## **STOCKSFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **Report 2024**
## **References and administrative details Registered Ad** d **ress**
Main Road, Stocksfield Northumberland Charity Registration Number 1182577
## **Trustees**
Mrs A Innes (Minister) Mr K Frost (Secretary & Treasurer) Mr W Clegg (Deacon) Mr R Shrimpton (Deacon) Mrs F Thompson (Deacon)
## **Property Trustees**
The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT
## **Bankers**
Lloyds Bank Whickham **Independent Examiner**
Heritage Accountancy Prudhoe
The Trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2024.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document. Members of the church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which requires them to be or to have been publicly baptised on the profession of faith in Jesus Christ or, following other modes of baptism, to renew their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The members’ meeting normally takes place five times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint up to six Trustees, who together with the Minister, Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the Members), are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective.
Relevant matters may be submitted to the members’ meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at members’ meetings by appropriate majorities, the church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The principal purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to Baptist principles, including the advancement of education, community service and such
other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the church shall determine.
In order to achieve the principal objective, which is set out above, the church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with him as living Lord.
Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday, usually at 10.00 am. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised on the Church Notice Board and the website at stocksfieldbaptistchurch.net. There is a full children’s programme during the morning services. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is free to attend any of these services.
The church runs a series of house groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some members, and further details of these can be obtained from the Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship.
The church is responsible for a ‘Stay and Play’ Toddler Group which meets in the Church premises on Tuesday mornings, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. From time to time the church runs courses in parenting, and courses for people interested in discovering more about Christianity, such as ‘Jigsaw’ and ‘Alpha’.
The church runs various events for Young People. The Youth Coordinator and an Ecumenical Group provide a witness and service in local schools.
The church works with local ecumenical groups in various community projects including Holiday Club and Renew Cafe.
The church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The church gives 10% of its income to charitable organisations as shown in the accounts.
The church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and is satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public.
## **Achievements and Performance**
The church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial figures, but also in less tangible areas such as fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure but believe that 2024 was a positive year in the life of the church, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2025 with renewed enthusiasm.
During the year, there were five new members, one member resigned, one passed away, and one moved away from the area. As of 31 December 2024 the membership stood at fifty. There was one baptism during the year. Average attendance at worship services has increased during the year, and children’s work and youth work has been maintained. The annual children’s Holiday Club was also held in July. Stay and Play Group grew steadily and is thriving as part of our service to the local community.
## **Financial Review**
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation.
There was a major internal fundraising event for a New Accessible Entrance Project and a substantial number of external applications for further funding were made at the end of the year. The project is planned for implementation during 2025 and the Property Fund reflects the amount of money collected so far for this purpose.
The most significant expense relates to the full-time ministry of Aileen Innes as Minister of the church (appointed in April), to lead and coordinate the church’s activities including the Sunday Services, to provide pastoral care for the congregation and other people, and to equip and encourage the membership in their life, Christian witness and service. Ministry expense also includes Timothy Knight as part-time Youth Coordinator who leads youth work and outreach into schools.
The church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making grants to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose.
The church is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the church’s activities, many of which run with little or no impact on the church’s expenditure but nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the its objectives.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
The Trustees recognise that giving is currently below levels required to cover ongoing ministry fully but reserves more than cover any projected shortfall and this will be kept under review to ensure continued financial viability.
The church is a participating employer within the Defined Benefit section of the Baptist Pension scheme. In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy-out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased and the £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date.
## **Reserves Policy**
The reserves policy of Stocksfield Baptist Church is to hold three months of all expenditure plus a further three months staff costs to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church.
Having considered the relevant risks of changes in income and expenditure, the Trustees have determined that the appropriate level of reserves is in the range £40,000 to £42,000. As of 31 December 2024, the church held total reserves of £141,132 of which zero were restricted and £60,871 designated. Reserves that were neither restricted nor designated amounted to £80,281.
The church is currently progressing a project to provide a new disabled entrance to be funded from a special appeal and any available grants.
## **STOCKSFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
|**Note**
**Receipts**
Offerings
Donations and other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
Investment Income
3
Rents and contributions for use of premises
Raised for other causes
4
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Ministry
5
Mission
6
Upkeep of church premises
7
Administration
8
Amounts passed on to other causes
**Total Payments**
**Net receipts / (payments) for the year**
**Transfers to / (from) general fund**
**Cash balance at previous year end**
**Cash balance at current year end**|**2024**
**2023**
59603
57617
10704
6424
7432
13142
3045
598
12176
11375
0
772
**92960**
**89928**
(48,757)
(47,511)
(16,296)
(13,808)
(20,142)
(15,980)
(8,408)
(3,728)
0
(772)
**(93,603)**
**(81,799)**
(643)
8,129
**0**
**0**
**73402**
**65273**
**72759**
**73402**|
|---|---|
|**PROPERTY FUND RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
**Note**
**Receipts**
Offerings
Income Tax Recovered on Gifts
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Repairs
Improvements
**Total Payments**
**Net receipts / (payments) for the year**
**Transfers to / (from) general fund**
**Cash balance at previous year end**
**Cash balance at current year end**
**ROMANIA FUND RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
**Note**
**Receipts**
Donations
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Expenses
**Total Payments**
**Net receipts / (payments) for the year**
**Transfers to / (from) general fund**
**Cash balance at previous year end**
**Cash balance at current year end**
**FAMILY FUND RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
**Note**
**Receipts**
Donations
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
Contributions
**Total Payments**
**Net receipts / (payments) for the year**
**Transfers to / (from) general fund**
**Cash balance at previous year end**
**Cash balance at current year end**|**2024**
64075
897
64972
(2,880)
(18,805)
**(21,685)**
**43,287**
**0**
**17584**
**60871**
**2024**
4618
4618
(704)
**(704)**
**3,914**
**0**
**3398**
**7312**
**2024**
0
0
(525)
**(525)**
**(525)**
**0**
**715**
**190**|**2023**
3512
878|
|---|---|---|
|||4390
(2,760)
(2,660)|
|||**(5,420)**
**(1,030)**
**0**
**18614**
**17584**|
|||**2023**
1532|
|||1532
(3,211)|
|||**(3,211)**
**(1,679)**
**0**
**5077**
**3398**|
|||**2023**
0|
|||0
(150)|
|||**(150)**
**(150)**
**0**
**865**
**715**|
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**Note**
**Assets**
Bank and other cash balances
Petty Cash
Loyds Bank Current Account
Loyds Bank Deposit Account
Other monetary assets
Debtors
Loans made
Gift aid claimed but not received
Investment Assets
9
Assets Held for Church's own use
10
**Total Assets**
**Liabilities**
Current Liabilities
11
Long Term Loans
12
Pension Scheme Liability
13
Other Liabilities
14
**Total Liabilities**|**2024**
**2023**
0
0
3492
3503
85127
41596
16867
0
0
0
0
2593
52514
50000
2669270
2567107
**2827270**
**2664799**
(2,890)
(3,263)
0
0
0
(36)
0
0
**(2,890)**
**(3,299)**|
|---|---|
The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages (1 & 3) relating to the year ending 31st December 2024 are as approved by the Deacons.
Signed:
Kevin Frost - Secretary
Kevin Frost - Treasurer
Date: 1st March 2023
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **1. Basis of accounts**
These accounts have been prepared on a'receipts and payments' basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011
## **2. Donations and other income**
|Donations
Legacies
Memorial gifts
Mission Activities:
Church Weekend
Mum's & Toddler's group
Youth Work
Other income
**Total Donations and Other Income**
**3. Investment Income**
Bank Interest
Trust Income
Other Investment Income
**Total Investment Income**
**4. Raised for other causes**
Earthquake Appeal
**Minerva**
**Total Raised for other causes**
**5. Ministry**
Minister's stipend
Pension contribution
Pension deficit fund
National insurance
Travel and general expenses
Manse costs
Other Ministry
**Total Ministry**|**2024**
**2023**
2070
20
0
0
0
0
4614
3612
1661
1357
1020
975
1339
460
**10704**
**6424**
**2024**
**2023**
3045
598
0
0
0
0
**3045**
**598**
0
320
0
452
0
0
**0**
**772**
**2024**
**2023**
(34,875)
(32,733)
(3,474)
(3,224)
(10)
(12)
0
0
(2,628)
(1,962)
(7,470)
(8,280)
(300)
(1,300)
**(48,757)**
**(47,511)**|
|---|---|
The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of a manse allowance. Also includes the Youth Coordinator who receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Youth Coordination. Other ministry includes training costs for a minister in training.
**6. Mission**
|Home Mission
BMS World Mission
Peoples Kitchen
Northumberland Foodbank
Open Doors
SMILES
Church Weekend
Accoustic Café
Mum's & Toddler's group
Parenting Conference
Sunday School & Youth Work
Holiday Club
Other Mission Giving
**Total Mission**
**7. Upkeep of church premises**
Utilities
Cleaning
Insurance
Repairs & Maintenance
Other Premises
**Total Upkeep of church premises**
**8. Administration**
Telephone and intenet
Advertising and website
Subscriptions and copyright license
Equipment
Audit
PA systems
Other administration
**Total Administration**
**9. Investment Assets**
Stocks and Shares
Corporate bonds
Gilts
Investment property
Other investment assets
**Total Investment Assets**|**2024**
**2023**
(4,200)
(4,200)
(2,500)
(2,500)
0
(200)
(300)
(300)
(500)
(500)
(500)
(500)
(4,597)
(3,475)
(400)
0
(281)
(52)
0
0
(2,233)
(1,396)
(26)
(26)
(759)
(659)
**(16,296)**
**(13,808)**
**2024**
**2023**
(7,414)
(6,577)
(3,617)
(2,723)
(2,698)
(4,966)
(6,413)
(1,714)
0
0
**(20,142)**
**(15,980)**
**2024**
**2023**
(1,118)
(607)
(358)
(780)
(540)
(511)
(748)
0
(390)
(354)
(3,699)
0
(1,555)
(1,476)
**(8,408)**
**(3,728)**
**2024**
**2023**
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
52514
50000
**52514**
**50000**|
|---|---|
## **10. Assets Held for the Church's own use**
The church is the beneficial owner (subject to relevant trusts) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held by the church's custodian trustee (The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd):
- Church building at Main Road, Stocksfield, Northumberland valued in the accounts at £2,371,386 based on insured value
- Church manse at 22 Birkdene, Stocksfield, Nothumberland valued in the accounts at £177,048 based on insured value
The church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment with ans insured value of £120,836 based on insured value
## **11. Current Liabilities**
|Architects Fees
HMRC Tax
Utilities
Insurance
Gas Servicing
Ministers Expenses
Cheques written but not cashed
Other current liabilities
**Total Current Liabilities**
**12. Long-Term Liabilities**
Baptist Building Fund Loan
Baptist Union Loan Fund Loan
Loans from Church Member's
Other
**Total Long-Term Liabilities**|**2024**
**2023**
0
(2,400)
(1,817)
(83)
0
0
0
0
(570)
(780)
(503)
0
0
0
0
0
**(2,890)**
**(3,263)**
**2024**
**2023**
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
**0**
**0**|
|---|---|
## **13. Pension Scheme Liabilities**
The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund, started in 1925. At the beginning of the financial year, the scheme comprised of a defined benefits scheme which was closed to future accrual on 31 December 2011 and a defined contribution plan which was opened in January 2012.The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.
For the current financial year, the pension provision for members of the Scheme is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Broadstone Corporate Benefits Ltd. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited. Furthermore, members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.
In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased and the £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date.
The Minister(s) [and some members of the church staff] is / are eligible to join the Scheme. [Movement in Balance Sheet liability – not applicable if no pension liability before the start of the comparator year]
Section 28.11A of FRS 102 requires agreed deficit recovery payments to be recognised as a liability. The present value of the agreed deficit contributions were immaterial at the beginning of the financial year and were fully extinguished once buy out was completed by Just Group in October 2024.
14. Other Liabilities (if applicable)
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Roport to thè trustee81
mèmbers of
Slocksfield 8apti5t Church
On accounts for the year
ended
31$1 December 2024
Charity no
{rf any)
1182577
Sot out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended 31 12 20241
Responsibilities and As the charity trustee6 of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requlrements of the Charities Acl
2011 ('thg Acr).
I report in respect of my examlnation of the Trust's accounts ¢arried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the appllcable Direclions given by the Charty Commission
under section 145<5}(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matt8rs havé
come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with
the examination which gives me Cause to believe that in, any material
respect:
accountlng records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the arxounting records
Independent
examiner's Statement
I have no concems and hav8 corne across no other matters in connection
th the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of th8 accounts to be reached.
Please delete the words in the brackets rf th8y do not apply.
Slgned:
Date:
Name:
Lorna CoprAe
Relevant professlonal
quallficatlon(s) or body
Ilf any):
FCCA
Addross:
Heritage Accountancy Ltd
76 Front Slreet. Prudhoe
NorthumberlaThJ, NE42 SPU
IER
October 2018
Section B
Disclosure
Only Complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of conc8m (s8e CC32,
Independent examination of charlty accounts.. directions and guidance for
examiners).
Glve here brfef details of
any Items that the
examlnorwlshes to
dlscloso.
IER
October 2018