## Muswell Hill Baptist Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31st March 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **MUSWELL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE|ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE|Dukes Avenue|
|---|---|---|
|||Muswell Hill|
|||London|
|||N10 2PT|
|GOVERNING DOCUMENT||Constitution adopted 15th July 2009|
|CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER||1136971|
|TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE|FOR||
|MANAGING THE CHARITY||The Reverend Alexander John Roberts (resigned 31/07/2024)|
|||David Slater|
|||Rosemary Pettman (Church Secretary from 30/11/2023)|
|||Jonathan Ashley-Norman|
|||John Grant (resigned 30/11/2023)|
|||Lynda Roderique (appointed 01/12/2023)|
|CUSTODIAN TRUSTEES||London Baptist Property Board Ltd.|
|BANKERS||Barclays Bank plc|
|||COIF Charities Deposit Fund|
|||National Savings and Investments|
|||London Baptist Property Bond|
|INDEPENDENT EXAMINER||Lisa Darby FCA|
|||Stewardship|
|||1 Lamb's Passage|
|||LONDON|
|||EC1Y 8AB|
|||**INDEX**|
|Page 1|Legal & Administrative Details||
|Pages 2 - 4|Trustees' Report||
|Page 5|Independent Examiner's Report||
|Page 6|Receipts|and Payments Account|
|Page 7|Statement of Assets & Liabilities||
|Pages 8 - 9|Notes to the Accounts||
Page 1
## **MUSWELL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Objects of the charity**
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution. 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.
## **Vision**
In order to achieve our Purpose more effectively the Church continued its vision focused on **inviting** This is encapsulated in the strap line _**Inviting a Great City to a Great Saviour**_ **.**
## **Aims**
We will seek to develop:
- Invitational People
- Invitational Programmes
- Invitational Premises
- Invitational Partnerships
## **Values**
- We will PRAY and seek the working of the Spirit of God
- We will be COMMITTED to one another in fellowship and in the vision
- We will disciple through PREACHING, TEACHING and WORSHIP
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
To further the above objects and vision, the Church engages in a range of activities, either on its own or with others, that vary from time to time with activities being initiated, expanded, or closed, as appropriate.
The Activities may include but are not restricted to:
- Regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching the Word of God;
- Baptism, as described in the Statement of Faith and the Communion of the Lord’s Supper;
- Evangelism and mission, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally;
- Teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of children and young people in a safe environment;
- Nurturing the 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;
- Developing relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians.
Page 2
## **Invitational People**
We were delighted to be able to invite people to events as the pandemic moved into the background. People were encouraged to use invitations to bring people to various events in our programme. Large numbers now attend our Carers and Toddlers weekly event and our monthly Fellowship Lunches with a devotional meeting (aimed at older people). We distributed hundreds of invitations to our key Sunday – Easter, Harvest and Christmas. Collectively we welcomed again school events which led to the Chapel being full several times over the Christmas and end-of-school year periods with hundreds of local families in total.
The church continued to support members and friends working in Christian ministries of various kinds in Europe, Africa and among Turkish and East Asian peoples in the United Kingdom. One of our members is a Full-Time Free Church Chaplain in the British Army. Another works in a nearby Church teaching English to refugees and asylum seekers.
## **Invitational Programmes**
We held a well-attended Quiz Night, Men’s Curry Nights and Summer Picnics and walks arranged. A new venture was a visit to The National Gallery with an excellent Guide, Ken Brownell, from Christian Heritage London.
The Muswell Hill Soup Kitchen under its Director our member Martin Stone continued to develop the use of the van (generously donated by the community in 2020). For some these deliveries of hot meals are their only outside contact apart from medical visits. The Soup Kitchen meets two days a week on our premises too.
The Church’s online presence continued to offer access to our ministry for people who cannot attend the buildings and was accessed both locally and from much farther afield.
## **Invitational Premises**
We opened our premises as part of the Open House Festival event in London, enabling people to access the building without coming to an event or worship service. This was highly successful and much appreciated.
The Premises underwent a major internal painting during the summer, which also incluses plasterwork repair.
Gospel Outreach Ministry [GOM] (an offshoot of the New Testament Church of God of Prophecy) continued to meet at our premises.
## **Invitational Partnerships**
People were invited to fill Christmas Shoeboxes for the Samaritan’s Purse charity project Operation Christmas Child. We operated as a Collection Centre for our part of North London. Nationally and across London our partnerships with the Evangelical Alliance, the London Baptist Association and the Baptist Union of Great Britain helped to resource another year.
We continued to host the popular Rainbow Preschool and the Fortis Green Kids Club (afterschool provision) plus the concerts for local schools. These raise the profile of our Church in the Community.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Financial review**
The Trustees were able to navigate the sudden standing down (due to external factors) of John Grant as Secretary and Treasurer and administrate the Charity throughout.
During the year income decreased by £3,438 to £201,449, and expenditure increased by £61,344, to £221,276. As a result the cash held by the charity decreased by £19,826 to £250,924, of which £243,020 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Page 3
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £80,000 (which equates to about 5 months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £243,020 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
## **Governance**
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointed by nomination by church members.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## R E Pettman
R E Pettman (Jan 27, 2025 09:23 GMT)
___________________________ Rosemary Pettman Jan 27, 2025 Date:_______________________
Page 4
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **MUSWELL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Muswell Hill Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024 on pages 6 to 9 following.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Lisa Darby Lisa Darby (Jan 27, 2025 10:22 GMT)
Lisa Darby FCA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jan 27, 2025
Page 5
## **MUSWELL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|||||Unrestricted|Funds|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||General|Designated||Restricted|||
|||||Funds||Funds|Funds|2024|2023|
||||Notes|£||£|£|£|£|
|**_Income receipts_**||||||||||
|Donations and legacies||||60,933||-|13,105|74,038
|83,417
|
|Gift aid receipts||||9,863||-|1,439|11,302
|10,138
|
|Income from letting of facilities||||104,141||-|-|104,141
|82,961
|
|Income from Charitable Activities||||253||-|-|253
|23,837
|
|Bank Interest||||11,715||-|-|11,715
|4,534
|
|**_Total receipts_**||||186,906||-|14,544|201,449
|204,887
|
|**_Payments_**||||||||||
|Payments
in
relation
to
activities undertaken directly||charitable|2|182,940||-|25,762|208,702|147,614|
|Grants
paid
in
relation
to
activities undertaken by others||charitable|3|11,824||-|750|12,574|12,318|
|**_Total payments_**||||194,763||-|26,512|221,276|159,932|
|Net of receipts / (payments) before||||(7,858)||-|(11,969)|(19,826)|44,955|
|Transfers between funds|||5|(18,224)
||-
|18,224|-|-|
|**Net movement in funds**||||(26,082)
||-
|6,255|(19,826)|44,955|
|Cash funds as at last year|end|||269,102
||-
|1,648|270,750
|225,795
|
|**Cash funds at this year end**|||A|243,020
||-
|7,904|250,924
|270,750
|
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **MUSWELL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|Notes
**A Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Deposit accounts
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
Other debtors
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
**Total**|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
16,012
-
227,008
-
**243,020**
**-**
4,546
-
8,210
-
**12,756**
**-**
1,920
-
6,020
-
**7,940**
**-**
7,940
-
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
7,904
-
**7,904**
-
-
**-**
-
-
**-**
-|2024
£
23,915
227,008
**250,924**
4,546
8,210
**12,756**
1,920
6,020
**7,940**
7,940|2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||||15,426
255,324|
|||||**270,750**|
|||||4,959
-|
|||||**4,959**|
|||||750
-
|
|||||**750**|
|||||750|
## **D Assets retained for charity's own use**
|Church Buildings, Dukes Ave., London N10 2PT
2 Dukes Ave (currently 3 flats)
Manse at 71 Grasmere Road
Contents of church (including organ)|Fund to
which asset
belongs|Cost
£
-
-
-
-
-|Insurance
value
£|
|---|---|---|---|
||||241,877
8,695,000|
||||8,936,877|
The trustees have used insurance values from November 2024 as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## R E Pettman
R E Pettman (Jan 27, 2025 09:23 GMT) ___________________________________Rosemary Pettman Jan 27, 2025 Date:_______________________
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
## **MUSWELL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
|**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (see note 4)
Ministry expenses
Maintenance of buildings & equipment
Utilities
Insurance
Accountancy and Independent examination
Office costs
Subscriptions
Bank Charges
Other costs (prior year operational costs)
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Grants for:
Winchester Vineyard
UK Mission
Baptist Union Home Mission
UK Mission
OMF International
Overseas Mission
Other small grants to organisations <£1,000||Unrestrict|Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ed Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
-
25,762
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25,762
-
-
-
750
750|Total
2024
£
40,047
30,419
104,103
19,917
5,810
5,108
1,524
1,547
227
-
208,702
3,621
3,621
2,655
2,676
12,574|Total
2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||38,941
8,728
59,246
-
-
-
8,683
-
-
32,016|
|||||||147,614|
|||||||4,106
4,106
4,106
-|
|||||||12,318
|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
Rev. Alexander John Roberts served as church leader and was paid £34,200 salary and pension contributions of £5,835 (2023: £31,848 salary and £4,635 pension contributions) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
In addition the charity incurred expenditure totalling £7,216 (2023: £6,718) in respect of the provision of accommodation (which is customary for ministers) to Rev. Alexander John Roberts, who is a trustee so that they could better perform their duties.
Kangas Creative a business owned by trustee Dave Slater was paid £7,000 towards the costs of a new sound system installation for the Sanctuary and other parts of the church building. This work was completed in October 2024.
Page 8
## **MUSWELL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **5 Movement of funds**
|**vement of funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|General funds
Tuesday Fellowship
Soup Kitchen and van ministry
Junior Church
DOT
Other
Total funds|Opening
balance
£
269,102
2,457
(3,213)
856
1,407
140
1,648
270,750|Receipts
£
186,906
494
11,625
-
1,700
725
14,544
201,449|Payments
£
(194,763)
(674)
(24,637)
0
(452)
(750)
(26,512)
(221,276)|Transfers
£
(18,224)
2,000
16,224
-
-
-
18,224
-|Closing
balance
£
243,020
4,277
-
856
2,655
115|
||||||7,904|
||||||250,924|
During the year, the trustees identifed that £2,000 from a prior year legacy was restricted for use for the Tuesday Fellowship group. A transfer has been made from the General Fund to the restricted Tuesday Fellowship Fund to reflect this in 2023/2024.
During the year the General Fund transferred £16,224 funds to the Soup Kitchen and van ministry fund to cover expenses incurred. The Tuesday Fellowship Fund is restricted for use by the Tuesday Fellowship group
The Soup Kitchen and Van Ministry Fund is for our Community Kitchen free meals ministry The Junior Church Fund is restricted for Children’s work
The DOT Fund is restricted for the Toddler Group Ministry
The Other Fund is for small amounts of restricted funds received for specific items
Page 9
## Muswell Hill Baptist Church 2024 Accounts - FINAL FOR SIGNING
Final Audit Report
2025-01-27
Created: 2025-01-20 By: Claire Lee (claire.lee@stewardship.org.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAvG9WTy0zcMXsvTI9cpDCCRpfE8t7YxYh
## "Muswell Hill Baptist Church 2024 Accounts - FINAL FOR SIGNI NG" History
- Document created by Claire Lee (claire.lee@stewardship.org.uk)
2025-01-20 - 13:07:07 GMT
- Document emailed to repettman@gmail.com for signature
2025-01-20 - 13:09:20 GMT
- Email viewed by repettman@gmail.com
2025-01-24 - 09:11:51 GMT
- Signer repettman@gmail.com entered name at signing as R E Pettman
2025-01-27 - 09:23:32 GMT
- Document e-signed by R E Pettman (repettman@gmail.com)
Signature Date: 2025-01-27 - 09:23:34 GMT - Time Source: server
- Document emailed to Lisa Darby (lisa.darby@stewardship.org.uk) for signature
2025-01-27 - 09:23:36 GMT
- Email viewed by Lisa Darby (lisa.darby@stewardship.org.uk)
2025-01-27 - 10:21:54 GMT
- Document e-signed by Lisa Darby (lisa.darby@stewardship.org.uk)
Signature Date: 2025-01-27 - 10:22:30 GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2025-01-27 - 10:22:30 GMT