## **King’s Baptist Church ANNUAL REPORT 2021** 

## **Published April 2022** 


_Proclaiming Jesus Christ in Today’s World!_ 




**Report from the Elders** 

At the end of another difficult year for us as a country, individuals and as a Church, we can take a look back at what has been achieved through these challenging times. Covid-19 of course, has dominated the news. It has affected our ability to meet as a Church fellowship, altered the way we interact with one another and it still continues to be hard for some people in our fellowship and community. 

Once again, on behalf of the Elders, Trustees and Deacons, we would like to say a big thank you to all the membership and fellowship for your continued support, prayers and encouragement throughout the year and once again as a Church we have worked tirelessly to support each other, maintain as much 'normality' as we could through the changing regulations and sought to keep as many activities going as best as we could whilst keeping people safe. 

There have been the usual activities which bring us together not only as a fellowship but also as a community. The Christmas Carol service, Accelerate on Zoom, the outreach articles on Facebook and the Light Stall to name a few. Space does not allow us to list them all nor to applaud all the people who plan, run and attend them, but we trust that you will accept our grateful thanks for all that you do to contribute to life at KBC. 

Despite some initial teething problems whilst we got to grips with our new technology, Zoom from Church has been a positive way of bringing Church together whether in the building or not. It has been a real joy to see people on Zoom who for whatever reason were not previously able to be in the building pre Covid-19 but have been regularly joining us. Also, now that we have started to reuse the building, the number of people joining us in person or on Zoom is encouraging as we continue to 'find our feet.' 

The return to Church could not have been possible without the continued diligence of the Return to Church Team who have painstakingly digested the latest guidelines, interpreted them to be able to produce the policies and procedures to keep us all safe. It has been a mammoth and thankless task as they had to implement and maintain the regulations, not only to keep us safe, but to keep us on the right side of the law. Special thanks must go to Theo, Matt, Vicky, Joel and latterly Jonny. 

We of course give thanks to God for the arrival of Alistair, Kathrin, Noah, Nathan, Alex and Aimee Sanders to KBC. We were given the prophecy that it would be a long time before a new Minister would be appointed and we are now blessed to have them join the KBC family in the Autumn. Again, we give thanks to the Search Team. For the period of the interregnum they have sifted through profiles, prayed and deliberated over them, and spent hours on Zoom meetings discussing them. Finally, last summer, making all the arrangements for the 'preach with a squint,' continued interviews with Alistair Sanders, the 'preach with a view', bringing him to a Special Church meeting on 1 August. This resulted in him joining us on an initial part time basis in September and then full time from November. We celebrated his Induction on the 5th December. 



Due to the changes within the Settlement Team, reflecting the changes within the leadership team, the Elders feel it important to specifically acknowledge the whole team; Alison, Jane Baker, Dawn, Tricia, Keith, Theo, Jonny & Ian. However, without your prayerful support, their work would not have been possible, thank you. 

We should also record our thanks to Andrew Gale as our moderator for the period we were without a minister. He provided us with guidance and counsel on a number of occasions. 

Please continue to pray for Alistair and the whole family as they settle into KBC life and our community, remembering that as a family all they have undergone in terms of moving home, moving Church, leaving friends, starting a different education style and starting a new ministry. We pray blessings over the whole family as they bless us every week. 

During 2021 there have been changes within the Eldership who are part of the Trustees. Keith Turner stood down at the AGM in April 2021 after serving as Treasurer. He kindly agreed to continue supporting the Trustees until the end of 2021 while a replacement was found. At the Members’ Meeting in November Margaret Stanley was elected to take over as Treasurer in January 2022 after a handover period. We thank Keith for all the work he has done as Elder and Treasurer. Also at the AGM in April Patricia How was appointed as an Elder and we welcomed her as she joined the Trustees. 

Our God is a faithful God, and we have constantly seen His hand on people’s lives. The blessings continue as we see how people are maturing in their walk and their faith in God as He does wonderful things in their lives. We pray for much continued growth through the new chapters of KBC with Alistair as our Minister, We have already seen strong and challenging teaching sessions to shape our thinking about how we move the Kingdom of God out of the Church building and into our community. Our prayers and requests echo the same as last year; please continue to pray with us as we continue to seek God’s face in all that we do in His name and that His presence is felt amongst us. We pray that as we continue to do God’s will for His Church and Community, we remain focussed on serving Him in the Love of Jesus Christ. 

As Christians, we have a responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Why should we hide from them what He has done for us and the faith we have in what He will do for us in the future? Let our words and actions demonstrate the power and love of Jesus Christ working in our lives each and every day. Matthew 5:16 says 'In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.' Let our testimony be not just what we say but what we do, in His name, and tell others of what He has done and is doing in our lives. God Bless. 

_**Theo Clark, Patricia How, Ian Tyler, Jonny Whitmill The Elders**_ 



## **Membership** 

During 2021 we welcomed Peter Wade, Pauline Wade, Margaret Stanley, Priscilla Bones, Steve Backhouse, Neil Carter, Nicky Carter Alistair Sanders and Kathrin Sanders into membership. We received resignations of Church Membership from Christopher Baker, Lisa Turner, Lesley Fabron and Geoff Fabron. Sadly two members passed away during the year, Peter Hornett and Eileen Condor. Our membership now stands at 66. If you are not currently a Church Member but are interested in taking this next step of formal commitment to this church, please talk to one of the Elders. _**Alison Down**_ 

## _**Church Secretary**_ 

## **Annual Report on the Central Baptist Association** 

We have received continued support from the Central Baptist Association (CBA) as we considered names of possible candidates for our new minister. They have monitored our progress, taken feedback and advised the Settlement Team. We thank them for their support. 

Theo and Angie Clark have continued to be involved with the CBA’s Safeguarding Group, led by Stephen Copson. The CBA’s Safeguarding Officer, Joy Cheang, is also part of this group and has been a useful reference point when needed. The CBA’s programme for providing Safeguarding training was curtailed due to the onset of Covid-19 last year. In January 2021, an online video was produced by the Baptist Union as an interim measure, but the full Level 2 and 3 courses are not due to resume until 2022. 

The Annual General Meeting took place by Zoom on Saturday 26 June 2021. Theo Clark represented the Church. 

The Church continues to contribute to the Home Mission Fund, which provides funding for the Baptist Union and for new church developments across the country. The CBA makes decisions about funding local developments, which currently includes Letchworth Community Church, Jacksons Estate, Letchworth. 

A local ‘cluster’ of ministers and church leaders meet on a monthly basis. Those attending represent Baptist Union churches from the surrounding area. This has been very useful during Covid-19. Although we were not able to meet in person until September, and had to depend on Zoom, it has been a very useful setting for sharing how we cope with the uncertainties which have faced us all. 

_**Theo Clark**_ 

_**Elder and Trustee**_ 



## **Property** 

This last year has mainly been up keep on the church building. We have spent time making sure the building was safe to reuse after Covid 19 in accordance with the Baptist Union report. We installed a full fire alarm system. With the appointment of Alistair, we got the manse back from rental.  It was in good condition but general maintenance  required before they could move in. Thank you everybody that has lent a hand this year, and we are always happy for more help. 

## _**Matt Wheatley Property Deacon**_ 

## **The Book Club** 

The Book Club started meeting on 19 February 2021 and we meet once a month for about an hour via zoom to discuss our current book. Each book is recommended by one of the group, and we try our best to purchase our copies as cheaply as we can, with some buying a Kindle edition. We then attempt to read the book of the month in time, sometimes not quite achieved, but that's OK! 

We have looked at a wide range of titles including _Seven Dangers Facing Your Church_ by Juan Sanchez, which described a modern application to the letters addressed to the seven churches in Revelation. An early read was _Kisses from Katie_ by Katie Davis, another exciting read was _Supernatural Breakthrough_ by Rachel Hickson, whilst _The Jesus I Never Knew_ by Philip Yancey was challenging. 

However, _Slow Down, Show Up & Pray_ by Ruth Rice was the one, in my opinion, which left the most impression on the group. We have been challenged by Ruth's desire to establish 'Renew Well-Being' centres around the country. They are now working with over 150 churches. So, not surprisingly, there are many copies of these books now gathering dust. If you would like to borrow one, do get in touch. If you would like to join this happy bunch of bookworms, even just to visit and try us out, you would be most welcome. We normally meet on the last Friday morning of the month at 9.00 am. 

## _**Patricia How**_ 

## _**Elder and Trustee**_ 

## **Covid-19 Report** 

On the 20 March 2020 the United Kingdom Government, in response to the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the worldwide Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, took action and declared the first lockdown. This was followed by a series of measures designed to slow the spread of Covid-19, including local and national restrictions. At the beginning of 2021 we were again in a further lockdown followed by the ‘Road to Recovery’ while the vaccination programme (involving two injections) which began in January took effect. Although most restrictions were lifted by 18 July 2021, by the Autumn the Delta variant had become dominant, with an increase in infections. The 



vaccination booster programme, which had already been introduced, was accelerated and young adults and then teenagers were offered the vaccine. The Government’s Plan B had to be introduced at the end of December 2021 as a further variant, Omicron began to spread rapidly. This required everyone (except children under 11 years and those with health reasons) to wear masks in indoor social settings, including places of worship. The Government produced instructions and guidance for places of worship. The Baptist Union, along with other denominations and religious groups, prepared clear guidance on what needed to be done to make buildings safe for activities to resume (given that most had been closed since March 2020) and guidelines (based on legal advice) on how activities should be conducted and what was permissible. 

How has this affected us as a Church, the body of Christ? 

The work on preparing King’s Baptist Church’s building to re-open began in 2020, following the guidance issued by the Baptist Union. This work also identified the need to review the fire arrangements and, although not directly covid related, the proposal to install a fire alarm system was brought to the Church Meeting for agreement. Also, to allow for services to take place in the Church’s building and to involve people on Zoom, the technology in the building needed to be updated. It also required people on the pa desk to learn how to use the new technology. This was also brought to the Church Meeting for approval. This work was not completed until July 2021. The period up to July was also used to carry out other necessary work in the building. 

The Return to Church Group prepared the guidelines on how the building could be used safely, often having to balance several sets of guidance for places of worship, funerals, refreshments (eating places), children, meetings of Trustees and offices. This also included the use of screens, signage around the building and the one-way systems! The guidance also continued to change during the year meaning that updated advice was given to the Church as needed. 

Apart from two funerals at the beginning of the year, when only a maximum of thirty people could attend and no refreshments could be offered, and some services broadcast from the building, meetings in the building did not resume until July. During August, due to difficulties in staffing, the Sunday services and activities continued to be held on Zoom. 

The Week of Prayer in September was held in the Church’s building (with the exception of 1 slot) and services, prayer meetings, Works of Heart, business meetings, music practises and King’s Kids resumed in the building. The need to minimise the risk of infection and leaving space between events has meant that many other events have been put on hold until the potential risk decreases. 

We have learned a lot from this very difficult situation, which is not over yet. There are things that will remain in place well past the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the 



use of the small glasses during communion. However, it is going to be questions such as, how do we care for each other? Or, what is Church? Or, how can we work in new ways and cope with change? These are the kind of things that will have the greatest impact on who we, as a Church, are. 

Thank you everyone for being willing to accept the restrictions that have been put in place to protect each other. It has not been easy for anyone. Please continue to be gracious to one another and understand the range of views held within the body of Christ. I want to thank those in the Church who have made this possible. For Vicky Tyler, Joel Mitchell (and then Jonny Whitmill) and Matt Wheatley for negotiating the requirements to keep the Church (you) safe over the last year as part of the Return to Church Group, and Ian Tyler, Keith Turner, Joel Mitchell and Jonny Whitmill for making the Zoom and IT systems meet our demands for maintaining communication and fellowship during this time. Many others have also contributed to and supported this in a variety of ways, including those who have been on the Welcome Team and those who have carried out the additional cleaning requirements. Thank you everyone. _**Theo Clark**_ 

## _**Elder and Trustee**_ 

## **Safeguarding** 

The Church’s Safeguarding Policy requires that issues raised concerning the safety of children, young people and adults who may be at risk should be raised with the Designated Person for Safeguarding or the Safeguarding Trustee and the situations been examined to see if further action is required. Two situations have been reported during the year 2021 which have been looked into. Neither has required further action. We thank God for His protection during this time. 

At the Annual General Meeting in April, a second Designated Person for Safeguarding, Dawn Addams, was appointed by the Church members, joining Angela Clark in this role. Also at the Annual General Meeting, the Church’s Statement on Safeguarding was read out and everyone confirmed their commitment to their joint responsibility to care for each other, and particularly for those who are vulnerable and at risk. 

As the Church returned to using its building, we were also able to resume the children’s work, including King’s Kids and Accelerate. As a result, two Safeguarding sessions were held in October and November. Twenty-three people have been trained on the Baptist Union’s hybrid video course at level 2/3. This covered safeguarding for both children and adults who may be at risk. Thank you to everyone who attended and gave up their time. In 2022, Leaders will be required to do a level 3 course after the AGM. Remember that Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. 

We have also restarted the process of carrying out DBS checks for existing workers and new volunteers. At the end of 2021 we are up to date with people who are known to 



require a DBS to work with children and adults who may be at risk, although everyone working with children are required to be checked, volunteers working with adults are only required to have a DBS for specified reasons. When new activities are being planned, or people are being taking on as new volunteers, please notify the Safeguarding Trustee as early as possible so that the necessary checks and training can be completed. 

Theo and Angela Clark have given training for the church and for the Central Baptist Association for many years. The BU now requires that all trainers be retrained, due to the two year gap in providing training sessions because of Covid-19. Theo & Angela have decided to stand down. This means that they will no longer be able to provide Baptist Union accredited training at Level 2 and 3 for King’s Baptist Church. _**Theo Clark**_ 

## _**Safeguarding Trustee**_ 

## **Wednesday Morning Prayer Meetings** 

First of all, I want to say a very big ‘thank you’ to Jane Baker who very ably led and coordinated this up until September. Jane had done so since Judie Hare handed over when she and Ian moved to Streatham, London. Jane also stood down from the roster for leading the prayer meetings in the Autumn. Her wise and thoughtful leading will be missed. 

At the end of 2021, there were four people on the roster, Doug and Ceri Deards, Helen Wightwick, Patricia How and myself with Angela. Each of us has a slightly different approach to leading and the variety appears to be appreciated. Thank you to those who lead and the prayerful preparation put into each session. 

From January to the end of August, the prayer meetings were on Zoom, returning to face to face meetings after the Week of Prayer in September. We also returned to meeting for up to two hours, with a refreshment break half way through after the Week of Prayer. 

Each meeting was different. Areas covered included a time of worship, repentance, praying for people within the Church with specific needs, praying for Church activities, the Need Project, CIS, people from the Dalit caste in India, Judy Cook in Thailand (BMS), current national and world issues and praying for each other. The meetings have been well attended. If you have not attended before, you are very welcome to join us for as long (or as little) as your plans allow. 

## _**Theo Clark**_ 

## _**Elder and Trustee**_ 



## **Wednesday Evening Prayer Meetings** 

Firstly, I would like to record my thanks to all of the people who have contributed to running these sessions. At the time of writing this report, including new members into fellowship, the team stands at a staggering 15 people who have given their time to leading us in prayer. Thank you so much! This has two benefits, the first one is the reduced frequency at which people have to lead, thereby allowing others a more regular opportunity to be fully immersed in prayer. Secondly, the different personal styles of leading the meetings means that there is always an interesting and diverse meeting every week. 

At the start of the interregnum (outside of the time period for this report!) there was a “loose” programme of topics suggested to give the person preparing and leading the sessions some pointers to base the sessions on. However, this soon developed into more of a “freestyle” format where the leaders brought to the meeting whatever they felt the Lord was placing on their heart; local, national and international issues. The most obvious ones, of course, were praying for guidance and wisdom regarding a new Minister, the Covid-19 pandemic and those affected by it and for each other. 

Initially held via zoom and now back into the Church building, the meetings are regularly well attended, with numbers fluctuating week by week based on personal ability to attend which is of course natural and wholly acceptable. These are powerful times of prayer as we are blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you would like to share time of prayer with us, irrespective of how long you are able to attend, please do come along and join us. Refreshments are usually available at some time during the session in order to have some fellowship as well! :-) 

## _**Ian Tyler Elder and Trustee**_ 

## **Churches Together Stotfold** 

2021 was very much a year of adapting our traditional Churches Together activities to the changing landscape of the pandemic. One of our first actions was to wind up the Churches Together in Stotfold Covid-19 Support Group which had achieved its objective of offering support to Stotfold residents who were in need during the height of the pandemic. 

King’s Baptist Church hosted the service of Christian Unity again, this time via Zoom. Many thanks to all who took part. 

Christian Aid week was another event that had to be reimagined. The use of the e- envelope allowed us to raise £1397. 

Due to various restrictions, the Open the Book group was only able to visit our local schools in person in September and October. However, for the rest of the year, the group teamed up with Fairfield to produce story videos which were shared with St 



Mary’s and Roecroft academies together with the two Fairfield lower schools. These were then gratefully shared by class teachers with individual classes. 

With the very uncertain outlook due to the pandemic, we decided not to run a Holiday Club this year. The Remembrance service had also looked in doubt but was able to go ahead with a gathering at the war memorial followed by a service in St Mary’s Church. 

Possibly the highlight of our year was the reimagined Carols by Candlelight service in December which became Carols by Torchlight. The service really showed what is possible when we work together as Christians. Many felt that we had reached more deeply into our community by holding a more informal service outside. It was also a good opportunity to see Alistair publicly welcomed into the wider Christian community. 

We look forward to working together to be a beacon of Christ’s light in our local community in the coming year. 

## _**Helen Wightwick and Patricia How**_ 

## _**KBC Representatives on the Churches Together Committee**_ 

## **Works of Heart** 

We have had an interesting year. Initially, meeting up was not easy but we managed to embrace the alternative option of meeting on zoom. 

The first few months were less about crafts and more about re-establishing support and fellowship with each other. We even managed to organise a surprise Baby Shower for one of our members in March. We did a lot of ‘show and tell’ with our individual craft ideas, but also shared our hearts and prayed along the way. 

God provided us with lots of great conversations about faith, especially with all the ongoing challenges of Covid-19 that were being experienced. 

Myself and other lovely contributors managed to do Zoom demos too which were well received. This coming year we pray God will continue to guide and inspire us. He has protected us despite the adjustments we had to make and for that we are very grateful. 

Many thanks to all who have encouraged and supported over 2021. Finally, my personal massive thanks go to Gill Roberts who has been an amazing helper and great contributer of craft ideas since our group formed. Gill has moved on and we do miss her but wish her and her hubby every Blessing for the future. 

## _**Vicky Tyler**_ 

## _**Works of Heart Leader**_ 

## **Accelerate** 

We started 2021 with another lockdown so we continued meeting with the children on Zoom for XLR8, which has been Father God's provision during this pandemic. 



Ceri, Doug, Fran and Lillian covered a range of topics with the children, encouraging them to contribute by reading Bible passages, leading us in prayer, choosing worship songs and organising games. They had opportunities to ask questions and learn from each other too. During this time we were joined by a couple of children from other parts of the country! This is the beauty of zoom! 

Our numbers grew and we often had 10-12 children joining online; it has been an absolute joy to watch Father God at work in the lives of the Young People. This was a mix of ages, a greater spread than the 8-12 years group when it had been ‘in person’ in the hall, and it became a vital part of keeping the children seeing each other when so much else had stopped. Despite the unusual format we felt the presence of God in the gatherings, the discussions, and the worship. 

XLR8 has continued all year on Zoom, with Naomi Nikiema joining the leadership team in the Autumn term to help Ceri and Doug to lead while the Rolfe family were away in the USA. We enjoyed learning about the wonder of God’s Creation. On one occasion we had an inter-county, international Accelerate session as the Sanders family tuned in from Essex and the Rolfes tuned in from USA!! It was such fun! 

## _**Fran Rolfe**_ 

## _**Children’s Ministry Deacon**_ 

## **King’s Kids** 

The relationships forged on Zoom have eased the transition back to face-to-face meetings on Sundays as King’s Kids. Making use of the warm summer weather we opened Tricia and Kevin How’s garden, opposite the church building, on Sunday mornings for an extended King’s Kids covering the whole service. This allowed us to reduce the Covid risks and make returning to meeting up as ‘normal’ as possible. It was such a joy to meet in person again, and such fun under Tracey's gazebo! 

We hung out in the Park and in gardens over the summer holidays; having picnics and doing games and crafts. It was important to meet together and redevelop friendships again. 

In the Autumn term of 2021 we restarted Kings Kids in the building again, learning about God’s promises to us. Kathrin, Ceri, Jane, Doug, Tracey and Laura ably led the children, with Kathrin taking the lead to organise the rota and activities. We started using ‘Urban Saints’ as a resource and have found it to be very helpful. 

At Christmas time after the rigour of Risk Assessment and much prayer we had an inperson Christmas Supper. Usually we travel from house to house but this year we traveled around the church building. Starters in the prayer room, mains in the church and pudding in the hall interspersed with fun games. Kathrin does a mean game with Brussels sprouts! 



At the Nativity service all the children were involved in the retelling of the storybook ‘Jesus’ Christmas Party’. It was so wonderful to see all the ages working together, and gazing at the baby Jesus. 

Father God is growing the group of children in our church and for this we give him all the praise and glory. We thank Vicky for her regular prayers for us every week. 

## _**Fran Rolfe, Children’s Ministry Deacon On behalf of Kathrin, Ceri, Doug, Naomi, Jane, Tracey, Laura and Lillian.**_ 

## **Pastoral Care and Ministry Team** 

As I write this in February 2022, we are just beginning to emerge from another year of lockdowns and restrictions due to Covid-19. Even though many of our relatives and friends have become infected, thankfully, on the whole, infections have become less serious now – due partly to the success of the UK Vaccination programme and also due to lessening severity of the currently circulating variants. 

2021 gave us cause once again to be thankful for the WhatsApp Prayer Chain. It has continued to be an important source of communication and support. We give thanks and praise for all the answers to prayer. There are currently 48 participants. Please make your wishes known to Angie if you wish to be added. A big thank you also goes out to those who have offered Pastoral Support in any form, both those on the Pastoral Care Team and others – phone calls made, visits (socially distanced, outdoor or in person), coffee meet ups and walks, meals and cakes made, lifts to church services or hospital appointments, and service at the wakes of those we have lost. Never underestimate the importance of small acts of support and love offered in Jesus’ name. 

2021 saw us say ‘goodbye’ to some of our relatives and friends: Peter Hornett and Eileen Condor both died in February. and Peter Bones died in November. Please continue to pray for those who continue to grieve and come alongside them as they share memories of their loved ones. 

We also continue to pray for those amongst us who are becoming increasingly frail, who are waiting for surgery or suffering long-term illness. Heather Chalmers,  Kevin How and Kevin Roberts have entered the world of the retired. We pray for them as they are used by the Lord in new ways. We also rejoice at new birth as Kevin and Patricia How have become Grandparents again. Several church family have also had significant birthdays. We give thanks for the new people who have joined us this year and look forward to getting to know them better. 

As we return to services in church, please feel free to ask for prayer in person for healing, concerns, for equipping or refilling of the Holy Spirit and release into His gifts. 



We have a trained Ministry Team and aim to refresh ourselves and train new members in the Spring. 

These words continue to be appropriate this year: 

May His favour be upon you, and a thousand generations 

And your family and your children and their children, and their children May His presence go before you, and behind you, and beside you 

All around you, and within you He is with you, He is with you 

In the morning, in the evening. In your coming, and your going 

In your weeping, and rejoicing He is for you, He is for you. Amen (Taken from The UK Blessing) 

In line with Data Protection Regulations, personal details in this report have been limited to major life events for the year 2021. 

## _**Angela Clark Pastoral Care Coordinator**_ 

## **Outreach** 

Well, what can we say about outreach in 2021? I think we all agree that it was a difficult year and our ‘classic’ outreach services and activities were seriously hindered by the pandemic. But I do believe that we have learned an important lesson that outreach is not just about the big events or services we organise. It is a heart attitude to care for others where we are with what we have. This is where ‘outreach’ crosses over other areas of our church life. 

With the help of Pauline Wade and Fran Rolfe, we designed and distributed our Easter Gardens to our local friends and neighbours. These were well received and provided an opportunity to have a conversation about Easter. 

Although technically I am no longer the ‘outreach deacon’ now I am an Elder, I will always have a passion to see people hear the good news of Jesus. _**Patricia How**_ 

_**Outreach Deacon up to our AGM April 2021.**_ 

_**Elder and Trustee**_ 

## **Hospitality** 

This last year has been far from predictable but none the less we have so much to be thankful for. Having become more established back in the church building, the Welcome Team and Refreshments Gang have done a sterling job. Not only have they dealt sensitively and professionally with the extra Covid-19 needs, they have been very patient and understanding when plans and rotas or policies have had to change at a moment’s notice. Due to the massive influence of the government and the Baptist Union guidelines and our commitment as a church to care for the church family, we have not been able to hold many events. 



However, by doing certain events outside, we did manage not only a well-attended Light Stall on 31 October but food was also prepared outside and shared after the Carols by Candlelight. Also last year it was made possible to bless families both inside and outside of our fellowship with support as they had ‘Life Celebrations’ for their loved ones. This was only possible due to some team members going over and above where others, including myself, were unable to help. Big thanks go to one and all who did what was needed and blessed all who were in attendance. Moving forward, we are hopeful that as 2022 progresses, our prayers will be truly answered and we will be able to ‘open up,’ more both in the community and for the fellowship. 

This report would not be complete without a mention and hearty thanks to our Flower Team. Thank you for the lovely flowers that have helped to lift the church building and also blessed all who have received them as a gift; God’s paint palette of nature, blessing many. These last two years have been an opportunity for us all to re-invent and change our approach to Hospitality. There will be new things ahead and as we 

ease into all God has for us, I pray we will hear and see where he is leading and step out in faith as his will is truly done. Many thanks and more to all who have served to make our church a welcoming and colourful place, in every way. Be blessed as you have blessed myself and others. 

## _**Vicky Tyler Hospitality Deacon**_ 

## **Ladies’ Breakfasts** 

We started the year continuing to meet via Zoom and we had regular support. The ladies who came along were very encouraging and each virtual Breakfast was much appreciated. As soon as we were able to meet in person, and because of the Covid-19 regulations at church, it was felt that to meet at The Two Chimneys, Stotfold Road, Letchworth would be the better option. We have met there ever since and it has been wonderful to be back together in person! The Two Chimneys provides a good breakfast at a reasonable price and we get the chance to use part of the bar area in one of the corners so we have a degree of privacy. Many thanks to all who come along to enjoy a meal, fellowship and a time to pray together, it truly is a precious time together. 

## _**Patricia How**_ 

## _**Elder and Trustee**_ 

## **Men’s Ministry** 

In the early part of the year we met monthly via Zoom. In May we then transitioned to meeting at The Two Chimneys in Letchworth as it was not possible to prepare food and meet in church due to Covid-19 restrictions. This proved very popular, with as many as 10 guys attending. We meet from approx 8:30-10:00 am. normally on the third Saturday morning each month.  A variety of the men brought an apt word and it was a good forum and time for sharing. Being a budget pub it was possible to get a decent cooked breakfast and hot drink at the Two Chimneys for under a fiver!  Sadly we were unable to 



run any curry and film nights this year, however plans are afoot to do this again in early 2022. We ran a joint Christmas meal for twenty of us, again at the Two Chimneys, along with King’s Community Church which was organised by David Wheatley and ourselves. The food was really good and the fellowship even better. The staff worked hard to serve the food hot but were surprised when we tipped them, apparently this doesn’t happen much these days. We look forward to more activities in 2021 as restrictions hopefully relax further...and as we know that real men enjoy sharing real food and real fellowship, perhaps you know of a guy you could personally invite to join us! Also hopefully sometime in 2022 we may be back at church for breakfasts. 

## _**Kevin How and Matt Wheatley**_ 

## **Worship** 

2021 was another great year within KBC’s worship team and God has continued to show his grace and provision to us. We have had a mixed year together in many ways, combining and adapting how we worship together. Joel Mitchell has been our Worship Deacon for several years and has continued to serve the church until September 2021, so the vast majority of what is contained within this report is thanks to Joel. Since Joel moved on, I have taken up the responsibility of heading up the worship department with Laura Wheatley until we get a new Worship Deacon. The year started off in another lockdown and our worship was largely shared over Zoom. However, during this time, we saw a real increase in the sharing of different worship videos and ideas, both homemade and professional within the congregation which boosted so many spirits during those tough months. 

The community aspect of worship flourished as certain restrictions were still in place. We then stepped into a phased return to services being held within the church building which introduced new challenges for the worship team, but everyone chipped in and pulled together to serve God with humility and grace. We changed the layout of the stage and the number of musicians, but God’s presence was still felt with so many of us expressing our joy to be back in our house of God where we can sing praises in fellowship together. We have had a fair bit more training within the team with new folks stepping up to learn PA and words. I want to take a moment to especially thank Joel Mitchell for all of his tireless work and support with all things worship for the large majority of 2021. I would also like to thank Laura Wheatley for helping lead the team and keeping our CCLI function running. I would also like to thank Ian Tyler for his ongoing support with managing the technical side of the worship team and the endless hours of effort that this requires. Thank you to all the team for continuing to serve and grow in all the ways that God has laid on your heart. 2022 looks to be an exciting year as we delve further into who God is calling us to be. 

## _**Jonny Whitmill**_ 

## _**Elder and Trustee**_ 



## **Sunday Morning Services** 

Continuing the idea started in 2018 of a small team meeting to discuss the Sunday Morning sermon subjects, Jonny, Ian and myself met to plan the overall subjects. I was then tasked to find preachers for each Sunday. We were very fortunate to have had a wide variety of speakers who either preached via Zoom or, later in the year, in the church building. We looked at a variety of subjects such as _Learning from the Master_ which considered various conversations Jesus had, _Being a People of Influence_ and _The Acts of the Early Church._ Many thanks go to all our preachers, we really were blessed by those who were able and willing to step up in our time of need. 

## _**Patricia How**_ 

## _**Elder and Trustee**_ 

## **Balancing the Yoke** 

Balancing the Yoke is a group within KBC fellowship where its members whose partner is not yet a believer meet to chat, pray, worship, study God’s Word and read relevant Christian books. The group is led & hosted by Jane O’Flanagan at her home & co-led by Heather Chalmers. We currently have 6 regular members and meet monthly, with an active prayer WhatsApp group supporting one another in between meetings. We have seen God move very powerfully both in individual lives and collectively as a group. Heather is very diligent at recording prayer requests and answered prayers, which has been a great encouragement for us all. We create a safe informal space where we can very honestly share the often difficult details we face every day in our marriages and homes due to our steadfast faith in our Lord. I am often so very humbled by the way in which my sisters walk a path of Peace & Gentleness & faithfulness in often restrictive and anti-faith environments. The Lord has shown us repeatedly that we must put on our God given armour and only fight with the weapons HE GIVES, as any other battle tactic ends in painful defeat. 

We continue to stand firm declaring God’s victory through Jesus’ death on the cross over our lives and those of our loved ones. As always we could not continue to stand without God’s strength and that of our church family, lifting our arms and heads in intercessory prayer. Thank you BTY sisters in Christ and KBC prayer warriors for your Love, support and faithful prayers throughout the past year. We look without fear of the future, keeping our eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of our faith, staying in the boat with our eyes fixed on Jesus and not the waves. 

## _**Jane O’Flanagan and Heather Chalmers**_ 

## **Finance** 

As I reflect on 2021 I can’t help but Thank God for his blessings. At the start of 2021 we were still dealing with the tail end of Covid-19 lockdowns. Our budget predicted going into a deficit by the end of the year. The budget included significant expense to replace the metal roof. Back in January 2020 I gave my notice to stand down as treasurer at 



2021 AGM. Thus at the AGM 2021 I stood down both as Treasurer and as Elder with the commitment to carry out year end for 2021. Mid year (June/July) we were asked if we wanted to negotiate a new energy contract for when the current contract ended. Thankfully Kevin Roberts took lead on negotiating the contract and getting a favourable deal for the trustees to agree. At that time, we were not to know that negotiating a new contract some 10 months before our current one ended would provide us with a better deal than negotiation a new one early 2022. Thank You Kevin for all your hard work in sorting the deal out. 

Around June/July Margaret Stanley was approached and asked to prayerfully consider if God was calling her to stand as treasurer. Thankfully she agreed to stand and was voted in as Treasurer at the November Members’ Meeting to commence 1 January 2022. Thank You for taking on the responsibility Margaret, it was a pleasure to pass on the baton to you. 

The Annual Reports are compiled whilst the year end figures are with the Independent Checker. Thus the following figures are indicative and have not been ratified. For the ratified figures you need to read the finance report that is published under separate cover. Over the year we have continued to support our regular missions; The Need Project, Christian Initiative to Schools, BMS & Home Mission. In addition, we made contributions to support the Rolfe family as they embark on work with Heli Mission and also our Christmas appeal raised £1,000 which went to Feed Up Warm Up. Our total mission giving was £15,240, which equated to about 17.9% of our income. The income into the General Fund for the year was £84,959. We had budgeted for an income of £71,700. Our expenditure for 2021 was £65,471 compared to a budgeted figure of £81,240 (approximately £16,000 of this was for work on the metal roof and not used). Thus instead of a deficit of some £9,000 we made a surplus over the year. 

However, we cannot become complacent with our finances as we move into 2022. Over the last few years, I have aired the caution that whilst we didn’t have a minister, we had the luxury of an income from the manse whilst not having to provide a stipend.  At the tail end of 2021 that all changed. In September we were blessed to have Alistair take up his post as our new Minister. This triggered our serving notice to the tenants of the manse. We now have to provide a stipend to Alistair and at the same time have lost the benefit of an income from letting the manse. 

As we move into 2022 I ask that you use the annual reports as a trigger to review your giving and pray that you support the trustees, in particular Margaret, as they manage the church finances for the forthcoming year. Thank you for supporting me during my role as treasurer. May the Lord bless you. 

_**Keith Turner**_ 



## **Report from our Minister** 

I am delighted to be able to bring you my report for 2021 as minister of KBC, even though it will be by necessity quite brief. On 1 August 2021 I was called to be pastor of King’s Baptist Church in Stotfold, and in September I started my ministry on a part-time basis, as we hadn’t yet moved. We made the round-trip journey from Essex each week to worship with the congregation of KBC. As the church already had a preaching programme in place for the period up to the end of November, I preached only occasionally during this time. By God’s grace and in answer to prayer, we were able to move into the manse at the end of October. I want to say a big Thank You to everyone who made us fell welcome in our new church and our new home, to everyone who demonstrated real Christian love in kindness and generosity. My ministry became fulltime from November, and before long Advent and Christmas had arrived. 

One big highlight that really stood out for me was the Carols by candlelight service. It was very powerful to hear the testimonies that were shared along with the hymns and the readings. There is nothing as powerful as our own simple testimonies to God’s goodness and grace. I believe one of the reasons we often find it difficult to share our stories with people outside the church, is because we are not in the habit of sharing those stories with one another. Paul wrote to the Corinthians describing how, “When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation…” (1 Cor, 14:26). But if we cannot manage that, at the very least we can hope to come together with a testimony, a celebration, a thanksgiving, a word of praise or worship. 

As I began to pray and prepare to preach in 2022, I believe the Lord laid on my heart that we explore what it means for us to be a church. Part of that is to prioritise being both a visionary and missional people. In terms of vision, it is vital that we create a culture or atmosphere of hope, faith, optimism and expectation. Many Christians seem to live without hope, pray without faith, and serve without joy. Others are bitter over disappointments from the past, paralysed by indecision in the present, and despondent regarding the future. God calls us to be a people of faith, who can see potential in every person, and opportunity in every situation. In terms of mission, each of us must own the personal responsibility to find, befriend, engage, and walk alongside unbelievers. These are the people whom we already know, that we live with or work with, those who already are our neighbours. We need grace and patience to walk with them as true friends— quick to listen, slow to speak, being present when needed, always showing Christian love. I believe Jesus wants us to be a people that are outward-looking, who have a passion to use our gifts and talents as we are led by the Spirit, so that we are confident and competent to minister to others—wherever we find them. 

I believe Jesus wants us to be like Esther, a woman “for such as time as this” (Esther 4:14), and like David, who “fulfilled the purposes of God in his generation” (Acts 13:36). I believe Jesus would remind us that there is a harvest right now, not at some obscure 



future date (John 4:35). I also believe Jesus would encourage us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). And I believe we should encourage one another that “we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way” (Hebrews 10:39 The Message version). May we all know the comforting presence and the life-changing power of God with us all, always. _**Alistair Sanders**_ 

## _**Minister**_ 



## **King's Baptist Church** 

**The Green, Stotfold** 

**Registered Charity number: 1136519** 

_**Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2021**_ 



## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Contents and Church Information** 

|**Contents**||**Page**|
|---|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees||1 and 2|
|Independent Examiner's Report||3|
|Statement of Financial Activities||4|
|Balance Sheet||5|
|Notes to the Accounts||6 to 12|
|**Trustees**|Theo Clark||
||Alison Down||
||Patricia How||
||Margaret Stanley||
||Ian Tyler||
||Jonathan Whitmill||
|**Minister (and trustee)**|Rev Alistair Sanders||
|**Address**|The Green||
||Stotfold||
||SG5 4AN||
|**Charity Registration Number**|1136519||
|**Independent Examiner**|Geoff Mann FCIE||
||Geoff Mann Limited||
||Dee House||
||Highworth Avenue||
||Cambridge||
||CB4 2BQ||
|**Bankers**|Barclays||
|**Custodian Trustee**|Baptist Union Corporation Ltd||





**Page 1** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Report of the Trustees** 

The trustees present their report and the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021. 

The accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) 

## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** 

Charity law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Church and of the surplus or deficit of the Church for that year. 

In preparing those accounts, the trustees are required to: 

- (i) Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently. 

- (ii) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. 

- (iii) Prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Church will continue in business. 

- (iv) Observe the methods and principals of the Charities SORP. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Church and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011. 

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities. 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

Governing document 

The Church's governing document is a constitution adopted on 29 April 2010.  It was registered as a charity on 22 June 2010. 

## Appointment of trustees 

New trustees are appointed by the membership and require 66% of eligible voters present. 



**Page 2** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Report of the Trustees** 

Trustee induction and training 

The trustees are currently reviewing the procedures in place for trustee induction and training by reference to guidance published by the Charity Commission. 

Organisational structure 

The trustees set out the general policy of the Church.  The day to day affairs of the charity are run by the minister (or in the absence of a minister the trustees). 

## **Objects and Activities** 

The principal purpose of the Church is 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. 

## **Achievements and Performance, Financial Review and Future Developments** 

These are covered by the Church's Annual Report. 

This report was approved by the trustees on 21 April 2022 and signed on their behalf. 


Keith Turner Acting Treasurer 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 3** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Independent Examiner's Report** 

## **To the Trustees of King's Baptist Church** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 4 to 11. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the Church'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 Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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** 

I have completed my examination.  I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me any cause to believe that in any material respect: 

- accounting records were not kept in respect of the Church as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

- the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning 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. 

Geoff Mann FCIE Geoff Mann Limited Dee House Highworth Avenue Cambridge CB4 2BQ 



**Page 4** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

|||||2021|||2020|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General|Designated|Restricted|Endowment|Total|Total|
|||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|
||Notes|£|£|£|£|£|£|
|**Income**||||||||
|Giving by Church Members and Visitors||58,715|875|0|0|59,590|51,197|
|Gift Aid Tax Recoverable||14,145|212|0|0|14,357|12,089|
|Investment Income||228|0|0|34|262|225|
|Manse Rent Receivable||11,871|0|0|0|11,871|15,600|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Total Income**|1|84,959|1,087|0|34|86,080|79,111|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Expenditure**||||||||
|Charitable Expenditure||||||||
|Ministry Costs||8,027|0|0|0|8,027|0|
|Church running costs||38,663|0|0|0|38,663|53,166|
|Outreach||512|0|0|0|512|1,722|
|Pastoral and training||3,028|0|0|0|3,028|1,902|
|Grants to Missionary Organisations|3|0|15,240|0|0|15,240|14,136|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Total Expenditure**|2|50,230|15,240|0|0|65,470|70,926|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Net Income/(Expenditure)**||34,729|-14,153|0|34|20,610|8,185|
|**Transfers Between Funds**||-9,662|14,240|-200|-4,378|0|0|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Net Movement in Funds for the Year**||25,067|87|-200|-4,344|20,610|8,185|
|**Reconciliation of Funds**||||||||
|**Total Funds Brought Forward**||139,834|0|445|710,148|850,427|842,242|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Total Funds Carried Forward**||164,901|87|245|705,804|871,037|850,427|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|



## **Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses** 

There were no recognised gains or losses for 2021 or 2020 other than those included in the Statement of Financial Activities 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 5** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Balance Sheet** 

|||2021||2020||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Notes|£|£|£|£|
|**Fixed Assets**||||||
|Tangible assets|5||705,195||709,718|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**Total Fixed Assets**|||705,195||709,718|
|**Current Assets**||||||
|Debtors|6|16,091||13,670||
|Cash at bank and in hand||150,381||128,040||
|||-----------||-----------||
|**Total Current Assets**||166,472||141,710||
|**Liabilities**||||||
|**Creditors**: amounts falling due||||||
|within one year|7|630||1,001||
|||-----------||-----------||
|**Net Current Assets**|||165,842||140,709|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**Net Assets**|||871,037||850,427|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**The Funds of the Church**||||||
|General Funds|||164,901||139,834|
|Designated Funds|8||87||0|
|Restricted Funds|9||245||445|
|Endowment Funds|10||705,804||710,148|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**Total Charity Funds**|||871,037||850,427|
||||-----------||-----------|



The accounts were approved by the trustees on 21st April 2022 and signed on their behalf. 


Keith Turner Acting Treasurer 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 6** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

## 1 **Accounting Policies** 

## (a) **Basis of Preparation of Accounts** 

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. 

King's Baptist Church meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. 

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. 

## (b) **Income** 

Giving by Church Members and Visitors and Gift Aid Tax Recoverable are accounted for when receivable. 

Investment income is included in the accounts in the year in which it becomes payable. 

## (c) **Expenditure** 

Includes all expenditure incurred in pursuing the charity's objectives, other than that which has been capitalised. 

## (d) **Fixed Assets** 

Freehold land and buildings 

The Manse and the Church building are included in the accounts at trustees' valuations which are reviewed annually. 

Furniture and fittings, storage equipment and electronic equipment 

Prior to January 2009 all assets were written off on purchase.  The policy since then is to only capitalise those items with a value over £1,000 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 7** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

## (e) **Depreciation** 

Freehold land and buildings 

No provision has been made as the assets are included at a valuation which is reviewed annually. 

Furniture, fittings and storage equipment 10% straight line basis Electronic equipment 20% straight line basis 

## (f) **Debtors** 

Trade debtors and other debtors are recognised at their settlement amount due after any trade discount offered.  Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discount due. 

## (g) **Creditors and Provisions** 

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 

## (h) **Fund Accounting** 

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity.  Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.  Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. Endowment funds exist where there is a capital fund with no power to convert the capital into income. 

(i) **Going Concern** 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. 

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. 



**Page 8** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|2|**Expenditure**||Notes|2021|2020|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||£|£|
||Ministry Costs|Gross salaries||6,501|0|
|||Pension costs||969|0|
|||Other||557|0|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||8,027|0|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Church Running Costs|Building maintenance||17,297|26,654|
|||Computer hardware and software||1,397|5,987|
|||Depreciation||4,523|2,803|
|||Equipment (below £1,000)||31|831|
|||Gas, electricity and water||2,755|3,591|
|||Independent examination||552|540|
|||Insurance||2,265|2,246|
|||Membership, health and safety||2,678|5,202|
|||Miscellaneous running costs||3,750|1,783|
|||Printing, postage and stationery||2,008|2,567|
|||Telephone and internet||788|962|
|||Travel||619|0|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||38,663|53,166|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Outreach|||512|1,722|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Pastoral and training|||3,028|1,902|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Grants to Missionary Organisations||3|15,240|14,136|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||**Total Expenditure**|||65,470|70,926|
|||||-----------|-----------|





**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 9** 

**Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|3|**Grants to Missionary Organisations**||2021|2020|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||£|£|
||Institution|Purpose|||
||Baptist Union Home Mission|Church Support in the UK|3,000|2,748|
||Bible Bookshop||600|600|
||BMS World Mission|World Evangelism|3,000|2,748|
||Christian Aid||0|700|
||Christian Initiative to Schools|North Herts Christian|||
|||Education in Schools|2,400|2,900|
||Christian Institute||180|180|
||Feed Up Warm Up||1,000|0|
||Need Project (separate charity|since 2017)|4,200|4,200|
||Rolfe||800|0|
||UCB||60|60|
||||-----------|-----------|
||||15,240|14,136|
||||-----------|-----------|



## 4 

## **Staff Costs** 

None of the trustees received any remuneration in respect of their role as a trustee, nor did they receive any expenses. 

|The staff costs were:|2021|2020|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Wages and salaries|6,501|0|
|Other pension costs|969|0|
||-----------|-----------|
||7,470|0|
||-----------|-----------|



The average weekly number of staff employed by the charity during the year was 1 (2020 - 0) 



**Page 10** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|5|**Fixed Assets**||Freehold land|Furniture|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||and buildings|etc||
||||£|£|£|
||**Cost**|Balance at 01.01.21|690,000|31,177|721,177|
|||Additions|0|0|0|
|||Disposals|0|0|0|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||Balance at 31.12.21|690,000|31,177|721,177|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
||**Depreciation**|Balance at 01.01.21|0|11,459|11,459|
|||Depeciation|0|4,523|4,523|
|||Disposals|0|0|0|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||Balance at 31.12.21|0|15,982|15,982|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
||**Net Book Value**|At 31.12.21|690,000|15,195|705,195|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||At 01.01.21|690,000|19,718|709,718|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|6|**Debtors**: Due within one year|||2021|2020|
|||||£|£|
||Income tax recoverable|||14,131|11,863|
||Prepayments|||1,960|1,807|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||16,091|13,670|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|7|**Creditors**: Due within one year|||2021|2020|
|||||£|£|
||Accruals|||630|1,001|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||630|1,001|
|||||-----------|-----------|





**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 11** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|8|**Designated Funds**|Brought|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|Carried|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Forward||||Forward|
|||£|£|£|£|£|
||Mission|0|0|15,240|15,240|0|
||Projects|0|1,087|0|-1,000|87|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||0|1,087|15,240|14,240|87|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||Mission|The Church sets aside a||minimum of|10% of its General||
|||Fund receipts for mission purposes.  The Church makes|||||
|||grants to other organisations whose charitable objectives|||||
|||complement its work.|||||



|**Restricted Funds**|Brought|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|Carried|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Forward||||Forward|
||£|£|£|£|£|
|New Building|400|0|0|-200|200|
|Pre-school|45|0|0|0|45|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||445|0|0|-200|245|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|



## 9 **Restricted Funds** 

10 

|New Building|Provision of|a larger church building|a larger church building|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Pre-school|Pre-school club|||||
|**Endowment Funds**|Brought|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|Carried|
||Forward||||Forward|
||£|£|£|£|£|
|Manse|310,148|34|0|-4,378|305,804|
|Church|400,000|0|0|0|400,000|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||710,148|34|0|-4,378|705,804|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|Manse|Provision of|accommodation for minister||||
|Church|Place of worship|||||





**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 12** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|11|**Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds**|**Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General|Designated|Restricted|Endowment|Total|
|||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|
|||£||£||£|
||Tangible assets|15,195|0|0|690,000|705,195|
||Net current assets|149,706|87|245|15,804|165,842|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||Net assets|164,901|87|245|705,804|871,037|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|



There were no related party transactions in the year that required disclosure. 

12 **Related party transactions** 



## **King's Baptist Church** 

**The Green, Stotfold** 

**Registered Charity number: 1136519** 

_**Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2021**_ 



## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Contents and Church Information** 

|**Contents**||**Page**|
|---|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees||1 and 2|
|Independent Examiner's Report||3|
|Statement of Financial Activities||4|
|Balance Sheet||5|
|Notes to the Accounts||6 to 12|
|**Trustees**|Theo Clark||
||Alison Down||
||Patricia How||
||Margaret Stanley||
||Ian Tyler||
||Jonathan Whitmill||
|**Minister (and trustee)**|Rev Alistair Sanders||
|**Address**|The Green||
||Stotfold||
||SG5 4AN||
|**Charity Registration Number**|1136519||
|**Independent Examiner**|Geoff Mann FCIE||
||Geoff Mann Limited||
||Dee House||
||Highworth Avenue||
||Cambridge||
||CB4 2BQ||
|**Bankers**|Barclays||
|**Custodian Trustee**|Baptist Union Corporation Ltd||





**Page 1** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Report of the Trustees** 

The trustees present their report and the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021. 

The accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) 

## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** 

Charity law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Church and of the surplus or deficit of the Church for that year. 

In preparing those accounts, the trustees are required to: 

- (i) Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently. 

- (ii) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. 

- (iii) Prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Church will continue in business. 

- (iv) Observe the methods and principals of the Charities SORP. 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Church and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011. 

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Church and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities. 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

Governing document 

The Church's governing document is a constitution adopted on 29 April 2010.  It was registered as a charity on 22 June 2010. 

## Appointment of trustees 

New trustees are appointed by the membership and require 66% of eligible voters present. 



**Page 2** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Report of the Trustees** 

Trustee induction and training 

The trustees are currently reviewing the procedures in place for trustee induction and training by reference to guidance published by the Charity Commission. 

Organisational structure 

The trustees set out the general policy of the Church.  The day to day affairs of the charity are run by the minister (or in the absence of a minister the trustees). 

## **Objects and Activities** 

The principal purpose of the Church is 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. 

## **Achievements and Performance, Financial Review and Future Developments** 

These are covered by the Church's Annual Report. 

This report was approved by the trustees on 21 April 2022 and signed on their behalf. 


Keith Turner Acting Treasurer 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 3** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Independent Examiner's Report** 

## **To the Trustees of King's Baptist Church** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 4 to 11. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the Church'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 Church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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** 

I have completed my examination.  I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me any cause to believe that in any material respect: 

- accounting records were not kept in respect of the Church as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

- the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning 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. 

Geoff Mann FCIE Geoff Mann Limited Dee House Highworth Avenue Cambridge CB4 2BQ 



**Page 4** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

|||||2021|||2020|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General|Designated|Restricted|Endowment|Total|Total|
|||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|
||Notes|£|£|£|£|£|£|
|**Income**||||||||
|Giving by Church Members and Visitors||58,715|875|0|0|59,590|51,197|
|Gift Aid Tax Recoverable||14,145|212|0|0|14,357|12,089|
|Investment Income||228|0|0|34|262|225|
|Manse Rent Receivable||11,871|0|0|0|11,871|15,600|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Total Income**|1|84,959|1,087|0|34|86,080|79,111|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Expenditure**||||||||
|Charitable Expenditure||||||||
|Ministry Costs||8,027|0|0|0|8,027|0|
|Church running costs||38,663|0|0|0|38,663|53,166|
|Outreach||512|0|0|0|512|1,722|
|Pastoral and training||3,028|0|0|0|3,028|1,902|
|Grants to Missionary Organisations|3|0|15,240|0|0|15,240|14,136|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Total Expenditure**|2|50,230|15,240|0|0|65,470|70,926|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Net Income/(Expenditure)**||34,729|-14,153|0|34|20,610|8,185|
|**Transfers Between Funds**||-9,662|14,240|-200|-4,378|0|0|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Net Movement in Funds for the Year**||25,067|87|-200|-4,344|20,610|8,185|
|**Reconciliation of Funds**||||||||
|**Total Funds Brought Forward**||139,834|0|445|710,148|850,427|842,242|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|**Total Funds Carried Forward**||164,901|87|245|705,804|871,037|850,427|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|



## **Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses** 

There were no recognised gains or losses for 2021 or 2020 other than those included in the Statement of Financial Activities 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 5** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Balance Sheet** 

|||2021||2020||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Notes|£|£|£|£|
|**Fixed Assets**||||||
|Tangible assets|5||705,195||709,718|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**Total Fixed Assets**|||705,195||709,718|
|**Current Assets**||||||
|Debtors|6|16,091||13,670||
|Cash at bank and in hand||150,381||128,040||
|||-----------||-----------||
|**Total Current Assets**||166,472||141,710||
|**Liabilities**||||||
|**Creditors**: amounts falling due||||||
|within one year|7|630||1,001||
|||-----------||-----------||
|**Net Current Assets**|||165,842||140,709|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**Net Assets**|||871,037||850,427|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**The Funds of the Church**||||||
|General Funds|||164,901||139,834|
|Designated Funds|8||87||0|
|Restricted Funds|9||245||445|
|Endowment Funds|10||705,804||710,148|
||||-----------||-----------|
|**Total Charity Funds**|||871,037||850,427|
||||-----------||-----------|



The accounts were approved by the trustees on 21st April 2022 and signed on their behalf. 


Keith Turner Acting Treasurer 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 6** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

## 1 **Accounting Policies** 

## (a) **Basis of Preparation of Accounts** 

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. 

King's Baptist Church meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. 

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. 

## (b) **Income** 

Giving by Church Members and Visitors and Gift Aid Tax Recoverable are accounted for when receivable. 

Investment income is included in the accounts in the year in which it becomes payable. 

## (c) **Expenditure** 

Includes all expenditure incurred in pursuing the charity's objectives, other than that which has been capitalised. 

## (d) **Fixed Assets** 

Freehold land and buildings 

The Manse and the Church building are included in the accounts at trustees' valuations which are reviewed annually. 

Furniture and fittings, storage equipment and electronic equipment 

Prior to January 2009 all assets were written off on purchase.  The policy since then is to only capitalise those items with a value over £1,000 



**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 7** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

## (e) **Depreciation** 

Freehold land and buildings 

No provision has been made as the assets are included at a valuation which is reviewed annually. 

Furniture, fittings and storage equipment 10% straight line basis Electronic equipment 20% straight line basis 

## (f) **Debtors** 

Trade debtors and other debtors are recognised at their settlement amount due after any trade discount offered.  Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discount due. 

## (g) **Creditors and Provisions** 

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 

## (h) **Fund Accounting** 

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity.  Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.  Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. Endowment funds exist where there is a capital fund with no power to convert the capital into income. 

(i) **Going Concern** 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. 

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. 



**Page 8** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|2|**Expenditure**||Notes|2021|2020|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||£|£|
||Ministry Costs|Gross salaries||6,501|0|
|||Pension costs||969|0|
|||Other||557|0|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||8,027|0|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Church Running Costs|Building maintenance||17,297|26,654|
|||Computer hardware and software||1,397|5,987|
|||Depreciation||4,523|2,803|
|||Equipment (below £1,000)||31|831|
|||Gas, electricity and water||2,755|3,591|
|||Independent examination||552|540|
|||Insurance||2,265|2,246|
|||Membership, health and safety||2,678|5,202|
|||Miscellaneous running costs||3,750|1,783|
|||Printing, postage and stationery||2,008|2,567|
|||Telephone and internet||788|962|
|||Travel||619|0|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||38,663|53,166|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Outreach|||512|1,722|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Pastoral and training|||3,028|1,902|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||Grants to Missionary Organisations||3|15,240|14,136|
|||||-----------|-----------|
||**Total Expenditure**|||65,470|70,926|
|||||-----------|-----------|





**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 9** 

**Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|3|**Grants to Missionary Organisations**||2021|2020|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||£|£|
||Institution|Purpose|||
||Baptist Union Home Mission|Church Support in the UK|3,000|2,748|
||Bible Bookshop||600|600|
||BMS World Mission|World Evangelism|3,000|2,748|
||Christian Aid||0|700|
||Christian Initiative to Schools|North Herts Christian|||
|||Education in Schools|2,400|2,900|
||Christian Institute||180|180|
||Feed Up Warm Up||1,000|0|
||Need Project (separate charity|since 2017)|4,200|4,200|
||Rolfe||800|0|
||UCB||60|60|
||||-----------|-----------|
||||15,240|14,136|
||||-----------|-----------|



## 4 

## **Staff Costs** 

None of the trustees received any remuneration in respect of their role as a trustee, nor did they receive any expenses. 

|The staff costs were:|2021|2020|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Wages and salaries|6,501|0|
|Other pension costs|969|0|
||-----------|-----------|
||7,470|0|
||-----------|-----------|



The average weekly number of staff employed by the charity during the year was 1 (2020 - 0) 



**Page 10** 

## **King's Baptist Church** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|5|**Fixed Assets**||Freehold land|Furniture|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||and buildings|etc||
||||£|£|£|
||**Cost**|Balance at 01.01.21|690,000|31,177|721,177|
|||Additions|0|0|0|
|||Disposals|0|0|0|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||Balance at 31.12.21|690,000|31,177|721,177|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
||**Depreciation**|Balance at 01.01.21|0|11,459|11,459|
|||Depeciation|0|4,523|4,523|
|||Disposals|0|0|0|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||Balance at 31.12.21|0|15,982|15,982|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
||**Net Book Value**|At 31.12.21|690,000|15,195|705,195|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||At 01.01.21|690,000|19,718|709,718|
||||-----------|-----------|-----------|
|6|**Debtors**: Due within one year|||2021|2020|
|||||£|£|
||Income tax recoverable|||14,131|11,863|
||Prepayments|||1,960|1,807|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||16,091|13,670|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|7|**Creditors**: Due within one year|||2021|2020|
|||||£|£|
||Accruals|||630|1,001|
|||||-----------|-----------|
|||||630|1,001|
|||||-----------|-----------|





**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 11** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|8|**Designated Funds**|Brought|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|Carried|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Forward||||Forward|
|||£|£|£|£|£|
||Mission|0|0|15,240|15,240|0|
||Projects|0|1,087|0|-1,000|87|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|||0|1,087|15,240|14,240|87|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||Mission|The Church sets aside a||minimum of|10% of its General||
|||Fund receipts for mission purposes.  The Church makes|||||
|||grants to other organisations whose charitable objectives|||||
|||complement its work.|||||



|**Restricted Funds**|Brought|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|Carried|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Forward||||Forward|
||£|£|£|£|£|
|New Building|400|0|0|-200|200|
|Pre-school|45|0|0|0|45|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||445|0|0|-200|245|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|



## 9 **Restricted Funds** 

10 

|New Building|Provision of|a larger church building|a larger church building|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Pre-school|Pre-school club|||||
|**Endowment Funds**|Brought|Income|Expenditure|Transfers|Carried|
||Forward||||Forward|
||£|£|£|£|£|
|Manse|310,148|34|0|-4,378|305,804|
|Church|400,000|0|0|0|400,000|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||710,148|34|0|-4,378|705,804|
||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|Manse|Provision of|accommodation for minister||||
|Church|Place of worship|||||





**King's Baptist Church** 

**Page 12** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

|11|**Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds**|**Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General|Designated|Restricted|Endowment|Total|
|||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|
|||£||£||£|
||Tangible assets|15,195|0|0|690,000|705,195|
||Net current assets|149,706|87|245|15,804|165,842|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
||Net assets|164,901|87|245|705,804|871,037|
|||-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|



There were no related party transactions in the year that required disclosure. 

12 **Related party transactions**