## **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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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**|
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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**|
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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**|
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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**|
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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.
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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
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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**|
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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.
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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.
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