## **Trustees’ Annual Report** ## **From: - 1/1/21 To: - 31/12/21** ## **Charity name: Mill Road Baptist Church, Wellingborough** ## **Charity registration number: 1188656** ## **Charity’s principal address: 64 Thomas Street, Wellingborough, NN8 1DU** ## **Church contact details: tel. 01933 276631 email - admin@millroadbaptistwellingborough.com** ## **Trustees: -** Duncan Wright (Minister) Gillian Cotton - resigned 28/11/21 Mary Roka Magar - resigned 28/11/21 Peter Clark - resigned 28/11/21 Rahila Isaac - reappointed Shashi Patel - reappointed Ian Wilson - reappointed Arooj Cecil - elected from 28/11/21 Adam Peck - elected from 28/11/21 Joby Pappu - elected from 28/11/21 Ezra Clarke - elected from 28/11/21 The 4 elected trustees were elected by the church members through a secret ballot and verified by 2 scrutineers. ## **Structure of the Charity: -** The organisation is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered on the 19[th] March 2020 and is governed by the Constitution “registered 19 March 2020 as amended on 6 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 approved governing document requirements. The selection process for new Trustees was implemented in 2021. Once the selection process has been completed the Trustees and the Minister become the Leadership Team of the Church responsible for managing the affairs of the Church under the authority of the Church Members’ Meetings which are open to all Church Members. Trustee meetings are normally held monthly with the exception of August. During the period of the report 11 Trustee meetings were held with an average attendance of 96%. ## **Statement in relation to Covid 19: -** Again, the church activities were affected by the above pandemic and the church reopened for normal Sunday services and Junior Church on 25th July 2021 following a number of risk assessments to ensure that it was safe to do so for all attendees. A number of Covid protocols were put in place for the reopening with details communicated prior to the 25[th] to members and regular attendees on ‘what to expect’. Reopening the church buildings were delayed for external community groups until September 2021 and again after the completion of risk assessments by the church and the individual groups. ## **- 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 were aware of the importance on maintaining the fabric of the Church buildings/manse and ensuring that health/safety matters were met. During 2021, a number of building repairs were completed when the Leadership Team felt that it was safe to take place due to any Covid restrictions. ## **Achievements and performance: -** As previously stated Covid 19 had an impact in many of the activities with Sunday Services being conducted on YouTube until we were allowed to worship in person. Bible study groups continued using Zoom and in person when allowed. For those individuals who had no internet services a DVD was produced and distributed. Daily prayer meetings continued online using Zoom throughout 2021. Communion services were again restarted in July with Covid safeguards in place. Before July ’21 communion service was conducted in each home during the YouTube live Sunday streaming services. Trustees’ meetings were conducted online via Zoom and external community groups were allowed to use the church facilities again from September ’21. The external community groups include adults with learning difficulties and a local amateur dramatic group. Friday Party Nights for the local community and those attending the church began in December ’21 after risk assessments were completed and it was considered safe to reopen. An outdoor Friday Party Night did take place in August ’21. The gradual reopening phases were part of the churches strategy to reopen facilities in a phased approach. Regular updates to the Church website kept visitors and members informed of what was happening. Junior Church continued to use Zoom from May 2020 until August 2021. Tea/coffee serving and lunches after the Sunday service were not reopened in 2021. Jumping Beans for children under school age and accompanied by a parent/guardian did not resume during 2021. During 2021 the YouTube Sunday services were visited regularly by individuals from USA, Spain and France. The senior Thursday group returned to meeting with one another socially in the church during the autumn. Church Members’ meetings were held during the year with a Special Church Members’ Meeting being held in August ’21 to consider changes to our Approved Governing Document (AGD) for holding online Church Members’ meeting. Church Members attending the meeting approved the changes unanimously for the church to have the flexibility to hold meetings either online or a combination of online and a physical meeting. Minutes of these meetings were distributed to Church Members. This change was communicated to the Charity Commission. A church directory for members was published and circulated in April ’22. The MRBC AGM was held in October ’21 with Church Members approving the 2021 Financial and Trustees’ Reports and the election and re-election of Trustees. During 2021 we continued to support orphanages in Nepal and India through gifting to U.K. contacts. Local charities were also supported in 2021, namely the Daylight Centre Fellowship and Spurgeon’s Childcare. Also, the La Soufriere volcano eruption on St Vincent, the church was able to support the local people through donations. Church Members with family connections in St Vincent assisted with the financial arrangements and we received updates from the St Vincent contacts on how our donations were used, for example, providing fresh bottled water. BMS Home and World Mission gifting was maintained at 5% and 2.5% respectively of offerings. Tearfund also received a donation from our Harvest Thanksgiving service. Public services continued to be conducted with Covid precautions in place. One marriage, 1 funeral and another local church used our facilities for a baptismal service. A legacy of £1000 was received from a Church Member and a further gift was received of £100. In February ’21 we received £300 from the Timson Trust. No Safeguarding issues were reported during the year. Gillian Cotton served until 28/11/21 with Arooj Cecil replacing Gillian as the Safeguarding Trustee. ## **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 but since July ’22 we have been focussed on a return to ‘normal’. ## **Finance: -** The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payment basis in accordance with S.42(3) of the Charities Act 1993. FY2021 showed a net surplus of £7212.44 and with the positive balance carried forward from the FY2020 accounts the year ended with a current account bank balance of £9980. Total income was £66,293.03 as against an overall expenditure of £59,080.58. Overall offerings increased in 2021 by 16% compared to 2020 with the move away from cash offerings as opposed to the increase in online giving as a result of Covid. The Church’s financial position remains that we are below the audit threshold and eligible for independent examination which was completed on 26/3/2022 by Linda Freeman. Repair costs for the general maintenance of the Church buildings and the manse were 24% lower than 2020 at £7.8k. Church gifting for Baptist Causes and Special funds increased by 25% compared with 2020 to just over £9k. Solicitor’s cost for advising the Church on becoming a CIO were considerably lowered than 2020. The main sources of income in FY2021 were generated from Church Members’ and regular attendees’ donations, rental income from the manse and claiming gift aid. The Church has 1 full time employee with ministry costs of £37.3k in 2021 compared to £37.1k in 202O. No individual receives in excess of £60k per annum. ## **Declarations: -** The Trustees declare that they have approved the above Trustees’ report. Signed on behalf of the Trustees: - **Signature: Full name: Duncan Eric Wright** **Position: Minister** **Date: 21[st] August 2022** **MILL ROAD B** ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2021 (AND 31ST DECEMB** |1
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18|**GENERAL RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
**RECEIPTS**
**2021**
Oferings
£ 48,444.90
Use of premises
£ 186.00
Gifts & Donations
£ 300.00
Special Funds
£ 4,867.13
Manse Rent
£ 7,920.00
Sundries
£ 79.50
Gift Aid
£ 4,495.50
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Total
£ 66,293.03
**PAYMENTS**
Ministry
£ 37,273.39
Manses expenses and repairs
£ 1,006.77
Church premises expenses,repairs and renewals
£ 6,745.92
Church Utilities
£ 4,292.95
Baptist causes
£ 5,303.44
Special Funds
£ 3,743.33
Family Church
£ 41.19
Sundries/Outreach
£ 673.59
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Total
£ 59,080.58
Surplus/Defecit for the year
£ 7,212.45
Balance brought forward
£ 2,767.22
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Balance carried forward
£ 9,979.67
**STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
31/12/2021
**Monetry Assets/Liabilities**
Bank and other cash balances
Current Account
£ 9,979.67
**Non-monetary assets:**
Held for church's own use (Insurance values)
£ 3,242,725.00| |---|---| External Liabilities 755.42 **BAPTIST CHURCH ER 2020)** ## **2020** £ 41,840.62 £ 920.00 £ 660.00 £ 4,956.28 £ 7,920.00 £ 175.20 £ 4,607.96 ----------------£ 61,080.06 £ 37,101.68 £ 2,788.03 £ 7,460.31 £ 3,657.21 £ 2,974.14 £ 4,274.00 £ 15.00 £ 2,852.50 ----------------£ 61,122.87 -£ 42.81 £ 2,810.03 ----------------£ 2,767.22 31/12/2020 - £ 2,767.22 - £ 3,096,592.00 1,330.18 On the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 Respectlve responslbillties of Trustees and Examiner The Church's Trust￿ are responsible for the preparats'on of the accounts. The church's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 1+1 of the Charities Att 2011 (the Charlties Art) and that an Independent examlnation Is needed. It ie ms, responsibilty to: . examine the accounts under sectlon 145 of the charl￿e5 Att, . to follow the pr(xedures laid down in the general Directions glven by the Charlty Commisslon (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charits'es Att, and • to state whether particular matters have come to my attenkn. Basis of independent examinerfs ststement My examinab'on was carried out in accordance with general DITectk>ns glven ty the Charfty Commission. An examlnatlon Includes a review of the accountlng records kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes constderation of any unusual items or dIsclosu￿ in the accounts, and seeking explanatlons from the trustees con￿mIng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required In an audlt, and consequently no opinion Is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and falrf view and the report Is Ilmlted to those matters set out In the statement below, Zndependent examlner's statem In connectlon wlth my examlnation, no material matters have come to my attention whlch glve5 me cause to belleve that In, any material re¥)ect: . accounting records We￿ not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charits'es Att or . the accounts do not accord with the accountlng records . the accounts do not comply with tre applicable requ1￿rnents cOn￿mIng the form and contsnt of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and ReFK)rts) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts glve a 'true and falr vlew whlch Is tTh)t a matter consldered as part of an independent examinatlon. I have come across no other matters In connec#on wlth the examinatlon to whlch attentlon should IE drawn In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed bylon behalf of the Eyamlner 2021 Name Mi% F) fR¢￿m 11 Address ib@Gp r¥J Cktss E