Charity No 1171047
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH TENTERDEN
Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2023
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The Trustees of Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in March 2005.
Contents
| 1. | Aims and purposes of the charity | page 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | Objectives and activities of the charity | page 2 |
| 3. | Achievements and performance | page 2 |
| 4. | Financial review | page 3 |
| 5. | Reserves policy | page 3 |
| 6. | Volunteers | page 3 |
| 7. | Safeguarding | page 3 |
| 8. | General Data Protection Regulations | page 4 |
| 9. | Structure, governance and management | page 4 |
| 10. | Administrative information | page 4 |
| 11. | Financial statements | page 5 |
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1. Aims and purposes
Our aim and purpose as a church is to see God’s kingdom grow as families, friends and communities are transformed by Jesus Christ.
2. Objectives and activities
The main objects of the charity are to promote the worship of God and the preaching of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ both locally and internationally.
When planning our activities for the year we have considered the Charity Commissioner’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We try to show people how to come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to live out their faith in the local community through:
- Worship, prayer and Bible study; learning about the gospel; developing people’s knowledge of and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ;
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Supporting missionary endeavour and other outreach here and overseas;
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Providing pastoral support for Church members and others who are in need.
To facilitate the work it is essential we maintain the fabric of the Church building.
3. Achievements and performance
It has always been the wish of the Trustees to hold services and a range of other activities during the week, and over the course of the year, that our community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. Our Sunday morning service is family-friendly and intended to facilitate worship in an accessible way, whereas our evening meeting is less formal and provides more opportunity for people to participate in the time together. There are mid-week meetings for Bible study and prayer, many of which are held in people’s homes, which are useful means of spiritual growth.
With the lifting of the remaining restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, we were pleased to be able to resume our Sunday services and mid-week meetings in our building and in homes during the year.
During 2022 we began an initiative to share the good news of the Gospel in the town of Tenterden: once a week we set up a book table in the High Street with a view to offering passers-by literature and information about the Church and to engage in conversation with them. More recently our Pastor, Matthew Clay, has started a daytime, mid-week meeting for those wishing to ask questions and discuss issues relating to the Christian life.
As part of our wish to offer pastoral care for our members and those connected to the Church, the Elders and other helpers visited many of the sick, elderly and needy folk on a more organised basis than in previous years.
Following the devastating floods in Pakistan in 2022 and the earthquakes in Turkey/Syria we made a special appeal for funds to support humanitarian efforts and were pleased to send a total of almost £5000 via Barnabas Aid. We also raised more than £1000 for Morning Star Children’s Centre in South Africa by means of a cake and craft sale.
At the end of the year our membership stood at 33 (including 1 Associate Member).
4. Financial review
Unrestricted donations were £ 45,214 which, together with the Gift Aid claim, meant that our income from regular donations amounted to £ 54,973 . Incoming resources from charitable activities amounted to £2,490, including £1,125 raised from hiring the hall to outside organisations.
Costs associated with running the Church amounted to £71,141. This included grants for missionary work totalling £725 and international aid of £4,779. Much of the former was sent to missionary organisations working abroad.
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The Trustees noted that expenditure exceeded income during the year, leading to a deficit of £12,045. This was expected on account of our decision to recruit and employ a new pastor, which was made in the knowledge that in the short-term there would be a call on our reserves until donation income increases through a growth in membership.
Please see the attached Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts for further details.
5 Reserves policy
The Trustees aim to maintain a balance of unrestricted funds equivalent to 3 months expenditure, amounting to approximately £14 500 in 2021/22. This was achieved.
6. Volunteers
The Church relies on the support of volunteers drawn from the membership and regular attendees to carry out many of the activities undertaken in the local area.
7. Safeguarding
During the year the Church opened an account with Christian Safeguarding Services and reviewed its safeguarding policy in January 2023. A training session was held in March and DBS checks instigated where appropriate.
8. General Data Protection Regulations
The Church has relevant policies in place in regard to GDPR. A copy of our Privacy Notice can be found on our Church Website. Our database is held within password protected software called "ChurchSuite", a cloud-hosted GDPR compliant system and personal data is only included with specific consent.
9. Structure, governance and management
Trinity Baptist Church was founded in 1967. On 19 July 1976 an Assignment and Declaration of Trust was established in relation to the premises where the Church currently meets. The trustees were named officers of the Church and the Grace Baptist Trust Corporation.
At a formally constituted meeting of members on 25 October 2012, the Church adopted a constitution governing the charitable assets of the Church from a legal perspective in accordance with the requirements of charity law. The trustees of this charity were the minister of the Church, the other elders and the deacons.
New rules were adopted at the same time. In 2016/17 the Church adopted a new Constitution and Handbook for the purposes of obtaining registration as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The Charity Commission confirmed the new charitable status on 9 January 2017 (Registered charity number 1171047). The trustees of the charity were, again, the minister, the other elders and the deacons. Since as a CIO the Church was able to own property, the ownership of building and land were transferred to the CIO, thus ending the 1976 Trust deed.
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Charity Trustees: Matthew Clay Matthew Hopkins John McDonald Peter Smith (Chair) Jim Wiles 10. Administrative information Charity No: 1171047 Address: Ashford Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6LR Independent examiner Paxton Independent Examiners, 61a High Street South, Rushden, NN10 0RA Solicitors Edward Connor Solicitors, 10 The Point, LE16 7QU
Approved by the Trustees on 17 / 05 /2023 and signed on their behalf by Peter Smith.
11.Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023
11.1 Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts 11.2 Charity Commission SOFA Report
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11.3 Charity Commission Balance Sheet 11.4 Charity Commission Movement of Funds Report
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.
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
| Section A Independent Examiner’s Report |
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report |
|---|---|
| Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages Responsibilities and basis of report |
Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden 31 March 2023 Charity no (if any) 1171047 One to Eight I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023. 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 examiner's statement 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:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 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.
| Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
Darren Warren Date: |
10/05/2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Darren Warren – Paxton Independent Examiners | ||
| FMAAT | ||
| 61a High Street South | ||
| Rushden | ||
| Northants, NN10 ORA |
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Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
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Charity Commission Balance Sheet Details
Paxton
Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden
| March 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B01 Intangible assets B02 Tangible assets Building B03 Heritage assets B04 Investments B06 Stocks B07 Debtors Recoverable Gift Aid B08 Investments B09 Cash at bank and in hand Bank current account Bank deposit account B11 Creditors (due within one year) B14 Creditors (due after one year) B15 Provisions for liabilities |
Unrestricted 0 681,490 681,490 0 0 0 9,469 9,469 0 12,579 88,143 100,722 0 0 |
Restricted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Endowment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Year Total 0 681,490 681,490 0 0 0 9,469 9,469 0 12,579 88,143 100,722 0 0 |
Last Year |
| 0 681,490 681,490 0 0 0 9,039 9,039 0 16,687 96,510 113,197 0 0 |
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Charity Commission Balance Sheet Details
Paxton
Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden
| March 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B17 Endowment funds B18 Restricted income funds B19 Unrestricted funds Retained surplus B20 Revaluation reserve |
Unrestricted 0 0 0 791,681 791,681 0 |
Restricted 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Endowment 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Year Total 0 0 0 791,681 791,681 0 |
Last Year |
| 0 0 0 803,726 803,726 0 |
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Charity Commission SOFA Details Report
Paxton
Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden
| March 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S01 Donations and legacies Donations - regular Donations - other Gift aid tax claimed S02 Charitable activities (inc.) Room Hire Book sales Other income S03 Other trading activities S04 Investments Interest received S05 Separate material item of income S06 Other (inc.) S08 Raising funds S09 Charitable activities GBM EMI Int UK Asia Link People International Sat 7 Other missionary support FIEC Training Fund International support TBC assistance Salaries and wages PAYE/Employer NI Pastor Pension |
Unrestricted 35,939 9,275 9,759 54,973 1,125 263 1,102 2,490 0 1,633 1,633 0 0 0 4,108 1,200 2,600 500 0 725 0 4,779 33 24,622 5,634 2,931 |
Restricted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Endowment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Year Total 35,939 9,275 9,759 54,973 1,125 263 1,102 2,490 0 1,633 1,633 0 0 0 4,108 1,200 2,600 500 0 725 0 4,779 33 24,622 5,634 2,931 |
Last Year |
| 42,425 659 9,270 52,354 746 418 200 1,364 0 43 43 0 0 0 4,300 1,200 861 1,000 100 200 250 5,750 794 14,061 2,800 1,659 |
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Charity Commission SOFA Details Report
Paxton
Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden
| Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2023 | Last Year 396 126 3,082 5,600 100 1,337 229 0 499 12 195 410 16 137 502 817 0 307 972 799 539 32 439 1,145 411 695 3,361 1,233 180 37 528 283 390 57,784 0 0 0 0 Page 6 of 8 |
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| Pastor expenses Pastor travel/subsistence Pastor starting costs Rent for Church Manse Conference expenses Visiting speaker costs Youth work costs Evangelism - events Evangelism - publicity Evangelism - literature Printing & stationery Bookstall purchases Home Group study guides Flowers Catering Fire alarm maintenance IT, audio visual Music, licences FIEC Subscription Gas Electricity Water Telephone, internet Insurance Other costs Cleaning Repairs & maintenance Furniture & equipment Audit & accountancy Safeguarding Paxton software support Paxton Payroll Church Suite admin S10 Separate material item of expense S11 Other (exp.) S14 Net gains/(losses) on investments S16 Extraordinary items |
Unrestricted 394 80 0 10,200 0 550 520 48 492 221 100 552 0 120 588 803 32 536 1,002 914 1,327 63 321 1,285 701 1,161 23 249 180 186 568 403 390 71,141 0 0 0 0 |
Restricted 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Endowment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Year Total 394 80 0 10,200 0 550 520 48 492 221 100 552 0 120 588 803 32 536 1,002 914 1,327 63 321 1,285 701 1,161 23 249 180 186 568 403 390 71,141 0 0 0 0 |
Charity Commission SOFA Details Report
Paxton
Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden
| March 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S17 Transfers between funds S18 Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets S19 Other gains/(losses) |
Unrestricted 0 0 0 |
Restricted 0 0 0 |
Endowment 0 0 0 |
Year Total 0 0 0 |
Last Year |
| 0 0 0 |
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Paxton Charity Commission Movement of Funds Report
Trinity Baptist Church Tenterden
Month = March 2023
| Fund name General fund |
Fund balances brought forward 803,726 |
Fund balances brought forward 803,726 |
Income 59,095 |
Expenditure -71,140 |
Transfers 0 |
Gains and losses 0 |
Gains and losses 0 |
Fund balances carried forward 791,681 |
Fund balances carried forward 791,681 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals | 803,726 | 59,095 | -71,140 | 0 | 0 | 791,681 |
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