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← Burnham On Sea Baptist Church

2024-12-31-accounts

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Adopted: 6 a 4[th] April 2025

COLLEGE STREET | BURNHAM ON SEA | SOMERSET | TA8 1AR REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1170311 01278 794057 | BURNHAMBAPTISTS.ORG

Contents

Trustee Report 2024 ................................................................................................................................ 2 Governance, Leadership Team and Membership .......................................................................... 2 Governance .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Leadership Team ................................................................................................................................... 2 Membership............................................................................................................................................. 3 Sunday Worship ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Prayer ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Encounter Homegroups .......................................................................................................................... 4 Fabric Team ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Church communications ......................................................................................................................... 6 Other Church Activities ........................................................................................................................... 6 Community .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Creche ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Lighthouse Club ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Teenagers ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Remix ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Tiny Tots ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Meeting Place .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Looking Ahead - 2025 .............................................................................................................................. 7 Trustees’ Annual Report – Charity Commission ............................................................................ 9 Independent Examiner’s Report ........................................................................................................ 16

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Trustee Report 2024

2024 has been a year of continued growth for Burnham on Sea Baptist Church; growth in church attendance, church membership, church activities, Baptisms, community projects, church finances, and most importantly, growth in our love for our Lord Jesus Christ. This year has not been without its challenges, but we continue to seek the will of God for his church and the community of Burnham on Sea and Highbridge with the certain hope our Christian faith offers. We feel these are exciting times and praise God for all he is doing in and through our lives and for the opportunities that we have to share the love of Jesus with our wider communities; thank you God.

Governance, Leadership Team and Membership

Governance

2024 has seen us remain in full membership and the support of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) and WEBNET, whose support and advice continue to aid us in running the church. We have strengthened our bonds with wider Baptist family with attendance by a representative at the AGM of both BUGB and WEBNET.

We remain a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and fully comply with all the regulations outlined by the Charity Commission. We continue to review our policies to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and continue to operate within the bounds of our constitution. We are also a member of the local churches together network, with Ann Storey and Leanne Swift as our church representative.

Leadership Team

We have seen a few changes to the leadership throughout 2024 with David Williams and Leanne Swift stepping down, balanced by the appointment of one new deacon, Alan Ryder. Malcolm Spratt continues to have oversight of Encounter Homegroups and Sarah Taylor has remained in the role of Safeguarding lead, while joining Rob and Dawn Brown on the team planning Sunday worship.

Jane Silk continues to have oversight for paid staff members and church communications while Phil Nicol has taken on the role of GDPR officer and Fabric team leader. We are forever thankful for the work of Graham Brown in the role of Treasurer, who works hard at ensuring funds are accounted for and the budget is set appropriately.

The leadership team continues to meet fortnightly to pray and discuss the practical matters of church life.

The Rev. Rob Howlett has continued to serve full time while continuing with his NAMs training (Newly Accredited Minister), alongside being trustee of the Waffle Hub at the Methodist Church.

Rev. Rob maintains a strong working relationship with the Rev. Jade Zerk from Hope Baptist in Highbridge, with whom we have seen an increased sense of ‘togetherness’ as the churches join together in various activities and events. Rev. Rob also enjoys good working relationships with the other ecumenical ministers in the group, meeting with them monthly.

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Membership

Membership has continued to see growth and by the end of 2024 we had 68 church members and an average of 90 people regularly attending our Sunday gatherings. In June 2024 Margaret Smith, a long standing and active member was ‘called home’ and her contributions to church life will be sorely missed. The number of volunteers has also increased enabling us to expand the work we do and activities we can offer. We regularly stream our Sunday morning services on YouTube and see an average of 70 views each week. We continue to welcome all who join us and encourage everyone to join in with the activities on offer throughout the week. It is our goal to ensure that all are welcome in our church and have an opportunity to worship, fellowship together and be a part of the wider church family and, in doing so, that people are discipled and encouraged to grow in their faith.

Sunday Worship

Sunday mornings continue to be focused on facilitating hearing the word of God, through teaching, sung worship and prayer. We have seen the ‘multi-voice’ approach continue to grow and bear fruit, with a regular rota of people hosting, praying, leading, and preaching from within our membership. We continue to explore fresh expressions of worship and have committed to following God’s leading in how we approach our Sunday worship. It is our aim that church be accessible for all, and so 2024 saw us continue to explore how to do this more effectively, both within the core planning team and the wider leadership structure.

Once a month as an alternative to our usual main Sunday worship service, we have continued to hold a monthly café church style meeting, which has been well supported and continues to grow. However, due to this popularity we may need to reconsider our all-age gathering.

We have seen an increase in the need for young people’s provision to ensure accessibility to all ages, and so alongside ‘Lighthouse Club’ we have started a Creche for children between the ages 0 – 4 years old.

With our Sunday evening ‘Encounter’ worship service on the last Sunday of the month, we have continued to see it well supported, notably there is a good sense of Ecumenical worship as those from other churches join us.

We remain committed that all areas of Sunday services are centred on God’s word, on the building up of disciples and worship of God. We also remain committed to making services as accessible, engaging and encouraging as possible while being open to new expressions as God leads us.

Prayer

Prayer has been a focus of the church, and I believe is one of the reasons why the church is expanding and has a vision.

The vision is to see 20% of residents of Burnham and Highbridge turning to Jesus. Many of the people who meet on Sunday Morning believe in this vision and are faithful to pray

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into that, with particular reference to praying for those who have lost or walked away from the faith for whatever reason.

They are also praying for the children and young people's ministries, happening on Sunday and throughout the week.

We meet every Sunday Morning half an hour before Sunday services just to pray in a specially purposed prayer room.

We pray for the service that day and the speaker. We pray for a move of the Holy Spirit; we pray for healing and health for members of the congregation who are physically or mentally struggling. We pray for world events and for others outside our community.

Often God has anointed this time, and the presence of God has been very apparent.

We have various people who come to pray, plus a consistent group who always pray.

Our hope is that more and more people catch the vision, receive answers to prayer and are encouraged to keep on praying. We would like to see more members being involved in prayer.

Every Friday Morning the church Building is open at 7am for an hour, allowing people to share a time of prayer for the church family and for the Community. This time is open to all. Our aim as a church is to equip and help people engage in prayer, ensuring that prayer and hearing from God is at the centre of all we do, especially as we see the church growing and people receiving answers to prayer which encourages people's faith.

Encounter Homegroups

We started 2024 with 5 home groups meeting regularly. There was talk of starting up another small group before the end of the year. Also, the young adults need a regular group, but that is planned for the start of 2025.

These groups have evolved and moved together in a way to Encounter scriptures that will help in our individual Christian lives as well as growing as a body of Christ’s Church.

During the Lent period, all the groups met weekly to follow a 7-part study on the Purpose of God evident in our Christian lives in different situations and places. 1. Everything. 2. Work. 3. Families. 4. Friendships. 5. Interests. 6. Neighbourhoods.

  1. We finished with our Purpose in Holy Week.

During the year we then held studies throughout the book of Daniel. Looking at his life and what we can learn from him.

We followed that with a series on Love your Church. Looking at Belonging, Welcoming, Gathering, Caring, Servin, Honouring, Witnessing and Sending.

For Advent during December, we studied, The Down to Earth series. The Unusual King. Unusual Rescue. Unusual Invitation. Unchanging Christmas.

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Each of the groups have their group leaders, plus also a Pastoral coordinator. We have affiliated regular Church attendees and members, within a house group. This means there will be someone for each person who attends church, to have a contact, for pastoral or spiritual needs.

The leadership have been very encouraged with the way the homegroups have been progressing and increasing. Also, the overall growth in the Church both numerically and spiritually is also encouraging, with many joining for the first time.

We believe prayer is very much responsible for the evidence of growth in the worship and witness amongst us. We are encouraged to tell others about what the Lord has done for us.

A new Encounter home group began towards the end of the year, bringing the total to 6, with the 7[th] for the young adults planned for the new year. We also look forward to seeing these groups develop in the same way as the others.

There is much to Praise God for in the lives of his people here in this local church.

Fabric Team

This year has been a very active year for the fabric team. We have been blessed with many volunteers, inside & outside the church, who have helped with the maintenance and development of the church.

Some of the major areas delt with this year are:

Renovation of the back school room which was a major project. This Included:

Also undertaken this year:

Projects going forward:

A big thank you to Steve and Jenny Fraser who head up the fabric team along with all the volunteers.

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Church communications

We have a weekly notice sheet which is sent to all those who have opted in to receive it; a paper format handed out before church services. The list of those opting in to receive our newsletter increased during the year. In addition, we continued to refresh the church website which is updated regularly with news and events.

We communicate with the wider community through features and stories published in local newspapers and websites.

Other Church Activities

Community

Revd. Rob Howlett is a founding trustee of The Waffle Hub Community Café, a joint project that launched in 2022 with the local Methodist Church, which is designed to alleviate loneliness, isolation, and food poverty. This initiative is also supported by several members of the congregation on a weekly basis.

We continue to demonstrate our commitment to our local community working with a number of Local and National organisations including Safe Families, Foodbank, and Food Pantry, as well as offer financial support to InHope (Bristol), Project Ruth, and The Leprosy Mission, among others.

We also take an active role running the Community Garden (based at Hope Baptist Church) which aims to support families from the local Foodbank who need fresh produce to supplement their weekly parcels. Alongside this we have run quarterly Community Lunches, serving a free three course meal to 60 – 80 locals and run a very successful Family Day for nearly 150 local and visiting families.

The success of these projects has been a real blessing to our community, and we must thank all the volunteers who tirelessly support the work.

Creche

In 2024 we were able to establish a creche during the morning service for babies and pre-school children. A team of volunteers is led by Zoe Ryder and the children’s activities are themed around a bible story so that the children are learning as they play.

Lighthouse Club

Lighthouse Club continues during the morning services and now takes place weekly with the exception of the first Sunday of the month. Leaders take responsibility for planning a session of games, craft and teaching based around a theme each week. Regular attendance of the group continues to increase with church growth.

Teenagers

A number of activities have been held for the teenagers. A group has attended the monthly ‘We Are Movement’ worship events hosted by a team from the Bath & Wells Diocese and specifically aimed at young people. Additional incentive has been provided by a trip to McDonald’s on the way to the event! The year was topped off by a trip to the skating rink in Weston. We continue to encourage our teens to take part in our Sunday worship, particularly the evening ‘Encounter Worship’ service each month.

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Remix

Plans were made during 2024 to start a Thursday evening children’s club in the church building. The idea was formally launched with a ‘taster’ service in October when the congregation were introduced to a typical club evening including songs, games and a bible story. The church was very much behind the idea which was scheduled to begin in January 2025. The 4 Front Theatre Company were engaged to bring their Christmas production ‘Herald of Herod’ to three local schools in early December to coincide with publicity for the launch of the group. Our offer of a free Christmas production was very well received by the schools.

Tiny Tots

Tiny Tots continues to meet every Tuesday morning during term time. The babies and children bring their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and carers. Around 2030 families attend each week and for many it is one of the highlights of their week.

The entire building is used during the morning. The Lower Hall is the main play area where cars, puzzles, train track, books, dolls, home corner, Noah’s Ark and many other toys are thoroughly enjoyed. A separate baby area ensures that our tiniest people, sometimes just a week old, are safe and that their adults can chat together. There is a well-attended craft table, with the activity usually linked to the story theme. Hot drinks and snacks are available to everyone and very much appreciated. The Schoolroom is where the bikes, scooters, wheeled toys, slide and see-saw are used as well as the water and sand play areas. The church is used as a quieter place for people during the morning until 11am when we all move in for songs (both nursey rhymes and bible themed songs, dancing, instruments) and a story. This is a very popular time and a joy to see both children and adults joining in. A Bible story is shared each week, sometimes reading from the Story Bible and sometimes acted out.

Almost every week there are new families. Many of our families have particular needs and have told us that Tiny Tots is a lifeline for them. Lonely parents and carers are able to make new friends, share their childcare questions and feel supported.

Meeting Place

The Meeting Place continues to open its doors to welcome people for tea, coffee, and cake as well as hear from a local speaker, including the very popular Leprosy Mission, Open Doors, and John Strictland (local historian). As numbers continue to grow, we praise God for the work he is doing to help the lonely and isolated members of our community through the work of the Meeting Place, led by Eileen Wood and Suzanne Davis.

Looking Ahead - 2025

We look forward with hope for 2025. Plans include: the continuing and developing of our missional and community projects with Foodbank, Food Pantry, Safe Families, Project Ruth, The Waffle Hub Community Café, Open Doors, The Leprosy Mission, InHope, and others; the expansion of the community garden at Hope Baptist Church; running Alpha and Youth Alpha courses; to continue to develop a youth programme including Remix Kid’s Club and drop-in service accessible to everyone; to continue to redevelop the use of our church building to include greater opportunities to share this

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amazing resource. But most of all, our plan is to see the Kingdom of God grow in Burnham on Sea and Highbridge.

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Trustees’ Annual Report – Charity Commission

From 1[ST] JANUARY 2024 Period start date To 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024 Period end date

Charity name: BURNHAM ON SEA BAPTIST CHURCH

Charity registration number: 1170311

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes
of the charity as set out in
itsgoverningdocument		 Para 1.17 The advancement of the Christian faith in
accordance with the principles of the Baptist
Union of Great Britain
Summary of the main
activities in relation to
those purposes for the
public benefit, in
particular, the activities,
projects or services
identified in the accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 Please see ‘Trustee Report’ (pages 2-8)
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the
guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on
public benefit		 Para 1.18 The trustees have regard to the Charity
Commission guidance on Public Benefit and
plan their activities to ensure that they
comply with the guidance.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38
Policy on social
investment including
program related		 Para 1.38
investment
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38
Other

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Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the
charity, identifying the
difference the charity’s
work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any
wider benefits to society
as a whole.		 Para 1.20 Please see ‘Trustee Report’ (pages 2-8)

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set Para 1.41
Performance of
fundraising activities Para 1.41
against objectives set
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41
Other

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Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s
financial position at the
end of the period		 Para 1.21 The trustees consider the financial
performance by the charity during the year
to have been satisfactory.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 The trustees consider that our reserves
should be maintained at a level to meet the
normal expenditure of the church for a six-
month period, adjusted to take account of
payments in lieu of notice to paid employees.
This sum is held in a deposit account with
BUGB.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £20872
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A
Details of fund materially
in deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a
going concern		 Para 1.23 N/A

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal
sources of funds Para 1.47
(including any fundraising)
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy		 Para 1.46
adopted
A description of the
principal risks facing the Para 1.46
charity
Other

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Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing
document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 Trust Deed / Church Constitution
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g. unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 C.I.O.
Trustee selection
methods including details
of any constitutional
provisions e.g. election to
post or name of any
person or body entitled to
appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 The power of appointment and removal of
trustees is vested in the members of the
church in accordance with the provisions of
the church constitution. All trustees must be
members of the church.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction Para 1.51
and training of trustees
The charity’s
organisational structure
and any wider network Para 1.51
with which the charity
works
Relationship with any
related parties		 Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charityname Burnham On Sea Baptist Church
Other name the charity
uses		 N/A
Registered charity number 1170311
Charity’s principal address Burnham On Sea Baptist Church
College Street
Burnham On Sea
Somerset
TA8 1AR

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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Dates acted if not Name of person (or body) entitled to Trustee name Office (if any) ~~esee~~ for whole ~~es~~ year appoint trustee (if any) 1 Robert William Howlett Minister ~~ee~~ 2 Graham Paul Brown Treasurer ~~a~~ 3 ~~a~~ Robert Alan Ryder Deacon 4 Patricia Jane Silk Deacon 1.1.20245 Sarah Leanne Swift Deacon 6.12.2024 6 ~~aeee~~ Sarah Elizabeth Taylor Deacon 7 Phil Nichol Deacon ~~a~~ 8 Malcolm Spratt Deacon 1.1.2024 - 9 David Williams Deacon 7.4.2024 ~~a~~ 10 ~~a ee ee~~ 11 ~~ee~~ 12 ~~ee ee~~ 13 ~~a es~~ 14 ~~ee~~ 15 ~~a~~ 16 ~~ee ee~~ 17 ~~es~~ 18 ~~a~~ 19 ~~ee ee~~ 20 ~~ee~~

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved.

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
West of England Baptist
Trust CompanyLimited

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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and N/A how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such N/A assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address Adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Other optional information

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Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Signature(s)
Full name(s) Full name(s)
Robert William Howlett		 Graham Paul Brown
Position (e.g.
Secretary, Chair, etc)		 Position (e.g.
Minister		 Treasurer
Date 21st March 2025

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URNHAkl OM SEA BAPTIST CHURCH Independent Examinerfs Report CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLMD MD WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner"'s Report membws of BURNHAM ON SEA BAPTIST CHURCH On accounts forthe year ended 311t D￿￿￿ber2O24 1170311 {If any) I re[￿￿1 to Ihe tnthes my examinatK)n of Ihe accounts of the above charity (tr Trusf) forthe year ended 3111212024 Responsibilitses and basis of rep)rt 8 the chafivs Irustees. you are ￿$[￿￿1ble for the prepara￿￿ of t ac(x)unts in ￿¢￿dance ￿ the requIre￿nts ofthe Chafities kt 2011 (Ihe Adl. I rep)rt in resw d my examinatM)n of the Tn￿¥$ accounts (arTied I￿rt under seclion 145 of the 2011 Act in carying out my examination, I have folbwed all the app5tsble DirectK)ns given by the Charity Cotymission under Sect￿ 145(SXb) of the Ac. Independent l ccxnpkted my examu￿t)n. I confrni that Th) matenal matters have examinerfs statement ime to my attentM)n in connection with Ihe examinatIc￿ {other than that dE¢bsed be￿￿"} gNes Me cause to believe that in, any matwial of the Charities ACL or with the examtnatN)n to wh￿h attenti￿ shoukl be drawn in this report in Slgned: 17 %( Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (rf any): Addres*. Brambles. Marine Drive. &tmham on Sea. st￿er8d TA8 1NQ 16

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