Zion Baptist Church Melbourn CIO – reg. charity 1164945 ## **2022 Annual report for the Charities Commission** This is the seventh Annual Report of Zion Baptist Church Melbourn CIO, which was registered as a charity on 21 December 2015. The stated principal purposes of the church are the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination and the advancement of education and the carrying out of other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. 2022 was a year of big changes and challenges. ## **Church Services** By the beginning of 2022 we had returned to a more normal way of holding our weekly services in the church building, we still had some covid restrictions in place but gradually over the months we were able to get back to sitting closer, singing without wearing masks and spending time together socially. Our minister went on Sabbatical during the first 3 months, when he studied Creation and the Environment. During this time the Sharing Ministry team took on the responsibility of preaching each week with our Worship group very involved in leading the services. Easter was very special. We began with a communion service on Maundy Thursday and on Good Friday we had a short outdoor service followed by a community event with all of the house groups contributing their talents to create parts of the Easter story for our walk-through display in the grounds. This featured a work bench donkey, a Lego display of the Last Supper, a sleeping disciple in the garden, the cross, and the garden tomb. There were craft activities taking place in the hall and refreshments. On Easter Sunday we had another lovely open-air service which was a great opportunity to witness. Chocolate featured heavily too of course! The Sunday school produced a wonderful Christmas Nativity service when the congregation was encouraged to dress up and join in with the sounds, this was great fun. We had our very popular Candle lit carol service, and an all-age Christmas day service. ## **Teaching Activities for children and young people** The children and young people met with the rest of the church to worship at the beginning of our Sunday service. They then went to their teaching groups and were split into 2 age groups: 2-8 and 9+. Some young people were involved in helping with the Sunday School groups and creche, alongside adult leaders. On Sunday evenings we held our Grid group. This is for those aged 11+ At the start of the year this was led by our student youth worker and church volunteers. Our student youth worker qualified during the summer and left us for a full-time position in Cambridge and the group continued to be led by the volunteers. During the Autumn term we had some involvement with the local primary school who came into the church as part of their religious education lessons. They held their carol service in the church too, this was a lovely event with the building full to capacity. We provided refreshments for the parents and children afterwards and it was great to be able to have conversations with families who had been through our toddlers and holiday clubs. ## **Other Teaching and Prayer Activities for Adults** The majority of adults who attend the church are part of a house group, some of these include people who do not regularly worship with us on Sundays. House groups are a good way to form deeper relationships with just a few people, offering mutual support and friendship as well as meeting for prayer and Bible study. We also held weekly Zoom and monthly in person prayer meetings. ## **Community and Charitable Activities** Our weekly toddler group has been very much appreciated and well attended. They are told a different Bible story with craft activities linked to the story and a very enjoyable song time. They have a good variety of toys, books and outdoor play equipment weather permitting. The weekly coffee morning is mostly attended by the older folks, this is very popular and is often difficult to hear yourself thinking as they are all so happy and chatty. Our weekly craft group continues to meet, they have an interesting and varied programme and have formed some good friendships. A youth club for young people in years 5-8 ran weekly until July. It was run by a small team but unfortunately, as the team included our student youth worker and our Minister’s wife, both of whom left us in the summer, we have only been able to continue twice monthly since September We also held three community outreach events. The outdoor event at Easter, a Light Party at Halloween and Shine a light on Christmas in December. The church makes a regular tithe to the Baptist Union charities Home Mission (working in the UK) and BMS World Mission (working overseas). The church collected shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse as part of the Operation Christmas Child programme. We continue to collect monetary donations for Christ’s Hope International, a charity which works with children in Africa. ## **Church Fellowship** The plans to develop the church hall are going ahead and the first foundations have been dug. We have had some very good, successful events to raise funds which are also encouraging us to socialise; a pancake party, quiz evening, sponsored virtual journey from Lands’ End to John O’Groats, a musical event, and some very delicious dinner parties. The trustees, moderator and their spouses enjoyed a meal out for Christmas. Monthly newsletters have been produced, keeping the fellowship informed and involved. We celebrated a wedding and hosted 2 funerals during the year. ## **Farewell to our minister** We had a special service including a farewell barbecue in the church grounds in August when we invited past members and friends to join us in saying goodbye to our minister as he moved on to his new calling in Gloucester. A large group attended his induction service in September and were pleased to be able to meet his new Church fellowship and to see their home. We are pleased to have the help of a moderator to guide us through the pastoral vacancy. ## **Statistics and Trustees** At the end of 2022 there were 61 church members, with another 40 adults also attending church-run groups. There were also approximately 45 children under 11, and 12 young people aged 11-18 in regular attendance on Sundays or during the week. Sunday service attendance was averaging 46. A few are viewing the recorded services on YouTube during the week. At the end of 2022 there were eight elected trustees. Mrs Dawn Dixon - Secretary ## **Melbourn Baptist Church – Accounts 2022** ## **Treasurer’s report** The accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2022 are presented in two forms; as Receipts and Payments (R&P) with the signed independent examiner’s report in accordance with the Charity Commission requirements and in more detail, as an extract from the QuickBooks accounting package. There are comparison figures shown in the R&P accounts with the previous year. The total income level for the year 2022 was £94,742compared to £141,685 in 2021. The decrease in the year, which was the first year largely unaffected by Covid, was due to a general fund decrease of about £5k despite the church being re-opened more and a decrease in fabric fund donations of almost £43k. General fund income of £52.6k was about £3k lower than in pre-Covid 2019. Gift Aid income was also slightly lower and was allocated to the Fabric and General funds in proportion to the relevant donations. The amount set aside from our non-restricted funds reserved for the hall project is maintained at £40k, bringing the year-end total available for the project to £240,204. Total expenditure in the year was £69,720 compared to £88,384 in 2021. Significant differences: - Church expenses were £25,937 in 2022 compared to £12,505 in 2021 with approximately £17k spent on church repairs and £6k in new building costs. - Manse expenses were about 13k lower mainly due to the new windows in 2021. - Charitable giving was over £3k lower due to 3 payments to BMS and Home Mission paid in 2021 as the second 2020 payment was not paid until January 2021. - It is difficult to make many other comparisons on costs, as 2021 was mostly in Covid lockdown and in 2022 we only had a minister for eight months. Looking forward, we are still committed to significant expenditure for the refurbishment of the manse so that we can call a new minister. Although the accounts show we made a profit of £25k in the year, the deposits into the Fabric fund accounted for £22k of this. Last year, as noted above, we spent a lot on fabric and we will need to make certain that such costs are behind us before we embark on the hall project. Our general reserves at the year-end were only £30,554, if we subtract the £40k of pledged reserves to the hall building project. If we wish to appoint a minister in the not too distant future, our general reserves will need to be at a level of just under £20k to meet Charity Commission guidance. So we only have about £10k available for manse refurbishment at present. This will be boosted by perhaps £10k when the Gift Aid claim is received for the tax year to 5[th] April 2023. Of course, as long as a minister is not in post, the general reserve will continue to build. In summary, the church is in good financial health but we will be stretched to refurbish the manse, build the new hall and recruit a new minister, all in the very near future, particularly as our general fund income has been reducing. This is my penultimate presentation of the accounts, as a new treasurer will have to be in place long before I step down from the diaconate and I would like to thank Mon and Laurie for the excellent support they provide as members of the finance team. Dr Chas Sims, Treasurer CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to tho trustees , 114 Nl&ry'; Zi0￿ eJAP)ISf CMVLCM mL￿o￿Ar Charity no (if any) On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended '. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust'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 Act. Independent trhe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examinerfs statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not appliGable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives 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) Regulalions 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. Please delet he words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: OQ). 03.¥oLSJ f CQA Name: Relevant professional qualificatlon(s) or body Asso CA L.1 i fi.tsJ Oct 2018 IER (if any): Address: LFJ o.QT &forQ h , Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent exam ination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018 Zion Baptist Church Melbourn 1164945 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from 0110112022 To 3111212022 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to the nearest Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ A1 Receipts General fund Fabric fund Sponsorship fund Soul Survivor Church weekend Christ's Hope International Activities HMRC Gift Aid Other income 52,557 52,557 22.343 57,701 65,149 22,343 855 855 794 16,484 1,708 884 264 17,210 477 794 12,369 130 4,116 1,578 Sub total (Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). 65,850 28,892 94,742 141,685 Sub total Total receipts 65,850 28,892 94,742 141,685 A3 Payments Ministry Expenses Manse Expenses Church Expenses Charitable Donations 29,907 6,184 20,147 5,882 29,907 6,184 25,937 7,692 46,606 19,317 12,505 9,957 5,790 1,810 Sub total 62,119 7,600 69,720 88,384 A4 Asset and investment purchases, (sèe table) Sub total Total payments 62,119 7,600 69,720 88,384 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 3,731 21,291 25,022 53,301 66,823 70,554 180,363 201,654 247,186 272,208 193,885 247,186 CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 0710312023 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restrlcted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ B1 Cash funds General Fund 70,554 Fabric fund 200,204 Other restricted funds 1,451 Total cash funds 70,554 201.654 (agree balances Wlth recelpts and paymenls account{s)) Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Fund to which asset belon Current value tional l.Jeta.'I Cost (optional) B3 Investment assets Fund to which asset belon Cost (optional) Current value tional B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund to whlch Ilablli relates Amount due tional When due tional B5 Liabilities Signed by one or trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of roval CRSIMS L HORDEN 09 23 ./>f/25 CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 0710312023