Page 1 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Wantage Baptist Church** ## **Annual Trustees’ Report and Accounts for the Year Ending 31[st] December 2021** The Charity Trustees of Wantage Baptist Church have pleasure in submitting their report and the financial statements of the Church for the year ending 31[st] December 2020 ## **Objectives and Activities** The principal objective of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith, especially by means of and in accordance with the principles of the Baptist denomination. In particular, the Church seeks to do this through meetings to provide occasions for worship, proclamation of the gospel and instruction in the Christian faith as well as outreach events and evangelism to the local Wantage community. The Church may also carry out other charitable purposes. ## **Achievements and Performance** In 2021, we have been able to continue to share the love of Christ with the community, gradually returning to more normal activities as the Covid pandemic eased. During the first half of the year, Covid restrictions limited what we could do. Nevertheless, online activities including Sunday services, bible study and prayer group sessions, and meetings for children, youth and ladies were able to continue. These continued to attract most pre-pandemic attenders, as well as a significant number of new people. We were also able to maintain contact with, and provide support to, people who would normally be involved in our activities but who were unable to make use of online facilities. After Easter, in-person events were gradually able to start including Sunday services (for limited numbers) and outdoor events. By the autumn we were largely able to resume our normal regular weekly activities including Sunday services, Sunday School, bible study and prayer group sessions and Women’s Fellowship. We are also continuing to stream services online, as a service to those who are unable to attend for any reason. The weekly Parents and Toddlers sessions also restarted, which again attracted many people from outside the church. We have continued to operate the King's Centre shop except when prevented by Covid regulations. This provides Christian resources for sale as well as providing an opportunity to reach out to the wider community, or for people to make contact with us in a friendly environment. Many such contacts have been reported. The shop also acts as a collection point and storage facility for the local Food Bank. We have continued our support for the local Street Pastors, who use our buildings as an operating base. Our buildings are also available to other local independent churches, in particular for baptisms and marriages. We also support the local community by making our building available to a local community choir (once Covid restrictions were eased), for use by the local secondary school for examinations, and for the local elections. Page 2 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts The church has made financial gifts to other organisations involved in advancing the Christian faith, as detailed in the accounts. In carrying out its activities in the year under review, the trustees have had regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission, and are satisfied that the activities mentioned above have all been for the public benefit. ## **Financial Review** The Leadership views the underlying financial position of the Church as being satisfactory. It is the Church’s policy to maintain unrestricted cash reserves of £10,000, corresponding to approximately two months normal expenditure. At the end of 2021 the Church held such reserves of £53,388, so there is a surplus of funds available. The main Church building is a historic asset but no valuation has been included in the accounts because of the cost of such a valuation compared to the benefit it would deliver to advancing the Church’s objectives. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Wantage Baptist Church is an independent church constituted as an unincorporated association governed by a constitution adopted on 19th September 2013. The church is also subject to the terms of the trust deeds under which its premises are held. Leadership within the Church is provided by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons who are the Charity Trustees and have control and oversight of the Church. All are elected by the Church Members Meeting. The Pastor, Elders and Deacons during 2021 and at the date of this report were as follows: _Pastor:_ Jeremy Fernandez _Elders:_ None. _Deacons:_ David Hillsdon Gillian Hutchinson Barrie Steers Martin Torbet The Pastor, Elders and Deacons meet monthly to consider the spiritual direction and pastoral concerns of, the Church and to discuss and decide upon practical aspects of the Church’s day to day functioning. A Church Members Meeting occurs on at least four occasions during the year. All these meetings were able to take place during the pandemic as online meetings. The leadership has overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that: Page 3 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 - the charity is operating efficiently and effectively; - its assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition; - proper records are maintained and financial information used in the charity or for publication is reliable; and - the charity complies with relevant laws and regulations. The internal controls are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include: - regular consideration by the Deacons of the financial results; - delegation of authority and segregation of duties; and - identification and management of risks. The major risks as identified by the Leadership have been reviewed and systems set up to mitigate them. ## **Other Administrative Details** - _Registered Name_ Wantage Baptist Church - _Alternative name_ Wantage Baptist - _Registered Charity No_ 1163191 - _Church address_ 6 Mill Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9AQ - _Property Trustees_ The Fellowship Property Trust Ltd. - _Bankers_ Barclays Bank plc - _Independent Examiner_ David Cooke and Co., Chartered Accountants 5 Briar Close, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 9DS. Signed on behalf of the Charity Trustees: **GILLIAN AMANDA STEEDS HUTCHINSON DATE: 16[TH] OCTOBER 2022** Page 4 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Charity Trustees of Wantage Baptist Church on the Financial Statements for the year ending 31[st] December 2021** I report on the accounts of the Church for the year ending 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 5 to 12. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner** The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 44(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity - Commissioners under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and - To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner's report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 you as 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** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that, in any material respect - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did 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. David Cooke MA(Oxon), FCA, FCIE David Cooke and Co. Chartered Accountants 5 Briar Close Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 9DS Date: 8 November 2022 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page 5 Year Ending 31st December 2021 statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles for the Year Ending 31st December 2021 ReStr￿ted Fundo Note$ Unre*tr*ted The Klng's Funds1£1 Centre Iti Total Fund8 2021 1£} Total Fund8 20201£1 i£} Income Al Incomino Re¥ource3 Irom Generated Fun¢Js A18 - va￿￿tary kncome IGIft A￿edTr - Gift Ahj Recovered - VuhJntary kncome (Not GrftAid8dl Alt> - Dwthyend Alc Interest Ald - Investrnents Ale - Rent of Pren*es Alf AQ Inconno Resources frorn Chartsable A3 Other kncoming Resources Tol81 Incomiw Resources 52.190 00 11,840.75 7.798 $3 0.00 0.00 52.19Q 00 11.840.7S 8.41164 0.00 02 1.820.17 388 00 32.394 03 000 4926 107.385.87 51.140 00 13.933.75 11.58616 ooo 374 97 0.00 0.00 000 1,820.17 000 000 ooo. 292 02 .25 15.51594 0.00 847 $0 93.294.57 000 o.oo 492fj 72,558.56 32,394.03 o.oo' 0.00 32,394 03 2,433.28 Expenditure B1 Costs of Generatin4 Funds B18 - Costs of General￿g Voluntsry kncorne 610 - C)st of Goods Sokl B1 G - InveSt￿nt Mana9en*nt Costs B2 CharrtBbk ActN*￿S 62a B2b B2c - Comunty SuppDrt 62d Felh)wship & Outreach B2e U1￿1￿95 & u11*￿& B2f Equipment 629 - Adnntstra1￿n B2h - DepreG￿t￿ B3 Governance Coyts B4 Other Resources Expended Total RfrsouTcEsExpe￿LI 0.0 o.oo o.oo 0.00 0.00" 5.¥24.74 10.105.30 21,104.21 21.104.21 ooo 37,916.26 8,290.DO 0.00 1,290.29 11,732.43 717. 1,670. 232.92 7,019.83 0.00 68,870.05 o.oo 1,050.00, 0.00, 0.00 O.DO o.oo 0.00 9,7K2.54 o.oo o.oo' 10,832.54 37.916.26 9.310 00 37.523 54 9.040 00 1.974.00 3.542 83 18.055 29 242.26 3.755 07 9.545 96 4.421.83 0.00 103.830 82 000 0.00 3.197 68 000 3,419.68 000 3972 o.oo' 27.781 49 1.2>0.29 14.930 31 717 5.Tr90.04 10.01546 7.059 55 0.00 107.464 08 Net h)eommg Resources Befc* Transter 3,668.51 4.632.$4 4,399.26 -78.21 4,399.26 Tr•n¥fer¥ GrDs5 Transfer5 Between FutKIs O.DO 000 NetlrKorniTrJ Resources 8e Ott￿[ Recoonised G&ith$ertl 3,￿.51 4.632.54 -B.3992fj -7821 .399.26 other Recoonised Gain¥ and Losses D1 Gainsnosses on ReY8luatiDn of FLxed Assets D2 G0inSJio￿es on knve3lwenl Assets AduarKI G8inslLDsses Dn Defined Benefls PeTr$￿)n Schemes Nel MoveR*ntin Ffmds O.DO 0.00 000 o.oo 0.00 527 T3 D3 o.oo o.Do -10.008.52 3,668.51 4.632.54 .39926 -7821 -23.291.52 Reconciliation of Funds E1 Funds 8roughl Forward E2 Net m0veN￿nI In Funds Total Fu￿$ C8med FcTh8 $5,226.77 3 688.51 58,915 28 15,348.25 450.505.26 .39926 442.106.00 521,080.28 -7821 521,002.07 549.811.27 -23.291.52 526.519 75 19.980 79 Page 6 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts **GILLIAN AMANDA STEEDS HUTCHINSON (DEACON/TREASURER)** Date: 16[TH] OCTOBER 2022 Page 7 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December, 2021** Page 8 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December, 2021 (continued)** Page 9 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Notes the accounts for the year ended 31 December, 2021 (continued)** Page 10 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Notes the accounts for the year ended 31 December, 2021 (continued)** Page 11 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Notes the accounts for the year ended 31 December, 2021 (continued)** Page 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2021 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Notes the accounts for the year ended 31 December, 2021 (continued)**