Dunstable Baptist Church
2023 Trustees’ Annual Report
Section A Reference and Administrative Details
Full Name and Principle Address
Dunstable Baptist Church, St Mary’s Gate, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3SW
Registered Charity Number
1164112
Financial Year
1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023
Trustees
The managing trustees are the elders and deacons of Dunstable Baptist Church who are responsible for Church funds and the running of the Church.
The trustees who served during 2023 were:
| Steve Burton | Pastor & Elder | Whole Year |
|---|---|---|
| Jef Hewitt | Elder & Chairman | Whole Year |
| Barry King | Pastor & Elder | Ended Oct 2023 |
| Nigel Browne | Deacon | Whole Year |
| Robert Davies | Deacon | Whole Year |
| Graham Starkey | Deacon | Whole Year |
Professional Advisers
Grace Baptist Trust Corporation, 19 Croydon Road, Caterham, Surry, CR3 6PA
Section B Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
Dunstable Baptist Church Constitution, Version 1 dated 28th January 2015
Appointments of Trustees/Church Leaders
The Trustees/Church Leaders were appointed by resolutions of the Church and every new appointment will be made in the same way and are recorded in the Church minutes.
Associated Charities
Dunstable Baptist Chapel (Charity Commission registered no. 233323) which is in the trust of the Grace Baptist Trust Corporation.
Christian Books, Dunstable (Charity Commission registered no. 801449)
Section C Objectives and Activities
Objects of the Charity
The principal object of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to Baptist principles and in accordance with the Basis of Faith as stated in Schedule 1 of the Constitution. The charity may also carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.
Main Activities in Relation to Public Benefit
The Trustees/Church Leaders are aware of, and have taken regard to, the Charity Commission’s guidance to public benefit in “The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit” and believe that the Main Activities detailed in Section D below, that are an outworking of the Objects above, provide a benefit to the public by:
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providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual and moral development, both for our members and for members of the public who want to benefit;
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promoting Christian values (based on the Bible), and service by members of the Church to the local community, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.
Grant Making Policy
Grants (donations) from the Church for Mission/Relief and pastoral gifts for individuals are decided by the Trustees/Church Leaders at the time that they are required and endorsed as necessary at the next Church members’ meeting.
Investment Selection Policy
Current and future policies are decided by the Trustees/Church Leaders, with professional advice being sought when necessary.
Section D Achievements and Performance
The church employs one pastor, Steve Burton. He is responsible for the pastoral care of the members of the Church and any others who come to the Church for spiritual help. In addition, the pastor and elders are responsible for overseeing the teaching given at all meetings of the Church. All involved in the work of the Church are volunteers except for the pastor. Discretionary payments have been made to those inside and outside the church undertaking individual preaching engagements that have been required. The church has a Safeguarding Policy (Protection of Christian and Vulnerable Adults) and volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults are DBS checked and trained.
Regular services and meetings have continued through the year including: Sunday worship, midweek Bible study and prayer meetings, Early Learning Time, DBC Kids, Tots and Co, Men’s Prayer Meetings and Ladies’ Bible Studies.
During the year donations were made to our four main missions: Grace Baptist Mission, European Missionary Fellowship, Grace Baptist Partnership, and Caring For Life.
Section E Financial Review
Reserved Funds
At the end of the year the money held in the Barclay’s Business Premium Account for the Church was £20,554.
Source of Funds
The principle source of funds is the voluntary giving by the members of the church and congregation, making use of the Gift Aid Scheme and the Small Donations Scheme where appropriate.
Section F Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Dunstable Baptist Church
Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
| Note Receipts Voluntary Receipts: Planned Giving & collection at services All other giving 2 Gift Aid recovered Activites for generating funds Investment income Church activities Total Receipts Payments Church activities 3 Governance costs Cost of generating funds Total Payments Excess of Receipts over Payments Transfer between funds Net movement in funds Cash at bank and in hand 1 January Cash at bank and in hand 31 December |
Total Total Notes to the Financial Statements General Manse Funds Funds Fund Fund 2023 2022 1 The Financial Statements of the Church have been with the Charities Act 2011 using the Receipts and 64,842 0 64,842 59,525 2 All other giving 11,514 0 11,514 92,403 Donations 10,832 0 10,832 11,462 Legacy 87,188 0 87,188 163,390 0 0 0 0 3 Church activities 0 53 53 8 Pastoral Ministry 0 0 0 0 Mission Support Ministry Expenses 87,188 53 87,241 163,398 Building Capital Expenditure Building Repairs and Renewals Utilities and Insurance 137,688 1,915 139,603 444,641 Manse Expenditure 325 0 325 250 Administration Expenses 0 0 0 0 Miscellaneous Expenses Wimbledon Building Fund 138,013 1,915 139,928 444,891 Purchase of manse Repayment of loan -50,825 -1,862 -52,687 -281,493 2,000 -2,000 0 0 -48,825 -3,862 -52,687 -281,493 69,379 6,590 75,869 357,362 20,554 2,728 23,182 75,869 Unrestricted Funds |
prepared in accordance Payments basis. 2023 2022 11,514 6,860 0 85,543 |
|---|---|---|
| 11,514 92,403 65,989 77,396 16,950 20,420 12,170 10,305 17,371 1,496 1,083 2,647 5,969 5,946 1,686 2,409 1,937 314 7,998 918 8,450 0 0 296,790 0 26,000 |
||
| 139,603 444,641 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2023
| Cash Funds Bank Current Account Deposit Account |
Total Total General Manse Funds Funds Fund Fund 2023 2022 20,454 20,454 69,279 2,728 2,728 6,590 Unrestricted Funds |
|---|---|
| 20,454 2,728 23,182 75,869 |
|
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Dunstable Baptist Church
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 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 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:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or The financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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The financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Financial statements and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
Robert Felix FCA 33 Broomhill Road Woodford Green Essex IG8 9HD Date : 1 October 2024
Dunstable Baptist Church
Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
| Note Receipts Voluntary Receipts: Planned Giving & collection at services All other giving 2 Gift Aid recovered Activites for generating funds Investment income Church activities Total Receipts Payments Church activities 3 Governance costs Cost of generating funds Total Payments Excess of Receipts over Payments Transfer between funds Net movement in funds Cash at bank and in hand 1 January Cash at bank and in hand 31 December |
Total Total Notes to the Financial Statements General Manse Funds Funds Fund Fund 2023 2022 1 The Financial Statements of the Church have been with the Charities Act 2011 using the Receipts and 64,842 0 64,842 59,525 2 All other giving 11,514 0 11,514 92,403 Donations 10,832 0 10,832 11,462 Legacy 87,188 0 87,188 163,390 0 0 0 0 3 Church activities 0 53 53 8 Pastoral Ministry 0 0 0 0 Mission Support Ministry Expenses 87,188 53 87,241 163,398 Building Capital Expenditure Building Repairs and Renewals Utilities and Insurance 137,688 1,915 139,603 444,641 Manse Expenditure 325 0 325 250 Administration Expenses 0 0 0 0 Miscellaneous Expenses Wimbledon Building Fund 138,013 1,915 139,928 444,891 Purchase of manse Repayment of loan -50,825 -1,862 -52,687 -281,493 2,000 -2,000 0 0 -48,825 -3,862 -52,687 -281,493 69,379 6,590 75,869 357,362 20,554 2,728 23,182 75,869 Unrestricted Funds |
prepared in accordance Payments basis. 2023 2022 11,514 6,860 0 85,543 |
|---|---|---|
| 11,514 92,403 65,989 77,396 16,950 20,420 12,170 10,305 17,371 1,496 1,083 2,647 5,969 5,946 1,686 2,409 1,937 314 7,998 918 8,450 0 0 296,790 0 26,000 |
||
| 139,603 444,641 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2023
| Cash Funds Bank Current Account Deposit Account |
Total Total General Manse Funds Funds Fund Fund 2023 2022 20,454 20,454 69,279 2,728 2,728 6,590 Unrestricted Funds |
|---|---|
| 20,454 2,728 23,182 75,869 |
|
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Dunstable Baptist Church
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 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 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 respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or The financial statements do not accord with those records; or
-
The financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Financial statements and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
Robert Felix FCA 33 Broomhill Road Woodford Green Essex IG8 9HD Date : 1 October 2024