years and a consequent use of some of the available reserves.
Risk Statement
The Trustees have reviewed the risks to which a small charity operating with few employees is exposed. The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks so that necessary steps can be taken to lessen them. In particular the areas relating to childrens’ work continue to be kept under review with assistance from Thirtyone:eight, including DBS checking as necessary. Appropriate procedures are in place to identify, monitor and review these risks on a regular basis.
Page 2
Trustees’ Responsibilities
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
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 12 June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
- Brian Hayden Smith
Brian Hayden-Smith (Jun 14, 2025 20:27 GMT+1)
Brian Hayden-Smith
Page 3
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Rock Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2024 on pages 5 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. 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.
Archie McDowall
Archie McDowall (Jun 16, 2025 15:55 GMT+1)
Archie McDowall BA CA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jun 16, 2025
Page 4
ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| Note INCOME RECEIPTS Voluntary receipts 2 Other grants Charitable activities Investment receipts Total receipts PAYMENTS Charitable activities 3 Total payments Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Transfers between funds Cash funds as at last year end 5 Cash funds at this year end 5 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 137,088 14,985 152,073 171,219 7,980 7,980 658 3,675 4,333 1,665 1,831 - 1,831 404 |
|---|---|
| 139,578 26,640 166,217 173,287 |
|
| 154,310 22,082 176,392 189,387 |
|
| 154,310 22,082 176,392 189,387 |
|
| (14,732) 4,557 (10,175) (16,100) - - - - 143,278 (5,926) 137,352 153,452 |
|
| 128,546 (1,369) 127,177 137,352 |
The notes on pages 7 to 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
||
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fixed assets | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | |
| The insurance re-instatement values of the equipment owned by the church | ||
| were: | 35,671 | 35,671 |
| Property (share of cost) | ||
| Cherry Hinton Road Manse | 180,000 | 180,000 |
The property, 404 Cherry Hinton Road Cambridge, is a share in the manse purchased in August 2011 on an equity share arrangement with the minister of the church. The title is registered in the name of the minister.
| 2. | Debtors | 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||||
| Gift Aid recoverable to the year-end | 1,966 | 1,790 | |||
| Deposit relating to rented property | 2,070 | 2,070 | |||
| Prepaid rent | - | 9,900 | |||
| Rent refund due | 391 | - | |||
| 4,427 | 13,760 | ||||
| 3. | Bank balances | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Current account | 28,925 | 20,931 | |||
| Deposit account | 98,252 | 116,420 | |||
| 127,177 | 137,352 | ||||
| **4. ** | Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Accounts preparation and independent | examination | 1,740 | 1,644 | ||
| 1,740 | 1,644 | ||||
| At | 31 August | 2024 the charity had made grant commitments as follows: | |||
| Arab World Ministries | £3,600 p.a. until November | 2027 | |||
| Overseas Missionary Fellowship | £9,500 p.a. until July 2025 | ||||
| SIM | £2,700 p.a. until July 2025 | ||||
| Mukti Mission | £2,400 p.a. until July 2025 |
Except where indicated from the statement of receipts and payments or above, all the assets and liabilities are in respect of the charity’s unrestricted funds.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
| Brian Hayden-Smith (Jun 14, 2025 20:27 GMT+1) Brian Hayden-Smith |
Jun 14, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Brian Hayden-Smith | Date |
The notes on pages 7 to 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Voluntary receipts Gift Aided Donations Other Donations Gift Aid 3 Charitable activities a Direct charitable costs Staff Costs Staff Expenses Visiting Speakers Ministry Resources Evangelism Church conference Trips and social events Church property costs Grants paid (note 3c) b Support and administration Staff Costs Advertising Print, Postage & stationery Computer & website Insurance Subscriptions Accounts preparation and examination Bank Charges Legal & professional fees Combined charitable activity cost c Grants OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) AWM (Arab World Ministries) EMF (European Mission Fellowship) MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) SIM (Serving in Mission) Mukti Mission Street Pastors Evangelism, mission support & pastoral care Refugee care Other grants |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 100,518 12,678 113,196 114,609 12,255 - 12,255 20,550 24,315 2,307 26,622 36,060 |
|---|---|
| 137,088 14,985 152,073 171,219 |
|
| Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 83,745 7,980 91,725 86,553 1,440 - 1,440 1,946 2,345 - 2,345 2,681 3,171 - 3,171 4,508 2,506 2,506 3,132 - 150 150 6,401 - 2,798 2,798 1,853 23,947 2,934 26,881 39,830 23,863 8,220 32,083 37,441 |
|
| 141,017 22,082 163,099 184,346 |
|
| 3,539 3,539 - 33 - 33 30 - - - 99 1,921 - 1,921 320 699 - 699 699 1,962 - 1,962 2,074 1,680 - 1,680 1,620 177 - 177 201 3,283 3,283 |
|
| 13,293 - 13,293 5,042 |
|
| 154,310 22,082 176,392 189,387 |
|
| Institutions Individuals 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ 9,500 9,500 10,608 3,600 3,600 3,600 1,584 1,584 1,850 1,175 1,175 1,800 1,584 3,450 5,034 5,900 2,400 2,400 2,400 - 1,700 180 180 2,284 2,340 2,340 3,750 2,519 6,269 7,299 |
|
| 9,319 22,764 32,083 37,441 |
Page 7
ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
4 Staff and trustees
During the year the charity had one part-time employee and two full-time employees (2023: two full-time employees). Its activities are generally carried out by volunteers.
No staff received salaries at a rate of more than £60,000 per annum.
The staff costs in note 3 include amounts relating to the employed ministers of the church who are also trustees (Michael Partridge and Matthew Peckham) paid in their capacity as staff and not as trustees, as permitted by the governing document.
Included within staff costs are pension costs in respect of defined contribution pension schemes.
No other remuneration was paid to any trustee during the year nor to any person connected to them.
5 Funds
The restricted funds represent amounts received for specific purposes. Movements in the year across all funds are as follows:
| Restricted Funds | Balance at Receipts Payments Transfers Balance at 31.08.23 in the year 31.08.24 £ £ £ £ £ (4,022) 9,299 (8,220) - (2,943) 63 5,846 (2,948) - 2,961 (1,967) 3,515 (2,934) - (1,386) - 7,980 (7,980) - - |
|---|---|
| Mission Trips and events |
|
| Property rental Assistant Minister General Funds TOTAL FUNDS |
|
| (5,926) 26,640 (22,082) - (1,369) |
|
| 143,278 139,578 (154,310) - 128,546 |
|
| 137,352 166,217 (176,392) - 127,177 |
The mission fund has a small deficit at year-end which has been remedied by subsequent receipts after year-end. The property rental fund comprises donations towards part of the residential accommodation for the assistant minister. The assistant minister's fund are funds received towards the payment of the assistant minister's salary.
Page 8