Wem Baptist Church
Accounts
For The Year Ended 31 December 2023

Wem Baptist Church
Trustees Annual Report 2023
The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements
for 2023
Aitns and Purposes of the Charity
As an independent, Bible-believinu church. Wem Baptist Church'q purposes are (as
staled in the Church's Consiillltion}-.
"(al Ihe advancemeni of ihc Chri81ian faith in accordance with the Church's B&si.s of
Faith. primarily. but not exclu5Trvely. in Wem and the %urroundino ncighbourhood: and
{b) such other charitable PU4KTrses as shall. in the opinion of thc members of ihe
Church in general meeting. turther the wvrk ol the Church."
As a church. we committed to spreading ihc B Tblc s mc.4S¢ige concerning Jesus. lo develop
people's knowledoe of hitn. and to encourdue them to worship. irusi and .%erve him. We seek to
encnurdge £15 many as possible 10 follow Jesus'5 exarnple of love and compassion in serving
each other the wider communily.
As in ?022. financial giving remained strong and ihrough Ehe Grace of God ihe church had no
difficulties in meciing regular financial cofftmittnents.
Objectives and Activities
The Trustccs have read the Charity Commi55ion guidanLt on public bencfil and are sati.sfied
thai the activities described below cleatly demonslrate ihai the charily is Providing a benefi¢ 10
(he public.
To fulfil the aims and PUFPOSCS of the Church &s statcd above. a variery of activities are provided
for both the benefit of church members and for the benefil of tnembers of ihe public. Our weekly
Sunday 5erYices, at 10.00 am and 6.00 pm. centrdl io our church life. and are open lo the
whole Lomi)iunily. They are advertised in local publications. on the Church'5 own and other
web.siIcs. on ihe Church's Faceb(x)k P<ige. ¢thd ouL%ide ihe church building.
We Seek to encourage attendance by members of the widei community by making these
gatherings Inendly. informal and joyful OLcasions. In addiiion. Ihese service.8 ale stieamed" and
re accc5sible io all via the Internet. whilst recurdings of them are available LTrn ihe Church'q

webgiie. During mosi Sunday morning qervices "Junior Church- is run. which 1% opcn io all
primary school-aged childrcn. Therc is also a Bible cl&s% for iho8e in sch(KTrl years 5. 6 and 7.
The Church provides a variely of midweek praver and Bible sludy meeting% in encourage
fellowship and growth in the CThristian faiih. both on ihe Church prcmises and in the homes of
some members. Once again. these meetings are open io all and arc advertised on ihe Church,
website and in the Chuich'5 weekly new.s sheei. One hou.4e group ha5 used Zoom lo further
I'acilitate altendance for all.
Agc-appropriate tnidweek ¢lub.4 are also provided for children and young people from boih
"ChurLh" families and fron) the wader comTnunitv. The youih leader% held a particularly
suLces5ful 'Bontire nioht, on one the tncmber s lands. Teenagers from several local
ev<illgelic<il churches attended ihi.% eveni.
During iem)-titnc. a weekly pareni and t()ddler group is also run bv the Church. This maiiily
serve.8 familie% froTn (he community. Pareni.s, grandp￿entS and child minders very much
appreciate the aciivities. songs and stories 0[g￿l$ed for the tod(llers and ihe adults enjoy the
refreshments and the time to talk and Share. We believe it 15 very important for children to have
plenty of opportunities io and play with others ol Iheir own age.
On Wem Market Day (Thursday) the chuTch welcomes the comtnunity for coffee. tea and cakes.
This is nol a profil-making op￿rtUnity. li is an opportuniiy io build links with people who do
not attcnd Sunday worship. It 15 siaffed by a Con￿11t(ed and enthusiasiic &Yroup of church
volunteers who are always available to provide a listening ear to ¢ho%e who lonely or
Iroublcd.
Where possiblc. the Church responds to invitaiions from local primary and secondiuy
schools. radio staiion5 and othcr oruanisations to leach ihc me5sagc of the Bible. We have
provided speakci& for Thouvht for the Day. ai the local sccondary school. Thom&% Adam%.
Wem. We dre graiefuL for thi.s link with the community.
From time to time. the Church offets Lourses to all who are inlere51ed in finding out more about
the chri.stian Faith. Wc also offer occasional course.4 in persondl financc with niaterial supplied
by 'ChTiStiart.s Againsi Povctly.,
Individual pa.storal and spirilual advice are offered to people living in the church'5 locality. We
cunducl ma￿]ageS and funeral% in accordance wilh the teaching of ihe Bible. We support
n]issionary and evangeli4liL work in North Shropshire. naiionally and itklcrnalionally. Ihis year
we have supported d leaLhcrl missionary in Kenya.
For around fifty years Wem Bapiisi church has organtged a Holiday Bible Club. In ?0?3 this

con8isled 4 days ot aclivities cenircd on a scrÉe.4 of Bible storics. li is held in the e￿]Y Pdrt of
August and is aiiended by 80-100 local chtldren from the community. It is greatly appreciaied
by borh adults children. For the few years. we have link'ed io Ihe governmenl's 'Holiday
Aciivilies and Fwd Pr00r￿e. to provide aclivity and food for free school mca15 and SEN
children town. The children enjoyed Bible stories and Chri%lian ieachinu ai the appropriate level.
On the Friday of the week. a parenL% evening with refreshments was held. Ii was very well
attended.
The Trustees. responsibilities
The Trnstees are responsible for ihe mainienance of ihe church building in Chapel Street. Wcm,
and the Manse in Staiion Road. Wem. They Jlso havc oversight of the Icgal and financial
integrity of the charity. The Chuich has insurance policies in place covering asseis and potential
liabilities which could ￿lse and meeis it% legal requiremenl5 in this area.
The Trusiee.8 have aorccd several w)licies which ￿ in pldce reviewed revv1￿[Y including
the Child Proiection Policy and the Hcalih and Safely Policy which both reviewed
nually. The Tn]stec5 have put in place a comprehensive range of employment policies and
continue io highlight ihe imponancc and ielevance of thc Dald Protection procedures. The
Trustces meei four times a ye￿. These mcctintrs are fornially rccorded, and these rccords are
available for in%pectioD by the Charity Cotntnis5ion and the Independent Examiner.
Achievements and Performance
The Church does noi measurc the success of its miDi51ries mainlv in number%. includinu [￿anCIal
numbers. bul in le%$ tangible ways like owth of individuals ill their Chrisiian faiih and in
opponunities to share ihe Chrislian go8pel with members of the con]munily. Such "success" is
difficult io measure. but the Tru5lce4 rejoice in anothcr year when thc Gospel of Jesus Christ has
been ghared with ihc iown of Wcm. Thi% year we have pwvided free lileraiute ouiside the chuiLh
building in Chapcl Street. Thi5 includes Bibles. book5- and leaflets. Thcsc h<ive proved popular
aT]d hundreds of items have been taken. We are encouraged io find that they have not ihen been
dropped in the street and have not contributrd io liltering.
At(endance at the Sunday seryices in Wem average around 11)0 in ihe mornings and around 45
in (he eyenings. Much of the woik of ihe church was carried out by a large number of volunteer5
who, amonust othei ministrie5. serve &s musicians. Home-group leadcri. lay preachcrs.
childrcn.s dnd youth Icaders. visitors to the sick and elderly. church maintainers. administrators.
and so on. We give thanks lo Ihe Lord tor their faiihful and fruiiful efforts. This ycdr our Pastor.
Nath&U] Burley. who led many of the services. conlacled those in need of pasloral support and
chaired the Trusiees and the other decision-making meeiings. The church's adminislralor,
rinancial administraiof ¢ind cleanei were employed on pan-iime contracts. We are very grateful

¢0 ihern especially as ihcy give extra timc voluntarily.
Wem BdP(isi Church coniinues io seek io support thosc facing fInancial challcngcs. Thc church
buTrlding is d collection tKTrini for the local food bank. The Deacons hold a fund which be
called upon by the church leaders to support those in financial need.
Overse&s mis.sionary work was alw supported lasl year. with continued finance given to a
nuniber of organisations. The details of the support given are included in the Treasurer'g Report
below.
By conviciion, Wem Bapiist Chtlrch is a welcoming group which Ixtrih encourages the
comTnunity into our building and seeks io suppon Ihe town of Wem by geiiing involved in ihose
events that are compaiible with our values and beliefs.

Treasurer's Report for the year ended 31 st December 2023
Summa
of the Year
At the start of 2023 the church had a heatthy opening cash Fjosilion of over £47,000. A
summary of the 2023 church linances is as follows:
Incorne £115,100 {budget £90.7581
Mainly due to increased offerings. gift aid. reslricled donations and a grant to
assisl with legal costs in relation to the trust.
Expenditure £96.826 (budget £99,433}
Savings on expenditure were made in several areas including Chapel Slreet and
manse expenses {£6,OOOJ. Funds are ring-fenced lor polential manse kitchen
upgrade.
Surplus £18.274 {budgeted deficit £8.675).
Closing bank balance £65.429.
Other Causes
A total of £12,320 was distributed during 2023 as follows and included gifts lo
Operation Mobilisalion, Checkpoint Christian Youth Trust, Teach Beyond, Plalform 67
and the Friends ol Wem Cemetery. In addilion. a fLJrther £9.624 was generously given
by Church members via restricted offerings, to a variely of Christian charities.
Reserves Polic
The Managing Trustees maintain a balance on unreslricted funds of £10,000 to cover
emergency situations that may arise from lime to time.
Conclusion
The Church enlers 2024 with a solid cash balance of over £65.000. Whilst a deficit
budget has once again been lonnulated. this is based on a prudenl view of income
and will nol impact on the reserves policy as covered above,
The Managing Trustees are grateful to everyone involved in the management of the
church linances and recognise God's continued financial provision to Wem Baptist
Church.

Structure, Governance and Management
Weni Baptist Church is a charilable unincorporated associalion. The way Ihal Ihe
church is governed is sel out in the church's constitution thal was revised and agreed
on 20th September 2022. The members ol the church elect elders and deacons lo
govern, manage and serve Ihe church, and together Ihese acl as Managing Trustees
for the charity- During 2022, one of the elders was a full-lime paid worker las paslorl.
Three of the Deacons, {the general administrator, financial administrator and cleaner)
were also employed part-time. The church's constitution allows for this, wilh suitable
safeguards tor the avoidance of conflicts of interest.
The church is attiliated to Ihe Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC},
The holding trustee for the manse and the Chapel Street premises is the Church
Growth Trust.
Administrative Infomalion
Wem Bapiisl Church is sÉtuated in Chapel Street, Wem. Shrewsbury, Shropshire. SY4
SER.
Wem Baptist Church's Charily Regislralion Number is 1149374.
hllanaging Trustees who have served in the period 1s1 January 2023 until 31st
December 2023 as follows:
Nathan Burley - Chairman
lon Berry- Vice Chairman
Robin Townsend (appointed 5th June 2023)
Lorna Dakin- Administrator
Ashley Bone
Elizabeth Dakin
Graham loynes
John Paul Towers (appointed 4th December 2023)
Lyn Towers - Financial Administrdtorrfreasurer (appointed 4th December 2023)

Declaration
The Managiry Trustees declare that they have approved the above report.
Signed on behalf of the Managing Truslees (1}-
Full Name= Nathan Philip Godfrey Burley
Chair of the Tfustees
Signed on behaFf ol the Managing Trustees {21=
7JZI
Full Name- Elizabeth Patricia Dakin
Truslee & Chair ol the Dea(x)ns

Independent Examiner's Report to the
Management Committee of Wem Baptist Church
on Ihe Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Basis of independent examiner's report
We report on the accounts ol Weffl Baptist Church for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The Group's officers are responsible for Ihe preparation ol the accounts. The Group's officers
consider that an audit is not required for this year and Ihal an independent examination is needed.
11 is our responsibility to..
examine the accounts
lo follow the general directions for Ihe conduct of an independent examination
to stale whether particular matters have come to our attenlion.
Basis of independent examiner's slatemenl
Our examination was carried oul in accordance Wllh general directions for an independent
examination. An examination includes a review ol the accounting records kepl by the committee
and a comparison of the accounts presenled wilh those records. 11 also includes consideration ol
any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as a
comrniltee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the
evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audil opinion
on the view given by ihe accounts.
Independent examiner's slalemenl
In connection with our examination. no matter has come to our attention-
which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in, any mateTial respect, the
requirements
to keep appropriate accounting records; and
lo prepare accounls which accord with the accounting records and comply with
applicable financial reporling standards
have not been mel- or
lo which, in our opinion, attention shouEd be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Community Accounting Services Lld
7 Napoleon Drive
Shrewsbury
SY3 SPH
Date:
2010912024

Wem Baplisf Church
omtr & Expenditure Accounts
lor the Year Ended 31 December 2trXJ
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
Rest￿Cted Total Funds
Funds
2023
Total
Funds
2022
2023
Iti¢ome
Olferings
Gill Aid & Bank Inte￿$1
Granis
Donations
Refreshments
Bookstall
Church GfOUPS
Other Income
74.270
15.164
7,926
74,270
16,236
73.659
Y6.387
1,390
10.213
1.587
158
1,265
1.072
8,872
9,913
2,589
132
132
Totsl Incorne
1D4,156
10,944
115.100
106.051
Expenditute
Running costs
Wages
Pension
Travel & relocat*Jn expenses
Conference Expenses
Repairs & Maintenanc8
Light & heat
Insurance
Rates
Legal & prolessKn
IniJepeThl8nl examin
Telephone
Publicity
Cornpulef eosts & 8quipTrsent
LiceKes
Bookstall
Evangelisrn
chI￿re￿ & Youth
Refreshments
DonatlOnS to other causes
Training
Deacon's gifts
Printing & Stationery
Subscriptions
Ge￿ra1 expenses
34289
1054
2.741
465
324
10,617
3.559
1,319
1.319
5.498
3,290
4,059
5,498
4,059
3.781
10.018
1,633
1.917
2.134
739
146
78
2.293
1J60
21.954
729
592
3, 732
1.917
2134
739
146
192
920
1,676
786
19.775
550
405
825
1.000
2.355
l293
9.624
soo
700
1373
2.3n
Tolal Exp8nses
87.2W2
9.624
96.826
102,707
Nei Incoming Resour¢e5 Before
Transfers
16.954
18,274
3.344
Transfer Behveen Funds
Net Incorning ReSOUTce8
16,954
18.274
3.344
Fund balance breughl forward at 1 January 2023
46.541
614
47.155
43.811
Fund 8alance Carried Fonvard at 31
December 2023
63,495
1,934
65,429
47, 155
The state￿￿￿t ol financi￿ actNiilies indL#Jes al gairs wxl bsses recognised in the year. All Irthming
rÈsources and resources derive fr(yn conliwit¥J ac11vit￿.

Wem Baptist Church
Statement ol Assets
lor the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Unrestricled Bestrlcted
Funds
Funds
2023
2023
Total
Funds
2023
Cash al bank
63.495
65,429
Signed on behalf of the eharity's trustees
Nathan Phllip Godfrey Burley
Chair ol th• Trusiee$
Date 32 [aOZ
Eliubeth P3trieia Dakln
Trustee & Chair of the Deacons
MJL
Date
27Kc)q I2C>Z%-
10