Woodford Baptist Church
Trustees Report and Accounts
For the Year Ended 31 March 2024
Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024
Contents
| Legal and administrative information | 3 |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 4 – 8 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 9 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 10 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 11 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 12 |
2
Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024
Legal and administrative information
Trustees: Jonathan Somerville (Senior Pastor) Jo Waterfield (Secretary) appointed 25[th] June 2023 Helen Clark (Treasurer) Philip Wooley Jenny Escobar Christiaan Kriel Kelly McNeil Rozier Van Blerk appointed 25[th] June 2023 Rachel Aston resigned 31[st] December 2023 Kofi Debrah resigned 11[th] May 2023 Church address: 32 George Lane South Woodford London E18 1LW Independent Examiner: Sylvia Lambden Calculus Accountants & Tax Advisers Limited 5 Priory Road Loughton Essex IG10 1AF Bookkeeper/ Accountant: Ruth Savage Bankers: Barclays Bank Plc Leicester LE87 2BB Property Custodian: The London Baptist Property Board Ltd Unit C2, 15 Dock Street London E1 8JN Solicitor: Carter Lemon Camerons 10 Aldersgate Street London EC1A 4HJ
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Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024
Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2024
The Trustees submit their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in 2005 in preparing this annual report and financial statements.
Woodford Baptist Church is a registered charity (No. 1141385), governed by a constitution although the Church is seeking to convert to a CIO.
Current Trustees, who were unchanged during the year, are set out on page 3. Trustees are elected from church members at church members’ meetings, in accordance with the Church’s constitution.
The Trustees are responsible for all church activities but work in co-operation with and delegate to a Leadership Team comprising Elders and Deacons, also elected at church members’ meetings.
The Trustees keep under review the major operational, financial and other risks to which the Church is exposed. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the Church faces.
The principal purpose of Woodford Baptist Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The Church also engages in outreach to the wider community in South Woodford, and beyond.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Aim and objectives
The Trustees are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at the Church, participate in its activities and for the Church to be involved in the local community in South Woodford.
When planning and carrying out our activities for the year, the Minster, Trustees and Leadership Team have considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We seek to enable people to live out their faith through:
-
Worship, prayer, Bible study and Christian discipleship
-
Provision of pastoral care
-
Missionary and outreach work
To facilitate our work, we maintained the fabric of the Woodford Baptist Church building and the manse (Arlington Road).
Staff
At the start of the year we had our Senior Pastor, a part-time Youth Pastor, a part-time Administrator and a part-time Caretaker. Since 12 February 2024 our Senior Pastor has been on long-term sick leave, and this has impacted all areas of Church life.
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Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024
Report of the Trustee (continued)
Volunteers
The Church encourages the involvement of volunteers and we thank the members who so faithfully offer their service. The Church does not receive significant donations in kind or other intangible income.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
Collective worship and teaching
Gathering together for worship and teaching on Sundays and in midweek groups continued to be at the heart of our life together as a fellowship.
We had teaching series that focused on Checking the Foundations, Lessons from Bethany and continuation of One Thing (to explore what it means to be wholehearted in our devotion to Jesus). Alongside these themes, we celebrated the major Christian festivals, with a number of events advertised locally over Christmas, including the Nativity Service, Carol Service, and Christmas Eve and Day services.
All of our activities were supported by our Hospitality, Technical, Welcome and Worship Teams. We have continued to invest in the development of our musicians and singers, in order to facilitate our collective worship.
We were blessed by five baptisms this year.
Youth work
A good number of young people attended the various groups for youth.
Our Friday evening youth club, MIX, had attendance between 20-25 each week, most of whom have no other link to the Church. We ran several successful trips out, for example to Nando’s and go-karting; plus a residential weekend away.
Encounter, which meets on Sunday mornings during the service, averaged 20-25 young people each week, with the group divided into Years 6-8 and Years 9-13.
We started a new monthly Bible Study for youth, Connect, which has between 4-8 regular
attenders.
‘Serving Sundays’ gathered momentum with the young people finding areas of ministry they enjoy being a part of. We have been extremely encouraged by the commitment of the young people and hope they will continue to learn about different ways to offer their worship to God in serving others.
The Youth Leaders team continued to grow as new people joined the team, which has been a great blessing to the Church and the young people.
Women’s Ministry
We restarted women’s Ministry with a weekend away for 16 women from the church in February 2024.
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Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024
Report of the Trustees (continued)
Men’s Ministry
The men’s ministry continued hosting monthly men’s breakfasts. This provided men in the Church with the opportunity to gather together, along with invited friends and guests, for fellowship (and food!).
Evangelism
We ran an Alpha Course which was well attended and led to a new Life Group being established.
Pastoral care and outreach
Over Easter, the Church delivered flowers to all the residents at Homesdale home for older people.
We gave out Mothering Sunday gifts to all the ladies in church; and on Father’s Day gifts were given to all the men in Church.
In the summer, we held a Family and Friends Fun Day at a local residential community. In the morning there was a time of teaching and worship from Josh Kane, Regional Baptist Minister, followed by a BBQ, games and lots of fun.
Over the Christmas period, the Church delivered Advent Candles to all the immediate neighbours and Homesdale; and cooked a Christmas meal for about 60 people for the friends, neighbours and family Christmas lunch. The IDMC Gospel Choir returned during December and we held a Christmas Fair.
Life Groups continued to meet regularly, both in person and online, in the main expanding on the teaching in Sunday services.
The Pastoral Care Team continued to carry out various roles including phone calls, cooking meals, praying, sending text messages, dropping off and collecting people from hospital, sending cards, buying and giving gifts, hospital visits, helping with administrative tasks, sharing communion and doing home visits for those in the Church and its community.
Weekly Food Bank
We hosted a weekly satellite foodbank every Friday afternoon in the Church hall. This is run by volunteers from within the Church and Redbridge Foodbank (supported by The Trussell Trust); with expert services such as debt advice provided by external agencies. There is a donation point in the Church building, and local businesses such as the Co-op and Gail’s Bakery donate fresh goods on a regular basis.
Prime Time
Prime Time is an outreach to the over-50s; a time of tea, coffee, cake and company. We met every Monday morning and had approximately 12 regular attendees; three who organised and 5-9 who have been with us on any one week. Most of those who attend are single people who appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and the lively conversation. Real relationships have been built up over the years. We always take an opportunity to celebrate birthdays and other special events, and sometimes our card and gifts have been the only ones received. Although Prime Time might be their only link to the Church, our Pastoral Team also offer fellowship and practical support.
6
Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024 Report of the Trustees (continued)
Prayer
Our new Prayer Deacon has continued and grown our weekly prayer meeting and organised a weekend of prayer and fasting, in October 2023, which included evening worship and the church being open for prayer during the day.
Children
We appointed a new Deacon for Children’s Ministry who has sought to expand the Ministry beyond Sunday mornings, and started a Baby Café.
Young Adults
The Young Adults groups continued to meet regularly. This group attracted a mix of Christians and non-Christians between 18-30.
Long Table Lunch
We hosted a shared, catered for lunch the first Sunday of most months to which all are invited, at which we enjoy a time of fellowship with approximately 60 people attending each time.
Missions
We continued to support four missions across the world, alongside a short-term placement at YWAM (Youth with a Mission)
Financial review
The church moved from accruals-based accounts to receipts and payments account for the year so the 2023 comparative figures shown on page 10 have been restated.
The Receipts and Payments Account (on page 8) shows receipts of £167,242 for the year compared to £178,440 in 2023. Expenditure totalled £159,033 for the year a reduction from £185,519 in 2023. Cash reserves of £151,367 were held at the year-end a small increase from £145,432 in 2023. The Trustees aim to hold cash reserves to cover unplanned expense such as major building repair or for the orderly winding down of activities.
The Trustees have regularly monitored the finances on a monthly basis and in addition have produced budget information for the coming year to ensure activities can be maintained.
Governance
We had 10 new members and after a review of the Membership Roll we contacted those with whom we had no current relationship and removed 15.
The sub-group charged with progressing the work to convert the Charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation continued working through the CIO model constitution from the Baptist Union. However, due to updates in Charity Law, a new guideline Constitution was issued in November 2023 and needed to be reviewed.
The post of Church Secretary was filled during this period. The Trustees continued to monitor and progress various areas of governance.
The Fabric Team worked throughout the year to maintain the properties and put together a programme of improvements.
7
Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024
Report of the Trustees (continued)
Future plans
Our Youth Pastor announced in January 2024 that she would be stepping down from the role in July 2024. We are now recruiting for a full-time Children, Youth and Families Pastor. Existing teams continue to run these Ministries.
The Elders are planning new teaching series for Sunday morning including Moving into Maturity and Life Lessons from the Old Testament.
Our leadership team is in need of some expansion, and so we are seeking to identify those whom God is calling to take a more active part in church leadership (as Deacons, Elders and Trustees) will be a priority.
One priority will be to ensure that we have an accurate membership roll, and that we are adequately caring for all those who are part of our family.
Finally, we hope to build on training already undertaken by the Worship Team, so that this area of our life - that has been considered a strength for a long time - continues to be sustained and strengthened.
We give glory to God for all that He has provided during this year.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 25[th] November 2024 and is signed on their behalf by: Joanne E Waterfield
Joanne E Waterfield (Nov 25, 2024 16:42 GMT)
Joanne Waterfield Trustee and secretary
25/11/24
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Woodford Baptist Church Registered charity number 1141385
Year to 31[st] March 2024
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Woodford Baptist Church
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 10 to 12.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees 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 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
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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.
Sylvia Lambden FCCA
Calculus Accountants and Tax Advisers Limited Accountants 5 Priory Road Loughton Essex IG10 1AF
Date: 25[th] November 2024
25/11/24
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| Woodford Baptist Church | Woodford Baptist Church | Woodford Baptist Church | 1141385 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and payments accounts | |||||
| For the period from |
1/4/2023 | To | 31/3/2024 | ||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
| Unrestricted funds £ Receipts |
Restricted funds £ |
Endowment funds £ |
2024 Total funds £ |
2023 Restated £ |
|
| - 111,418- - 11,311- - 20,901- - 1,677- - 2,238- - 297- - -- - 1,200- - 286- |
- 12,153- |
- -- |
- 123,571- |
- 144,166- |
|
| Gift Aid | - 1,192- |
- -- |
- 12,503- |
- 12,042- |
|
| Rental income | - -- |
- -- |
- 20,901- |
- 16,728- |
|
| Bank Interest | - -- |
- -- |
- 1,677- |
- 801- |
|
| Events Income | - 1,540- |
- -- |
- 3,778- |
- 820- |
|
| Y&CM Income | - 1,871- |
- -- |
- 2,168- |
- 1,319- |
|
| Grants | - 1,158- |
- -- |
- 1,158- |
- -- |
|
| Rental Deposits | - -- |
- -- |
- 1,200- |
- -- |
|
| Other Income | - -- |
- -- |
- 286- |
- 2,564- |
|
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) - 149,328- Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
- 149,328- |
- 17,914- |
- -- |
- 167,242- |
- 178,440- |
| Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||
| - -- - -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- -- |
||
| - -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- -- |
||
| Sub total- -- Total receipts - 149,328- Payments |
- -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- -- |
| - 149,328- |
- 17,914- |
- -- |
- 167,242- |
- 178,440- |
|
| Salaries | - 73,348- - 8,191- - 1,235- - 2- - 3,556- - 3,935- - 1,006- - 11,724- - 4,112- - 656- - 690- - 3,880- - 10,600- - 930- - 502- - 3,956- - 807- - 525- - 14- - 3,195- - 942- - 582- - 5,986- - 272- - 698- - 2,530- - 97- - 128- - 700- - -- - 239- |
- -- |
- -- |
- 73,348- |
- 65,179- |
| Manse | - 8,191- |
- 7,417- |
|||
| Staff Expenses | - 1,235- |
- 1,227- |
|||
| Employer NI | - 2- |
- 42- |
|||
| Pension (Employer Contributions) | - 3,556- |
- 3,174- |
|||
| Maintenance | - 427- |
- 4,362- |
- 8,113- |
||
| Caretaking | - 1,006- |
- 717- |
|||
| Utilities | - 11,724- |
- 8,316- |
|||
| Insurance | - 4,112- |
- 3,814- |
|||
| Technical | - 656- |
- 1,446- |
|||
| Equipment Maintenance | - 993- |
- 1,683- |
- 478- |
||
| Y&CM Expenses | - 2,001- |
- 5,881- |
- 5,370- |
||
| Students & Young People | - -- |
- 332- |
|||
| Mission Giving | - 6,089- |
- 16,689- |
- 19,876- |
||
| Pastoral Care | - 930- |
- 1,054- |
|||
| Visiting Speakers | - 502- |
- 600- |
|||
| Event Expenses | - 3,789- |
- 7,745- |
- 1,716- |
||
| Food & Refreshments | - 807- |
- 938- |
|||
| Evangelism Expenses | - 525- |
- 367- |
|||
| Food Bank | - 596- |
- 610- |
- 19- |
||
| Subscriptions | - 3,195- |
- 5,978- |
|||
| Training | - 942- |
- 362- |
|||
| Communications | - 100- |
- 682- |
- 637- |
||
| Professional Fees | - -- |
- -- |
- 5,986- |
- 5,981- |
|
| PPS | - -- |
- -- |
- 272- |
- 287- |
|
| Photocopying | - -- |
- -- |
- 698- |
- 90- |
|
| Telephone/Internet | - -- |
- -- |
- 2,530- |
- 1,497- |
|
| Books, Leaflets & CDs | - -- |
- -- |
- 97- |
- 223- |
|
| Interest & Charges | - -- |
- -- |
- 128- |
- 128- |
|
| Rental Deposit Refunds | - 700- |
- -- |
|||
| Loan Repayments | - -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- 39,185- |
|
| Other Expenses | - -- |
- -- |
- 239- |
- 956- |
|
| Sub total - 145,038- Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
- 145,038- |
- 13,995- |
- -- |
- 159,033- |
- 185,519- |
| Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||
| Equipment | - 2,274- - -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- 2,274- |
- 2,426- |
| Furniture & Fittings | - -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- 358- |
|
| Sub total - 2,274- Total payments - 147,312- 2,016- -- 118,739- - Net of receipts/(payments) Transfers between funds Cash funds31 March 2023 _Cash funds31 March 2024_at 120,755- |
- 2,274- |
- -- |
- -- |
- 2,274- |
- 2,784- |
| - 147,312- |
- 13,995- |
- -- |
- 161,307- |
- 188,303- |
|
| 2,016- | - 3,919- |
- -- |
- 5,935- |
- 9,863- |
|
| -- 118,739- |
- -- |
- -- |
- -- |
- -- |
|
| - 26,693- |
- -- |
- 145,432- |
- 155,295- |
||
| 120,755- | - 30,612- |
- -- |
- 151,367- |
- 145,432- |
|
| 31 March 2024 |
1 0
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the 31st March 2024
| Categories Cash funds |
Details | Unrestricted funds £ |
Restricted funds £ |
Endowment funds £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclays Current Account | - 30,332- |
- 30,612- |
- -- |
|
| Barclays Savings Account | - 2,963- |
|||
| Virgin Money Account | - 60,271- |
|||
| BU 7 Day Notice Account | - 5,270- |
|||
| BU 3 Month Notice Account | - 21,547- |
- -- |
- -- |
|
| Petty Cash | - 302- |
|||
| Offerings received but not banked | - 70- |
- -- |
- -- |
|
| Other monetary assets Investment assets Assets retained for the charity’s own use Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Total cash funds (OK Details |
- 120,755- |
- 30,612- |
- -- |
| OK | OK | |||
| Unrestricted funds £ |
Restricted funds £ |
Endowment funds £ |
||
| Gift Aid Mar 24 | - 824- |
- 62- |
- -- |
|
| Rental Income 23/24 | - 420- |
- -- |
- -- |
|
| Interest Due | - 145- |
- -- |
- -- |
|
| Prepaid Expenses | - 2,693- |
- -- |
- -- |
|
| Accrued Income | - -- |
- 450- |
- -- |
|
| - - - |
- -- |
- -- |
||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
|
| Church Building | General | - -- |
- 4,969,606- |
|
| Church Fixtures, Furniture & Equipment | General | - -- |
- 166,114- |
|
| Manse | General & Restricted | - -- |
- 445,569- |
|
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| - -- |
- -- |
|||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
|
| Creditors | General | -6,56666666,56560 -, 560-6 |
||
| Creditors | Restricted | 6,556- - 90- |
||
| Accrued Expenses | General | - 1,556- |
||
| Missionary giving to pass on | Restricted | - 338- |
||
| Prepaid Income | General | - 1,190- |
||
Signature |
Name | Date of approval | ||
| Helen Clark | 25/11/024 | |||
----- Start of picture text -----
25/11/24
----- End of picture text -----
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by Helen Clark, Trustee and treasurer on 25th November 2024
11
Woodford Baptist Church Year to 31[st] March 2024
Notes to the accounts
1. Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation of the accounts
The accounts are prepared on a ‘Receipts & Payments’ basis under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011, the statement of assets and liabilities included assets listed at insured values. The results of the Charity operations are described in the Trustees’ Report and are continuing. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper 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 [Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed.
1.2. Receipts and payments accounts
The church has moved from the accruals basis of accounting in 2023 to receipts and payments. The 2023 comparatives have been restated to reflect this.
3. Trustee and related parties
Jonathan Sommerville and Kelly McNeil are employed by the church receiving salaries and expenses from the Church. In addition to this Jason McNeill, married to Kelly, is employed by the church and receives a small salary. Renumeration received by trustees and related parties totalled as follows:
| Gross salaries Pension costs Provision of accommodation and related expenditure |
2024 £ 2023 £ 63,638 62,392 3,264 2,903 8,191 2,202 £75,093 £67,497 |
|---|---|
Other Trustees were only reimbursed for expenses they incurred on behalf of the church. Nathaniel Somerville received £2,753 in mission gifts from the Church, £2,253 was part of restricted offerings made to the church.
4. Church building and manse
The church building and manse are held by the London Baptist Property Board as custodians on behalf of the church. The church is shown at its insurance valuation in the statement of assets and liabilities.
| 5.Governance costs Independent examination costs 6.Restricted funds The following restricted funds are held: Manse improvements Manse Fund Children’s & family pastor fund Other Total |
2024 £ 900 2024 £ 25,000 - 2,953 2,686 |
2023 £ 900 2023 £ 25,000 33,498 1,185 250 |
|---|---|---|
| £30,639 | £59,933 |
The manse loan was repaid during the year to 31[st] March 2023 by a one-off unexpected donation and the donors agreed any excess funds received on the Manse Fund could be transferred to the General fund.
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2024-11-25
WBC 24 tar acc final for signature
Final Audit Report
Created: 2024-11-25 By: James Lambden (james.lambden@hotmail.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAm_BZ-uKx43LoVO2KT1UXhyuIZ28dFndV
"WBC 24 tar acc final for signature" History
Document created by James Lambden (james.lambden@hotmail.co.uk)
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Document emailed to Helen Clark (treasurer@woodfordbaptist.org) for signature
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Agreement completed.
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