Darlington Baptist church annual report 2022
Darlington Baptist Church
Registered Ad d ress
Grange Road, Darlington DL1 5NH Corporation Road, Darlington DL3 6AR Charity Registration Number 1186432
Trustees
The Revd V Thompson Minister The Revd B Thompson Minister Ms M Bell Trustee Church Secretary (Elected March 2021) Mrs G Marshall Trustee (re-elected June 2021) Mrs J Hughes Trustee (term ended March 2022) Mr T Cotterill Trustee (Elected March 2022) Mr George Buchanan (Elected March 2022)
Property Trustees
The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT
Bankers
Santander, Darlington Independent Examiner
Val Carr
Annual Report for 2022
The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for 2022.
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 meet the churches qualification on baptism.
The members Meeting normally takes place on not less than 4 occasions per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint a maximum of 15 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 Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members in Church meeting for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church 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 the principles of the Baptist denomination to include 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 at both 10.30 am at the Grange Road site and 6.00 pm at the Corporation Road site. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised on the Church Notice Board and the website at www.darlingtonbaptist.org. 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 life groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in both the Church building and private homes, 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 Toddler Group and a baby bank which meets in the Corporation Road Church premises on Thursday 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, entitled ‘Christianity Explored’ and ‘Alpha’.
The Church runs various events for families and for people in need of mental health support.
The church runs a regular soup kitchen and food bank. The Church Runs a café in the conservatory two days a week.
The Church runs an addiction support sand rehab service in the community three days a week.
The Church runs an edge centre offering support and advice for benefits and housing upto appeal level.
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 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 numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees believe that 2022 was a positive year in the life of the church, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2023 with renewed enthusiasm. At 31 December 2022 the membership stood at 112. Average attendance at worship services both in person and online has increased during the year, and similar increases were shown in the children’s work. The Toddler Group has seen an uptake in attendance and has begun to develop a baby bank to compliment and support the work with young families in providing good quality used clothing and equipment.
The soup kitchen and foodbank have seen increasing numbers of people attending. This service provides those in need with a hot meal, and where necessary a food parcel. The service has developed links with probation and
other local services who are encouraging their clients to attend. A number of the service users began to attend Sunday worship and were Baptised. The addiction support service has seen increased numbers of people attending the support group and the “KEYS” rehab in the community programme. They have developed strong links with other support services in the community and are working well together. Roots has seen a number of people attend a Christianity explored course and begin attending Church. The Church agreed to begin a new ministry in 2022 the edge centre. This has provided benefit and housing advice and support upto appeal level. This was made possible by a generous donation from ALL Churches Trust. This support service has run throughout 2022 and supported a number of people with housing and benefits advice in a very personnal way. While this has proved successful for those who engaged with the support, the larger organisation ran into some issues that made it a difficult service to run. We made the decision to stop with the service at the end of 2022 to provide opportunity to rethink what and how we might be able to offer such support for our community.
Broomtree a support group for those struggling with their mental health has proved popular with a good number of attendees.
The conservatory café is now open two days a week and has a steady flow of people attending.
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. Funding towards the set up and running costs of the edge centre for two years was granted by ALL Churches Trust. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year. The Church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making donations 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 church’s 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 church is a participating employer within the Defined Benefit section of the Baptist Pension scheme and has been making ongoing deficit payments to cover the costs of past service of its employees within the scheme under a recovery plan. Following an agreement with the Insurance Company, Just Group, the scheme is now in surplus. The Deficit Repair Contributions were reduced to a nominal £1 per month from August 2022. The church no longer has any deficit liability.
The Church has agreed a reserves policy. The purpose of holding reserves is to ensure that Darlington Baptist Church has sufficient funds available to cope with financial issues that might arise, such as the need to fund an urgent property repair, an issue with staffing or the loss of income.
The current reserves policy of Darlington Baptist Church is to hold approximately three months of all staff costs plus three months of running costs, to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church. The
recommendation is that approximately six months of staff costs and six months of running costs are held, but currently the church funds do not allow this level of reserves. The trustees will annually review the reserves policy with a view to reaching the recommendation over time, as funds and priorities allow.
DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH
Registered in England and Wales as Charity No. 1186432
Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022
| Receipts | 2021 | 2022 | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offering | 62876.78 | 82450.75 | 1 | ||
| Vision / Gift Day | 13497.32 | 20077.70 | 2 | ||
| Gift Aid (from HMRC) | 9369.81 | 20473.41 | 3 | ||
| Donations & Bequest | 6058.65 | 965.17 | |||
| Donations ( Specific) | 0.00 | 6161.37 | 4 | ||
| Church Organisations / Initiatives | 0.00 | 1570.32 | |||
| Property Rental | 19177.00 | 13792.00 | 5 | ||
| Room Hire of Premesis | 10640.00 | 17580.00 | |||
| Raised for Other Causes | 1625.80 | 2152.86 | |||
| Bank Interest | 8.12 | 95.61 | |||
| Miscellaneous | 516.68 | 206.93 | |||
| Basement | 3071.95 | 1501.89 | 3/7 | ||
| Basement Refurbishment | 0.00 | 5930.00 | 6/7 | ||
| Roots | 13875.00 | 3/7 | |||
| Total Receipts | £ | 126,842.11 |
£ | 186,833.01 |
|
| Payments | |||||
| Ministerial Costs & Expenses | 52588.73 | 53480.26 | |||
| Volunteer Placement | 0.00 | 1293.03 | 8 | ||
| Worship | 991.12 | 1643.26 | |||
| Outreach Activities | 0.00 | 1769.87 | 9 | ||
| Young Peoples Work | 415.15 | 995.67 | 10 | ||
| Church Activities | 1118.11 | 1880.42 | |||
| Social Events | 1006.96 | 1095.03 | |||
| Cleaner's Salary inc pension | 5022.93 | 4375.92 | |||
| Utilities | 9665.36 | 15779.36 | |||
| Repairs & Maintenance - Prop & Equip | 11714.03 | 6636.40 | |||
| Church Insurance | 9146.84 | 9801.47 | |||
| Rental Property Costs | 3924.23 | 2063.19 | |||
| Baptist Pension Fund Shortfall Cont | 7390.92 | 4379.72 | 11 | ||
| Professional Fees | 4461.40 | 5651.00 | 12 | ||
| Subscriptions & Fees | 2188.17 | 1843.97 | |||
| Office, Admin, Phone & IT | 3279.11 | 2961.20 | |||
| Sageguarding | 0.00 | 1372.00 | 13 | ||
| Church Tithing & Other Causes | 12998.25 | 19080.22 | 14 | ||
| Vision Expenditure | 0.00 | 998.00 | 15 | ||
| Miscellaneous | 554.66 | 359.39 | |||
| Basement Salary Costs | 10786.33 | 11493.20 | |||
| Basement Expenses | 2306.03 | 2370.22 | |||
| Basement Refurb Expenses | 0.00 | 240.41 | 7 | ||
| Roots Salary Costs | 10786.30 | 11493.20 | |||
| Roots Expenses | 697.29 | 4352.30 | |||
| Keys Project | 900.00 | 900.00 | |||
| Total Payments | £ | 151,941.92 |
£ | 168,308.71 |
| DARLINGTON BAPTIST | CHURCH | CHURCH |
|---|---|---|
| Balance as at 1 January 2022 | £ | 26,314.91 |
| Add | ||
| General Receipts | 139287.05 | |
| Vision Fund Giving | 20077.70 | |
| Specific Donations | 6161.37 | |
| Vision Fund Patments from General Fund | 998.00 | |
| Transfer from Basement Fund | 5738.44 | |
| Less | ||
| General Payments (inc Vision Fund) | -137459.38 | |
| Vision Fund Giving | -20077.70 | |
| Transfer to Community Work Fund (Budget) | -5600.00 | |
| Basement Fund: (From specific Donations) | -3675.00 | |
| Donation for Food Bank (2021) | -500.00 | |
| Donation to Basement Refurb (2021) | -450.00 | |
| Grocery Store Fund | -1000.00 | |
| Transfer to Reserve Fund | -5000.00 | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2022 | £ | 24,815.39 |
| Vision Fund | ||
| Donation Received | 20,077.70 | |
| Payments | -998.00 | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2022 | £ | 19,079.70 |
| Community Work Fund | ||
| Balance as at 1 January 2022 | £ | 8,324.97 |
| Add: Receipts | 1501.89 | |
| Add: Transfer from General Fund | 5600.00 | |
| Add: Specific Donation (Salary for 6 Mths) | 3675.00 | |
| Add: Donation for Food Bank (2021) | 500.00 | |
| Less: Payments | -13863.42 | |
| Transfer to General Fund | -5738.44 | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2022 | £ | - |
| Grocery Store Fund | £ | 1,000.00 |
| Reserve Fund | ||
| Balance as at 1 January 22 | £ | 30,000.00 |
| Add: Transfer from General Fund | 5,000.00 | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2022 | £ | 35,000.00 |
| Basement Refurb Fund | ||
| Donation to Refurb (2021) | 450.00 | |
| Genral Donations | 3430.00 | |
| Refurb Don (Arnold Clark) | 2500.00 | |
| Payments | -240.41 | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2022 | £ | 6,139.59 |
| Edge Project | ||
| Balance as at 31 December 2022 | £ | 6,000.00 |
| Roots | ||
| Balance as at 1 January 2022 | £ | 9,584.19 |
| Add - Receipts | 13875.00 | |
| Less - Payments | -16745.50 | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2022 | £ | 6,713.69 |
DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH
| Assets and | Liabilities at 31st | December |
|---|---|---|
| Assets | 2021 | 2022 |
| Bank and other Cash Balances | ||
| Santander Current Account | 3392.57 | 4821.26 |
| Santander Deposit Account | 76831.50 | 93927.11 |
| 80224.07 | 98748.37 | |
| Properties held for the Church's own | use | |
| Corporation Road church building | ||
| (nominal value) | 200000.00 | 200000.00 |
| Grange Road church building | ||
| (nominal value) | 200000.00 | 200000.00 |
| 8 Tower Road, Darlington (insured | ||
| value) | 275951.00 | 250000.00 |
| 42 Kielder Drive, Darlington | ||
| (insured value) | 164115.00 | 180000.00 |
| 840066.00 | 830000.00 | |
| Total Assets | 920290.07 | 928748.37 |
| Liabilities | ||
| Pension Scheme Liability | 72600.00 | 0.00 |
| Total Liabilities | 72600.00 | 0.00 |
| Tony Cotterill |
Signed on behalf of Trustees of
Darlington Baptist Church
Notes to the Accounts
Basis of Accounts - The Accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments Basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.
1 Offerings
The majority of giving is directly into the bank account. A small number of members use Giving Envelopes. Collections are taken during most services when cash is receicved.
2 Vision / Gift Day
Rather than asking for additional giving to meet the expected expenditure
the Church Family were encouraged to have a Vision for the future of Darlington Baptist Church.
3 Gift Aid from HMRC
The total claim received was £23150.91 with this being allocated over specific headings Other causes £150.00, Basement £112.50, Roots £2415 with the balance of £20473.41 going to the church.
4 Specific Donations
Donations have been received for specific events or items required. Video Camera (1 already purchesed) 600.00 6 mths Basement Salary Costs 3675.00 Grocery Store 1000.00 Summer Holiday Club 510.00 One Voice Event 376.37 £ 6,161.37
5 Rental Properties
8 Tower Road (tenanted) Rent received regularly 42 Kielder Drive (tenanted) Rent received regularly Church House Following ongoing issues with the tenant, legal action was taken and the property was vacated July 2022. Currently it is not in a habitable state to re-let
6 Basement Refurbishment
Donations have been received for the refurbishment of the Basement / Foodbank. A grant of £2500 was given by Arnold Clark and the remainder has come from private giving.
7 Basement & Roots
Previously receipts & payments for both Basement & Roots were shown under other totals, but are now included in the totals as being part of the outreach work of the church. Funds donated specifically to refurbish the Basement are now being identified separately.
8 Volunteer Placement
Since September 22 the church has had the services of a volunteer. Costs relate to college fees & travel.
9 Outreach Activities
These costs were not identified separately in 2021. As Outreach is an important aspect of the work of the church, these are now shown separately. It includes Messy Church.
10 Young Peoples Work
With an increase in the number of families attending church, we have seen an increase in the number of children regularly attending Rock Solid.
An 11+ group also started during 2022 and a summer holiday club was held.
11 Baptist Pension Shortfall
The church was paying £624.96 monthly towards the pension shortfall of the BU Pension Fund. However, following an agreement with an Insurance Company, the scheme is now in surplus. The Defecit Repair Contributions, since August 2022 has been reduced to £1 per month.
12 Professional Fees
This includes work relating to the church becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
13 Safeguarding
Previously these costs were included with Admin. Given the large number of volunteers requiring DBS checks, mandatory training & the importance of safeguarding, the costs are now shown separately
14 Tithing & Other Causes
The church donated 10% of its income to charities & other good causes. During 2022 the church gave to BMS World Missions, Home Missions, New Life Ghana, CAP (Darlington), DACYM & Global Care Donations were also sent to Ukraine appeal, Shoe Box appeal & Tear Fund
15 Vision Fund
Following the Vision Gift Day, consideration has been given on how best to use these funds. Ideas have been proposed, which will be implemented in 2023.
DARLINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH
Assets held for the Church's own use
All properties are owned legally by the Baptist Union Corporation Limited (BUC), as trustee. The Church is the current beneficiary under the trusts and will remain so while the Church continues to operate as a member church of the Baptist Union. The residuary beneficiaries under the trusts are various 'Baptist related' organisations.
As a trust beneficiary, the church has no right to dispose of any of the properties and use the sale proceeds freely. Any such proceeds would be held by the BUC in accordance with the terms of the trusts.
The properties are shown below with their current insured value. The actual values of the two church buildings and their contents will be substantially lower than their insurance values. The actual values of 8 Tower Road and 42 Kielder Drive are likely to be somewhat lower than their insurance values. No 'sale' valuations have been obtained for any of the properties.
Nominal valuations of £200,000 for each of the church buildings have been included in the Accounts. It must be stressed that these are nominal values and no 'sale' valuations have been obtained.
The insurance values for 8 Tower Road and 42 Kielder Drive have been included in the Accounts.
The Grange Road church building incorporates Church House however it is currently not not in a habitable state so unoccupied.
8 Tower Road and 42 Kielder Drive are let on assured shorthold tenancies.
Current Insured Values
| Current Insured Values | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporation Road church building, Darlington | |||
| Building | 5433592 | ||
| Organ | 277172 | 5954676 | |
| Contents | 243912 | ||
| Grange Road church building, Darlington | |||
| Building | 4878764 | 5015552 | |
| Contents | 136788 | ||
| 8 Tower Road, Darlington | 250000 | 430000 | |
| 42 Kielder Drive, Darlington | 180000 | ||
| £ | 11,400,228 |
Pension Scheme Liability
The Church is an employer participating in a pension scheme known as the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Scheme is a separate legal entity and the assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Church the other participating employers.
Benefits in respect of service prior to 1 January 2012 are provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan within the Scheme. The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers' Pension Fund, started in 1925, but was closed to future accrual of defined benefits on 31 December 2011.
Following an agreement with an Insurance Company the scheme is now in surplus. The Defecit Repair Contributions were reduced to a nominal £1 per month in August 2022. The church no longer has any defecit liability
Reserve Fund
The purpose of holding a reserves fund is to ensure that Darlington Baptist Church has sufficient funds available to cope with financial issues that might arise, such as the need to fund urgent property repairs, an issue with staffing or the loss of income. The current reserves policy is to hold approximately three months of all staff costs plus three months of running costs, to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church.
The recommendation is to hold approximately six months costs so the Reserve Fund will be increased annually. However the trustees are aware that the work of the church must continue and does not want to accumulate large financial balances, which may give the impression that Darlington Baptist Church is not making the best use of its resources.