## Bethel Baptist Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2021
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE The Manse Minyrafon Tredegar NP22 4AL GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated 12 February 2015 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1164490 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Rev T Hallam MANAGING THE CHARITY Mr R Harding Mr C Hutchings Mr C Jones Mr J Williams BANKERS Barclays Bank PLC INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jacob Farley ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
## **INDEX**
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-7 Trustees' Report Page 8 Independent Examiner's Report Page 9 Receipts and Payments Account Page 10 Statement of Assets and Liabilities Pages 11-12 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021.
## **Objects of the charity**
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution. The Trust seeks to present the Christian Gospel in words and actions to the local community in Tredegar and further afield.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust.
The method of appointment of Church trustees is set out in the Church constitution and rules. At Bethel, the trustees are made up of the Church minister, together with the other elder and three deacons who are appointed by the Church membership following recommendations by the Church eldership.
In January 2020, the Church trustees received the sad news of the death of Ray Norton, a Church trustee and deacon. The trustees express their grateful thanks and appreciation for his many years of faithful service to the Church at Bethel and the wider community. His wise counsel will be sadly missed in the life of the Church in the coming days.
The trustees are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in church matters including deciding on how the funds of the Church are spent. All major financial decisions are confirmed by the membership of the Church.
The trustees met regularly during the period of this report. All meetings are reported back to the church membership for their consideration and approval.
## **Aims and purposes**
The trustees of 'Bethel Baptist Church' Tredegar have the responsibility of co-operating with their minister, Rev Trystan Hallam, in promoting 'the advancement of the Christian Faith in accordance with the Church's basis of faith, primarily but not exclusively within Tredegar and the surrounding neighbourhood and such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the members of the Church in general meeting, further the work of the Church.'
The trustees are also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church premises located in the Georgetown area of Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent.
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
The trustees and minister of the Church are committed to enabling as many people as possible, both young and old to worship at our Church and participate in the many activities undertaken at the Church and elsewhere each week.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. In particular, we try to enable people from all walks of life to live out their faith as part of our Church community through:
Page 2
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus Christ.
Provision of pastoral care for people living in the community. Missionary and Outreach work for both young and old alike.
To facilitate this work, it is important that the trustees oversee the maintenance and fabric of the Church premises in Georgetown, Tredegar.
## a) WORSHIP AND PRAYER
In the usual course of the year the trustees and minister are keen to offer a range of services and activities during the week that members of our community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling.
Normally every Sunday, two worship services are held, in the morning and evening, with Sunday school and creche activities incorporated into the morning service. During the year, a number of family and youth services are held and well received by the church community. During the midweek, activities include children’s and youth groups as well as a toddlers and carers group. Some ladies of the Church meet weekly to knit woollen garments to distribute overseas and, in the locality, whilst weekly prayer and bible study meetings remain a priority for the Church. Regular meals are organised at the Church to celebrate Harvest, Christmas, and other occasions, together with the annual mission weekend, when a large number of invitations are distributed in the surrounding area.
All are welcome to attend our regular services. At present there are 54 members on the Church membership roll. During the twelve months of this report, 2 members were removed through death and 2 by resignation from the Church register. One new member was gladly welcomed and added to the members roll.
## **Response to Covid-19 Pandemic**
In March 2020, the Church quickly adapted to the Government’s lockdown rules in response to the Coronavirus 19 pandemic sweeping the country. Our final public services were held on Sunday 15th March. From that date until initially mid-August and then March 2021, both Sunday services and the midweek prayer meetings were networked to members and friends using the social media platforms of the Church website, ‘YouTube’ and Bethel’s Facebook page. Prayer and leadership meetings including those of the trustees were organised using the ‘Zoom’ app, to the benefit of all participants. An encouraging response to our Sunday services on social media has been experienced throughout the past year. Those unable to access social media have been helped using CDs containing the Sunday services being distributed to them.
Page 3
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
For a short period at the end of August and the beginning of September, midweek prayer meetings and three Sunday morning services were held at the chapel. Limited numbers attending, social distancing and the wearing of facemasks, with no congregational singing was strictly adhered to. With a resurgence of the virus in mid-September, sadly these services at the chapel were once more closed down, with all services and activities reverting back to social media. Those arrangements stayed in place over the Christmas period and continued until the middle of March 2021, when Covid rates of infection fell considerably, allowing Sunday services and midweek prayer meetings to resume at the Chapel, much to the delight of the congregation.
The last Sunday in March 2021 – Palm Sunday witnessed the first morning service held at the chapel for almost six months taking place. Once more a limit of 45 persons attending each service was undertaken, with chairs socially distanced and the wearing of facemasks adhered to.
Despite the great difficulties experienced over the past twelve months, the congregation are grateful to our faithful God for His safe-keeping and care.
Grateful thanks must also be expressed to Pastor Trystan and others who have been involved in the ministry of both Sunday and midweek services throughout the pandemic, together with Ron Harding, trustee and deacon, who has facilitated these arrangements on the internet, without fail.
As well as our regular services and activities we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through believers’ baptism we thank God for the gift of the spiritual life, in marriage, public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life of the deceased. During the twelve months of this report there has been one wedding, no baptism, and 2 funerals held in the church.
## b) PROVISION OF PASTORAL CARE
Pastoral care within the Church is undertaken by the minister – Rev. Trystan Hallam, assisted by the additional elder and deacons. Carl Hutchings, one of the deacons, having completed his one year parttime course at the ‘Union College’, Bridgend has continued to work one day a week at the church, assisting the minister in the regular pastoral duties towards the members and friends of the fellowship.
This year all pastoral care has been organised around regular telephone conversations together with the occasional out-door meeting with a particular individual in need of advice and counsel. Trustees express their grateful thanks to all those involved in this vital ministry at Bethel and in the local community.
No Sunday school, toddlers and carers group, together with the midweek activities for children or the older youth group have been able to run during the year, because of the Covid restrictions.
Page 4
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
However, the provision of weekly food parcels and Christmas food hampers for needy folk in the community has continued, with the Ladies knitting group also continuing their work, whilst at home.
## c) MISSIONARY AND OUTREACH WORK
The Church at ‘Bethel’ demonstrates its faith in practical terms by helping those in need, both in the local community and also further afield. Note 3 of the accounts sets out the gifts paid out during the year to the following Christian charities: ‘Leprosy Mission’, ‘Release international’, ‘Middle East Reformed Fellowship’, ‘Samaritans Purse’ Christmas shoebox appeal. Regular gifts have also been sent to support ‘Casa-Mea’, a home looking after individuals with additional needs in Moldova, whilst links with the newly established church in Legniza, Poland is currently being reviewed.
Financial support has also continued for three Christian workers in Wales, namely John Funnel in Abersychan, Paul Daniel – an evangelist working in the ‘Heads of the Valleys’ area together with Nathan Davies – ‘UCCF’ worker based in Cardiff. Good progress has been made in the establishment of the charity – Hope for the Valleys’ – the committee of which chaired by our Pastor- seeking to employ a school’s worker for the area – jointly sponsored by ‘Scripture Union’. Mick Moffat – the newly appointed worker was able to share in a ‘Zoom’ prayer meeting withsupporting churches on March 23rd, whilst on 19th November 2020, Paul Thomas – representing ‘Release International’ also shared a ‘Zoom’ prayer meeting with church members.
Trustees are grateful to the faithful giving of the members and friends worshipping at ‘Bethel’ which has made all this financial support possible. Special thanks are also recorded for the faithful work of Shirley Timothy in her diligent co-ordination of the support of the ‘Leprosy Mission’ in the church over many years. We are grateful to report that this support will be co-ordinated in the coming days by Annwyn Powell.
Outreach in the community has been severely curtailed this year because of the Covid lockdown. Nevertheless, the Church has made efforts to reach out to those in the community who usually have no contact with the church. This has been achieved principally by both Sunday services being networked on social media including an on-line Carol service at Christmas. Over the Christmas season – a ‘Zoom’ Christmas social evening was convened with a Christmas quiz and a contribution of both song and message presented by Nathan Davies – ‘UCCF’ worker based in Cardiff. 1000 Christmas ‘Ask’ magazines together with 100 Christmas CDs featuring carols and a message were distributed in the local community. Our Pastor was also able to film a Nativity trail around the town which was made available on social media. It has not been possible to organise our Fun Days at the local leisure centre together with an Easter egg hunt at Bedwellty Park because of Covid restrictions. Sadly too, the Church has not been able to hold its regular visits for the residents of one of the care homes located in the town. We look forward with the easing of restrictions to resuming many of these outreach activities in the coming days.
However, at the start of 2021, three new initiatives began during midweek. A weekly ‘Zoom’ coffee morning was organised to link up members and friends on a social basis; a ‘Christianity Explored’ course was also held on ‘Zoom’, whilst a one-off ‘Zoom’ meeting devoted to consider Covid and mental health issues together with the Christian faith were all well received by the Church fellowship.
Page 5
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
## d) CHURCH PREMISES
With the Covid lockdown restrictions, very little use of the building has occurred this year. In anticipation of the eventual return to the building – mid-August- September 2020 and late March 2021 – risk assessments were undertaken together with the installation of hand sanitisers, paper towel dispensers in the toilet areas, signage regarding social distancing etc., a Perspex screen fixed to the lectern. Limits were set for the number of persons attending Sunday services with a booking system employed to ascertain definite numbers present at each service together with a track and trace system. For two funerals held at the chapel during this year only 30 persons were allowed to be present, as determined by the Welsh Government’s Covid regulations.
During this period the painting of the Church vestibule and bottom vestry was organised, with grateful thanks to those involved. Two roll-down blinds were also installed on the front upstairs side windows. The annual service of the boiler system together with the August fire inspection were undertaken.
With the increased use of the internet to relay our services on social media, it was decided to install the internet at the chapel, so that future Sunday services could be live-streamed for those unable to attend. BT were due to make this installation at the beginning of April 2021.
Trustees are greatly appreciative for the diligent work of so many who have worked so hard to keep the Church going, during this difficult year of the pandemic.
## **Financial review**
With only four Sunday services actually held at the chapel throughout the year because of Covid restrictions, trustees are grateful to all members and friends who have continued their faithful financial support of the Church. This has enabled the Church to fully support all its employees during the year. During the year, two gifts of £500 each had been received in memory of Mrs Joan Matthews and Rev Allan Watkins, with grateful thanks to their families.
During the year income decreased by £2,503, to £68,685, and expenditure decreased by £12,265, to £55,445. As a result the cash held by the charity increased by £13,239 to £97,133, of which £57,133 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
At the end of the year, total funds held were £97,133. Of these £57,133 are general funds being unrestricted and undesignated and £40,000 represents the permanent endowment fund created following the sale of 26 Park Hill, Tredegar in October 2000. On 4 May 2021 the Charity Commission directed that their order dated 13 October 2000 concerning this fund will cease to have effect, so that the trustees may now administer this fund as they decide is appropriate.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of three months' of normal unrestricted expenditure 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 £57,133 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
Page 6
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
## **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:
J Williams
Date: 18 December 2021
Page 7
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Bethel Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2021 on pages 9 to 12 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. 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.
Jacob Farley ACA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 11 January 2022
Page 8
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations and grants
Gift aid receipts
Income from charitable activities
Interest received
**_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
Net
of
receipts
/
(payments)
before
transfers
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken by others
Payments
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken directly|Unrestricted
Funds
£
56,940
10,794
230
76
68,040
49,625
5,175
54,800
13,239
-
13,239
43,893
57,133|Restricted
Funds
£
645
-
-
-
645
-
645
645
-
-
-
-
-|Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40,000
40,000|2021
£
57,585
10,794
230
76
68,685
49,625
5,820
55,445
13,239
-
13,239
83,893
97,133|2020
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||58,059
10,914
1,858
358|
||||||71,188|
||||||57,915
9,795|
||||||67,710|
||||||3,479
-|
||||||3,479
80,415|
||||||83,893|
The notes on pages 11-12 form part of these accounts.
Page 9
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
|**A Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Notice deposits
Cash in hand|Unrestricted
funds
£
33,120
23,798
216
**57,133**|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
**-**|Endowment
funds
£
-
40,000
-
**40,000**|2021
£
33,120
63,798
216
**97,133**|2020
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||19,851
63,722
320|
||||||**83,893**|
At both year ends £40,000 of the COIF Charities Deposit Fund balance is an asset of the permanent property endowment fund. The remainder of the balance represents general unrestricted funds.
## **B Other monetary assets**
|Gift aid due to charity
**C**
**Liabilities**
Payroll liabilities
Fee for Independent Examination
**D**
**Assets retained for charity's own use**
Freehold building
Equipment|11,747
**11,747**
652
1,200
**1,852**|-
**-**
-
-
**-**|-
**-**
-
-
**-**|11,747
**11,747**
652
1,200
**1,852**
Insurance
value
2021
£
1,481,611
74,402
1,556,013|10,794|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**10,794**|
||||||-
930|
||||||**930**|
||||||Insurance
value
2020
£|
||||||1,318,628
67,484|
||||||1,386,112|
The trustees have used insurance values 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 date J. Williams 18 December 2021
The notes on pages 11-12 form part of these accounts.
Page 10
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
## **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. Endowment funds are donations that are retained as capital in accordance with the donor's wishes. The nature of the restriction determines whether the endowments represent permanent endowments or expendable endowments.
|Unrestricted
funds
£
**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs
Note 4
37,818
_Property costs:_
Repairs and maintenance
1,317
Utilities
1,352
Cleaning
1,870
Insurance
1,119
Visiting preachers
160
Outreach activities
1,324
Printing and publications
624
Work among the young
-
Licences and training courses
676
Legal fees
1,518
Independent examination fee
1,218
Other costs
630
49,625
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Organisations:
Mission giving
3,355
Individuals:
Benevolent and mission gifts
1,820
5,175|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
645
-
645|Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
2021
£
37,818
1,317
1,352
1,870
1,119
160
1,324
624
-
676
1,518
1,218
630
49,625
4,000
1,820
5,820|Total
2020
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||39,204
4,485
1,871
2,225
1,056
1,820
2,827
630
788
1,884
-
893
232|
|||||57,915|
|||||7,995
1,800|
|||||9,795|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
Rev Trystan Hallam served as the Pastor and Mr Carl Hutchings served as Pastor's Assistant and were paid £30,600 (2020: £30,600) and £6,756 (2020: £6,756) respectively for serving in those capacities, not for serving as trustees. The constitution of the church permits the remuneration of the minister and an assistant minister notwithstanding that they are trustees of the church.
Page 11
## **BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
|**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021**
**5**
**Movement of funds**
Balance at
31 Mar 2020
Receipts
£
£
General funds
43,893
68,040
43,893
68,040
Restricted funds
Specific offerings
-
645
-
645
Endowment funds
Property endowment fund
40,000
-
40,000
-
Total funds
83,893
68,685|Payments
£
(54,800)
(54,800)
(645)
(645)
-
-
(55,445)|Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-|Balance at
31 Mar 2021
£
57,133|
|---|---|---|---|
||||57,133|
||||-|
||||-|
||||40,000|
||||40,000|
|||||
||||97,133|
The property endowment fund was created following the sale of a residential property in the year 2000. The funds are invested in the COIF Charities Deposit Fund and the income is used by the charity.
Page 12