Gillingham Baptist
Church
Annual Report 2023
Registered Charity Number 1169769
CONTENTS
Elders’ Review 3 Regulatory Information 3 Risk Management 5 Review of activities 5
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 Church Annual Accounts & Independent Examiner’s Report Appendix 2 Chapel and Manse Holding Trustees
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ELDERS’ REVIEW
[on behalf of the Management Trustees]
The church ended the year with 18 members. Our dear sister Poppy Muspratt went to be with the Lord in the autumn. However, the numbers in the congregation have increased steadily and we regularly see visitors and new faces.
This is one of several reasons for thankfulness for 2023. The Lord had provided financially for the church and there have been two new monthly meetings begun to strengthen fellowship and encourage outsiders to visit us.
The church has maintained its concern for the spread the gospel in other parts of this country and the world. We have welcomed those who either are working for the Lord overseas or are representatives of organisations involved in such activities. This helps us to take a global view of the kingdom of God, whilst remaining fully involved with our locality.
REGULATORY INFORMATION
1. History
Christians identifying themselves as Baptists have been gathering for worship in Gillingham since the 1830s. After a while land was given in trust and a chapel was erected. This stipulated that worship should be according to the principles of the Particular Baptists. A church has existed continuously since then and, in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission, was registered as a charity on 19 October 2016.
2. Details
Charity Name: Gillingham Baptist Church, Dorset
Registration Number: 1169769
Address: Gillingham Baptist Church, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4HZ
Current Trustees: John Blake, Simon Chase, Peter Gray, Gilbert Muspratt, David Poolman. With the exception of Peter Wick (see below) these trustees have served for the whole of the calendar year 2023.
3. Structure and Governance
The church has a Constitution and Rules & Regulations which were formally revised and adopted in 2016, pursuant to Charity Commission registration.
The functional operation of the church is intended to reflect the teachings and principles revealed in the Bible. Therefore, the leadership is by elders supported by deacons. All these church officers are trustees and each is appointed by the church meeting of all members, at which approval by a substantial majority is required. Only those persons meeting the Scriptural criteria should be considered and appointed.
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Whilst persons in whom the appropriate gifts are seen can be encouraged and developed, we believe these persons are gifted by God and cannot be manufactured. Thus, formal appointment to serve the church is more an act of recognition than of creation.
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Blake | Elder | Members of Gillingham Baptist Church | |
| Simon Chase | Elder & Pastor | Members of Gillingham Baptist Church | |
| Peter Gray | Deacon & Treasurer | Members of Gillingham Baptist Church | |
| Gilbert Muspratt | Deacon | Members of Gillingham Baptist Church | |
| David Poolman | Deacon | Members of Gillingham Baptist Church | |
| Peter Wick* | Deacon & Secretary | Members of Gillingham Baptist Church |
*Peter Wick ceased to be a managing or a holding trustee in May 2023.
4. Financial Review
The church believes God will provide and that the chief instrument he will use is the free and voluntary giving of his people. No fund raising is undertaken and no contribution levels are set for members. As an independent church there is no overarching body to provide support, but we believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the direct head of each true church and provides as he pleases. We are grateful to God for providing our needs over 2023, the details of which are in the annual accounts in Appendix 1.
It is not the church’s policy to create reserves, however some amount will be retained in order to meet the inevitable demands of buildings that are over a century old. The church officers agreed that £10,000 is the appropriate amount to hold as an operating reserve. Apart from that it is the church’s practise to use funds that have been given to further its objects.
During the year the trustees were overseeing the process of selling the house that is the current manse and purchasing an alternative property. By the end of the year the manse was on the open market and an alternative property was being identified.
5. Public Benefit
The trustees confirm that the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit has been carefully considered and helps to frame the context for all trustee meetings.
As a Christian church we are devoted to the ‘advancement of religion’, one of the original purposes of a charity and dating back to 1601. In the original sense ‘religion’ meant Christianity, although subsequent centuries have significantly changed this meaning. Christianity proclaims the Gospel – ‘good news’ – to all. Once the good news is believed, it must be lived out through love to God and love to our neighbour – Jesus’ own summary of the Bible’s message. Such an approach in itself is aimed at all the public. And such a message, as a living reality in people’s lives, changes both them and their relationships for the better, both personally and for the community. It is the testimony of countless Christians living today that their conversion changed their lives for the better – in ways their families, friends, colleagues
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and neighbours could observe and benefit from. It is also demonstrable historically and from other parts of the world that where Christian values permeate a society, that society values human life more highly, cares for the vulnerable and marginalised more generously and displays higher levels of honesty and integrity in community and public life. The Christian faith, lived out in the world, measurably benefits all aspects of society.
The church is known in the local community and the evidence of this is that people seek us out for spiritual help and encouragement.
6. Objectives, Activities, Achievement and Performance
The two Sunday services continued during 2023 and the Bible study and prayer meeting on a Wednesday also continued. On Thursday evenings a Zoom version of the meeting is held to enable those who cannot get out in the evenings to participate.
A Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship ran regularly each month during the year and a men’s monthly Bible study also began. This latter meeting is held in a local café to enable fellowship over a meal as well, and to witness to others and perhaps prompt interest from them.
Financially the church has paid its way and has no outstanding obligations.
In summary, the trustees are thankful to the members and principally to God for the ability to function as a Christian church throughout 2023.
RISK MANAGEMENT REPORT 2022
With the far lower risk profile of Covid-19, church life could return to its familiar patterns, whilst remaining ready to introduce mitigations if the virus re-emerged as a threat.
Other risk management issues of a more routine order have still been overseen by the church officers and the fellowship has benefited from a safe environment during the year.
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
There is no separate section included here. The morning and evening Sunday services, along with the Wednesday and Thursday Bible study and prayer meeting arrangements are the principal activities of the church, along with the additional meeting mentioned in section 6 of Regulatory Information.
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APPENDICES
Appendix 1 Gillingham Baptist Church Annual Accounts 2023
| Accounts for the year to December 31st 2023 | Accounts for the year to December 31st 2023 | Accounts for the year to December 31st 2023 | Accounts for the year to December 31st 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL FUND | ||||||
| RECEIPTS | PAYMENTS | |||||
| TOTAL | ||||||
| Balance brought forward from 2022 | 18036.36 | |||||
| Offerings | 11,660.00 £ |
Missionary Support | 330.00 £ |
|||
| Gift Aid | 19,725.00 £ |
HMRC | 2,883.96 £ |
|||
| Gift Aid Tax Refund | 4,426.25 £ |
Building services | 2,560.64 £ |
|||
| Gift Aid - Small Donation Scheme | 615.00 £ |
Buildings & equipment maintenance | 4,700.70 £ |
|||
| Bank Account Inetrest Liquidity/Reserve | 186.74 £ |
Buildings insurance (Chapel) + employer's liability | 2,006.13 £ |
|||
| Transfer Ladies fellowship | 222.52 £ |
New Toner cartridge | 524.83 £ |
|||
| Transfer Toddlers | 90.79 £ |
Sunday Ministry | 350.00 £ |
|||
| Payroll services | 312.00 £ |
|||||
| Mme you Ltd | 181.00 £ |
|||||
| Copyright Licence | 93.00 £ |
|||||
| Zoom Licence | 143.68 £ |
|||||
| Charity payment re Audit | 50.00 £ |
|||||
| Rutters solicitors | 623.20 £ |
|||||
| Government records office | 33.00 £ |
|||||
| Pastors salary | 13,352.80 £ |
|||||
| 36,926.30 £ |
||||||
| 28,144.94 £ |
||||||
| Balance 31st December 2023 | 26,817.72 £ |
|||||
| 54,962.66 £ |
54,962.66 £ |
|||||
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| CONTINGENCY FUND | ||||||
| RECEIPTS | PAYMENTS | |||||
| TOTAL | TOTAL | |||||
| Balance brought forward from2022 | 22,173.30 £ |
|||||
| - £ |
||||||
| Balance 31st December 2023 | 22,173.30 £ |
|||||
| 22,173.30 £ |
22,173.30 £ |
|||||
| MANSE MAINTENANCE FUND | ||||||
| RECEIPTS | PAYMENTS | |||||
| TOTAL | TOTAL | |||||
| Balance brought forward from2022 | 10,650.69 £ |
Baptist Insurance(Manse) | 1,242.47 £ |
|||
| Council Tax/Utility Bills/Plumbing | 2,794.81 £ |
|||||
| - £ |
||||||
| 4,037.28 £ |
||||||
| Balance 31st December 2023 | 6,613.41 £ |
|||||
| 10,650.69 £ |
10,650.69 £ |
|||||
| SUMMARY | ||||||
| General Fund | 26,817.52 £ |
Represented by | ||||
| ContingencyFund | 22,173.30 £ |
CurrentAccount | 38,715.81 £ |
|||
| Manse Maintenance Fund | 6,613.41 £ |
Reserve Account | 3,250.02 £ |
|||
| Liquidity manager Account | 13,638.40 £ |
|||||
| TOTAL | 55,604.23 £ |
Total monies held | 55,604.23 £ |
|||
| NOTE | ||||||
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Gillingham Baptist Church membership | ||||||
| Other than the above account balances the assets comprise kitchen equipment, 2 pianos, Digital Projector, OHP, printers, stack away tables and chairs, games and play equipment, a display stand, sound recording computer and compact disc duplicating equipment, hymn books etc. The value of these is unknown. |
||||||
| ADDRESS OF CHURCH'S BANKERS | ||||||
| Nat West Bank The Commons, Shaftesbury SP7 8JY |
| CONTINGENCY FUND | ||||||
| RECEIPTS | PAYMENTS | |||||
| TOTAL | TOTAL | |||||
| Balance brought forward from2022 | 22,173.30 £ |
|||||
| - £ |
||||||
| Balance 31st December 2023 | 22,173.30 £ |
|||||
| 22,173.30 £ |
22,173.30 £ |
|||||
| MANSE MAINTENANCE FUND | ||||||
| RECEIPTS | PAYMENTS | |||||
| TOTAL | TOTAL | |||||
| Balance brought forward from2022 | 10,650.69 £ |
Baptist Insurance(Manse) | 1,242.47 £ |
|||
| Council Tax/Utility Bills/Plumbing | 2,794.81 £ |
|||||
| - £ |
||||||
| 4,037.28 £ |
||||||
| Balance 31st December 2023 | 6,613.41 £ |
|||||
| 10,650.69 £ |
10,650.69 £ |
|||||
| SUMMARY | ||||||
| General Fund | 26,817.52 £ |
Represented by | ||||
| ContingencyFund | 22,173.30 £ |
CurrentAccount | 38,715.81 £ |
|||
| Manse Maintenance Fund | 6,613.41 £ |
Reserve Account | 3,250.02 £ |
|||
| Liquidity manager Account | 13,638.40 £ |
|||||
| TOTAL | 55,604.23 £ |
Total monies held | 55,604.23 £ |
|||
| NOTE | ||||||
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Gillingham Baptist Church membership | ||||||
| Other than the above account balances the assets comprise kitchen equipment, 2 pianos, Digital Projector, OHP, printers, stack away tables and chairs, games and play equipment, a display stand, sound recording computer and compact disc duplicating equipment, hymn books etc. The value of these is unknown. |
||||||
| ADDRESS OF CHURCH'S BANKERS | ||||||
| Nat West Bank The Commons, Shaftesbury SP7 8JY |
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i CHARITY COMMISSION | FOR ENtiAND AND WAIES Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts Section A Ii)(Jependent Examiner s Report R•portto th• tru$to0$1 m•mb•rs of Gillingham BaOist Cth On accounts forthg yr ond•d Decemter 31" 21723 Chartty no lil•ny) 1169769 Sot out on paBeg I report tothe trustees (m ttxaminalbjn clthe dthe thvo charity {Ihe Trusfi forts end•J 31112r2 R•sponslblftlos and basis off0rt A$ the Iruslees, Y 8re responsilAeforts prtrwti ofthe acrAMJnts in lar wlh the reqUIreN the Chall8 Ad 2011 rthe Acri. l in rnspxt of my e%InatIOn ol tTrUS carrie(l oui under 8•thon 145 (rflhe 2011 Atx and in ying cdrt my exarinalon, I ha4t frAbwed all the apFqi¢abb Directs"ons given ty the Chlty CorMbsgM ynders&J)n 145(5Kbl ofthe A Independent I have o)mpkknJ my exary¥nati¢Jn. I wnfimthat no mthia matters have examlnefs ststemerrt to rny attents.on in COMeth"on th Ihe eination {¢therthan that ¢Jisdo8•J whth gr4ps mè C¥Lbse to bekve that in, any matsrial 130 of the Act., c the acrxjunts did n(* [d with thrla YerdS. exarr4nation. I have rrf) cA>nc•ms have wos8 no othermatters in CLJnneclion wrth the exwnination lo whtch atter10n Sh¢Ju be drawn in this r•wl in ord¢rto a prow undersing dthe ?)Unl0 . Please the tlje bftd(etsrftsy¢k> nolapty. 111 Marth 2024 Slgned: Nam•: Tom 08 IER Oct 2018
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Appendix 2 Holding Trustees of Gillingham Baptist Chapel
The governing document of the Trust is the Trust Deed of 1838. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Trust Deed and the Constitution of Gillingham Baptist Church.
The following persons were the Holding Trustees at 31 December 2022
Mr J A C Blake, ‘Sundown’, Cucklington, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 9PT
Mr R E Burge, 5 Banstead Road, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 9BB Pastor S V Chase, 27 Bayfields, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AE Mr A E Chase, 16 Linden Lea, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8QZ Mr P C Gray, 21 Thrift Close, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2LE Mr G Muspratt, 11 Birdbush, Ludwell, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0PR Mr D Poolman, 22 Long Cross, Shaftesbury, SP7 8QP
Mr B Thomason, The Old Malt House, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1BZ Mr P
The Trust properties and assets consist of the Chapel Building and Hall with the Pipe Organ, Fixtures and Fittings, together with the Baptist Manse, situated at Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5HZ.
The Holding Trustees have no financial administration responsibilities, as there are no trust funds and management of the Manse tenancy has been delegated to the Management Trustees.
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