Page 1 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2023 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Wantage Baptist Church** ## **Annual Trustees’ Report and Accounts for the Year Ending 31[st] December 2023** 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 2023. ## **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 2023, we have been able to continue to share the love of Christ with the community. We have continued our regular weekly Sunday services, including Sunday School. We have continued to see growth in regular attendance, not just on Sundays but in our other activities. We have also continued to stream services online, for the benefit of those who are unable to attend for any reason. We have continued with weekly small group meetings (“life groups”) for fellowship, prayer and bible study. Attendance at these is close to 70 people across several groups. There are also special groups for carers and for those who live alone to meet and share. A number of events for children have been held. For younger children, these include an Easter holiday bible club and an alternative “halloween” event. These events were well attended, including by children not otherwise connected to the church. There is also a regular program of events for older children, including popular social events. The weekly Parents and Toddlers sessions continue to attract a large number of people from outside the church. We have continued to operate the King's Centre shop. This provides an opportunity to reach out to the wider community, or for people to make contact with us in a friendly environment, as well as providing Christian resources for sale. A weekly needlecraft group brings together a number of people, including from outside the church, and other activities are planned. 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. We also continue to make our buildings 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, and for use by the local secondary school for examinations. The church has made financial gifts to other organisations involved in advancing the Christian faith, as detailed in the accounts. We also hold occasional meetings to keep in touch with the activities of these organisations. Page 2 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2023 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and 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 2023 the Church held such reserves of £54,152, 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 2022 and at the date of this report were as follows: ## _Pastor:_ Jeremy Fernandez ## _Elders:_ Peter Smillie _Deacons:_ David Hillsdon Gillian Hutchinson Matthew Shewring Barrie Steers Martin Torbet The Elders meet monthly to consider the spiritual direction and pastoral concerns of the Church while the Elders and Deacons together meet monthly to discuss and decide upon practical aspects of the Church’s day to day functioning. A Church member’s meeting occurs on at least four occasions during the year. 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: - the charity is operating efficiently and effectively; - its assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition; Page 3 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2023 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts - 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 (DEACON/TREASURER)** Date: 29[th] July 2024 Page 4 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2023 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 2023** I report on the accounts of the Church for the year ending 31 December 2023, 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: 24 September 2024 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page5of12 Year Ending 31st December 2023 statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ending 31st December 2023 Mote* Unre¥lri¢ted Th¢ ￿"ng.• Fund• (£1 Centre 1£) R¢•tricted Fund• Totsl Fun(l• 20231£) Totsl fund• 20221£) Income A1 knc£)miig Resources froffl Generaled Funds Ala - Vobjnlary hcorre IGIft A￿ed} - Gift A* Recovered - VohJn18ry kncoff* (Not Gift Athd} Alb D￿￿endS Alc knlerest Ald _ knve$tn*nts Ale - Rent of *errnses Alf Sa*s kncormg RvJources from Chariab* A3 Other kno)rMg Resour Total IrwThTrJ Resowcts $7003 13463 15348 $7003 13463 16927 $2791 15428 17857 2225 2225 712 15438 15438 23023 9766 27082 23023 103898 23053 128499 119635 Expendrture 61 Costs of Generatrg Funds B18 - Costs ol Generatiio Vohjntary hcome B1b - Cost of Goods Sohj B1c knvestwtnt IAanagew*nt Costs 82 Chartab* AcaNths B28 - MnLsIry B2b - m￿1)n B2c - Corrff￿nfy SupFort 82d _ Fehjwshp 8 Outreach B2e - 8uhJngs & Ut#*s B2f - Equ*)n*nt B29 - AdTMMlrol*Jn B2tt Depre¢￿t￿n 63 Governance Costs B4 Olher Resources Expended Totol ResoureÈs 12129 12129 17603 44397 9230 44397 10730 38557 14945 3337 31960 1534 3337 6153 1534 $904 11030 7174 53 5838 11614 1907 10 1247 7130 9783 22766 11283 134877 128310 Net kncorrffjo Resources Before Trnn$fer$ 287 4734 4378 467$ Tr•n•f¢r• Gross Transfer$ 8etween Furbds t I￿1r￿4 Resources Before Other Recc47nssed Gains arny 287 -9734 378 4675 O¢her Re¢ouni$ed Goin* and Lo**e• D1 Gam￿L￿$se3 on ReY•hJèton of FNed Assets D2 Ga1)￿L•s$e$ ort h)vestr*nt Asset$ Actuanal GamslLosses on Defned Benefts P¢n$w)n S¢herr¢s t AS)vemerk in Futhjs 931 931 -1338 D3 287 U7 -10013 Reconciliation of Fund• E1 Funds Brought Forward E2 Net Moverr*nt Yi Funds T¢Xal FuTrYs F¢¥hY•rd 21324 287 21611 431$6S 510988 -$447 5540 $21002 -10013 510988 61167 422762 Page 6 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2023 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts **GILLIAN AMANDA STEEDS HUTCHINSON (DEACON/TREASURER)** Date:29[th] JULY 2024 Page 7 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2023 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December, 2023 (continued)** Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page8of12 Year Ending 31st December 2023 Chantabl• Activltl•s: Mlsslon Notès Unresliicled Funds 1£) The lQng's Centre (£1 Restrlcted Fund$ Tolal Fund5 20231£) Tolal Funds 20221£1 Afnca Inland Mission Be Space Bible Soaety Jim Hames London c￿ Mission Misc Open Doors Pilgrim Homes ROPE Spurgeons Streel Pastors TearDJnd- General Support Uknaine chrisb.an MiTristn"8s- General Support 1220 460 800 250 1220 460 800 250 1200 1440 1000 300 1100 940 300 1100 940 420 500 260 260 865 3900 1500 5400 9520 Total 9230 1500 10730 14945 Charrtable Activities: Community Support Unrestricted Funds 1£) The ￿"nO'S Cenlre (£1 Restricted Funds Totsl Funds 20231£) Totsl Funds 20221£) 1£) Felllowship Gilts Totsl Chadiable A¢tlvitles: Fellowship & Oulreach The King's Centre 1£) Rèsirlcied Funds Totsl Funds 20331£) Total Funds 20221£) Notes Unrestricted Funds 1£) Books Catering CAP Church Weekend Crèc*elToddlers Dickensian Evenin9 EngageNoulh Evangelism Fellowship Grtts HappyAcoms Holiday Club Hot Topics Ladies. Group Light Party Men's Group Miscellaneous Expenses Pastoral Care Sandtianks Wisit Schools. Evangelism Soaal Events Sunday School Training 1218 1218 1466 51 51 223 223 500 109 109 151 139 82 -23 146 12 880 139 62 -23 146 12 880 451 1020 26 494 26 494 2547 17 Total 3337 3337 6153 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page9of12 Year Ending 31st December 2023 Charitable Activities: Buildings & Utilities Unrestricted The ￿ng.• Funds 1£) Centre (£1 Restricted Total Fund8 Funds 30231£) Totsl Fund¥ 20221É1 Ilote• Church Bu*JMgs E*ctr FrAtureJ, Fltwigs & EquiJrr*nl 6545 654S 1978 1930 3113 Surante IAamtenance IALs¢el&neous lerh Tekphone Water Church Totsl 15Z26 592 27677 592 27677 337 Manse Bu￿￿93 CounclTox F￿tUreS, FIAMP & Equi)ff*nt knsurance IAaffitenance M•n•e Tc*tsl 363 1997 3251 363 1997 3251 360 10143 11193 Cemetery M8mlen8nce Cemetery Totsl The ￿'n9'S Centre Bu￿￿9$ Ekctrtty Gos knsurance a￿tenance Rent (Serw ¢hargel Te*phone Water ng'¥ Cenlre Tol•l 137 137 795 795 600 1105 504 1244 454 1244 454 137 6821 4372 Total 31960 32640 Charitable Activities: Equiprnent Vnre#tTiCted The ￿'n￿.1 Fund* 1£) Centre l£1 Re*tricted Toi41 Funds Fund¥ 231£) Totd Fund$ X1221£1 corrputers Fre Exthguoher •Jr¢h•se Klchen Equ￿￿nI bk Address IPA) Equpn%nt Mscelaneous Projector, D&%phy Screen 285 381 265 381 33 20 Total 1S34 1S34 53 Charitable Activities: Adminisiration Notes Unre•tricted The ￿"n9' Fund• 1£) C¢ntre l£1 Re•tri¢ted Totsl Fund• Fund* ?31£1 T*M Fund• 20221£1 Bank Chorges Fees Offu Expenxs Postage & Pockng Pmimg Stat￿ntry 419 2832 790 1316 3120 456 4436 456 599 31 599 31 1677 120 Total 5904 S838 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page 10of12 Year Ending 31st December 2023 10 Fixed Assets Note• Unre8tricted The King'• Fund81£1 Cenlre (Él Restricted Yotsl Fund• Fund# 20231£) Totsl Fund• 221£> A*•et• Brought Forward knvestn*nts Frxtures. & Equprr*nt Bui1lli9S Totsl A¥set¥ Brought Forward 10768 2159 66048 489127 555175 78971 489127 76C60 489127 565187 10768 2155 Depfeeiaiion Broughl For￿rd vestw*nts F￿tures. F¢lm9s & Equpffont Bu￿￿g3 T•￿1 Oepr¢¢i•tion Brought Forward 4532 2159 72735 68479 71903 58697 68479 4532 2155 134527 141214 130600 Total N¢t Fixed A••et• Brought Forward 42C648 434587 In-year Costs knvest￿nts Frxtures, Fltmgs & EquprrtTht 2911 Total Coat* in Ye•r 2911 In-year Depreciotion Frxtures. F￿￿% & Equprrent Buthymgs Total Depreciation In Year 1247 1247 9783 11030 831 9783 10614 9783 9783 1247 Nel In-year Movement in Funda -1247 783 -11030 -7703 Depreciaiion Carried Forward vestwtnts FNtures, Fllm9s & EqupnEnt BU￿ing5 Total Depr¢¢i•tion C•rri¢d Forward 5779 2155 66048 78262 73982 78262 72735 68479 $779 2155 144310 152244 141214 Net Asset• Carri¢d For￿rd vestft*nt$ Frxbjres, Fthgs & Equprr*Tht U￿￿199 Totsl Mel Fixed A#*et* Carr*d Forwlrd 4989 410865 415854 62 42Cfj48 410t6S 410t6s Total Net F4xed A*•et• Carrled Forward 410e6S 41S8S4 10b Fixed Assets Inveslrnents Note• Unreslricled The King. Funds 1£) Centre (£1 Restricted Total Funds Fund* 20231£) Total Fund 20221£) Assets Brougttt Forward k)vestments 9317 9317 1C*SS In-year Movemenet k)vestments 931 931 -1338 Ilet A*set* C•rned Forward knvestments 10248 10248 9317 Tatal Net FÈxed A**et* Carned Forward 10248 10248 9317 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page11 of12 Year Ending 31st December 2023 11 Governance Costs Unresirieted The Kino'* Fund81£1 Centre 1£) Resiricied Totsi Fund* Fund8 X1231£1 Total Funds 20221É1 Bu$i)ess Lttnses & Perrr*s CCPAS F¢es Copyryht Ltinces FEC FEC Ltd hdependenl Fil•n￿l Exame¢s Fees Land Regi%lry Fees Le981 Fees Survtyo¢s Fees 41 290 766 240 170 170 00 S35 S35 570 Totsi 7130 7174 1907 12 Gr05s Transfers Betsveen Fui Ilote* Unrestricted The King'* Funds ¢£1 Centre (Èl Re81rKted Totsl Funds Fund$ 20231£1 Total Funds 20221£) Gross Transfers Between Furhds Lwbkns D￿Charged Totsl 13 The King's Centre Note* Unre•tricted The King'• Fund* {Él Centre (£1 Re8tri¢te