Accounts for the 12 months ended
31st December 2023
Registered Charity No. 1149363
MILL END BAPTIST CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 December 2023
Registered Address
Mill End Baptist Church, Field Way, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 7EL
Charity Registration Number 1149363
Trustees who served during the year
Rev J Findlow (Minister) Mr. N Corden(Treasurer) Miss K. Maisey (Secretary) Mr. G. Hawkings Mrs C Badu Amoah Mr G Duke
Property Trustees
The Baptist Union Corporation Limited, Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8RT
Principal Bankers
HSBC Bank plc, 73 High Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 2DS
Independent Examiner
Amanda Oldershaw
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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st ] DECEMBER 2023
The Trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2023.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution. Baptism by immersion upon personal profession of faith is the normal mode of entry into the membership of a Baptist Church. However, the Church applies open membership so that individuals may, at the discretion of the Church Members’ meeting, be accepted for full membership based on their own public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The Members’ Meeting normally takes place five times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the Church. In accordance with the Constitution, the Members appoint Trustees including the Minister, the Church Secretary and the Treasurer. The Trustees are principally responsible for the financial and legal aspects of the charity and discuss opportunities and address challenges to furthering the Church’s work.
The Leadership Team bring matters to the Church meeting for discussion and as appropriate, acceptance, or by raising matters within a Church meeting for further discussion and consideration.
In addition, our leadership structure includes three Ministry Teams covering (i) Discipleship, (ii) Mission and Outreach and (iii) Premises, Finance, Administration and Employment (PFAE). These Teams are chaired by a member of the Leadership Team, report directly to the Members and enable a greater involvement of individuals who are involved with specific ministries to share with each other and, at the same time, release new gifts from within the congregation. This has freed our Trustees from some of their detailed responsibilities and enables them to concentrate more on their statutory responsibilities.
Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by Members in the Church meeting for further consideration by the Trustees. Although the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
All Members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective.
Objectives and Activities
The principal purpose of the Charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination, to including the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine.
The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, on Trusts which are entirely compatible with the above objective.
In order to achieve the principal objective which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally.
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The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord; running courses for people interested in discovering more about Christianity is central to the work and witness of the Church, as is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday at 10.15am. There are also occasional services at other times together with other events which are advertised on the website at www.millendbaptist.org.uk. There is a full children’s programme during the morning services. The Church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these events.
The Church runs a series of house groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some Members, and further details of these can be obtained from the Leadership Team on request, or at the Sunday worship services. There is a Pastoral Care team of volunteers which provides an informal supportive service for both Members and non-Members of the fellowship.
The Church is responsible for a Toddler Group which meets in the Church premises on Thursday mornings, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ through providing a safe and fun environment where toddlers and their carers from the local community can find friendship and encouragement.
From time to time the Church runs courses, entitled Explore More and Alpha.
The Church Youth Work, covering the age range 11-18, continues to flourish. Our aim is to see young people challenged and encouraged in developing their relationship with God. Our new youth pastor, who was appointed in January 2023 brought enthusiasm and changes in equal measure, but due to personal circumstances left in July. Sarina Mendes took up the role in August and has worked tirelessly since to ensure youth, children and toddlers are all supported and developed in a multitude of activities.
A ‘Pop-in’ group is open to the community on Tuesday mornings. Although mainly orientated towards older people it is open to anyone who is available to come, including children and young people during the school holidays. The aim is to foster an inclusive and fun atmosphere where people can develop friendships and be supported. This is run by our Community Pastor with a team of volunteers.
The Rickmansworth CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Centre, which covers the WD3 post code area, is based at the Church. A CAP Release Group also runs from Mill End Baptist Church (MEBC) and consists of an eight-week course, community time and coaching which aims to help and support people with life controlling habits, including smoking, gambling, drinking or internet addictions. CAP Money Courses are also held at the Church to assist those wanting help in planning the financial management of their household budgets.
The Church supports the Mill End Community Trust, the organiser of the Rickmansworth food bank, Men in Sheds and associated activities, providing practical Christian love to the community.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The Trustees have taken note of the Charity Commission general guidance on public benefit, and are satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the Church is providing a benefit to the public.
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Achievements and Performance
The Church does not measure the success of its programs only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. We are as always hugely grateful to our staff who are both committed and hard-working. As a church too we are dependent on a large body of volunteers, without whom we would not be able to continue to function and to carry out so many activities within the church and the local community.
We were greatly encouraged to hold baptism services throughout the year and welcome new members. In 2023 we said farewell to Krista who was our Assistant Pastor for youth, children and families as her family moved abroad and we welcomed Sarina who took up this post in August 2023. In 2023 we also appointed Michael as our worship leader to lead and train our gifted worship team.
We have continued to run hybrid services, both in-person and online except for 1st Sunday of the month which is ‘Super Sunday’.
We held special events such as a Community Christmas party and carol service, a light party, men’s curry night, Pancake event, quiz night social, family Easter egg hunt, Easter ramble, an Encounter evangelism weekend which contained worship and training as well as time sharing our faith on the streets. And specifically targeted collections. The growth that we have seen in discipleship and mission can also be attributed to the personal
The Church has continued to be generous in its giving to local, national and overseas causes. The growth that we have seen in discipleship and mission can also be attributed to the personal, informal and unscheduled ways that the community pastorally cares for one another.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP)
The Rickmansworth CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Debt Centre, which covered the WD3 post code area, and which was based at the Church, closed in 2022.
A new CAP Life Skills Group also runs from the church and consists of an 8/9-week course, community time and coaching. This course aims to help and support people particularly on a low income with basic life skills including budgeting, energy management, eating well on a budget, healthy living, taking care of mental health and maintaining good relationships. We held three courses during 2022. Two courses were ran in the church premises and one at a school in Maple Cross.
CAP Money Courses are also held at the Church to assist those wanting help in planning the financial management of their household budgets.
In October 2022 we opened our church as part of the nationwide initiative to provide warm spaces over the 22/23 winter. Our warm space opened three times a week and provided over those days a free light hot lunch, refreshments, Wi-Fi, talks, games, exercise, nail bar, hot shower and once a month free haircuts. This was very successful. It was visited by Richard Roberts, Leader of the Council, and Herts CC called our warm space an examplar in Hertfordshire.
FINANCE
The results for the period are set out in the accompanying accounts which have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis. The accounts are for 12 months and the comparatives are for a period of 13 months. The Church continues to raise funds from within its own membership and congregation which it needs in order to carry on its activities. During 2022 our regular donations fell significantly, but this was offset by a reduction in salary costs as we looked for a new Youth Pastor. Overall, whilst we anticipated a large deficit this year, we actually ended up with general reserves of £3,436 to carry forward to the New Year.
Our general fund income totalled £105,238 compared to £129,317 in the previous 13 months, and total expenditure was £103,590 and £124,443 respectively. In addition, we increased our giving through our Mission Fund from £10,885 to £11,100.
We were extremely blessed and hugely grateful to receive from Trinity Baptist Church in Chesham a grant of £50,000 to assist with our warm room and other outreach activities. We received a further grant of £2,000 for the Warm Space, and are carrying the majority of this forward to 2023.
Future Plans
The Leadership Team of the Church remains strong and committed as we move forward with growing faith and optimism. We look forward to how God is going to continue to grow us in 2025! In 2025 we are particularly looking forward to a church weekend away, Alpha course and renovating our welcome to lounge to help us better reach our community.
Approved by the Trustees on 2 4[th ] October 2023.
And signed on their behalf by Nick Corden (Treasurer).
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MILL END BAPTIST CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| GENERAL FUND (Unrestricted) Receipts Donations Pledged gifts Bequest Tax refunds Cash offerings & other income Other income Bank interest FIT Income Lettings Total receipts Payments Administration Baptist Resources Children's Work Discipleship and training Mission - Local evangelism Manse Ministry Premises Catering and sundry expenses Worship Youth work Sub-Total payments Transfer to Mission Fund Total Costs Surplus/(Deficit) for the year Transfer from toddlers and pastimes Transfer from Community fund Balance brought forward Balance carried forward MISSION FUND Transfer from General Fund Trinity tithe Special donations Funds available for distribution Payments General Mission donations (see note 2) Special offerings and other gifts (see note 2) Total payments Balance brought forward Balance carried forward |
2023 £ £ 83,488 467 19,512 1,131 104,598 11 1,909 3,390 5,310 109,908 4,502 1,500 359 108 7,063 5,095 82,660 20,225 850 1,346 456 124,164 10,990 135,154 (25,246) 3,557 18,253 3,436 £0 Restricted Designated - 10,990 957 - 957 10,990 - 12,550 1,371 - 1,371 12,550 (414) (1,560) 909 4,600 £495 £3,040 2023 |
2022 £ £ 78,834 - 20,146 1,076 100,056 16 1,288 3,878 5,182 105,238 3,515 1,500 263 343 2,779 4,417 73,292 14,156 1,277 1,090 958 103,590 11,100 114,690 (9,452) 1,481 - 11,407 3,436 Restricted Designated - 11,100 5,000 3,510 - 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,510 16,100 |
||
| - 11,500 2,768 - |
||
| 2,768 11,500 |
||
| 742 4,600 167 0 |
||
| £909 £4,600 |
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MILL END BAPTIST CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| PASTIMES AND TODDLER GROUPS (Unrestricted) | ||||||
| Receipts | ||||||
| Donations | 2,774 | 1,762 | ||||
| 2,774 | 1,762 | |||||
| Payments | ||||||
| Food and drink | (645) | (418) | ||||
| Surplus for the period | 2,129 | 1,344 | ||||
| Balance brought forward | 1,428 | 1,565 | ||||
| Transfer to general funds | (3,557) | (1,481) | ||||
| Balance carried forward | £0 | £1,428 | ||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| YOUTH BURSARY FUND (Restricted) | £ | £ | ||||
| Balance brought forward | 618 | 618 | ||||
| Receipts | ||||||
| Donations | - | - | ||||
| 618 | 618 | |||||
| Payments | ||||||
| Support given | ||||||
| Balance carried forward | £618 | £618 | ||||
| STEPHEN FUND | £ | £ | ||||
| Receipts | ||||||
| Donations | 4,282 | 200 | ||||
| Gift Aid | 143 | |||||
| 4,282 | 343 | |||||
| Payments | ||||||
| Support given | 1,712 | |||||
| 2,570 | 343 | |||||
| Balance brought forward | 399 | 56 | ||||
| Balance carried forward | £2,969 | £399 | ||||
| COMMUNITY FUND/WARM ROOM (Restricted) | £ | £ | ||||
| Grant from Trinity Church Chesham | 50,000 | |||||
| Warm room grants and donations | 8,303 | 2,000 | ||||
| 8,303 | 52,000 | |||||
| Transfer to mission giving | (5,000) | |||||
| Transfer to general funds: | ||||||
| To cover deficit | (972) | |||||
| Warrm room costs | (17,281) | (18,253) | (3,124) | |||
| (9,950) | 43,876 | |||||
| Balance brought forward | 43,876 | 0 | ||||
| Balance carried forward | £33,926 | £43,876 |
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MILL END BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 31 Dec 2023 £ 14,160 38,265 0 Assets HSBC Bank plc Baptist Union Kingdom Bank Ltd CAP release cash 70 £52,495 Representing balances on the following funds Unrestricted: £ £ Contingency Fund 10,000 General Fund 0 Pastimes and Toddler Groups 0 10,000 Restricted: Chrysalis 322 Misison Fund 3,535 Pastors fund 625 Trinity Church fund 33,926 Youth Bursary Fund 618 Stephen Fund 2,969 Youth Bequest 500 42,495 £52,495 |
31 Dec 2022 £ 13,000 53,266 1,000 70 £67,336 £ £ 10,000 3,436 1,428 14,864 546 5,909 625 43,875 618 399 500 52,472 £67,336 |
31 Dec 2022 £ 13,000 53,266 1,000 70 £67,336 £ £ 10,000 3,436 1,428 14,864 546 5,909 625 43,875 618 399 500 52,472 £67,336 |
|---|---|---|
| £67,336 | ||
| £ 14,864 52,472 |
||
| 546 5,909 625 43,875 618 399 500 |
||
| £67,336 |
The Contingency Fund has been set aside to meet emergency expenses.
Non-monetary assets
Assets held for the use of the Church are summarised in Note 3
Declaration
The accounts set out on pages 3 to 6 for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the statement of assets and liabilities at that date are as approved by the trustees.
N Corden Treasurer on behalf of the Trustees
Date: 24th October 2024
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MILL END BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
-
1 These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and accord with S133 of the Charities Act 2011.
-
2 A summary of the gifts to Mission is as follows:
| Total receipts less payments out: Alternatives Arab World Ministries re Yemen appeal Audrey Taylor - Kaiwa Brazil Care for the Family Central Baptisit Association Frontiers Gert Bergmann Home for Good London City Mission MIND Open Doors Dan Harrison Pakistan Floods Poverty Project Philippines Restore Hope Tear Fund Terry Puttick - London City Mission Ukraine Watford Town Chaplaincy Watford Schools Trust Wycliffe Bible Translators Total Payments made Balance brought forward Balance carried forward |
Mission Fund Special Total Total allocation Offerings 2023 2022 (Designated) (Restricted) £ £ £ £ 10,990 957 11,947 19,610 600 120 720 621 600 600 600 1,000 1,000 1,006 500 500 500 - - 1,500 - - 412 1,600 1,600 1,250 - - 400 500 701 1,201 500 500 500 - 400 400 - 200 200 - - - 1,028 750 750 750 300 300 - 1,000 350 1,350 - 1,000 1,000 1,000 - - 1,701 1,000 1,000 1,000 300 300 - 2,500 2,500 2,000 |
|---|---|
| 12,550 1,371 13,921 14,268 4,600 909 5,509 167 |
|
| 3,040 495 3,535 £5,509 |
- 3 Non-monetary assets
The following assets are held for the Church's own use:
-
a) The Church premises at Field Way, Rickmansworth.
-
b) The Manse at 50 Mount View, Rickmansworth.
-
c) The Church also owns the fixtures, furniture and equipment in the Church premises.
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