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2023-08-31-accounts

TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Annual Report and Financial Statements to 31st August 2023

Living as whole life disciples

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2023

Contents

Foreword – by Bev Smith_(Church Secretary)_ 3
Reference and Administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers 4
Charity Status 4
Managing Trustees 4
Principal Advisers 4
Structure Governance and Management 4
Organisational Structure 4-5
Custodian Trustee 5
Relationship between charity and related parties 5
Objects of the charity 6
Charity’s aims 6
Charity’s main objectives for the year 5-6
Details of significant activities 6
Membership and fellowship news 6
Reports from groups, organisations, activities, and events 7 -10
Financial review 11 -15
Independent Examiners Report 15-16
Thanks 16

The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] August 2023

The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (revised 2005).

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Foreword by Bev Smith – Church Secretary

At the Church meeting in July, Pastor David explained his reasons for leaving Tamworth, having accepted a Secondment with the Methodist Church in Stafford, he and Kathie will be moving out of the Manse Mid-September. The church will then enter another period of vacancy and all the challenges that this will bring.

Pastor David and Kathie were much loved within the church, and we will be sad to see them moving on so soon. We have valued the care and love they have shown us, especially as we have suffered the loss of dear friends and family members during the year.

The church has been steadily getting back on track following the difficulties which affected us all during the Coronavirus crises. When activities resumed following the various lockdowns, things seemed slow to build up again but thankfully we are now seeing much higher numbers in services and mid-week activities. Pastor David during his pastorate, commenced midweek services in several care homes and a small group of volunteers hope to continue these.

The Deacons will be holding an Away Day in October to look at the arrangements for the vacancy, including drawing up a preaching plan and seeking to ensure that the steady growth in all areas of church life continues.

Plans for a regular hot meal for those in need in the community are in hand and it is hoped these will start in the autumn. It was good to hold the ladies’ lunch again and it is hoped this will return as a regular feature. We are also looking at the possibility of holding mid-week ‘Bloc’ Church for youngsters.

We are grateful that we have an experienced and hard-working group of Deacons to help us through this next period and are encouraged by those friends of the church who have already agreed to preach for us on a regular basis.

We look forward to what God has in store for us in the coming year and give thanks for the many blessings that we have had during 2023.

We are grateful for the prayers of all our friends and members of the fellowship and as we look to 2024, we have chosen a text that will keep us focused on the God who can do all things – to Him be the glory. Amen.

Our Text for 2024

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory.

Ephesians 3:20-21a (NIV UK)

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2023

Reference and Administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers

Charity Status

Tamworth Baptist Church (Derwent, Belgrave, Tamworth B77 2LD) is a registered Charity, No. 1138677. The Heart of England Baptist (Trust) Association Ltd takes responsibility as custodian trustee for the church buildings and properties.

Managing Trustees

The Church is administered by the Diaconate, who are the managing Trustees of the Charity, comprising: -

Minister: Rev David Middleton Secretary Mrs. Bev Smith

Administrato r Trevor Glover (resigned during the year)

Treasurer Vacancy Deacons

Mrs. Esther Ford Mrs. Ruth Haywood Mr. Martin Horner Mrs. Susan Silcock Mrs. Rachel Sage Mrs. Esme Tickle (died in office) Mr. David Thompson Mrs. Catherine Vernon

Principal Advisers

Bankers

The Co-operative Bank PO Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP

Solicitors

DWF LLP One Snowhill Snow Hill Queensway Birmingham B4 6GA

Independent Examiners

Mr. Peter Birrell Mrs. Rachel Durbridge. Mr. Bill Smith (for the church groups)

Structure Governance and Management

Governing Document

The church’s governing document is a Trust Deed dated 9[th] July 1872, which sets out the objects of the charity. The Constitution dated 30[th] September 2010 governs the day to day running of the charity.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The minister and Deacons are the Managing Trustees appointed by the church meeting. Up to 12 Deacons are chosen from among existing church members who show the reality of their faith by the consistency of the Christian character and by their loyalty to the cause of Christ. Annual Elections are held at the Church Annual General meeting by ballot; deacons are elected to serve three years and can re-stand for election at the end of each term. Nominees must secure a vote of at least 50% of those present and eligible to vote. A Church Secretary and Church Treasurer will be appointed by the church from among the elected deacons and following a change in 2017 these officers will now serve three-year terms.

Induction and Training of Trustees

A number of Deacons have undertaken Level 2 and level 3 Safeguarding training during this year. In addition, Bev Smith has undertaken Designated Safeguard Lead training. It is possible that there will be new Trustees appointed at the AGM. Any new Trustees will receive an induction to the role and formal training during the year.

Organisational Structure

The Church is governed and regulated by its own members where all aspects of the work of the Church are subject to the approval of the Church Meeting, which is normally held bimonthly. The Minister of the Church is a paid Managing Trustee and with the Deacons gives leadership to the Church. The Deacons assist the Minister in his role and are also responsible for preparing the business for the Church Meeting.

The church is part of the wider Baptist Family and a member church of the Heart of England

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Baptist Association (HEBA) and of the national body, The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB). Both organisations are registered charities. The Church pays annual subscription to BUGB based upon its membership numbers and also donates to BUGB (Home Mission Fund) for the Baptist family in the UK.

Custodian Trustee

As referred to on page 4, the custodian trustee for the Church is the Heart of England Baptist Association. The Trust company holds the title of the following properties: -

Tamworth Baptist Church, Derwent, Belgrave, Tamworth, B77 2LD

The Manse, 32 Stephenson Close, Glascote Heath, Tamworth, B77 2DQ.

Relationships between the Charity and Related Parties

The church is an active member of Tamworth Christian Churches (TCC), an ecumenical partnership of churches in the Tamworth area. The church supports financially and in prayer the work of The Baptist Missionary Society (Charity Number 233782 ) and seeks to maintain a link with a missionary working abroad to give encouragement and support to the work. The Church is currently linked with David and Michele Mahon, who are serving with BMS in Peru.

During the year, the church has given financial support to the Baptist Union Home Mission Fund . The church is a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (Charity Number 1072038).

Working in collaboration with Creative Choices CIC and Community Together CIC , the church hosts a twice monthly meeting for Adults with learning difficulties, their carers, family and friends.

The Church is a member of ‘ thirtyone:eight ,’ a Safeguarding charity, which provides training, advice, and support. ( Charity No: 1004490 ).

Objects of the Charity

The Church Meeting has agreed the following aims:

This service will be focused on

To serve the needs of Baptists who live in and around Tamworth.

Our vision is that we will be a church of “wholelife disciples” who seek to live as fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.

Charity’s main objectives for the Year.

During the year, the Pastor introduced midweek services in three care homes, which have been well received. Evening services for reflection have commenced. Places of Welcome has become established on Monday Mornings. Tamworth Ties, a collaboration with other organisations concerned with providing activities for adults with learning difficulties, has begun, meeting twice a month. Brigade Sunday has become established and moved to bi-monthly alternating with a bi-monthly all-age service.

Details of Significant Activities

The building has had some refurbishment and particularly the car park which was resurfaced. Investigations into cracks that have appeared in various places in the building have been undertaken, including monitoring to see if further movement can be detected. The church held a Christmas Fayre and a Summer Fete to raise money for worthy causes. Following a couple of services in the autumn, cakes and hot chocolate were sold to raise funds for Guy’s Gift, a charity supporting bereaved children

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

and young people, and Cancer Research. A focus on social media has helped to raise the profile of the church.

The Brigades have had successful recruitment campaigns and numbers in both companies are growing. Saplings has remained popular, and plans are being considered to develop a playgroup for preschool age.

Special services It is good to report that we were able to celebrate Christmas with special services, including Christingle service, led by Pastor David and Kathy. This was a popular and well-attended event. A Christmas Eve Communion, and Christmas Day service were led by Pastor David, who also led services at Easter, on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. The Harvest festival donated to the local foodbank.

Fabric – It has been a busy year for the Fabric Team, our thanks to Ron, Cath, and David for all their work. The car park has been resurfaced and the entrance widened. This required planning permission and working with the doctor’s surgery, but all the challenging work has resulted in a very pleasing finish which we trust will last many years. The team have been consulting experts and have undertaken investigations into cracks that have appeared in various parts of the building to ensure there is not a serious underlying cause. These are ongoing. Water ingress into the building was traced to blocked gulley’s on the roof, a tree in the nearby Doctor’s surgery was shedding leaves and blossoms which caused the problem. Talks with the Doctor has led to an agreement for the tree to be removed.

Thanks - Thanks for your prayers, financial support and service carried out on our behalf throughout the past year. We look forward to all God has in store for us in the days that lie ahead.

Membership

Membership at the end of August was 62. Sue and Leigh Bilson and Robert Calvert resigned their membership during the year. We welcomed Maureen Harris into membership following her Baptism in November.

Fellowship news

We are sad to report the deaths of Esme Tickle (Deacon), Win Bell, Kerry Pitt, and Coleen Williams, as well as friends of the fellowship, Molly Smith, Hazel Taylor (Joy Dean’s mum) and Olga Ibadulla. All are sadly missed and your prayers for their families would be appreciated.

During the year Renee Goulborn moved to Hereford to be closer to her family.

We congratulated James and Nic Tickle (Parents), Dave Tickle (Granddad), and Aunty Rachel, Uncle John, on the safe arrival of baby Grace Willow, a sister for Lola. Also congratulations to Harry and Sophie, (parents), Michele and Kevin Poultney, (grandparents), and family on the safe arrival of their twin baby girls, Clio and Rosie.

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Bev Smith
Church Secretary
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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Reports from Groups, Organisations and Events

Worship Group report 2023

During the past year we have continued to use iSing during our morning services. Martin has recently started to play some live music at the evening service which we hope will continue to develop. We are very grateful to Bev for extending the iSing library and for creating our very own TBC songbook. It’s great that we have a wide range of songs, from traditional to modern, and everything in between, to choose from each week. Thank you all for your continued understanding and support whilst I’m not in a place where I can stand at the front to lead our sung worship. We do hope to return to live music in the future but currently do not have a pianist or guitarist to lead the worship group. We continue to place sung worship and music at the heart of our Sunday services albeit in a slightly different format to the one we’re used to.

Rachel

Sunday School

We have continued to use Scripture Union 8- 11 materials. During the summer, we used a SU holiday club series called The Restoration Station. We have about ten regular children and young people.

After the summer, we decided to start a young people’s Bible study group.

We now have a crèche group called Sparklers led by Esther and we read a Bible story each week for a month accompanied by a suitable activity such as finding The Lost Coin.

For our children in Y4-Y7, we have a group called X Stream using SU materials. The focus is always on having fun while talking about our experiences of God and finding out more about him by reading the Bible.

The Bible study group for Y8-Y13 is called The Grid and is being led by Ruth using Baptist Union Satellite materials. We have created a new space for the group and the Youth Lounge can be used for other groups too. We are hoping to go to a Birmingham City Mission Youth Event called Fulfil on 17[th] November and another in June.

*

Craft Group

The craft group is doing very well It's open to everyone who would like to join us, and they would be more than welcome. We meet on Tuesday morning 9.30am till 11.30am. We have coffee or tea, biscuits, and some weeks cake mostly when it's someone's Birthday! There are a range of ladies that do all types of craft and are willing to help anyone that comes along. There is no pressure if you only want to chat then that's fine to!

with God's love Sylvia Farrell

Places of Welcome

Places of welcome meets every Monday morning 10-12. We serve plenty of hot drinks and cakes. Everyone is welcome to join us, and it would be lovely to see some

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

new faces. We enjoy chatting, we have a lot of fun, especially when there is a quiz to join in with. We have enjoyed Christmas crafts and helping prepare for the Christmas fayre.

Fran

*

Saplings

Saplings is a place where people bring their children to stay and play. We are still seeing new faces. We have had up to 30 children some weeks. All seem to enjoy everything that we offer. Most of the adults are childminders. We counted that we only have 4 mums, the others are grandparents and childminders.

During the morning children play and share together. We do singing, and our famous snacks. Soon to be a slightly changed menu.

Our staffing has grown, and our thanks go to Louise Bown, Irene Thompson, Ruth Haywood, Win Wedgbrow, Beth, Yasmin, and Cristy Silcock- without them we could not have kept going. Win has had to take a little time out. She is a big part of our setting up for the session meaning she sets nearly all of it up before we get there. Please pray for her and for us all as we continue this ministry.

2[nd] Tamworth Girls’ Brigade. 2023

We are truly praising God for the way He has brought new girls to us. We now have three sections within the companyExplorers (6 girls), Juniors (8 girls) and Seniors (8 girls) – such a great number of girls. We held an awards evening in July where we invited grandparents, parents, friends, and family. It was great that Pastor David and Kathie joined us. It was so well attended, and David spoke well to the parents and friends of the girls. It was a really good awards night. The girls in all sections shone.

Our evening starts with inspection where most girls have obtained full uniform. Some kind people in our church have donated money so the girls can have uniform (grateful thanks go to those people). Then we do badge work, play games and we gather together at the end of the evening for devotions. We have a wonderful group of girls who all get on well together.

We are trying to encourage the girls to take part in the brigade services and it’s always good to see them and their parents in church. We had a sleepover on a Saturday night to encourage the girls to come to services. We have a good relationship with the parents of the girls, and it’s been great to have a Facebook page to show some of the fun evenings that we have together.

We had a stall at the summer fayre and made £50 towards GB funds.

Thanks go to all our staff that work so hard each week- Lynda, Debbie, Becky, and Vici.

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

The Boys’ Brigade – Annual Report 2023

When we started our last session, our numbers were low across all sections. We started meeting but made enquiries about leading an assembly at Hanburys Farm Primary School to make the children aware of the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade. Our thanks go to Ron (and Vici from GB) for leading this work. The assembly was well received, and we had several enquiries from people who were interested, as well as several who came along to try BB. Not everyone has stayed, but we have been really pleased that our numbers have increased in all sections.

With the increase in numbers, we have been able to offer more variety in the activities, which in turn has helped to increase the enjoyment the boys get each week. As a result, our numbers have been consistent with everyone attending almost every week.

Through the session the boys took part in a series of challenge activities that were arranged by the battalion. These presented a range of challenges, and all of the boys willingly took part. We also took part in the Christmas ten-pin bowling and the sports day in June which were great opportunities to meet and compete with other members of the battalion. When all of the events were complete, we ended as overall runners up in all sections – well done boys. We also had a terrific day out at RAF Cosford to celebrate 20 years since the formation of the Mid Staffs and Sandwell

Battalion. This was a brilliant day, and we are grateful to the battalion for organizing the event which included two special experiences for each of the boys.

Throughout the session the boys completed badgework activities, and we presented them with their badges at our awards night on 24 June. It was great to meet with the boys and their parents on this special evening. We were pleased to welcome Ian and Jane Collett, from the 5[th] West Bromwich Company (Ian is also a Battalion Honorary Vice President), to the evening where they joined us in a quiz and then presented the boys with their badges, including a Queen’s Badge to Daniel Bushell. Congratulations Daniel.

It has also been a pleasure to share some of the work we do at BB during the Brigade Services. These services have been well supported by the boys and we have also been really pleased to see the number of parents who come along as well. Thank you for the support you give to these services.

At our Christmas party we said goodbye to Michele Poultney as she retired from work within the BB. Then in January we shared in the sad news of the passing of Esme Tickle. Both were leaders in the company for over 15 years and will be missed.

As always, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff for their hard work throughout the session, and in particular, the way they have engaged with the boys, particularly those who have joined this session, that has enabled us to provide activities for the boys to enjoy and maintain our numbers.

Mark Vernon Captain

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Lakeside Housegroup 2023

Lakeside House Group has only recently restarted after the summer. We are in touch each day with those who want to receive a reflective song and, once a week, a short talk online. We have been following a wellbeing course which has been based on a Psalm recently. We pray for each other and others in our fellowship each day.

Love Sue Silcock

Monday Housegroup

This is a small group of older people who meet to share prayer time and bible study together. Our numbers fluctuate from week to week, but our discussions are interesting and thought provoking. We welcomed Margaret to our group this year and she has been a very welcome addition. We have spent time studying and debating the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and more recently we have been looking at the twelve disciples. Our meetings always start with a time of sharing and prayer which we all find very valuable. It is a privilege to pray for each other and to share, in confidence, the things that trouble us and those things for which we are thankful.

We enjoyed a lovely Christmas meal together and were pleased that David and Kathie were able to join us. Kathie has been a great asset to the group, and we will miss her. We wish them both God’s richest blessings as they begin a new phase in their walk with Him.

We look forward to a new year of adventures with God through His word. Anyone wishing to join us would be more than welcome at 2.30pm in the church.

God Bless Cath

Melford Housegroup

We meet to pray and study God’s word on Tuesdays at 8pm. We start with a prayer time for those in need in our church family and for the wider community and for international situations. We then use a study guide to help us understand aspects of God’s word. We completed a study based on the twelve disciples and we are now over halfway through a study entitled Listening to God where we have learned much about how God’s people heard his voice in the Old Testament and how Jesus spoke to many during his time on earth.

Irene Thompson *

Tamworth Ties

Working in collaboration with Creative Choices CIC and Community Together CIC. Tamworth Ties is a group for people with learning disabilities their carers, family and friends meet at Tamworth Baptist Church 1- 3pm twice a month.

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2023

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Tamworth Baptist Church CHARITY 1138677

Statement of Financial Activities to 31 August 2023

Note Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Prior Year
Incoming Resources
Voluntary Income 2 48780 1184 4971 54935 77492
Investment Income 3 3945 3945 4762
Other Incoming Resources 4 7618 7618 69
Total Income 60343 1184 4971 66498 82323
Resources Used
Ministry 5 34728 34728 36103
Mission 6 6518 296 4253 11067 15502
Premises 7 39720 39720 26129
Administration 8 10621 10621 11498
Total Expenditure 91587 296 4253 96136 89232
Net income (expenditure) -31244 888 718 -29638 -6910
Transfers between funds 633 -633
Net movement in funds -30611 255 718 -29638 -6910
Total funds September 1 2022 137287 776 1442923 1580986 1587895
Total funds August 31 2023 106676 1031 1443641 1551348 1580985
Represented by
General Fund 12 106676 106676 137287
Designated Funds
Craft Group 14 13 13 54
Saplings 15 845 845 206
Puppets 119 119 119
Signs for Worship 53 53 53
Thursday Fellowship 343
Restricted Funds
Boys Brigade 16 5830 5830 4810
Girls Brigade 17 811 811 1113
Church Property 10 1235000 1235000 1235000
Manse Properties 10 177000 177000 177000
Other Fixed Assets 25000 25000 25000

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

NOTE 1

These accounts are presented on a Receipts & Payments basis as permitted under Charities Act 2011 s.133

NOTE 2 Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Prior Year
Offerings 39605 39605 44509
Gift Aid 9175 9175 9693
Legacies 20000
CAP Client Discretionary 50
Church Groups Income 1184 4971 6155 3240
48780 1184 4971 54935 77492
NOTE 3
Bank Interest 178 178 21
HEBA Interest 1135 1135 407
Baptists Together Interest 792 792
Rent Received 1840 1840 264
Vaccine Centre Rental Income 270
Manse Rental Income 3800
3945 3945 4762
NOTE 4
Personal Purchases reimbursed 172 172 64
Funeral Fees 640 640
Fund Raising Events 563 563
Tri Links car park contribution 6127 6127
Other Income 116 116 5
7618 7618 69
NOTE 5
Ministers Stipend 25827 25827 13888
Ministry Expenses 1230 1230 960
Pension Costs 3295 3295 5242
Manse Costs 4316 4316 14350
Preaching Fees 60 60 852
Ministerial Candidate Expenses 104
Manse Rental Expenditure 707
34728 34728 36103
NOTE 6
BUGB Home Mission 2700 2700 5160
BMS World Mission 2700 2700 5160
BMS World Mission Mahons 400 400
Birmingham City Mission 300 300
Guy's Gift 50 50
Sunday School 268 268 50
CAP Tamworth 964
CAP Bradford 100 100 1520

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Church Groups Expenditure 296 4253 4549 2582
6518 296 4253 11067 15436
NOTE 7
Electricity 1384 1384 928
Gas 4279 4279 1776
Water Rates 229 229 200
Cleaners 3978 3978 3433
Cleaning Materials 179 179 146
Church Insurance 2228 2228 2078
Other Premises costs (see below) 27443 27443 17568
39720 39720 26129

Other Premises costs includes £20,424 for car park upgrade. Tri Links Medical Practice contributed 30% of cost see note 4.

NOTE 8
Stationery 260 260 198
Telephone costs 2298 2298 1932
Ink & other printing 291 291 214
Equipment purchased 2240 2240 0
Administrator 1617 1617 5407
Other Admin costs (see Note 9) 3915 3915 3747
10621 10621 11498
NOTE 9
Computer Software & Website 1025 1025 1035
Copyright Licence 263 263 252
BU Subscription 323 323 317
Other Subscriptions 180 180 164
Training costs 173 173
Conference Fees (not minister) 205 205
HEBA Payroll Service Fees 315
Books & Leaflets 87
Tea & Coffee 445 445 178
Food Expenditure 110
Indemnity Insurance 336 336
Benevolent Fund 159 159 544
Music costs 452 452 270
Other items (all under £100) 354 354 475
3915 3915 3747

NOTE 10

The church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trust) of the property assets listed. The Custodian Trustee is Heart of England Baptist Association (charity no. 1080529). The value of the church property is the insurance value which were re-assessed in the year to 31 August 2017. The value of the manse is quoted as cost of purchase.

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

NOTE 11
STAFF COSTS
Salaries 25827 25827 21048
Pension costs 3295 3295 5242
29122 29122 26290
NOTE 12
General Fund
Balance 1 September 2022 137287
Deficit in the year -31244
Thursday Fellowship closed funds 343
Donation from Craft Group 290
106676
Funds currently held as follows
Co-operative Bank 4357
CAF Bank 4800
HEBA Funds 21910
Baptists Together Funds 75792
106859
Some of these funds are for
Puppets 119
Signs for Worship 53
Funds due to BMS 10
106676

NOTE 13

The Church is a participating employer in 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 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 is due to take place not later than as at 31 December 2022.

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Under the Scheme of Contributions, the church makes a monthly payment in respect of the DB scheme deficit, currently £308, which will increase in line with increases in Minimum Pensionable Income. The Schedule of Contributions foresees these contributions continuing until June 2026.

The Church has been advised that the estimated cost for the church to buyout their Pension Scheme liabilities at 31 August 2021 was £33,700.

NOTE 14 Craft Group
Income 308
Expenditure -58
Donation to church -290
Opening Balance 01/09/22 53
Closing Balance 31/08/23 13
NOTE 15 Saplings
Income 876
Expenditure -237
Opening Balance 01/09/22 206
Closing Balance 31/08/23 845
NOTE 16 Boys Brigade
Income 3657
Expenditure -2638
Opening Balance 01/09/22 4810
Closing Balance 31/08/23 5829
NOTE 17 Girls Brigade
Income 1314
Expenditure -1615
Opening Balance 01/09/22 1112
Closing Balance 31/08/23 811

*

Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts.

This is a report to the Trustees and members of Tamworth Baptist Church, Charity Number 1138677, on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2023, set out on the preceding pages 11-15.

The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’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 the examiner’s responsibility to:

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TAMWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity 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:

In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:

  1. Which gives us reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

  2. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act:

  3. To prepare accounts which accord with accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or

  4. To which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Peter Birrell Rachel Durbridge

Independent Examiners

*

Thanks

Thanks to Peter and Rachel for their assistance with the accounts and to the finance team, David Thompson (Bookkeeper and gift aid), Bill Smith (Receipts and banking), Sue Silcock (Purchasing and verification) and Bev Smith (Payments). Setting the budget for 2024 has been challenging given the much lower offerings post Covid and inflation. The budget was prepared prior to the news of Pastor David’s departure, so with lower costs and additional income from the rental of the manse, we may not need to draw on the reserves as anticipated. The church has good levels of reserves which we may need to call on if needed.

Finally thank you to everyone who has continued their financial support of the church and its activities. If you would like information on how you can give via the bank, gift aid your offering or have any questions about the church finances, please speak to Bev Smith or any of the Deacons.

Thanks to all who have served the church during the year, working week by week to provide activities, refreshments, preaching, leading, offering a warm welcome, the church is not church without your dedication, so thank you each and everyone. Special thanks to the hard-working Fabric Group who have continued to ensure the building is kept safe and well presented, with day-to-day maintenance as well as the resurfacing of the carpark, the investigation of the cracks and the removal of a tree – their expertise in these matters is a great blessing to us.

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