2023-12-31-accounts - Bluntisham Baptist Church

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Bluntisham Baptist Church

Bluntisham

batchareh

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023

Bluntisham Baptist Church

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name and Registration Number

Bluntisham Baptist Church - Registration number 1136939

Address

Bluntisham Baptist Church High Street Bluntisham Cambridgeshire PE28 3LD

Trustees who served during the year

Rev Tim Williamson (resigned 17 September 2023) Isabel Daniels Janet Harris Katy Horrocks Malcolm Lee Roger Orr (resigned 31 January 2023) Jill Slater (appointed 22 November 2023) Philip Taylor Lucy Thatcher Peter Thatcher

Property trustees

The Baptist Union Corporation Limited, Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT

Structure, Governance and Management

The Church is governed by the Constitution which was adopted on 19[th] June 2010. The Constitution can be downloaded from the Church’s website www.bluntishambaptist.org

The Charity Trustees are responsible for the governance of the Church. The Charity Trustees are the Minister, Elders and Deacons. The Elders and Deacons, who must themselves be Church members, are nominated and appointed by the Church members and must receive the support of at least two-thirds of the voting members at the relevant general meeting. The Elders and Deacons are appointed for an initial three year term with the opportunity to be nominated for reappointment at the end of each three year term.

Members’ meetings normally take place six times each year and have responsibility for the overall policy of the church. All members are encouraged to take part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective.

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Objectives and Activities

The Church’s mission is ‘To share the love of Jesus with everyone’.

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.

In fulfilling its principal purpose, the Church will engage in a range of activities either on its own or with others that will vary from time to time. The activities include:

Regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching
Baptism, as defined in the Union’s Declaration of Principle
The Communion of the Lord’s Supper which shall normally be observed at least once a month
Evangelism and mission, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
The teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people
The nurture and growth of Christian disciples
Education and training for Christian and community service
Giving and encouraging pastoral care
Supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad
Encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians

Notwithstanding the appointment of persons to accept responsibility for any of the activities, all individuals, organisations, groups, and committees operating within the life of the Church, and their leaders, are accountable to the Charity Trustees and also through any specific direction of the Church Members’ Meeting.

The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Church also adopts a Safer Recruitment policy for all volunteers working with children and young people.

The Trustees have read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and are satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the Church is providing a benefit to the public.

Achievements and Performance

Our recently refurbished church building has had a very positive impact on our church ministries and activities and has been well used by the local community.

Our weekly Sunday morning worship services were attended by 80 adults as regular attendees, along with an average of 15 children and young people. During the year, two people were baptised at a Baptism service in April.

Our Carols by Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve for the local community was attended by over 200 people.

Our children and youth activities on Sunday mornings have continued as our Church continues to be blessed by the enthusiasm, commitment and gifts of all of our leaders and helpers in this important work.

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Evening prayer meetings continued to be held on a monthly basis as well as the monthly prayers for schools. Homegroups continued to offer support and encouragement to each other. Many of these meetings are now being held in the recently refurbished Fellowship Room.

During the year, we organised and hosted a prayer meeting with other local churches to provide prayerful support and encouragement to each other.

Leadership team meetings continued to be held every month, with extra ad-hoc meetings held as necessary. Six Church meetings were held during the year, including the AGM in March.

We were delighted at the continued success of our ministry activities which drew in people from the local community as well as providing fellowship and support for our own Church family:

Little Fishes Toddlers Group (weekly)
Little Fishes for Dads (monthly)
Beacon Café (weekly)
Friday Fellas (monthly)
Friday Ladies (monthly)
Ladies Fellowship (fortnightly)
Craft and Chatter (weekly)

Fellowship events during the year for the Church family included:

Pizza, Prayer and Pudding Evening
Curry and Quiz Night
Ladies Breakfast

We were delighted to be able to recommence holding our successful Christmas community event, ‘Live The Story’. We also held an Easter Trail community event.

Our week-long Holiday Bible Club restarted this year with the theme of ‘Restoration Station’. It was attended by 60 children. We were very grateful for the commitment of the organising team and the 50 leaders and helpers who contributed to its success. A celebration service and community BBQ was held to conclude the event.

Ongoing Safeguarding training was provided to ensure all relevant volunteers are kept fully up-to-date.

The Beacon Money Advice Centre continued to provide vital support to people in our community who were faced with debt problems, working alongside the Bridge Church in St Ives.

The ‘Open the Book’ team continue to work alongside other local churches to take the gospel message into local schools.

A number of our members continued to preach and help lead worship at churches in the local area.

Three Church members served as Street Pastors in Cambridge and other members were actively involved in leadership roles working with other local charities, including Cornerstone Pregnancy Advice Centre and Cambridgeshire Workplace Chaplaincy.

Bluntisham Baptist Church

The Church updated its Mission ACTS Charter and agreed to continue working with our Church Partner in Chad while maintaining contact with our mission links in Russia, Armenia, Ukraine, Albania and countries in East Asia. One of our members went on a mission trip to Cambodia working with Mission Direct. The delivery of clothes to Armenian Ministries was ongoing throughout the year plus a small team helped load four large containers prior to shipping. Tools with a Mission (TWAM) collection and delivery continues to tick over. One of the church members promotes mission on behalf of the Eastern Baptist Association (EBA) and Baptist Missionary Society (BMS). Mission is a key part of our church life and is well supported by the fellowship.

We were pleased that the number of local community groups using our facilities increased during the year, many of which use our buildings on a weekly basis. We regularly welcomed music groups, keep fit groups, an amateur dramatics group and an educational organisation.

In September, our minister Rev Tim Williamson, left the church to take up a position as an RAF Chaplain. Tim had been our minister for nearly ten years and we are grateful for all that he has done for our Church and the local community during that time. Our best wishes go with him, in his new role.

Following Tim’s departure, we appointed a Moderator to help and guide us through the Ministerial Recognition Process. Work has already begun on developing the Church Profile. We are particularly grateful to everyone who has stepped forward to take on new or additional roles and responsibilities to ensure that all of our ministries and activities continue as normal.

Financial Review

Due to the continued generosity of the Church family in their regular giving and donations, together with the careful management of expenditure, the Church recorded a small surplus in General Funds and so was able to end the year in a sound financial position.

The Next Steps Building project is being funded by the Church family, grants and a loan from the Baptist Union Corporation. The loan is repayable in monthly instalments with the final instalment due in May 2033.

Reserves policy

The Church aims to maintain reserves in unrestricted funds equal to approximately three months’ total annual expenditure as a matter of general financial prudence. Additional reserves are currently being held to meet known, and anticipated, future commitments in meeting the Church’s planned mission activities.

Approval by the Trustees

This report was approved by the Trustees on 13[th] February 2024.

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Bluntisham Baptist Church on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The Church’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Church’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I 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.

Name:

Signed:

Date:

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023

General Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Note Regular offerings Income tax recovered on gifts Donations and other income 2 Rents and contributions for use of premises Interest Total receipts Payments Ministry 3 Mission 4 Upkeep of church premises 5 Administration 6 Course fees for Minister in Training Total payments Net receipts/(payments) for the year Transfer to Building Fund General Fund at 1 January General Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 64,082 13,421 6,063 4,547 1,778 89,891 34,352 5,960 18,938 11,866 3,405 74,521 15,370 (7,000) 60,246 68,616	2022 £ 60,401 12,844 5,972 1,600 378
		81,195
		45,887 6,008 13,582 13,592 2,352
		81,421
		(226) 0 60,472
		60,246

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Next Steps Building Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Note Regular offerings Income tax recovered on gifts Donations Rental income from manse Grants 7 Interest Fundraising and other income Loan from BUC 8 Total receipts Payments Loan repayments BUC 8 Windows in Fellowship Room Fixtures and fittings Other payments Construction costs Professional fees Total payments Net (payments) for the year Transfer from General Funds Building Fund at 1 January Building Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 36,239 8,094 5,600 3,296 1,335 666 474 0 55,704 70,699 6,261 5,238 60 0 0 82,258 (26,554) 7,000 52,264 32,710	2022 £ 37,014 9,531 10,605 0 37,920 382 842 100,141 196,435 32,667 0 25,054 1,403 262,495 7,704 329,323 (132,888) 0 185,152 52,264

Home Mission Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net receipts for the year Home Mission Fund at 1 January Home Mission Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 993 (993) 0 0 0	2022 £ 933 (933)
		0 0
		0

BMS Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net receipts for the year BMS Fund at 1 January BMS Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 1,230 1,205 25 31 56	2022 £ 1,666 (1,635)
		31 0
		31

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Minister in Training Support Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net (payments)/receipts for the year Minister in Training Support Fund at 1 January Minister in Training Support Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 1,115 (1,165) (50) 50 0	2022 £ 2,387 (2,337)
		50 0
		50

Youth Worker Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Youth worker salary and expenses Net receipts for the year Youth Worker Fund at 1 January Youth Worker Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 2,550 0 2,550 4,105 6,655	2022 £ 2,605 0 2,605 1,500 4,105

Emergency Support Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net (payments) for the year Emergency Support Fund at 1 January Emergency Support Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 0 0 0 1,854 1,854	2022 £ 0 (90)
		(90) 1,944
		1,854

Music Group Training Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net (payments) for the year Music Group Training Fund at 1 January Music Group Training Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 0 0 0 2,216 2,216	2022 £ 0 (284)
		(284) 2,500
		2,216

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Other Charities Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net receipts for the year Other Charities Fund at 1 January Other Charities Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 641 (484) 157 484 641	2022 £ 1,380 (896)
		484 0
		484

Little Fishes Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net receipts for the year Little Fishes Fund at 1 January Little Fishes Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 765 (264) 501 374 875	2022 £ 158 0
		158 216
		374

Ladies Fellowship Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net receipts/(payments) for the year Ladies Fellowship Fund at 1 January Ladies Fellowship Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 206 0 206 360 566	2022 £ 0 (60)
		(60) 420
		360

Friday Fellas Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net (payments)/receipts for the year Friday Fellas Fund at 1 January Friday Fellas Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 63 (125) (62) 386 324	2022 £ 473 (87)
		386 0
		386

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Beacon Cafe Fund Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net receipts for the year Beacon Cafe Fund at 1 January Beacon Cafe Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 161 0 161 35 196	2022 £ 106 (71)
		35 0
		35

Benefact Trust Grant Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts Payments Net receipts for the year Benefact Trust Fund at 1 January Benefact Trust Fund at 31 December	2023 £ 1,750 (1,750) 0 0 0	2022 £ 0 0
		0 0
		0

The grant was received for, and spent on, replacement windows for the Fellowship Room.

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December 2023

Assets Note Cash and bank balances BUC 7 Day Notice Account Cambridge and Counties Bank Deposit Account CAF Bank Current Account Santander Current Account Cash Total	2023 £ 73,385 23,800 10,250 7,270 4 114,709	2022 £ 21,744 43,018 26,990 30,651 2
		122,405

*Representing balances in these funds:*
General Fund	68,616	60,246
Next Steps Building Fund	32,710	52,264
Home Mission Fund	0	0
BMS Fund	56	31
Minister in Training Support Fund	0	50
Youth Worker Fund	6,655	4,105
Emergency Support Fund	1,854	1,854
Music Group Training Fund	2,216	2,216
Other Charities Fund	641	484
Little Fishes Fund	875	374
Ladies Fellowship Fund	566	360
Friday Fellas Fund	324	386
Beacon Café Fund	196	35
*Total*	*114,709*	*122,405*
Assets held for church’s own use 9 Liabilities BUC Corporation Loan 8 BU Pension scheme 10 Creditor for equipment	3,740,633 214,683 0 0	3,376,817 268,139 0 4,344

The Receipts and Payments Accounts and Statements of Assets and Liabilities set out on pages 6 to 11, together with the Notes to the Accounts on pages 12 to 14 were approved by the Deacons on 13[th] February 2024.

Signed

Deacon for Finance

Bluntisham Baptist Church

Notes to the Accounts

1. Basis of preparation of the accounts

These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.

2. Donations and other income Donations Funeral and memorial fees Other income Fellowship event	2023 £ 5,714 195 154 0 6,063	2022 £ 5,455 0 79 438
		5,972

3. Ministry Minister’s stipend and national insurance Pension contributions Manse costs Visiting preachers Minister’s travel expenses Resources Ministers’ conference	2023 £ 22,709 4,989 3,867 1,417 778 542 50 34,352	2022 £ 28,007 9,131 4,971 542 1,380 1,696 160
		45,887

The Minister acts as one of the church trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by the church.

4. Mission Home Mission Fellowship and community events Holiday Bible Club Alpha course Youth work Sunday school Home groups	2023 £ 3,407 751 692 192 397 345 176 5,960	2022 £ 3,467 1,174 0 566 472 252 77
		6,008

Bluntisham Baptist Church

5. Upkeep of church premises Gas and electric Repairs and maintenance Insurance Cleaner Telephone Equipment Water rates 6. Administration Administrator Subscriptions Licences Publicity Printing and stationery Miscellaneous Training courses Website Bank charges Independent examination 7. Grants Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme 8. Loan from Baptist Union Corporation Balance at 1 January Drawdown Repayments Interest Balance at 31 December	2023 £ 8,082 3,615 3,462 2,130 782 452 415 18,938 2023 £ 7,833 967 923 554 501 356 340 205 187 0 11,866 2023 £ 1,335 1,335 2023 £ 268,139 0 (70,699) 17,243 214,683	2022 £ 2,665 2,654 3,205 1,540 853 2,312 353
		13,582
		2022 £ 7,326 743 855 1,680 582 901 617 193 155 540
		13,592
		2022 £ 37,920
		37,920
		2022 £ 189,145 100,141 (32,667) 11,520
		268,139

The loan was initially granted for a term of 12 years and is repayable in monthly instalments. The final instalment is due in May 2033. The loan is subject to a variable interest rate which ranged from 6.5% to 7.75% during the year.

The loan is secured on the Church’s property and assets.

Bluntisham Baptist Church

9. Assets held for the church’s own use

The church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held by the church’s custodian trustee (the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd):

Church and hall premises (High Street, Bluntisham PE28 3LD) which have an insurance value of £3,028,747.
Church manse (5 High Street, Bluntisham, PE28 3LD) which has an insurance value of £557,551.
A burial ground for which no meaningful value is available.

The church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment with an insured value of £154,335.

10. Pension scheme liabilities

The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.

The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund, started in 1925, but was closed to future accrual of defined benefits on 31 December 2011. Prior to this date the main benefit provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan was a pension of one eightieth of final minimum pensionable income for each year of pensionable service together with additional pension in respect of premiums paid on Pensionable Income in excess of Minimum Pensionable Income. Since 1 January 2012, benefits have been provided through a Defined Contribution (DC) Plan.

A formal valuation of the DB Plan as at 31 December 2019 by a professionally qualified Actuary using the Projected Unit Method. At the valuation date the market value of the DB Plan assets was £298 million, whilst the level of assets needed to pay benefits was £316m, giving a deficit of £18m (equivalent to a past service funding level of 94%). The Church and the other participating employers in the DB Plan are collectively responsible for funding this deficit. The next actuarial valuation of the DB Plan within the Scheme was due to take place not later than as at 31 December 2022.

On 30th June 2022 the Baptist Pension Scheme signed an agreement with the insurance company Just Group (“Just”) to secure DB Plan members’ pension benefits. “Just” are now providing financial backing for all pensions provided through the Scheme’s DB Plan and following this transaction, the Scheme no longer has a shortfall. An updated Recovery plan was then signed in August 2022 under which recovery contributions from each participating employer in the DB Plan reduced to £1 per month from August 2022.