Trustees’ Annual Report
From: 19/3/20 (date CIO was established) To: 31/12/20
Charity name : Mill Road Baptist Church, Wellingborough
Charity registration number: 1188656
Charity’s principal address: -
64 Thomas Street, Wellingborough, NN8 1DU
Trustees: -
Duncan Wright (Minister) Cecil John (fyi fixed term ended and Cecil John resigned 1/1/21) Gillian Cotton Rahila Isaac Mary Roka Magar Shashi Patel Peter Clark Ian Wilson
- Structure of the Charity:
The organisation is a charitable incorporated organisation registered on the 19[th] March, 2020 and is governed by the Constitution “registered 19 March 2020 as amended on 06 September 2021” which established the objects and powers of the CIO. In the event of the CIO being wound up the members are not required to contribute an amount.
Charity Trustees are selected from the Church Membership with the Minister being automatically appointed. Prospective Charity Trustees (who are in agreement to be considered) shall be submitted to the Church Membership and voted on at the appropriate meeting and normally serve for an initial period of three years. Existing Trustees can be reappointed after their initial term based on the governing document requirements. Once the above process has been completed the Trustees and the Minister become the Leadership Team of the church responsible for managing the affairs of the Church.
Trustee meetings are normally held monthly with the exception of August and December. During the period of the report 8 Meetings were held with an average attendance of 92%.
Statement in relation to Covid 19: -
The church activities have been affected due to the above and we have been unable to meet as a congregation in person. We have had to introduce the use of online services and other meeting platforms more than ever before.
Covid 19 has also increased the need for pastoral care and has been challenging for those involved.
- Purposes:
The principal purposes of the Church are the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and /or other parts of the world.
The church membership/leadership team are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church in a welcoming, open and safe environment through prayer, faith, bible study and music.
To facilitate the above we are aware of the importance on maintaining the fabric of the Church buildings and manse. During the year and when safe to do so building repairs have taken place.
Achievements and performance: -
As previously stated Covid 19 has had an impact in all the activities and has resulted in the Church having to hold church meetings by Zoom and live streaming services. For those individuals who have no internet means a weekly DVD has been produced and distributed showing the Sunday service. Ad hoc telephone contact has also been evident for keeping in touch and when possible and safe to do so personal visits were made to those who were house bound.
The above forms of media have been vital for staying connected to members/regular attendees and general public and being able to continue in ministry whilst not being able to meet in person.
Weekly bible study groups moved online and a communion service was held every month. Deacons’/Trustees’ meetings were also held online. A daily online prayer meeting has been established and still continues. Junior Church has also managed to operate online where possible and at times has been challenging. It has not been possible to operate Friday Party nights and Jumping Beans (under school age and accompanied by parent/guardian) due to the restrictions. The Church lunches on Sundays have not be able to operate and tea/coffee serving after the Sunday service has also ceased until it is safe to introduce again. Community groups, for example, adults with learning/other disabilities and a local amateur dramatic group making use of our premises during the period have not been able to meet and this situation will be in place until it is safe to operate. Our church is open to all and currently in excess of 16 different nationalities regularly worship on Sundays and are involved in the other activities.
We regularly have visitors from overseas and the UK using the live streaming services on Sundays. Two overseas (India and Nepal) orphanages have received regular financial donations and we continue to support local charities with food donations and financial support. We were able to give to the BMS Home and World Mission 5% and 2.5% of offerings. Support was also given to help those in need due to the Beirut port explosion. We will continue to consider donating to ‘where the need is’.
Church Members’ meetings have been conducted twice during the period of the report via Zoom and a special Deacons’/Trustees’ meeting was held again via Zoom in October. Minutes from all Church Members’ meetings are distributed to those recorded in the membership list. After the Sunday streaming services informal meetings among the congregation have also taken place via Zoom. This helped individuals to keep in touch with one another. Two people became Church Members in June 2020 and 4 funeral services were conducted during 2020.
Public benefit: -
As a small charity below the Charities Act audit threshold this report focuses on the above Achievements and Performance section. Our main activities and who we try to help are described above. All our charitable activities focus on the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Baptist denomination and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.
The Trustees explain the benefits that are evident from the detailed explanations above which, in our opinion, satisfy the benefit and public aspects of the requirements. Covid 19 has also restricted our activities in this area.
Finance: -
Please note that the transfer of assets/liabilities from the ‘old church’ to the CIO was completed after the year end, therefore, to summarise our financial position we are below the audit threshold and eligible for independent examination. A FY2020 income of £61,080 with expenditure of £61,123 resulted in a shortfall of £43. For FY2019 a positive balance of £2,810 was carried over to FY2020 resulting in a positive balance of £2,767 being carried over at the end of FY2020. The Trustees are aware that for FY21 a more detailed report will be required. The church has 1 full time employee.
Our main source of income comes from donations from the Church Membership, regular attendees, manse rent and hall hire. Gift Aid is also another form of income.
Declarations: -
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the trustees: -
Signature:
Full name: Duncan Eric Wright Position: Minister
Date: 3/10/21