## **Stapleford Baptist Church Trustees Annual report (with accounts) for 2021** ## **Reference and administrative details** Charity Registration Number: 1175549 Registered address: Stapleford Baptist church, Albert Street, Stapleford Nottingham NG9 8DB Charity Trustees: Andrew Robert Dawson Nicholas Dunn Jason Griffiths John Michael Horry David Russell Wells. The above-named are the trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and serve as the elders of the Church. Members of the church are members of the CIO, and appoint the elders. Elders’ meetings are chaired by David Wells and Members’ meetings by Jason Griffiths. ## **Charitable Objects and activities** As a church we are constituted primarily for the purpose of advancing the Christian faith in accordance with our doctrinal statement. We began 2021 with the continuing difficulties of holding meetings in our building due to the ongoing national restrictions relating to the coronavirus epidemic. We continued to hold Sunday services using YouTube, and all other meetings were held on Zoom. We returned to holding physical services in our building in April 2021, broadcasting them simultaneously on YouTube. It has taken a long time for attendance at Sunday gatherings at the church building to build up again. Most other gatherings were on Zoom, but we returned to holding our members business meetings physically in the autumn, and some mid-week events were held in our premises for the rest of the year. In November we were able to hold a residential weekend away (postponed from 2020) and this was a great success. We were able to have a full Christmas programme this year, including a show for children presented by 4Front Theatre. This was overshadowed by the new Omicron variant of the virus which meant that some did not attend who might otherwise have joined us, and some who previously attended services returned to viewing our You Tube services. As a church we continue to set aside funds to support Christian mission in the UK and beyond. Locally, we support the West Nottingham Foodbank and Baby Basics. Throughout the lockdown period work continued on the rebuilding of the porch and frontage of the church building. This is now virtually completed Stapleford Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered charity no 1175549 ## **Stapleford Baptist Church Trustees Annual report (with accounts) for 2021** and is paid for. The new entrance provides an attractive appearance and some useful meeting space inside. One outcome of the completion of the work was the ability to open our premises to hold a monthly drop in morning open to the public. We have not had to make any serious incident report to the Charity Commission. ## **Public Benefit statement** As a charity we bear in mind the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. In holding meetings in the building or online, we are mindful that we want to be open to public access. Going forward, we also intend to maintain an online presence offering services on YouTube as well as to maintain and manage our web presence generally with a web site and a Facebook page. As mentioned above, we now hold an open building dropin event each month which we plan to make more frequent. We also want to continue to make our premises available to others and were pleased that the Midland Midlands Ministry Training Course resumed its weekly training day using the premises, the Shapenote Singers may return for sessions in 2022, and a club for Home Educated children will periodically visit. ## **Church staff and volunteers** Our part time pastoral worker retired from the staff team during the year, but continues as a volunteer. Staffing remained otherwise unchanged. A decision was taken to recruit a church worker during 2022 and in December 2021 the vacancy was advertised. We were also looking for an intern to commence in September 2022. However, as our pastor has recently indicated he will leave in the summer of 2022, the church will seek to recruit his replacement and other recruitment has been put on hold. We rely heavily on members of the church volunteering to lead and deliver many of our activities, and we are thankful for their commitment. ## **Finance** The financial report attached to this annual report shows an exceptional level of income for the year, with a legacy and some significant gifts from members. During the year the building work started last year was almost completed and apart from some outstanding details is all paid for. The healthy final outcome is well above the level required to meet our reserves policy, and will enable us to pursue staff team recruitment going Stapleford Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered charity no 1175549 ## **Stapleford Baptist Church Trustees Annual report (with accounts) for 2021** forward. There remains some further refurbishment work to carry out on our premises which will need to be funded in due course. During the year the trustees of the building resolved to transfer it to the CIO. Legal advice was obtained as to how this could be done and at the November Church Members meeting a vote was taken to authorise the transfer. Signature of the deed was completed early in 2022 and the deed is with our solicitor for registration of the transfer at the Land Registry. ## **Affiliations** The church has renewed its affiliation with FIEC, and is a member of the Midlands Gospel Partnership. We continue to partner with other churches in the town where to do so does not compromise our gospel ministry. ## **Other administrative information** Accounts Examiner – we acknowledge the work done by Neil Taylor (retired accountant) appointed by the Trustees to do this. Bankers: Cooperative Bank Legal Adviser: Ellis-Fermor & Negus, Solicitors, Beeston, Nottingham ## **Adoption** This report was adopted by the trustees on 2022 **Signed** on behalf of the trustees David Wells (Chair of the meeting) Stapleford Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered charity no 1175549