2020-12-31-accounts - Buckingham Chapel, Bristol

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BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 31 December 2020

Charity Number: 1140327

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Contents	Pages	Pages
Reference and Administrative Information		1
Trustees Annual Report	2	to 6
Report of the Independent Examiner		7
Receipts and Payment Account		8
Statement of Assets and Liabilities		9

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Status

The Church was created by Trust Deed on 18 December 1847 as an Independent Baptist Church.

Previously an excepted charity, the Church was first registered with the Charity Commission in 2011 under the Charity number 1140327.

Trustees

During the reporting year, there were 7 Trustees:

Pastor O Gross Dr S Benham (Treasurer) Mr A Collins Mr D W Collins Mr J Lewis Mr J Norris (Secretary) Mr J Martin

Principal Address

Buckingham Chapel, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1LQ

Independent Examiner

Neil Kingston, FCA Burton Sweet Chartered Accountants The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR

Bankers

Charities Aid Foundation CAF Bank Ltd Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Structure, Governance and Management

Organisation

Trustees meetings are normally held monthly and Church members meetings are normally held quarterly. Church members meeting is the decision making body for all aspects of financial expenditure and all appointments to positions of office in the Church. All organisational leaders are subject to the approval of a Church meeting. Anyone dealing with children in the Sunday School, Holiday Bible Club or Young People in the Youth Meeting are vetted to conform to our Child Protection Policy. The Church and its child protection policy are registered with the DBS (disclosure and barring service).

Ministry Team

Pastor Oliver Gross

Rev Adrian Carey-Jones works with Romanian Ministries and in Bristol leads our Romanian Gypsy children’s work and pastors a Romanian Fellowship.

Mr John Norris is the Sunday School Superintendent and Young People’s Group leader. Mrs Christine Lewis is leader of the Ladies meeting.

Catherine Ayers and Sandra Benham lead Tiger Tots Ministry.

Paul Ayers and Simon Benham lead the children’s Lighthouse group.

Church Membership

Anyone seeking membership must believe in the Church’s doctrinal statement and have been baptized by immersion professing repentance towards God and their life must bear evidence of the new birth. The membership at 31 December 2020 was 33, this included 4 associate members of 4. These 4 are missionaries who are active on the mission field; 2 in Peru, 1 in Asia and the other in Bristol.

Risk Assessment

The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to manage those risks. The regular review of the risk register is undertaken by the Trustees at their monthly meetings. This work is recognised as an on-going responsibility by the office bearers as managing Trustees.

Objectives and Activities

Mission

Buckingham Chapel exists for three purposes:

To worship our Almighty Redeemer God: to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light – (1 Peter 2:9)
To take the Good News of Salvation in and through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who do not believe – both locally and world-wide, in obedience to Christ’s command: - “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” – (Mark 16:15)
To nurture believers in their faith by means of the teaching of God’s Word, church discipline, pastoral care, exercise of the ordinances of Baptism and Communion, prayer and fellowship, in obedience of Christ’s command : “Go and make disciples of all nations,

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19:20).

Public Benefit

The trustees have complied with their legal duty of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

The Church is satisfied that it has met the public benefit test through:

The availability of the church to any member of the public to attend worship services on each and every Sunday during 2020 as well as other services each week.
The preaching of the word of God each week to the saving of souls.
The distribution of evangelistic literature in the neighbourhood during the year.
The provision of a number of community activities during term time including:
a. Sunday School
b. Young Adults Fellowship
c. Tiger Tots: carers and children playgroup
d. Lighthouse: for 9-12 year olds
e. Ladies meetings
f. Men’s breakfast meetings and
g. Romanian Gypsy children outreach programme. This has involved the church in providing transport to bring between 15 and 25 children to the weekly Sunday School meeting; the provision of lunch following the Sunday School meeting and some social activities during the week.
The maintenance of the church building as a Grade II listed building during the year.
A Basic Christianity course for those interested in learning more about the Christian faith.
The provision of a children’s Holiday Bible Club for families in the area as well as for church families.
The distribution of aid to Christians in Romania

Our regular activities (as undertaken in normal circumstances) are described below. The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is given in the subsequent section.

Worship at Buckingham

The preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the exposition of the Word of God is central to all the preaching both at our Sunday services and Wednesday night meeting. The New King James Bible version is used and hymns are taken mainly from Christian Hymns, our internally produced Supplement and the Redemption Hymnal.

Young People

Our Sunday School meets on a morning sharing the first part of the service with the Church before going to their classes. The young people meet regularly for both spiritual and social activities.

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Church Life

There are regular meetings of the Ladies on Tuesdays, Bible study and prayer meetings on Wednesdays and Young Adults Fellowship meetings and men’s breakfast meetings on Saturdays. A prayer meeting is also held on the first Friday of each month.

The church continues to provide a childcare service to the local community: Tiger Tots. It meets on Friday morning from 10.00 till 11.30 during term time and provides a playgroup facility for children from birth to school age. In addition to play and craft activities the children also sing choruses, nursery rhymes and hear stories from the Bible.

For older children the church provides a youth group called “Lighthouse”. Lighthouse meets every Friday at 6:30pm to 8:00pm during term-time. The activities include play and craft activities as well as Bible teaching.

We have again had the privilege of having a number of students worshipping with us who have made Buckingham their spiritual home from home.

At Christmas we undertook a range of evangelistic activities including distribution of Christmas tracts and advertising of Christmas services.

During the year we continued to provide prayer and financial support to missionary work in Peru, Asia and the European Missionary Fellowship, Pastors Training International, Blythswood Trust and Romanian Ministries.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds ("the free reserves") held by the charity should be between 3 and 6 months of the annual payments, which equates to £21,454, to £42,908, in general funds. At this level, the Trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the organisation in the event of a significant drop in funding. It would obviously be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced or activities changed accordingly. At 31 December 2020, free reserves amounted to £207,824 which, exceeded the target level. The excess funds will be used on future building projects which will be decided on in due course.

Grateful thanks and praise

We are grateful to God for all that has been achieved. Although a small Fellowship God’s people have proved faithful both in their attendance and in their giving. We give 12.5% of our weekly offerings and gifts not otherwise designated to the support of our missionaries and the European Missionary Fellowship .

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite the pandemic, offerings only reduced by 3% compared to 2019 due to the vast majority of people providing regular gifts online/direct debit/standing order with gifts to our missionaries and other individuals increasing by 11%.
The Sunday morning services have continued for the most part with the congregation adhering to the government regulations including social distancing, wearing of masks, one way traffic, hand sanitising, no singing. Although there has been a drop in the number of members attending the service, due to vulnerable members staying at home, we have continued to receive visitors. The service has also been broadcast on YouTube.
Our Sunday evening services have been broadcast on YouTube only.
Our Wednesday evening Bible Study and Prayer Meetings have had the same format as the Sunday morning service except during lockdown where a combination of YouTube and/or video conferencing has been used.
Trustee meetings have taken place every month via video conferencing.
Sunday School took place every Sunday afternoon before lockdown. During lockdown, Sunday School has not taken place.
The Romanian Children’s work, Tiger Tots and Lighthouse meetings have not taken place during the pandemic.
The Young Adults Fellowship has continued online.
Only one Church Member’s Meeting has taken place since the pandemic started although they have been scheduled for every quarter in 2021 either online or in person (or a combination of both) post lockdown. However, the usual information provided at these members meetings has been provided to the members.
During the pandemic the Trustees have maintained regular contact with members and the wider congregation. Spiritual and practical help has been provided as appropriate, especially to the more vulnerable congregants and contacts.

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees on 14[th] April 2021

Dr S P Benham Treasurer

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Buckingham Baptist Chapel

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Buckingham Baptist Chapel (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the 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 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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Neil Kingston, FCA Burton Sweet Chartered Accountants The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR

Date: 14[th] April 2021

BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

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Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2020 2019
RECEIPTS £ £ £ £
Voluntary Income to further charity's objectives
Offerings 56,076 - 56,076 57,816
Legacies - - - 5,000
Romanian ministries - - - 600
Donations and gifts 1,559 19,130 20,689 18,710
Church holiday - 396 396 1,865
Car Parking 3,337 - 3,337 3,403
Credits 507 - 507 -
Income tax refunds 14,176 1,603 15,779 14,381
75,655 21,129 96,784 101,775
Investment income
Bank interest received 124 - 124 231
Loan interest 1,300 - 1,300 1,343
Loan repayment 1,460 - 1,460 1,417
TOTAL RECEIPTS 78,539 21,129 99,668 104,766
PAYMENTS
Costs of charitable activities
Peru gifts - 19,645 19,645 14,868
Romanian ministries - - - 600
Other missions, donations and gifts 10,411 320 10,731 12,640
Church pastor salary 27,209 - 27,209 26,762
Bank fees 60 - 60 62
Casual supplies 2,295 - 2,295 3,139
Property repairs 5,925 55 5,980 5,796
Books and bibles 102 83 185 326
Heating and lighting 3,309 - 3,309 2,783
Insurance 5,677 - 5,677 5,508
Water and sewage 244 - 244 347
Replacement equipment 990 102 1,092 1,168
Refreshments 1,080 100 1,180 1,492
Flowers and cleaning 166 161 327 594
PPS and advertising 198 143 341 866
Legal, Architects, Engineers
fees and consulting 3,640 - 3,640 8,640
Minibus expenses 2,327 - 2,327 2,675
Manse repairs 411 - 411 546
Children's ministry 91 - 91 484
Church holiday deposit - - - 450
Sunday School activities - - - 475
Lighthouse activities 7 76 83 197
Music licence 268 - 268 204
64,410 20,685 85,095 90,622
Governance costs
Accountancy 720 - 720 636
TOTAL PAYMENTS 65,130 20,685 85,815 91,258
Transfers between funds - - - -
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) 13,409 444 13,853 13,508
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BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL

AT 31 DECEMBER 2020

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Fixed Assets Property, Improvements & Fittings Current Assets Current account Loan Total Assets Liabilities Accruals - Accountancy Church Flowers Buckingham Romanian Work Church Holiday Total Liabilities CASH RESERVES Unrestricted funds Brought forward Net receipts/(payments) for the year Restricted funds Brought forward Net receipts/(payments) for the year Total reserves Signed on behalf of the trustees on 14 April 2021	2020 £ 275,381 275,381 210,133 43,012 253,145 528,526 780 15 720 2,191 3,706 194,415 13,409 207,824 1,865 444 2,309 210,133	2019 £ 275,381 275,381 196,280 44,472 240,752 516,133 720 - - 1,865 2,585 182,772 11,643 194,415 - 1,865 1,865 196,280

Mr J D Norris Secretary

Dr S P Benham Treasurer