2023-12-31-accounts - Community Baptist Church, Sutton

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COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 December 2023

Registered Charity Number: 1171500

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2023

	Page
Report of the Trustees	1 to 3
Independent Examiner’s Report	4
Statement of Financial Activities	5
Balance Sheet	6
Notes to the Financial Statements	7 to 10

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

for the year ended 31 December 2023

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the unincorporated charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (RFS102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2021.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1171500

Principal address 1 Kenny Drive Carshalton SM5 4PH

Trustees K Napora E Pera Rev R Strother

Independent examiner John Helps ACA Skingle Helps & Co Chartered Accountants 28 Southway Carshalton Beeches Surrey SM5 4HW

Page 1

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

for the year ended 31 December 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is governed by its constitution adopted on 11 September 2016 as amended 29 January 2017.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Trustees are elected from amongst the membership of the church, and are nominated by the members. Nominees are interviewed and vetted by the pastor and existing trustees. Voting takes place at the Annual General Meeting to elect trustees for the coming year. Relevant training is provided by the existing trustees.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The trustees consider that they have to consider credit risk and cash flow risk. Any use of financial derivatives is governed by the charity’s policies approved by the board of trustees, which provide written principles on the use of financial derivatives to manage these risks. The charity does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Credit risk

The charity’s principal financial assets are bank balances. The amounts presented in the balance sheet are net of allowables for doubtful receivables. The charity has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and customers.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The advancement of the Christian religion for the benefit of the public in accordance with the following:
To exalt Jesus Christ in all actions and manners so prescribed in his word;
To explain biblical truth in a practical manner so that we may encourage and be an example to our community;
To encourage spiritual growth amongst our membership;
To establish family and moral values in order to promote a godly lifestyle;
To expand the leaders that have a passion to reach out in a spiritual and practical manner; and
To expand the purpose of Jesus Christ in global outreach to our surrounding community and entire world.

Specific activities undertaken in the furtherance of these objectives during the year are recorded in the separate Trustees’ Annual Report filed with the Charity Commission.

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. All activities are undertaken for the benefit of the public at large.

Grant making

The payment of grants to missionaries and Christian charities, in furtherance of the charity's objectives, are voted and agreed upon by the trustees at regular meetings.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Review of the development, activities and achievements for the year

The trustees are happy with progress made in the year.

We have a number of regular activities that are designed to help us achieve the objects set out above. These include:

Weekly church services open to the general public where we exalt Jesus Christ through worship; explain the Bible in a practical way; encourage people to have a positive impact in the community; and encourage people to live by the moral values we find in the Bible.
Weekly Bible studies that are more informal but still carry the main objective of explaining and applying the Bible in a practical way.
Outreach to our local community, inviting people to our services and sharing Biblical truth with them.
Regular leadership development to foster a deeper understanding and application of Biblical teaching and encourage leaders to reach out to others in their communities.
Involvement with other local churches, here and abroad, through prayer, financial support, and occasional visits.

Page 2

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

for the year ended 31 December 2023

Below are some of the regular activities and achievements of Community Baptist Church Sutton in 2023:

Held outreach events on our local high street to meet and benefit people in our local community.
Held regular church services, open to the public, where the word of God is taught and expounded.
Held monthly church prayer meetings where we pray for God’s working in our local community.
Held regular events for church members to engage in Christian fellowship.
Supported foreign missions and church planting partners, adding an additional foreign church planter.
Visited a church planter on mainland Europe in preparation for planting a new church.
Participated in one-on-one discipleship sessions to train new leaders in the church.
Conducted Holiday Bible Club for children over summer holidays.
Held baptism services so that believers might follow Christ’s command to be baptised.
Received new members into the church.
Began supporting our local food bank financially to help those in need in our community.
Held our annual carol service as a Christmas community outreach.

Investment policy and performance

All assets are held in cash and in light of current interest rates the trustees are satisfied with the returns that they receive given that investments are held in low-risk accounts.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The charity's reserves are represented by the cash at bank and in hand. Total reserves are £201,688 (2022: £183,336) and this level of reserves is maintained to cover annual running costs, and to build up a fund with the objective of purchasing premises in the future.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Charity law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the provision of the Trust deed and the "Charities SORP (FRS 102). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 30 October 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Rev R Strother – Trustee

Page 3

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 set out on pages 5 to 10.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is required.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with my examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 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) 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.

John Helps ACA Skingle Helps & Co Chartered Accountants 28 Southway Carshalton Beeches Surrey SM5 4HW

30 October 2024

Page 4

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

for the year ended 31 December 2023

Notes Unrestricted Restricted funds funds General £ £ Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 41,188 5,648 Investment income 1,282 - __ _ Total income 2 42,470 5,648 Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 85 - Charitable activities 4 25,092 4,589 _ _ Total expenditure 25,177 4,589 _ ____ Net income and net movement in funds 17,293 1,059 Transfer between funds 8 - - Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 8 173,997 9,339 Total funds carried forward 8 191,290 10,398	Total 2023 £ 46,836 1,282 ______ 48,118 85 29,681 __ 29,766 ____ 18,352 - 183,336 201,688	Total 2022 £ 51,613 162 _ _51,775 85 23,993 _ 24,078_ ____ 27,697 - 155,639 183,336

All of the charity’s activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods.

The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements

Page 5

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

BALANCE SHEET

as at 31 December 2023

Notes Total current assets: Cash at bank Liabilities: Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets 8 The funds of the charity: Unrestricted funds 8 Restricted income funds 8 Total charity funds	2023 £ 201,688 201,688 - 201,688 201,688 201,688 191,290 10,398 201,688	2022 £ 183,336
		183,336 -
		183,336
		183,336
		183,336
		173,997 9,339
		183,336

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 October 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Rev R Strother – Trustee

The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements

Page 6

COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 December 2023

General information and accounting policies

Community Baptist Church, Sutton is governed by the constitution dated 11 September 2016 and amended 29 January 2017. The Registered Charity number of the Trust is 1171500 and its registered address is 1 Kenny Drive, Carshalton, SM5 4PH. Accounts are presented in GBP sterling.

The charity’s objectives are the advancement of the Christian religion for the benefit of the public in accordance with the following:
To exalt Jesus Christ in all actions and manners so prescribed in his word;
To explain biblical truth in a practical manner so that we may encourage and be an example to our community;
To encourage spiritual growth amongst our membership;
To establish family and moral values in order to promote a godly lifestyle;
To expand the leaders that have a passion to reach out in a spiritual and practical manner; and
To expand the purpose of Jesus Christ in global outreach to our surrounding community and entire world.

Basis of preparation of financial statements

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2021.

After reviewing the charity's finances, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The trust therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Income recognition and debtors

All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be measured reliably.

Investment income is accounted for gross and when received.

Debtors are recognised at their monetary value.

Gifts in kind

Gifts in kind are recognised in different ways dependent on how they are used by the charity:

(i) Those donated for resale produce income when they are sold. They are valued at the amount actually realised.
(ii) Those donated for onward transmission to beneficiaries are included in the Statement of Financial Activities as incoming resources and resources expended when they are distributed. They are valued at the amount the charity would have had to pay to acquire them.
(iii) Those donated for use by the charity itself are included when receivable. They are valued at the amount the charity would have had to pay to acquire them.

Expenditure recognition and liabilities

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Liabilities are recognised at their monetary value as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.

Grants payable are recognised as expenditure when the commitment is entered into. The Society has specific guidelines to be followed by the Trustees when deciding on the payment of grants to individuals and institutions.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the yearend date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

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COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Raising funds

These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Support costs

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charity for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010oe Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

VAT incurred is not recoverable and is treated as a cost.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purpose at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose. At present restricted funds are raised to support missionary work, at the direction of the trustees.

Financial instruments

Recognition and measurement

All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at a transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when, there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the charity intends either to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the charity transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the charity, despite having retained some but not all significant risks and rewards of ownership has transferred control of the asset to another party.

Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

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COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the year ended 31 December 2023

2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Unrestricted funds General £ Donations and legacies: Donations from individuals - Regular giving and capital donations 41,188 Gifts in kind - _ 41,188 3. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS Costs of generating donations and legacies Unrestricted funds General £ Other direct costs of generating voluntary income 85 4. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Unrestricted funds General £ Regular giving to missionaries - Other costs of charitable activities 25,092 _ 25,092 5. GOVERNANCE COSTS (included in charitable activity costs) Independent examiner’s fee	Restricted funds £ 5,648 - - _ 5,648 Restricted costs £ - Restricted costs £ 4,589 - _ 4,589	Total 2023 £ 5,648 41,188 - _ 46,836 Total 2023 £ 85 Total 2023 £ 4,589 25,092 _ 29,681 2023 £ 480	Total 2022 £ 5,984 45,629 - _ _51,613
			Total 2022 £ 85
			Total 2022 £ 6,259 17,734 _ _23,993
			2022 £ 480

6. TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES

The charity does not have any employees in the current year (2022: none). During the year, the church made a “love offering” of £2,125 (2022: £4,250) to Pastor Ryan Strother who is one of the charity’s trustees. Other than this payment, there were no other trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2023 nor for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Members of the church volunteer to help set up and break down the church setting at services, and volunteer to spread the message locally through meeting the public and distributing tracts on a regular basis.

No employee earned more than £60,000 per annum.

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COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUTTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Trustees’ expenses

During the year, the church paid £13,200 to Pastor Ryan Strother as a contribution towards his home rent to cover the costs of the church office located in his home (2022: £7,200). There were no other trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2023 nor for the year ended 31 December 2022.

7. TAXATION

As recorded in Note 1 the church is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation on its income.

8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Restricted funds Missionary Unrestricted funds General Designated Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follow: Incoming Resources £ Restricted funds Missionary 5,648 Unrestricted funds General 42,470 Designated - 9. SPLIT OF NET ASSETS Unrestricted funds £ Cash at bank 191,290	1 Jan 23 £ 9,339 155,974 18,023 183,336 Resources expended £ (4,589) (25,177) - Restricted funds £ 10,398	Net Movement in funds 31 Dec 23 £ £ 1,059 10,398 17,293 173,267 - 18,023 18,352 201,688 Transfers Movement in funds £ £ - 1,059 - 17,293 - - Total £ 201,688	31 Dec 23 £ 10,398 173,267 18,023
			201,688

10. ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY

The charity is run on a day-to-day basis by the appointed trustees as shown in the Trustees’ Report.

11. RELATED PARTIES

There are no related party transactions to disclose other than those disclosed in note 6.

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