Report of the Trustees
and
Financial Statement
For the year ending 31[st] December 2023
for
Fressingfield Baptist Church
Trustee Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2023
Reference and Administration details
Charity Name – FRESSINGFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH
Registered Charity Number – 1166572 (as of 18[th] April 2016)
Charity’s Public Address – Fressingfield Baptist Chapel School Lane Fressingfield Eye Suffolk IP21 5RU
Names of Charity Trustees (Office Bearers) who manage the charity
These Trustees were appointed at a members meeting
Stuart Balmer Pastor Richard Walsh Member Martin Aylett Deacon Peter Davidson Deacon Trevor Thompson Deacon
Church Office
Church Office stuart.fressingfieldbaptist@gmail.com Church Website www.fressingfieldbaptist.church
Church Trustees - Property
Mr Peter Davidson (Chairman) Mr Colin Grimwood Mr Darren Noller Mr Gordon Leggett Mr Mark Newcombe Mr Owen Le-Roy Mr Robert Powell Mr Charles Davidson
Independent Examiner of Accounts
Jamie Pretty Offices 6 Rickinghall Business Centre Willow Farm Allwood Green Rickinghall Diss, Norfolk IP22 1LQ
info@jamiepretty.co.uk
Bankers
Barclays Bank plc 6 Market Place Harleston Norfolk IP20 9AE
Structure, Governance and Management
Fressingfield Baptist Church is a charity that operates under the governance of a Constitution adopted at a meeting of their members on 28[th] July 2015
The constitution governs the charitable assets of the Church from a legal perspective in accordance with the requirements of Charity Law. Regulations affecting the spiritual governance of the Church are contained in a separate document entitled ‘Rules and Regulations’
FBC (Fressingfield Baptist Church) owns various buildings as listed below.
The Chapel
This building is subject to a Trust Deed dated 1835 which is managed by the Trustees listed above. A maximum of 50% of the Trustees are members of FBC and the balance are members of other local churches of the same faith and order .
The original chapel had an adjacent graveyard which was retained by FBC for the use of the membership and others by agreement. It is held in trust by the chapel trustees.
Dwellings – 1 to 5 Chapel Close
These five dwellings consist of a two bedroomed bungalow, three two bedroomed houses and a three bedroomed house. These were built from the proceeds of a legacy given to the church and are held in Trust by the same group but on behalf of FBC. These continue to still be in the ownership of the church and are held in trust by the Chapel Trustees.
Membership
The Church members would be those who have been baptised in the traditional Baptist way, and the numbers attending are consistent and we have had believer’s baptism and transfers, with a faithful wider congregation meeting regularly for worship services.
Objectives and Activities
These remain as previous but the fellowship has taken a major step in improving both its spiritual and social outreach and having now moved into a new purpose built chapel, in September 2021, we continually look for opportunities to support the local community.
The principle objective of FBC is the advancement of the Christian Faith according to Baptist principles and in accordance with the Church’s Rules and Regulations.
The charity does also carry out and supports other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world – see mission giving below.
Chapel Building
It consists of a 250 seat worship space, a sports hall, a kitchen capable of serving hot food as a means of fellowship and encouragement to the less fortunate, in whatever situation they find themselves. The foyer is a separate larger space with a café for use daily, both by young and old and those in-between. There is a dedicated Sunday School area with open classrooms to reflect our determination to provide safe and secure facilities for young people, both in the church and in the local community. There was considerable overspend on building the new chapel These overspends have been covered by a loan from the Baptist Building CIO and personal loans from church members.
It is hoped to reduce the overall debt by the sale of land owned by the Church for residential plots – planning permission has been gained and the marketing is ongoing.
Our main activities include
Sunday meetings, in person and on Zoom.
Mid-week bible studies and prayer meeting with regular Home Groups. Evangelistic activities to all age ranges in the community. Pastoral work, including visiting the sick and bereaved. Young Peoples Groups – mid week, weekends. Parent and Toddler Group – Friday mornings. Ladies meeting – both fellowship and evangelistic. Men’s Groups – both fellowship and evangelistic.
Promotion and support of Missions. (see mission giving below) Local school assemblies
Hope Explored and Discipleship are run as a means of presenting the bible and Gospel message to those seeking.
Coffee Shop – opened to provide a safe, warm, friendly environment for any who wish to attend.
Achievements and performance
Through the preaching of God’s word, the Bible, we have seen our regular congregation continue to grow, both numerically and spiritually. The church is blessed and pleased to have Stuart Balmer as their resident Minister and under Shepherd.
Brief description of the various works the Church is involved in:
As a precursor to the following we take children’s health, care and safety as paramount. All those working with children will have been through DBS checks and we have a strict policy to maintain and monitor this programme. The policy was reviewed and enhanced through 2023 in addition a general safeguarding event was held.
Toddler Group called Friday Fun Time provides a weekly, Friday morning time where parents can bring their pre-school children and meet with other parents/carers: mostly ladies but men do attend.
KLIC, Keep Living in Christ, is an opportunity for teenagers to meet together for bible study and discipleship, in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
EPIC is for 5 to 11 year olds to meet, to play games, and interact after a week of school with their friends and incorporating an age appropriate bible talk.
Lighthouse, meets Sunday mornings and is well attended – 3-11 year olds.
Holiday Bible Club, was held in August. A bible club for 3 to 12 year olds and it was very well attended. It is run by volunteers who prepare through the year to keep the whole morning bright and attractive to the children. It has been running at least 40 years and obviously parents/grandparents who attended are now bringing their children.
All of the above events are financed through FBC and no charges are made.
Teaching and building up God’s people
We are blessed by the eldership who have filled this role within the church preaching Sunday by Sunday and additional works as required to meet the need of members and other attendees.
Property – maintenance and equipment
The Church is blessed to have five properties as listed previously which are rented at no more than local council rents for the same size dwellings and often below. We do support those who cannot always find the full deposits etc. that commercial landlords would expect. It is often difficult to enforce payments of rent but we have tried to be good social landlords.
We do have expenses such as repairs and refurbishments, which can all be clearly seen in the presented accounts.
Financial Report and Review
Financial statement for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
We have supported various Missions, and individuals in Missionary work.
During previous years, we have been singularly blessed financially and have not had to formally budget however with the cost of the new chapel and increase in paid ministry, we have to budget. We can meet all and any financial demands placed upon us. We do feel we have been prudent and discerning with what God has given to us.
As a sign of national fellowship with other like-minded evangelical churches we are members of the FIEC (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches) which allows us to recognise the needs of other fellowships and for us to have the support of legal, financial, pastoral, support etc.
Health and Safety
We have an internal Health and Safety officer who maintains our policy and monitors other commitments on Health and Safety.
Income & Expenditure Account
For the year ended 31st December 2023
| Notes INCOME Donations Legacies received Interest received Rent received Property Sales Other income Total Income EXPENDITURE Staff costs Chapel costs Housing costs Other ministry costs Mission Giving 1 Capital items Loan Repayments Legal expenses Total Expenditure Net Income |
2023 2022 General Housing Unrestricted Total Total Fund Fund fund fund fund £ £ £ £ £ 131,664 0 131,664 131,664 156,724 0 0 0 83 166 249 249 17 33,951 33,951 33,951 33,904 0 0 0 0 19,964 0 19,964 19,964 363,153 151,711 34,117 185,827 185,827 553,798 54,773 54,773 54,773 74,466 27,245 27,245 27,245 15,628 2,124 2,124 2,124 3,552 24,528 24,528 24,528 3,874 3,363 3,363 3,363 7,100 32,876 32,876 32,876 365,436 25,000 25,000 25,000 75,000 768 768 768 744 135,677 35,000 170,677 170,677 545,800 16,034 -884 15,151 15,151 7,999 |
|---|---|
Balance Sheet
For the year ended 31st December 2023
| Tangible Fixed Assets Current Assets Cash at Bank Prepayments Other current assets Total current assets Current Liabilities Sundry creditors Total current liabilities Net Current Assets Total non current liabilities Net Assets Funds Unresricted fund Capital fund Total Funds |
2,400,325 2,367,449 37,335 20,664 2,259 3,186 319 39,913 23,850 210,000 210,000 210,000 210,000 -170,087 -186,149 225,000 250,000 2,005,238 1,931,299 64,913 23,851 1,940,325 1,907,449 2,005,238 1,931,299 |
|---|---|
Notes
1. Mission Giving
| Special Offerings Royal British Legion Tear Fund Tear Fund - Christmas Appeal Tear Fund - Gaza Individual Missionaries & Workers Person A Person B Missions Asia Link Caring for Life Open Doors Reach Across Samaritans Purse Other Organisations Affinity All Saints School Fressingfield Christian Institute FIEC Grace Baptist Trust Corporation Grace Directory Radio Bible Class Sixth Sense Magazine United Christian Broadcasting Sizewell Hall Total Mission Giving |
2023 2022 £ £ 175 200 0 3,900 747 700 371 0 1,293 4,800 500 500 350 0 850 500 0 0 750 750 0 400 0 350 150 0 900 1,500 50 0 0 0 0 0 250 250 20 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 320 300 3,363 5,025 |
|---|---|
Inde endent Examiner's Re ort I report on the financial statements of Fressingfi¢ld Baptist ChUh for the year ended 31 December 2023 set out otk pages three to six. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examKner The charity's trnstees are responsible for the preparation of thc a¢count5. The trustees consider that au audit is not required for this year undei S¢¢lion 144 of the Charities Act 2011 {the Charities Act} and that an independent ¢xaminalion is required. It is my r¢sponsibility to.. examtne the fillancial staiemenls under Section 145 the Charities Act to follow thc proc¢durt5 laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Se¢lion 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act): and to state whether particular matters have Come to our att¢nlion. Basis of the independent examiner's report My examination was catried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a r¢vicw of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of th¢ accounts pr¢s¢nted with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual itCm5 or disclosures in the a¢counts, and 5ccking explanation5 from you as trustees concerning any matters. The procedures Undertaken do uol PTovid¢ all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently uo opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'trne and fair, vi¢w. Independent examiner'5 Statement ID cowicction with our examination, no matter has con)e to my attention.. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements o to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act,. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting COrdS and to comply with the accounting requirements of th¢ Charities Act hav¢ not b¢cn tn¢t,' or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be r¢ach¢d. Jamie Pretty FCCA Jamie Pretty Chartered Certified Accountants Office 6, Rickinghall Business Centre Willow Fami, Allwood Green Rickinghall. Diss Norfolk IP22 ILQ