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← Letchworth Baptist Church

2023-12-31-accounts

Letchworth Baptist Church

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023

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1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE West View Letchworth Garden City Hertfordshire SG6 3QJ GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO - Association registered June 2017 as amended December 2021 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1173298 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR David Chan (Pastor) MANAGING THE CHARITY Michael Cornell Mike Waddell (Secretary & Treasurer) Steve Whittall BANKERS HSBC Bank plc FINANCIAL ADVISORS Yoke & Co CHARTERED SURVEYOR Davies King Chartered Surveyors SOLICITORS Edward Connor Solicitor INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

INDEX

Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-7 Trustees' Report Page 8 Independent Examiner's Report Page 9 Receipts and Payments Account Page 10 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 11-13 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

1[st] January 2023 to 31[st] December 2023

The Trustees present their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The accounts employ the cash-based receipts and payments method and comply with Charity Commission guidance CC16.

1 Structure, Governance and Management

Governing documents

The governing documents are:

Constitution

Letchworth Baptist Church was registered by the Charity Commission on 6[th] June 2017 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation superseding the previous Letchworth Baptist Church charitable trust.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Trustees are appointed and recruited in accordance with the procedures set out in the governing documents.

Governance and Management

The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the church fulfils its charitable objectives in a manner that is compliant with the provision of the Constitution and Church Rules, especially the Basis of Faith.

In accordance with the powers set out in the Constitution a Standing Order has been established by which the Trustees delegate the day-to-day management affairs of the Church to the body of Elders. They are supported by deacons who are appointed by the elders and have been assigned specific responsibilities for administrative, ministry or operational functions.

Page 2

The Pastors and Elders, all of whom are also Trustees, normally meet each month to discuss the church business, monitor church finances and direct the affairs of the church. They normally also meet once each month for prayer.

Church members’ business meetings have been conducted both in-person and via Zoom.

2 Objectives and Activities

Charitable Purposes

The purposes of the Church are:

  1. The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the basis of faith primarily but not exclusively within Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire and the surrounding neighbourhood; and

  2. Such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the members of the church in general meeting, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness and the advancement of education.

Summary of activities

The Church seeks to fulfil public benefit regarding the advancement of the Christian faith in the following ways.

These are generally achieved through a combination of Sunday services, midweek meetings and other activities for adults and children throughout the year.

As a general principle, meetings are open to the public and visitors are warmly welcomed. Communion services are held regularly and participation is open to all who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Activities are advertised on the church web site, a church WhatsApp group, the noticeboard and by word of mouth. Seasonal and other special events may also be promoted by leaflet distribution.

Page 3

Both spiritual and material support has also been provided by Church members for missionary and community work in the UK and overseas.

As a general principle the church is funded by donation not charges, and no one is excluded from membership or participation in the general activities of the church on financial grounds.

All of the activities described have been conducted in accordance with the Charitable Objects and Basis of Faith set out in the governing documents.

3 Achievements and performance

In planning the activities, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.

The church was able to maintain the following ministries in order to provide Public Benefit in the following ways:

Page 4

The Role of Volunteers

The church’s volunteers comprises both members and adherents who enable all its activities to take place.

4 Financial Review

As the church income level is well below £250,000 it has transitioned to cash-based receipts and payments accounting. This simplifies and reduces the administration burden.

General

As an overview, the charity received £95,500 income during the period and had outgoings totalling £116,300. Including the sale of the manse, there was an overall increase in funds of £784,100. The funds carried forward are £816,600 and include restricted fund balances of £13,600. The general income of the church is made up principally from gifts and from "Gift Aid" given by church members and adherents either through the Sunday morning offering or by standing order into the bank.

The pastor responsible for the Chinese congregation is an Office Holder Trustee, as set out in the constitution, and is financially supported in order to fulfil his role.

The church also supports two missionaries. The funding for this is dealt with separately from the general church accounts. A target for missionary support is set in the last Church Business Meeting of each year. Any money collected in this fund is paid out to those missionaries which the Church members, at a Church Business Meeting, have agreed to support. Occasional gifts are made to other Christian ministries.

Additionally, a ‘Chinese Ministry Fund’ exists to support the work of the Chinese congregation and pastor in the church and amongst ethnic Chinese and associated communities in the United Kingdom and overseas.

A settlement agreement was made with the departing pastor which included a payment-inlieu of pension of £177,106 once the manse had been sold. An interim, initial advance payment was made to aid the rental of a property and a tax-efficient plan was recommended by their financial advisor for the remaining amount. This carries over to 2024.

Charity specialist financial advisors, Yoke and Co, were appointed to advise the church on an investment policy and its implementation regarding the proceeds of the manse sale.

The use of the proceeds is dependent upon the approach taken regarding the appointment of a pastor. The options include the purchase of another manse, a loan to assist the pastor to purchase a property and investing for income to assist in the financial support of a pastor. There are also maintenance needs in the church building. Because of the expected short-term requirements and the need to preserve capital, the Epworth Cash Plus Fund for Charities was selected as an investment vehicle.

Page 5

Manse Sale

Davies King Chartered Surveyors of Letchworth Garden City were appointed in 2022 and reappointed in 2023, to provide the required valuation report for the manse, prepared under The Charities (Disposition of Land: Designated Advisors and Reports) Regulations 2023 and Charities Act 2011 Section 119. To complement the marketing advice provided, they were also engaged to provide a managed sale service. The property was marketed through Country Properties Estate Agents of Letchworth, and the sale conducted via sealed offers. The sale was completed in September 2023 for £805,000.

Reserves policy

The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £9,000 (which equates to about 3 months of operational costs, excluding pay and stipends) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely.

The church membership is relatively small in number, and income is almost exclusively provided by the donation of members and is thus limited. Should a greater need arise, the policy is to request additional donations from Church Members, in this way additional funds can be quickly raised.

Due to the sale of the manse, at the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash in excess of £800,000. Currently, this provides more than adequate reserves until its use has been clarified.

5 Risk review

As a small Charity, Letchworth Baptist Church is not subject to the compulsory requirement for risk reviews. However, the Trustees maintain awareness of areas of concern.

The Trustees are conscious that the work of the church is dependent upon the financial support of members and congregation. Without this support the work would be unable to continue. Also maintaining teaching in line with Basis of Faith is important from a spiritual, theological and constitutional perspective and hence in achieving the church’s charitable purpose.

Informal risk assessments for the property and activities are carried out and, where appropriate, action has been taken to monitor and mitigate identified risks.

A safeguarding policy based on the Thirtyone:Eight (was Churches Child Protection Advisory Service) guidelines has been maintained and operated.

GDPR compliant privacy procedures have been established and are maintained.

Page 6

The proceeds of the manse sale introduced the need to be concerned about financial risk. This was addressed in the new Investment Policy which mandates the use high quality, ultra-low risk vehicles aimed at capital preservation.

6 Responsibilities of the trustees

Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity.

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.

ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES

Mike Waddell

Mike Waddell (May 30, 2024 10:15 GMT+1)

Mike Waddell Secretary

May 30, 2024

Date:………………………………

Page 7

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Letchworth Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2023 on pages 9 to 13 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Jaimée Young

Jaimée Young (Jun 3, 2024 11:42 GMT+1)

Jaimée Young

Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: Jun 3, 2024

Page 8

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Unrestricted Funds
General Designated Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds Funds 2023 2022
Notes £ £ £ £ £
Income receipts
Donations 59,469 - 12,633 72,102 71,489
Gift aid receipts 14,167 - 3,102 17,268 17,211
Other grants - - - - 5,589
Income from charitable activities 837 - 1,266 2,104 2,102
Interest 3,959 - 36 3,995 27
Other - - - - 220
78,432 - 17,037 95,469 96,638
Capital and similar receipts
Sale of property (manse) 805,000 - - 805,000 -
805,000 - - 805,000 -
Total receipts 883,432 - 17,037 900,469 96,638
Payments
Payments
in
relation
to
activities undertaken directly		 charitable 2 96,807 - 3,377 100,184 73,559
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
activities undertaken by others		 charitable 3 696 - 15,440 16,136 13,799
Total payments 97,503 - 18,817 116,320 87,358
Net
of
receipts
transfers		 / (payments) before 785,929 - (1,780) 784,149 9,281
Transfers between funds 5 - - - - -
Net movement in funds 785,929 - (1,780) 784,149 9,281
Cash funds as at last year end 17,088 - 15,357 32,446 23,165
Cash funds at this year end A 803,017 - 13,578 816,595 32,446

The notes on pages 11-13 form part of these accounts.

Page 9

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

A Cash funds
Cash at bank with immediate access
Notice account
Cash in hand
B
Other monetary assets
Gift aid due to charity
Other debtors
C
Liabilities
Falling due within one year:
Payments in lieu of pension
Note 7
PAYE and pension due
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
D
Assets retained for charity's own use
Church building
Contents and equipment		 General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
197,034
-
605,655
-
328
-
803,017
-
255
-
207
-
461
-
137,259
-
174
-
1,320
-
-
-
138,753
-
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
funds
£
13,578
-
-
13,578
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to
which asset
belongs
General
General		 Total
2023
£
210,612
605,655
328
816,595
255
207
461
137,259
174
1,320
-
138,753
Value
2023
£
-
59,504
59,504		 Total
2022
£
17,684
14,678
84
32,445
1,572
-
1,572
-
653
660
1,193
2,506

The trustees have used insurance values for contents and equipment as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.

Current values have not been quoted for the church building because reliable valuations are not available (disclosure is not mandatory).

E Guarantees and secured debts

The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf

Mike Waddell by Mike Waddell (May 30, 2024 10:15 GMT+1) _____ date ____ Mike Waddell (Secretary & Treasurer)

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May 30, 2024
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The notes on pages 11-13 form part of these accounts.

Page 10

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

In the previous year, the charity presented accounts prepared on the accruals basis using the Charities SORP. However, as the charity's income is now less than £250,000, it has taken advantage of the option to prepare its accounts on a receipts and payments basis and the results reported previously have been restated; further information is given in note 6 below.

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.

2
Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly
Employment costs
Note 4
Payments in lieu of pension
Note 7
Church ministries and activities
Church repairs and maintenance
Church utilities
Insurance
Manse upkeep
Legal and professional fees
Independent examination fee
3
Grants and gifts paid to others
Organisations:
Illyrian Gospel Trust
Organisations < £1,000
Support of missionary
Other individuals		 Unrestrict Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ed Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
700
-
2,321
355
-
-
-
-
-
3,377
7,552
335
7,552
-
15,440		 Total
2023
£
17,469
30,000
9,749
2,121
2,920
987
9,918
26,360
660
100,184
7,552
831
7,552
200
16,136		 Total
2022
£
General
funds
£
16,769
30,000
7,428
1,765
2,920
987
9,918
26,360
660
96,807
-
496
-
200
696
36,953
-
9,287
12,420
1,946
799
7,709
3,785
660
73,559
6,580
489
6,580
150
13,799

Page 11

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

4 Transactions with related parties

D Chan served as a church leader and was paid £14,890 [2022: 11,465] for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

No payments were made to any other trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.

5
Movement of funds
General funds
Restricted funds
Missionary fund
Noah's Ark
Boards
Ladies Breakfast
Chinese Ministry funds
Harvest
Refurbishment
Christmas Day
Defibrillator
Total funds		 Opening
balance
£
17,088
17,088
3,833
661
53
126
9,814
-
782
212
107
15,587
32,675		 Open bal
adjust for RP
£
-
-
(240)
(223)
-
-
45
-
54
135
-
(230)
(230)		 Receipts
£
883,432
883,432
14,841
1,287
-
59
-
118
-
732
-
17,037
900,469		 Payments
£
(97,503)
(97,503)
(15,105)
(1,306)
(53)
(112)
(1,504)
(124)
(294)
(212)
(107)
(18,817)
(116,320)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Closing
balance
£
803,017
803,017
3,329
419
-
73
8,355
(6)
542
866
-
13,578
816,595

Missionary fund is for the purpose of raising funds to support a particular missionary/organisation supported by the church.

Noah's Ark is a parent and toddler group that is run by the church; the attendees give donations which are used to provide refreshments and renew play equipment.

Boards is a fund used to purchase new external notice boards for the church and refurbish existing notice boards.

The Ladies Breakfast fund is used to cover food for these meetings.

The Chinese Ministry funds are used to support projects including Ministry in China, Ministry to Chinese elsewhere in the world, support of Pastor Chan's Ministry and Central.

Harvest - This is in support of the Mill Grove Children's home. There was provision of food gifts from the Harvest Thanksgiving service given to the home as well as some financial gifts.

The refurbishment fund relates to a grant provided by the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation to fit an automated sliding door. The majority of the work was completed in 2022 and the remaining funds will be spent in 2024.

The Christmas Day Fund for 2023 was to raise funds which will be split 50/50 between The Need Project in Stotfold and Christian Concern.

The defibrillator fund relates to a grant received towards purchasing/leasing a community defibrillator installed outside the church building.

Page 12

LETCHWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

6 Reconciliation with previously reported funds

As explained in note 1 'Accounting Policies', in the previous year the charity prepared its accounts using the accruals basis; in the current year the charity has taken advantage of the option to prepare its accounts on a receipts and payments basis. The comparatives presented in these accounts have been re-stated using the receipts and payments basis and a reconciliation with the reserves and results reported previously follows:

Reconciliation of reserves

Reconciliation of reserves
Previously reported reserves, at 31 December
Adjustments arising from use of receipts and payments basis:
Exclusion of previously included fixed assets
Exclusion of previously included debtors
Exclusion of previously included creditors
Re-stated reserves, at 31 December
Previously reported results
Adjustments arising from use of receipts and payments basis:
Previously capitalised expenditure, less depreciation, now expensed
Excluded movements in debtors resulting in the recognition of more / (less) income
Excluded movements in creditors resulting in the recognition of less / (more) expenditure
Re-stated results
Reconciliation of results		 2022
£
1,709,632
(1,855,829)
(1,572)
180,214
32,445
2022
£
(106,428)
(63,578)
895
178,391
9,280		 2021
£
1,816,060
(1,792,251)
(2,467)
1,823
23,165

7 Payments in lieu of pension

In 2022, in consultation with charity solicitors and the Charity Commission, a settlement agreement was made with the departing pastor which included a paymentin-lieu of pension of £177,106 once the manse had been sold. An interim, initial advance payment was made to aid the rental of a property and a tax-efficient plan was recommended by their financial advisor for the remaining amount. The remaining amount, less expenses incurred, is expected to be paid in full in 2024.

Page 13