Blackhorse Road Baptist Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
BLACKHORSE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
65 Blackhorse Road Walthamstow E17 7AS
GOVERNING DOCUMENT
Declaration of Trust dated October 2013
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER
1154906
TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE CHARITY
David Arkell Timothy Barker James Brown (Associate Pastor) Veronica Hanson-Allen (resigned September 2024) James Hutchinson Veronica Neblett (Church Administrator) Malcolm Patten (Senior Pastor) Christine South (Treasurer) Clarisse Tchatchou (appointed September 2024)
CUSTODIAN TRUSTEES
London Baptist Property Board Ltd.
BANKERS
Barclays Bank plc
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Pages 2-3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Pages 7-8
Legal & Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
BLACKHORSE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a trust deed and is constituted as a trust. The charity's principal object, as set out in its governing document, is the advancement of the Christian faith. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the UK and/or other parts of the world.
Aims and purposes
The Trustees of Blackhorse Road Baptist Church, with the support of the Covenant Members’ Meeting, have responsibility to ensure that the church fulfils its objectives and also oversee the activities of the church. In particular they seek to ensure that the church’s legal responsibilities with regard to Safeguarding, Health and Safety, and Public Liability are fulfilled. They also seek to steer the church to ensure it continues to develop and grow and serve both its members and the local community well.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
2024 became a year when we finally felt that we had recovered from the covid-19 years. We have had a more settled congregation of around 100 and new members serving church life in a number of different ways. Our new Associate Pastor has grown into his role and brought some fresh impetus to our youth and students’ work and church life generally.
It was particularly encouraging to see our young people take more responsibility in church life including playing in the music group, running multimedia on Sundays and helping with the young people’s groups. Our Christmas services also saw our Junior Church and Youth contribute drama and songs and we enjoyed a performance by a local opera singer in our Carol service.
We had a delicious Men’s Breakfast at a local Carvery with an engaging speaker, something we intend to continue more regularly. Our Church lunches on occasional Sundays continue to prove very popular and in September we amalgamated our Church covenant service, with lunch and AGM elements (finances and leaders election) which encouraged greater participation by the congregation than we have seen for some time. We will continue to review our arrangements for church meetings in 2025 to make them more effective.
Following on from our commitment to outreach, we held ‘Crafts and Activities’ mornings linked to Easter and Christmas which strengthened our connections to those involved with our Toddler Group and Guides. Our preaching team remained strong and after a series through Hebrews moved on to John’s gospel. This is followed up in our Grow Groups (house groups) in which around 40 of our members attend. In September we brought all the groups together for a study series following the Prayer 24-7 course which proved particularly helpful in encouraging a deeper and richer personal prayer life amongst individuals. Together as a church we continued to benefit from the monthly zoom prayer on the first Wednesday of each month.
We had a baptism service in October in which four people were baptised. It was particularly pleasing that three of them were young people as we continue to see many of them give their lives to Jesus and witness to their faith in baptism.
As part of our commitment to our local community the church runs a Toddler Group and continues to host ‘Migrant Action’, a ‘Community Kitchen’, Police/residents forums and local residents’ groups. We have a Pilates group, a theatre school and Guides company using our church building.
We also rent out the hall at a reasonable cost on Saturdays for children’s parties. Our building use by outside users has returned to pre-covid levels.
Page 2
Structure, Governance and Management
The Trustees provide the overall governance of the church and meet at least three times a year. We held our AGM in September when Tim Barker and Dave Arkell were reappointed to serve another term and Clarisse Tchatchou was appointed to serve for the first time. Our Safeguarding Team continued to monitor compliance with our policy, deal with any concerns and ensure DBS checks and training is up to date. We have also updated our general health and safety policy and annual risk assessment.
Financial review
During the year income decreased by £7,000, to £127,100, and expenditure increased by £10,100, to £132,800. As a result the cash held by the charity decreased by £5,700, to £160,800, of which £155,500 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Our most significant outgoings are the Ministers’ stipends and building maintenance and we have plans for improvements which will require significant funding over the next few years. We continue to work towards our building improvements and are building up our funds to support significant expenditure anticipated in the next few years. We remain thankful that God continues to provide through the generous giving of his people.
Reserves policy
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £25,000 (which equates to about 3 months of overheads) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £155,500 and the charity is holding excess funds, as mentioned in the Financial Review above. The Trustees regularly review our income and spending to ensure that donations and assets are used to meet our objectives.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Malcolm Patten
_____ Malcolm Patten (Oct 13, 2025 16:48:42 GMT+1) Malcolm Patten Oct 13, 2025 Date:___
Page 3
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
BLACKHORSE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Blackhorse Road Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2024 on pages 5 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 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 2011 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 accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date:
Page 4
BLACKHORSE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Other grants Income from charitable activities Income from letting of facilities Interest Capital and similar receipts Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Loan repayments Net of receipts / (payments) before Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Loans made |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 85,843 - 19,332 - - - 540 1,150 12,437 - 5,245 - 123,396 1,150 - 1,900 - 1,900 123,396 3,050 103,544 14,141 - 12,991 103,544 27,132 - 1,000 - 1,000 103,544 28,132 19,852 (25,082) (26,214) 26,214 (6,362) 1,132 76,818 83,869 70,456 85,001 Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 668 - - - - - 668 - - 668 1,164 - 1,164 - - 1,164 (496) - (496) 5,874 5,378 |
2024 £ 86,511 19,332 - 1,690 12,437 5,245 125,214 1,900 1,900 127,114 118,849 12,991 131,840 1,000 1,000 132,840 (5,726) - (5,726) 166,561 160,835 |
2023 £ 88,792 20,161 4,700 581 15,865 3,960 134,060 - - 134,060 114,512 7,200 121,712 1,000 1,000 122,712 11,348 - 11,348 155,214 166,561 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
BLACKHORSE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposits Petty cash B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Other debtors C Liabilities Falling due within one year Fee for Independent Examination |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 7,404 - 62,484 85,001 568 - 70,456 85,001 16,559 - 100 - 16,659 - 1,026 - 1,026 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 5,378 - - 5,378 - - - - - |
2024 £ 12,782 147,485 568 160,835 16,559 100 16,659 1,026 1,026 |
2023 £ 18,273 148,240 48 166,561 16,967 1,500 18,467 1,020 1,020 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 7,404 62,484 568 70,456 16,559 100 16,659 1,026 1,026 |
D Assets retained for charity's own use
| Church property Manse 1 (purchased 1995) Manse 2 (purchased 2009) Church contents |
Fund to which asset belongs Endowment General General General |
Purchase Cost £ 31,100 150,000 272,460 453,560 |
Value 2024 £ 72,834 72,834 |
|---|---|---|---|
The properties are shown at original cost.
The church property is held as endowment so that the proceeds of sale can only be used for the purchase of another building. The trustees have used insurance values for church contents as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Malcolm Patten
Malcolm Patten (Oct 13, 2025 16:48:42 GMT+1)
_____Revd Malcolm Patten Oct 13, 2025 Date:_____
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
BLACKHORSE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs Note 4 Manse expenses, including insurance Note 4 Manse renovation Note 4 Maintenance of buildings & equipment Utilities Church insurance and licences Church activities including outreach Youth and Children's work Governance Administration and support Other costs 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Organisations: Tear Fund BMS World Mission London City Mission Worth Unlimited Christian Kitchen Wycliffe UK Good Shepherd Project Organisations < £1,000 Individuals |
General funds £ 74,463 4,006 - 5,360 6,927 6,582 1,789 732 990 2,695 - 103,544 - - - - - - - - - - Unrestrict |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - 13,086 - - 1,055 - - - - 14,141 1,490 1,505 1,505 1,490 1,505 1,505 1,505 1,450 1,036 12,991 ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - 1,164 - - - - 1,164 - - - - - - - - - - |
2024 £ 74,463 4,006 - 18,445 6,927 6,582 4,009 732 990 2,695 - 118,849 1,490 1,505 1,505 1,490 1,505 1,505 1,505 1,450 1,036 12,991 |
2023 £ 47,146 6,602 31,455 6,702 6,516 5,560 7,061 228 972 2,244 28 114,512 900 900 900 900 900 900 900 - 900 7,200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Transactions with related parties
Trustees M. Patten and J Brown served as Pastors [ministers] and were paid £34,793 and £33,032 [2023: £32,491 and £8,832] respectively for serving in that capacity, not for serving as trustees; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document and include employer pension contributions.
In addition the charity incurred expenditure totalling £4,006 [2023: £38,057] in respect of the provision of accommodation (which is customary for ministers) so that they could better perform their duties.
No payments were made to any other trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
Page 7
BLACKHORSE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
5 Movement of funds
| General funds Designated funds Tithe Fellowship Folkard Building Other designated Reserve Church conference Sizewell Hall Restricted funds Women's Bible Study Warm Spaces Project / Food and Friends Tearfund Total funds |
Opening balance £ 76,818 13,884 2,935 5,468 35,277 1,145 25,000 - 160 83,869 49 4,959 866 5,874 166,561 |
Receipts £ 123,396 - 1,900 - - - - 1,150 - 3,050 - - 668 668 127,114 |
Payments £ (103,544) (12,991) (1,690) - (13,086) - - (365) - (28,132) - (1,164) - (1,164) (132,840) |
Transfers £ (26,214) 11,709 1,706 - 12,798 - - 160 (160) 26,214 - - - - - |
Closing balance £ 70,456 12,602 4,851 5,468 34,990 1,145 25,000 945 - 85,001 49 3,795 1,534 5,378 160,835 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Tithe Fund was established by the church members and is administered by them. Income is derived from a tithe of all general funds offerings plus a tithe of any gifts of legacies to the general funds.
The Fellowship Fund was created by the Church in 1986. It is to be administered for the benefit of the members of the fellowship in confidence by the Deacons / trustees. New donations to this fund are treated as restricted.
The Folkard Fund is anticipated to be used for future building development works.
The Building Fund was created with the objective of identifying the money we have separated to help with maintenance work in the church building and manses.
Other designated includes funds to be used for Women's and Men's ministries in the church and community. The reserve is shown as designated and can be transferred using the trustees' discretion. The Church conference relates to an event.
The Women's Bible study funds are to be used in 2025. Warm Spaces Project – BRBC collaboration with the Women's Faith Network to run a Community Kitchen from our church hall. This is funded by LB Waltham Forest's Warm Spaces funding. The project is now called 'Food and Friends' but is essentially the same activity.
Tearfund - A special collection is taken on behalf of Tearfund a few times each year. These collections are amalgamated and paid to Tearfund.
6 The Baptist Pension Scheme
The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund, started in 1925. At the beginning of the financial year, the scheme comprised of a defined benefits scheme which was closed to future accrual on 31 December 2011 and a defined contribution plan which was opened in January 2012. 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 benefits on 31 December 2011. Prior to this date the main benefit provided through the 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.
For the current financial year, the pension provision for members of the Scheme is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Broadstone Corporate Benefits Ltd. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited.
In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased and the £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date.
Page 8