veen ANNUAL REPORT 2020 ## **ANNUAL REPORT** ## **2020** Holmer Green Baptist Church The Common Holmer Green High Wycombe Bucks HP15 6TD www.holmergreenbaptist.org.uk info@holmergreenbaptist.org.uk www.facebook.com/holmergreenbaptist (Telephone : 01494 712479) 1 ## **PASTOR’S REPORT– Anthony Smith** The year began as many other years. The excitement of a New Year and all that it would bring. We had great plans, which included reaching out to the community with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. We were still looking for the right person to come as the Assistant Pastor. How little any of us knew what was to come upon our nation? **God will surprise us. He will come when we least expect it** , when we need him most, and we will not have time to prepare for him. He will see the **real state of our lives, and our church** . Well, none of us had prepared for COVID. I don’t think anyone saw that coming. Despite our plans for Easter, we went into Lockdown. Some churches effectively shut down. Some decided to keep the wheels turning as much as they could. How did I feel God was leading us at HGBC? In scripture the flood came as a surprise. People were doing their own thing. The weather was sunny and normal. However, when Noah got into the ark, the flood came and destroyed those unprepared. We are reminded to be **prepared** for God’s **ultimate surprise** . He will come when we least expect it. We should not wait for something before we change and prepare. We should not wait for things to settle down before we live for Him and serve him. We need to be prepared anytime for anything. Then allow God out of His Grace and Mercy to surprise us. And how God has surprised us. You only have to read the Church Secretary’s report to see how God has blessed us. Needless to say, I won’t repeat everything again but I do want to add my own reflection. I felt a very strong sense from God that we mustn’t sit back and let COVID win, but that we should, despite the unfolding tragedy for so many, look for the opportunities. We would tackle the challenges head on and you all did. Thank you. As a Leadership Team and a congregation, we took the opportunity and I was staggered, yes I use that word intentionally, at just how people responded. Pastoral care reached a new, if somewhat different methodology, height of care and support. 2 Skills within the fellowship came to the fore and we managed to get online really quickly. The AV team didn’t leave it there but week by week the technology was improved and we ensured even those who couldn’t get online had the opportunity to hear the service. How God has blessed us. We have seen the congregation grow in a way I suspect none of us anticipated. We saw Life Groups develop and become effective despite the restrictions. After a year like this surely we can see God is in control and it excites me, and I hope you, for what 2021 will bring. For too long I sense we have expected people to come to us whereas God’s word is clear that we should “GO”! Matthew 28:18-20 **The Great Commission** - Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, **GO** and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Because of COVID-19 and other challenges, this has been a year of hardship and pain, a year of illness and struggle, a year of many changes and revaluations, and a year in which the church has been reminded it has a broad mission not confined to any one place or time. We have faced grief and loss. There have been financial hardships. We’ve also been reminded that church is much more than a building or a collection of buildings. The church of Jesus Christ is a group of redeemed people on mission with God in the world.” With that in mind, “We have found and will continue to find new ways to tap into the Holy Spirit, to discern where God is calling us, and to creatively pursue this mission”. As we prepared to move into 2021 we needed to question what the church will look like in the future, how our world will rearrange itself, and what our place will be in it. As I close, what thought will I leave with you? It is simply but profoundly what we read in **-** Scripture. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Friends it has been a strange and troubling year, but God has been faithful and he is as it says in Hebrews 13:8 - “The same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” 3 This year with all its challenges has been one of preparation and for us to “GO” My utmost thanks for all your love, prayer and support to myself and Adele. Blessings Your Pastor and Friend. Anthony --- ## **THE CHURCH YEAR 2020 - Roy Allcorn** , Church Secretary ## The Year Started Normally The four numbers 2020 usually mean perfect vision. No-one could have foreseen what effect the year 2020 would have on everyone’s lives and livelihoods yet alone on the life of Holmer Green Baptist Church and its Fellowship. In the future, when the next generations look back at our Annual Reports for a glimpse of our history, it is interesting to wonder what they will make of what was a most unusual year and then maybe marvel at the ways we succeeded in mitigating many of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Normally, whatever that word now means, the Church’s Annual Report traditionally comprised what we called Departmental Reports which were contributions from those who took responsibility for all our various activities. The whole report therefore formed a record of one year in our history. Given a dramatic reduction in all our activities from March, as reported below, we decided that this summary overview of the year was the best and indeed only practical answer. This report is written with that in mind and will look at what we were able to achieve in difficult and ever-changing circumstances. It will also reflect on the things we were prevented from doing due to national restrictions. It is fair to say, however, that the opportunity was taken to change many things because there was little choice but to do this. The irony is that towards the end of 2019 the Church was continuing to flourish and grow having sown many seeds in the wider community during our 150[th] Anniversary year. Sadly, everything we were familiar with came to a sudden halt as you will read in this narrative. We were most thankful that we had achieved our new incorporated charitable status effective 1[st] January 2020 (with our own charity number 1184109). This was quite a complex and protracted process but we were pleased and relieved that all our efforts had 4 come to a fruitful conclusion. The key reason for making this change was to remove the personal liability which might have befallen Deacons within an unincorporated charitable structure. The other good news, this time in February, was that we managed to pay off our portion of the BU pension scheme debt which for us came to £68700, a large figure but notably much less than the starting figure of £135400 in November 2018. All our prayers here were answered. From the start of January our Church year started as normal with the complete range of well-established activities and worship services. We had the weekly Sunday morning service plus once a month a Sunday evening service originally called “Praise and Prayer” and then re-named “Encounter”. Many from local area churches were attracted to this caféstyle contemporary worship. We continued with our ever-popular Toddler Group on Tuesday mornings and our two Youth Groups on Friday evenings. Our more traditional worship service on the first and third Wednesday mornings of the month called Time 4 God was followed each first Wednesday by the popular Pop-in Lunch. Our three Life Groups were well established and either met at the Church or in rotation in people’s homes. From the start of the year the Monday morning prayer group continued to meet at the Church, the Women’s Fellowship met on alternate Thursday afternoons and Messy Church held on a Sunday restarted, now once a month at a time coinciding with the morning Church service. Use of the Church’s facilities included bookings for the use of the Hall, which included those who took part in the local health focused “Simply Walk” volunteer-led walking activity supported by the local Council. ## National Lockdown No.1 Everything carried on until around the middle of March when the first warning signs of an emerging coronavirus pandemic were being talked about. We started monitoring closely both government and Baptist Union guidance. On Monday 23[rd] March the country entered a national lockdown and given the ensuing restrictions we had no choice but to cancel everything planned including all our worship services from the previous Sunday. Ironically this same March date was when we were due to hold our AGM and so this had to be cancelled. We were fortunate that those Deacons (Trustees) who were due to stand down 5 at this meeting, as part of our conversion to a CIO, agreed to stay on until we could find a way of holding what would effectively be a double AGM. Looking back, it was indeed a blessing that we were able to respond so quickly to this challenge by enabling our first virtual service to go out as a recording on Facebook on the Sunday after lockdown. This was followed by, on that same evening, some worship songs broadcast in the same way instead of Encounter. Other initiatives followed with ideas for family worship and for children being prepared and circulated. Two Life Groups started meeting on-line and a key priority was the establishment of ten pastoral support groups because pastoral visits had to be scaled back. The opportunity was taken of distributing recordings of the Sunday morning services on CD to those who could not use the Facebook technology. Anthony introduced a series of emailed and printed coronavirus updates as another way of communicating to the Fellowship. By July it was clear that activities like those listed above would have to be postponed to 2021 at the earliest. So as the year unfolded all we could do was continue with the live streamed Sunday services and Sunday Club on Facebook and use video communication software for prayers, Life Groups and Leadership Team meetings. One key decision taken by the Leadership Team was to offer the role of Associate Pastor to Alan Biswas-Rooney after he had met with us and preached for us at the morning service on Sunday 20[th] September when Harvest was also celebrated (offerings from this went to Operation Agri and One Can). Again, more prayers answered. We had been able to re-open the church ready for 9.45am on Sunday morning 13[th] September and a special Wednesday afternoon service followed on 14[th] October for those unable to come, for a number of reasons, on a Sunday morning. We could have opened before this for worship as allowed for within the regulations. but given factors such as Summer holidays, we needed time to be as prepared as possible having put all the required safeguards and signage in place. This timing also allowed the last planned areas of the Church to be re-decorated in July/August. During the Summer we used pre-recorded services and pre-prepared Sunday Club videos. We had studied BU and Government guidelines continually. In the end we embraced the parts which laid down the requirements for the safe re-opening of places of worship. We introduced mandatory wearing of face masks, socially distanced seating layouts, signage, hand sanitising, one-way entrance/exit systems and always recorded contact details of all 6 who came to services. This was alongside many other measures identified in a detailed risk assessment including working from home. ## Next Lockdown No.2 This was effective from 31[st] October and just prior to this on Sunday 25[th] October we were able to have our Gift Day which was aimed at raising funds for a lighting upgrade and for the balance of the costs of the new cabin at the rear of the Church. This latter installation was agreed back in 2019 mainly for use by the Youth Groups and the Sunday Club. The series of Wednesday afternoon services were quite short-lived however and the last one was on 4[th] November given the new restrictions. We had one Church booking prior to this period but this only lasted for two separate evenings due to the official introduction of another set of new restrictions. Buckinghamshire however moved into tier 4 on the 19[th] December. Before this we had a successful “Carols in our Car Park” event on Sunday 13[th] December. Whilst we also had a carefully managed in-person family service on Christmas morning our service on 27[th] December was live streamed. We supported Spurgeons and Rope with our usual Christmas card scheme and Christmas Day offering. Earlier in the month one scaled-down session of _Christmas Unwrapped_ was held at Curzon School. Much of our other school support work during the year was cancelled including _Easter Cracked_ and _It’s Your Move._ ## Church Membership and Meetings A meeting of Church Members was held on 22[nd] January and which turned out to be the last one possible under the various Covid-related restrictions disallowing such meetings. The Leadership Team managed to meet regularly using video communication software. Faced with all the overriding restrictions, which disallowed any means of having in-person meetings, this online meeting software enabled decisions to continue to be made for and on behalf of the Members and the Fellowship in order to keep the Church running. These decisions were communicated periodically with the aim that they would all be put to a Church Members’ meeting when possible. Three members of the Leadership Team, as mentioned earlier, who were due to stand down at the March 2020 AGM agreed to stay on for another year. In June three Church Members were co-opted onto the Leadership Team which gave them a good insight into the workings of the Church. 7 By the close of 2020 our Church membership numbers were stable at 50 having added one and having had one Member’s death. There remained 12 people on our list of Friends. Processing applications for membership became impossible as was promoting membership. So very much steady state at present but an injection of new Members will be a focus for the forthcoming years. ## Other Key Points Throughout The Year Some notable highlights were: - Having become a CIO, the leadership Team decided, based on advice, that merging the old and new charitable entities was the best course of action for the Church. - Our support for Mission continued with regular monthly payments. Please see Simon’s Finance for further information. Our giving to the Baptist Missionary Society was supplemented by monies raised through the BMS Birthday Scheme. We gave additional support to the Leprosy Mission with a special donation of £643 having had to cancel the usual Leprosy Mission Sunday in April. A plant sale in May for MNDA raised £1136. - Instead of our annual Church Anniversary service we relayed as part of this, on Sunday 28[th] June, a video from Lynn Green, General Secretary of the Baptist Union. - We managed an open-air worship service in the front car park on 26[th] July. - During the year we were able to maintain the church gardens including having the grass mown. All the periodic fire safety checks were carried out and other items of maintenance undertaken at the Church. At the Manse some repairs were carried out on our behalf through the managing agents. - Our method of collecting Sunday morning weekly offerings, given the need for social distancing, was changed by positioning a box for donations at the exit. - In Conclusion In a challenging and uncertain year, several things remained constant throughout. Individual and corporate prayer remained a key cornerstone of Church life. Whilst both income and expenditure fell (see the financial report) our efforts in transferring offerings over to Standing Orders bore fruit in terms of sustaining income. Receipt of our Gift Aid refund from 2019 helped balance the books given that our cashflow had taken quite a hit. The efforts of everyone concerned in keeping the faith with and for us in all areas are to be commended. Also, we applaud those who helped by maintaining Sunday worship services online after the first lockdown and who then pioneered live streaming via You Tube from 8 September. This and many other aspects throughout the year highlighted a noteworthy team response to all the new challenges. With God’s undoubted support we found sustained energy despite all the difficulties. We rose to all the many challenges and soon realised that this year had provided an opportunity to review what we did and how we did it. It also allowed us to do things differently with, for example, live streaming of Sunday worship services like many other churches were doing. The numbers viewing this way were truly praiseworthy and highlighted God’s grace towards us. So, it was a year like no other and one which those attending our Church in future will scarcely believe. Anyone looking back we see it was a true testimony of our faith in supporting and maintaining His Kingdom locally. A few changes also give us a springboard for future growth. --- ## **FINANCE REPORT – Simon Heath,** Church Treasurer 2020 was of course very hard for many, and for some, loss of income caused real impact on lives, not to mention the constant uncertainty and concern about the future. The Church responded wonderfully, in the spirit of love and unity, to the call for dedicated support to the Minister’s Fund. This is usually a nominal fund for confidential needs as the Minister deems appropriate. The Trustees allocated £5,000 of the budget to support this fund, which was subsequently almost entirely reimbursed by donations. We designated Gift Day donations to lighting maintenance and the planned cabin for children’s/youth activities. Once again, giving amounted to an amazing £10,590 (£10,395 in 2019) which, together with 25% to be reclaimed on gift aided donations, will total £12,580. We repeat our thanks to those who were able to give so generously. It should be noted that this fund is carried forward (as part of the below-mentioned balance), as no associated expenditure was realised before the end of the year. This year, a single Gift Aid refund was claimed for 2019 totalling £15,124.98. The claim for the complete year of 2020 will now be prepared following completion of the annual accounts. 9 The Trustees (in lieu of a Church Meeting) agreed to an increase in Anthony’s stipend and manse allowance in line with the Baptist Union recommendations of 2.08% and 0.5% respectively. The Manse, which remains rented out whilst not used for Minister’s residence, continues to bring in an income of around £15,500 a year. The Church’s finances at the end of 2020, as shown by the Income & Expenditure Account below, are healthy with a balance of over £50,000 at year end. This is despite clearing our pension scheme debt in March. Following the temporary reduction in Reserves Policy in preparation for paying off the pension debt, and subsequent balance recovery, the reserve was reverted from £10,000 to £26,000. The conclusion therefore is that our available balance, minus reserves and allocated funds, was just over £15,500 at year end. The Church retained three accounts this year with Lloyds Bank – current, deposit and savings accounts. Having converted to a CIO, these accounts need to be replaced to recognise this change in legal entity; this is pending Lloyds Bank action when they resume such activities following the pandemic. Thanks go to all those who have helped in any way during the year with the various tasks related to the finances. I am indebted to Bruce and Gwyn Waugh and subsequently Elaine Brown (in their roles as Treasurer’ Assistant) for continuing to do all the processing of the Sunday morning offerings, various banking and related duties. We remain very grateful to Jenny Wilkins for administering our accounts and to Sarah Horn (nee Woolston) who has again been the Independent Examiner for our annual accounts. God has blessed us by answering our prayers, as we continue to seek the best ways of applying our finances to support and extend His Kingdom in our village and beyond. A major part of this is our target to give 10% of donations received towards mission work. We actually donated over 9.6% of our giving received. Causes we support regularly are CBA Home Mission, BMS and Wycombe Youth for Christ. Whilst occasionally, we give to Leprosy Mission, Rope, Spurgeons, Operation Agri and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. On the following page is a summary of the Income and Expenditure Account for 2020: 10 ## **Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2020** |**Restricted (Pastor's) Fund**
**Receipts**
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Deficit for the year
**Restricted (Gift Day) Fund**
**Receipts**
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Surplus for the year
**General Fund**
**Receipts**
Weekly Offerings
Other donations received
Other raised income for mission
Other income
**Total**
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Cost of services
Ministry
Church / Manse upkeep
Other causes
Other expenses
**Total**
Deficit/surplus for the year
**All Funds Total**
**Balance brought forward**
Deficit/surplus for the year
**Balance carried forward**|**2020**
**£**
4,948.86
4,574.00
**374.86**
10,440.00
-
**10,440.00**
47,134.72
1,030.00
1,308.36
35,133.41
**84,606.49**
411.30
39,253.00
9,448.52
8,056.38
75,541.62
**132,710.82**
**-48,104.33**
**-37,289.47**
**89,712.37**
-37,289.47
**52,422.90**|2019
£| |---|---|---| |||| |||| |||| |||57,444.46
5,895.00
6,161.54
41,327.68| |||110,828.68| |||843.80
46,558.77
19,543.97
15,591.47
9,441.28| |||91,979.29| |||| |||18,849.39| |||| |||18,849.39| |||70,862.98
18,849.39| |||89,712.37| All the charity's operations are continuing operations and there were no operations discontinued or acquired during the year. 11 *h)lryw Bartht Church ran the accourts foru* ￿ar ended 31 lkntw 2020 R•sp•￿￿¥• r•sponslNlttkns •nd Tho ehwily's trust￿ arèr8s￿th￿e u* oflt•xcthA** Tr*ch*ty's tr￿*85 thai an *Jthl is nrA rwwl￿4 for Ihis year undw 144121 ofits Xjii 2011 Arti tt*E ne**l. It IS Ilw f4W*tx'lity to. • èxami￿ the aCEtrlcted {Glft Dayi Fund Recelpts Diiact Charitablè Expèndlture 10MO Surplus foi Ihe year ieral Fund Receipts Weekly Offenngs Other donations receNed Other raised ineome for mission Other income Total InGofAe 56,OQO 5,000 s.000 36.000 102,000 57,444 5,895 6, 162 41.328 110,829 56,000 5,000 5,000 40,000 106,000 47,135 1,030 1,308 35,133 84,606 Dlrect Charltsble Expenditure Cost of services Ministry Chureh l Manse upkeep Other ¢auses Other expenses Pen￿Oft Deficit inc. fees Member loan Totsl Expenditure 1,000 54,000 15.000 10.ODO 13.000 844 46.S59 19.544 15.591 9,441 1,000 54,100 12.000 10,600 12,000 73,200 4,000 166,900 411 39.253 9,449 8,056 2,707 68.835 4,¢X)O 132,711 93,000 91,979 Deficlusurplus for year Brought forward Total ReseNes Pènsion Deficit Totsl Bala￿ 9,000 70,863 79,863 -100.600 ).737 18,849 70,863 89,712 7,200 22.512 0.900 93,712 32,812 48,104 93,712 4S.608 32,812 45,608 Notes.. 12020 Budget) Other income- Single GA claim in 2019 IreceNed July) - Iwo expected in 2020. Ministry- Includes Increas￿ stipend + Asstoc Pastor on Hall stipend + 10% pension with half manse allowan Other expenses - this includes the cost 8ook-keeping feeslexpenses 17 Contsct Information 2020 Pastor ". - Anthony Smith Secretary .' - Roy Allcorn Troasurer '. -simon Heath Deacons . - Val Allcorn Chris Hall - Margaret Hodgson Elders Mark Coventry Co opted (June 2020) Claire Spinks-Gillen Derek Brown Bob Davy 18 *h)lryw Bartht Church ran the accourts ￿ar t•ded 31 lkntw 2020 R•sp•oiiv• r•sponslNlttkns and ÈR•rntr Tho tharily's trust￿ arèr8s￿th￿e u* oflt•xcthA*4 Thech*ty's tr￿*85 thai an *Jthl is nrA rwju1￿4 f¢r Ihis ¥8ar undw 144121 ofits Xjii 2011 Atai tt*E eXaMM￿ s ne**l. It 18 IIW f4W*tx'lity to. • èxamine the aCEtrlcted {Glft Dayi Fund Recelpts DiiÈct Charitablè Expèndlture 10MO Surplus for Ihe year 7gral FurKI Receipts Weekly Offerings Other donations receNed Other raised ineome for mission Other income Total InGofAe 56,OQO 5,000 s.000 36.000 102,000 57,444 5,895 6, 162 41.328 110,829 56,000 5,000 5,000 40,000 106,000 47,135 1,030 1,308 35,133 84,606 Dlrect Chailtable Expenditure Cost of services Ministry Chureh l Manse upkeep Other ¢auses Other expenses Pen￿Oft Deficit inc. fees Member loan Totsl Expenditure 1,000 54,000 15.000 10.ODO 13.000 844 46.559 19.544 15.591 9,441 1,000 54,100 12,000 10,600 12,000 73,200 4,000 166,900 411 39.253 9,449 8,058 2,707 68,835 4,¢X)O 132,711 93,000 91,979 Deflclusurplus for year Brought forward Total ReseNes Pènsion Deficit Totsl Bala￿ 9,000 70,863 79.863 -100.600 ).737 18,849 70,863 89,712 7,200 22.512 0.900 93,712 32,812 48,104 93,712 4S.608 32,812 45,608 Notes.. 12020 Budget) Other income- Sin9le GA claim in 2019 IreceNed July) - Iwo expected in 2020. Ministry- Includes Increas￿ stipend + Asstoc Pastor on Hall stipend + 10% pension with half manse allowarKe Other expenses - this includes the cost Book-keeping feeslexpenses 17 Contsct Information 2020 Pastor ". - Anthony Smith Secretary .' - Roy Allcorn Troasurer '. -simon Heath Deacons . - Val Allcorn Chris Hall - Margaret Hodgson Elders Mark Coventry Co opted (June 2020) Claire Spinks-Gillen Derek Brown Bob Davy 18 *h)lryw Bartht Church ran the accourts ￿ar t•ded 31 lkntw 2020 R•sp•oiiv• r•sponslNlttkns and ÈR•rntr Tho tharily's trust￿ arèr8s￿th￿e u* oflt•xcthA*4 Thech*ty's tr￿*85 thai an *Jthl is nrA rwju1￿4 f¢r Ihis ¥8ar undw 144121 ofits Xjii 2011 Atai tt*E eXaMM￿ s ne**l. It 18 IIW f4W*tx'lity to. • èxamine the aCEtrlcted {Glft Dayi Fund Recelpts DiiÈct Charitablè Expèndlture 10MO Surplus for Ihe year 7gral FurKI Receipts Weekly Offerings Other donations receNed Other raised ineome for mission Other income Total InGofAe 56,OQO 5,000 s.000 36.000 102,000 57,444 5,895 6, 162 41.328 110,829 56,000 5,000 5,000 40,000 106,000 47,135 1,030 1,308 35,133 84,606 Dlrect Chailtable Expenditure Cost of services Ministry Chureh l Manse upkeep Other ¢auses Other expenses Pen￿Oft Deficit inc. fees Member loan Totsl Expenditure 1,000 54,000 15.000 10.ODO 13.000 844 46.559 19.544 15.591 9,441 1,000 54,100 12,000 10,600 12,000 73,200 4,000 166,900 411 39.253 9,449 8,058 2,707 68,835 4,¢X)O 132,711 93,000 91,979 Deflclusurplus for year Brought forward Total ReseNes Pènsion Deficit Totsl Bala￿ 9,000 70,863 79.863 -100.600 ).737 18,849 70,863 89,712 7,200 22.512 0.900 93,712 32,812 48,104 93,712 4S.608 32,812 45,608 Notes.. 12020 Budget) Other income- Sin9le GA claim in 2019 IreceNed July) - Iwo expected in 2020. Ministry- Includes Increas￿ stipend + Asstoc Pastor on Hall stipend + 10% pension with half manse allowarKe Other expenses - this includes the cost Book-keeping feeslexpenses 17 Contsct Information 2020 Pastor ". - Anthony Smith Secretary .' - Roy Allcorn Troasurer '. -simon Heath Deacons . - Val Allcorn Chris Hall - Margaret Hodgson Elders Mark Coventry Co opted (June 2020) Claire Spinks-Gillen Derek Brown Bob Davy 18