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← Bromsgrove Baptist Church

2023-12-31-accounts

Bromsgrove Baptist Church New Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 2JD

01527 877190 www.bromsgrove-baptists.org.uk Charity Number: 1154922

Charity Commission Annual Report 2023

Our year began with prayer and thankful hearts as we said goodbye to our minister of eleven years, Paul Lewis as he stepped down from his position and moved into a role elsewhere. As the year progressed, we prayed and had many discussions as we sought to understand God’s plan for the future of our church and how we could best continue to serve our local community.

Aim & Purposes

Bromsgrove Baptist Church’s aim is that that through all of our church activities, as well as through involvement in our wider communities, all people will come to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Jesus has so much to offer all people, whether life seems easy or not.

We are seeking to demonstrate the love of God for all people through the way in which we live our lives of faith in unity together.

With the Bible to help everyone understand who God is, we believe that we are guided by God’s Holy Spirit to be an expression of the community that God longs to see throughout the world.

Objectives & Activities

When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We believe our purpose as a church is to be “Offering the transforming love of Jesus Christ in the realities of life”. We hold that closely through our core values of “Belonging”, “Growing”, “Serving” in the words that we speak, as well as in our care for each other, and support for our local community.

BELONGING I Corinthians 12.12-27. Acts 2.42-47. John. 13.31-38 Our vision is to be a communty of God's people living out compassionate care. offering generovs hospilality, and embracing ways ol gracious belonging. We will do Ihis by: LoNing each olher as family, caring for the whole person, and lovlng our neighbour as ourselves. Being open wlth our welcome to ensure that everyone feels al home and thows that Ihey are valued in our community. Giving priority to those in need os we release time and resource5 to the meet the needs of those around us. Demonstrating our commitment lo Jesus through baptism and our commitment lo each other through Covenant Partnership. Respecting view-points and opinions different to our own as we willingly explore dlversity logelher, and respond lo each olher In Chrlst-like ways.

Achievements & Performance

Belonging:

We have continued to enable people to understand that Bromsgrove Baptist Church is a place where we belong together in Covenant Partnership. Our church attendance can be seen to have increased towards the later part of the year as new individuals have begun to worship with us. Three people were baptised during the year and three joined us in covenant partnership.

The strength of our belonging together is seen in the outworking of church life, not in numerical data. To that end, it is through all that we share together, and through all that we offer to others, that we truly demonstrate that Bromsgrove Baptist Church is a place to belong together.

Growing:

We have continued to hold ‘hybrid’ services, both meeting in person and also making our Sunday morning service available via live stream. As we met in person, we have continued to bear in mind those who are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 by upholding some safety measures. Numbers attending our children and youth work have also increased.

Serving:

We have been pleased to serve those within our local community in a number of ways. From the very youngest members of our community through our parent and toddler group ‘Little Wonders’ and ‘Messy Church’ Superhero and Christmas events which welcomed toddlers and younger school aged children along with their parents or carers were a great success. These welcomed many families and allowed us to have meaningful conversations with those who attended from the local area. We were also able to continue serving the older members of our community through outreach such as ‘Coffee Pot’ and a new outreach called ‘The Living Room’ which began in March and provides a warm space, a home cooked meal and Bible study and prayer.

The Christmas season saw the return of in-person pantomime performances. We welcomed around 600 people through our doors to watch Saltmine’s performances of ‘Red Riding Hood’ and a further 500 school children for our schools’ performances of ‘Neverland – Peter Pan Reimagined’. A further 200 people attended our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ a week before Christmas and Christingle service on Christmas Eve.

We continue to have a strong association with the Bromsgrove Street Pastors who use our building as a base for their outreach each week.

Our ongoing support of Bromsgrove Youth & Community Hub (The Hub), which operates out of the basement area of our premises, has continued to be vital.

Leadership

Our leadership priority is to enable others to actively participate in the life of the church. Our Minister and Deacons form our core “Leadership Team”, alongside whom we affirm others in “Co-ordinator” roles. Our minister, Paul Lewis tendered his resignation which became effective as of 31[st] January 2023.

Financial Review

Overview

The church had a reasonable financial year as incoming from rent exceeded what had been predicted. Income from giving came in under budget. Spending on major projects has also begun this year as the ageing church boiler and church gas-fired heaters have become irreparable meaning that replacement heating sources have started to be installed. The church is a participating employer within the Defined Benefit section of the Baptist Pension scheme and has been making ongoing deficit payments of £1 per month to cover the costs of past service of its staff within the scheme. The church has no plan to leave the scheme and expects to continue to make payments to the scheme in line with the recovery plan. For a fuller account please see the attached accounts documentation.

Reserves Policy

Bromsgrove Baptist Church does not have a formal reserves policy. We are mindful of the guidance to retain sufficient reserves in order to be able to close the church in an orderly manner should this be required.

Administration Information

Bromsgrove Baptist Church is situated on New Road in the town of Bromsgrove. The correspondence address is: Bromsgrove Baptist Church; New Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 2JD.

Those individuals who have served on our Leadership Team for all or part of the period of this report are:

Approved at a meeting of the Leadership Team on 8[th] October 2024

Bromsgrove Baptist Church - 2023 Accounts

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Accounts (General Fund)
Summary Actual '22 Budget '23 Actual '23
Receipts 147,240.04 136,880.00 132,835.06
minus
Payments - 142,478.42 - 136,473.00 - 102,207.48
TOTAL 4,761.62 407.00 30,627.58
Receipts Actual '22 Budget '23 Actual '23
Rent for use of Charity Centre
Castle Kids Rental 7,900.00 8,700.00 5,175.00 A
Casual Rental 7,516.00 4,800.00 11,580.25
Hub Rental 5,645.00 7,000.00 6,925.00
Total 21,061.00 20,500.00 23,680.25
Income from Donations and Legacies
Donations 6,598.89 6,000.00 6,365.19
Gift Aid Claimed 20,279.40 20,000.00 21,216.95
Giving - Gift Aided 81,509.80 71,000.00 63,291.80
Giving - Non-Gift Aided 13,676.00 15,600.00 13,025.00
Legacies 0.00 0.00 86.10
Total 122,064.09 112,600.00 103,985.04
Income from other trading activities
Events 2,774.45 3,500.00 2,671.10
Investment Income
Dividends & Investments 85.40 100.00 0.00
Interest Received 370.94 180.00 2,333.58 B
Refunds 0.00 0.00 43.76
Repayments 884.16 0.00 121.33
Total 1,340.50 280.00 2,498.67
TOTAL RECEIPTS 147,240.04 136,880.00 132,835.06
Payments Actual '22 Budget '23 Actual '23
Charity Running Costs
Audiovisual Systems - - 4,000 - 3,012.79
Church Cleaning - 4,902.00 - 5,244 - 5,207.52
Church Insurance - 4,322.81 - 4,600 - 4,841.55
Church Repairs & Renewals - 3,703.98 - 4,000 - 4,806.82
Major Projects - 23,300.98 - 45,000 - 9,141.41
Communications Service - 1,074.17 - 1,200 - 1,612.14
Consumables - 1,511.36 - 1,200 - 1,646.43
Electricity - 2,352.86 - 2,900 - 3,268.72
External Speaker Fees - 1,173.39 - 3,450 - 1,812.85
Licence Fees - 1,983.56 - 1,700 - 1,565.84
Organisation Subscriptions - 588.60 - 540 - 478.85
Gas - 9,771.41 - 9,200 - 6,544.41
Miscellaneous - 323.08 - -
Photocopier & Printing Costs - 940.29 - 1,080 - 975.45
Rubbish Collection - 915.54 - 1,000 - 953.42
Water & Sewage - 3,406.11 - 2,160 - 2,224.42
Fund transfers - - - 123.20 C
Training Courses - - - 300.00
Total - 60,270.14 - 87,274.00 - 48,515.82
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Page 1

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Clergy Expenses
Manse Cncl Tax & Services - 4,594.39 - 2,260 - 3,057.03
Manse Insurance - 464.88 - 500 - 501.45
Manse Repairs & Renewals - 1,159.56 - 5,000 - 2,097.89
Ministerial Expenses - 784.54 - 100 - 518.63 D
Total - 7,003.37 - 7,860.00 - 6,175.00
Employee Costs
Administrator Eee NIC - - - 410.94
Minister Eee NIC - 2,594.91 - 184 -
Employer NIC - - - 564.20
Administrator Income Tax - - -
Ministerial Income Tax - 3,366.20 - -
Administrator Pension - 1,714.56 - 1,762 - 2,274.79
Ministerial Pension - 9,978.19 - 548 - 615.59
Administrator Salary - 8,073.00 - 9,018 - 13,701.20 E
Ministerial Stipend - 22,844.88 - 1,797 - 2,018.38
Total - 48,571.74 - 13,309.00 - 19,585.10
Financial Services
Bank Charges - 81.50 - 60 - 60.00
Financial Services - 201.00 - - 200.00 F
Total - 283 - 60 - 260
Mission & Evangelism
AHAVA - 1,500.00 - -
Baptist Home Mission - 6,000.00 - 6,300 - 6,300.00
Baptist World Mission - 5,500.08 - 6,000 - 6,000.00
Children's Ministry - 871.84 - 600 - 1,034.21
Sparks - 545.17 - 400 - 120.00
Sprout - 346.29 - 600 - 297.31
Church Events - 698.46 - 1,200 - 1,209.55
Pantomime - 3,482.34 - 4,600 - 4,157.61
Compassion - 672.00 - 720 - 704.00
Hope & Kindness - 1,500.00 - 1,700 - 1,700.00
Literature & Advertising - 734.49 - 750 - 1,048.88
Meninadanca - 1,500.00 - 1,700 - 1,700.00
National Mission - 1,500.00 - 1,700 - 1,700.00 G
NoviMost - 1,500.00 - 1,700 - 1,700.00
Total - 26,350.67 - 27,970.00 - 27,671.56
TOTAL PAYMENTS - 142,478.42 - 136,473.00 - 102,207.48
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Page 2

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Funds Summary
Funds holdings: Start 2023 End 2023
Restricted funds: £ 32,938.09 £ 33,855.56
Designated funds: £ 51,672.00 £ 51,672.00
£ 84,610.09 £ 85,527.56
Funds change: 917.47
General fund change: 30,627.58
Total Funds change: 31,545.05
….
Bank Accounts Start 2023 End 2023 should be
CAF Cash £ 40,492.57 £ 39,773.27 equal to:
CAF Gold £ 98,327.62 £ 130,591.97 ….
£ 138,820.19 £ 170,365.24 31,545.05
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Page 3

Funds of Money held within Church Bank Accounts

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Start 2023 Income Outgoing End 2023
Restricted Funds
(Restricted Funds may only be used for the purposes that they are provided.)
£ 1,693.66 £ - Mission Visits £ - £ 1,693.66
£ 816.79 Fellowship Needs -£ 12.99 £ 803.80
£ 9,629.42 £ 1,832.91 Little Wonders -£ 1,087.45 £ 10,374.88
£ 20,969.86 £ - 1000 Days £ - £ 20,969.86
-£ 176.20 £ 911.09 Holding Fund -£ 821.53 -£ 86.64 H
£ - £ 300.00 Building User Deposit holding -£ 200.00 £ 100.00 J
£ 4.56 £ - SBHS CU -£ 4.56 £ -
£ 32,938.09 £ 3,044.00 -£ 2,126.53 £ 33,855.56
Designated Funds
(Designated Funds are set aside for a proposed purpose but may be redirected to general (unrestricted) funds if required.)
£ 51,672.00 £ - Contingency Fund £ - £ 51,672.00
£ 51,672.00 £ - £ - £ 51,672.00
£ 84,610.09 £ 3,044.00 -£ 2,126.53 £ 85,527.56
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Notes for 2023 accounts

A Castle Kids Rental

Rental payments from Castle Kids are invoiced and paid at the of each school term. Spring and summer payments were received but Autumn term was received in January 2024 and will appear in next years accounts.

B Interest Received

A concious effort was made to maximise the balance in the CAF Gold account to enable the church to take advantage of higher interest rates.

C Fund transfers

Money transferred to Holding Fund to cover shortfall in 2022

D Ministerial expenses

This included a payment to P.Lewis to settle some final expenses.

E Administration Salary

Additional cost is for a second Administrator hired on a fixed term 12-month contract to provide maternity cover for 6 months of 2023

F Finational Services

This fee is for our independent check of the accounts. This will be budgeted for in 2024.

G National Mission

G National Mission
Donation made to Christians Against Poverty
H Holding Fundis made up of:
Oustanding monies owed to fund to be received in 2024 £ 195.19
Outstanding monies owed from fund to be paid in 2024
Comic Relief (Little Wonders) £ 82.95
Crisis Uk (Sprout Quiz additional donation) £ 25.60
TOTAL £ 108.55
J Building user deposit holding fund
This is a new fund set up to manage Building user deposits.
Received and returned in 2023
Silly Sprouts
Barnt Green Choral Society
Currently holding
Headway Worcestershire (£100)

BROMSGROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

CHARITY NUMBER 1154922

PERIOD OF ACCOUNTS 1 January 2023 to 31 DEC EMBER 2023

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charity's Act 2011 (the Charity's Act) and that an independent examination is needed

Basis of independent examiners statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

of the accounts to be reached.

Signed

K R Moore

Date 12[th] September 2024

Keith Roger Moore

KLM Accounts

Independent Examiner 15 Shenstone Road

Great Barr

Birmingham B43 5LW