CARTERS LANE BAPTIST CHURCH – ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023
Structure, Governance and Management
Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which requires them to be or to have been 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 5 times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church.
FOR 2023, WE WERE ABLE TO ORGANISE CHURCH MEETINGS IN THE CHURCH BUILDINGS.
In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint up to 10 deacons/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 church/charity. By December 2023 we had 7 serving deacons plus the minister, treasurer and church secretary. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the church’s objectives.
In 2023 the deacons continued to meet monthly and minutes are kept in the church safe.
In 2023 we were able to hold Annual General Meeting and the trustees were able to present reports and accounts.
Church members each receive minutes of the formal church meetings. These are sent out with agendas at least one week prior to the meeting.
Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Deacons/Trustees for guidance, or may be raised by members in Church meeting for further consideration by the Deacons/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 principle purpose of the church/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 other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine.
Our particular aims and objectives are:-
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To be a demonstrable place of Christian fellowship and worship furthering God’s kingdom on earth
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To be a friendly, open and welcoming church, not just on Sunday services but throughout all activities
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To encourage the growth of the membership of the Church attracting new young people and families to the congregation, whilst continuing to support and nurture the current congregation.
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To mobilise the church membership to increase the number and range engaged in the running of the wider activities of the church.
The Church has a Minister, working at 70%, an active diaconate and around 65 active church members. We have number of other people who attend but are not formal members.
In the normal run of things we have around 120 young people involved weekly in Sunday Club, Friday Youth Club, the Brigade and the Toddler Group. There are a range of activities which normally take place during the week for adults and seniors including 65 Lunch Club for senior citizens which caters for around 35 people, 2 exercise groups catering for around 25 participants, and an Over 50s Group with an average of 35 people per session. We are now offering weekly free Coffee Mornings as part of the Places of Welcome Scheme – these have proved to be very popular with over 40 people per week attending. In addition to weekly groups, the Church usually hold an annual Holiday Club for primary aged children, social evenings such as quizzes and concerts, garden parties and Autumn Fair. There are strong links with the worshipping community in the locality. We are very active members of Churches Together in Halesowen.
During 2023 these activities regularly took place at the church.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately verified 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.
Activities 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 Deacons/Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure, but believe that 2023 was a positive year in the life of the church, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2024 with renewed enthusiasm.
At December 2023 the membership stood at 67.
For the first half of 2023 regular services and Bible Study sessions were held in church and on-line. These were well supported.
Government guidelines regarding COVID restrictions were still followed.
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year.
The most significant expense related to the continued appointment of the Revd Siôr Coleman as Minister of the Church, on a 70% basis, to lead and co-ordinate 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.
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 and other charitable causes.
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 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. The church has no plan to leave the scheme and expects to continue to make payments to the scheme in line with the recovery plan.
Carters Lane Baptist Church Period Ended 31st December 2023
| General A/c Income Collections Standing Order £ 25,592.50 Collections (Plate) £ 9,555.00 Other Donations £ 3,500.81 Use of Hall £ 2,975.00 Bank Interest £ 3,921.51 HMRC GA £ 8,481.30 Printing & Stationery £ 100.00 Legacy £ 1,840.34 Youth Ministry £ - BMS £ 955.54 BMS Birthday Scheme £ 250.00 Home Mission £ 318.00 Project £ 645.08 Weddings / Funerals £ 600.00 Bank Interest form HEBA A/c £ 12,309.91 Clear Fund £ - Total Income Transfers between Bank Accounts |
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 71,044.99£ £ 18,800.00 |
32,000 8,000 1,750 4,000 1,000 10,000 100 - - 1,000 500 500 200 500 59,550.00 Annual Budget |
% Year elapsed 100% Expenditure 80% Ministry 119% Stipend/ salaries £ 12,518.63 200% Expenses £ 1,921.03 74% HMRC Tax £ 4,143.68 392% Pension £ 7,078.32 85% Visiting Preachers £ - Manse Allowance £ 7,134.00 Manse Expenditure £ 3,298.17 Total Ministry 96% 50% Upkeep of Church Premises 64% Electricity £ 3,724.62 323% Gas £ 2,631.30 120% Insurance £ 2,518.50 Water £ 233.33 Repairs & Renewals £ 19,226.42 Church Cleaning £ 4,348.24 Final Manse Exps (Pinewoods) £ 161.93 Total Church Premises Administration Sundry Expenditure £ 1,319.39 Admin- Wi-Fi £ 650.44 Admin Printing & Stationery £ 1,505.22 Admin Subscriptions £ 1,194.48 Equipment £ 84.25 Admin Bookkeeping & Payroll £ 595.00 Admin Bank Charges £ 229.35 Total Administration Clear Fund Youth Ministry Gifts for Forwarding BMS BMS Birthday Scheme Home Mission Project Donations Total Expenditure Transfers between Bank Accounts % Budget Achieved |
£ 12,600 £ 3,000 £ 4,200 £ 4,000 £ 200 £ 7,134 £ 3,915 £ 36,093.83 £ 3,500 £ 2,000 £ 2,750 £ 150 £ 2,000 £ 4,000 £ 225 £ 32,844.34 £ 500 £ 750 £ 1,000 £ 1,300 £ 1,000 £ 600 £ 300 £ 5,578.13 £ - £ - £ 800.00£ 1,000 £ 650.00£ 500 £ 638.00£ 500 £ 408.90£ 200 £ 100.00 £ 77,113.20 £ 57,324 £ 18,800.00 Annual Budget |
% Budget | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% 119% 200% 74% 392% 85% 96% 50% 64% 323% 120% % Budget Achieved |
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Achieved |
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| 99% 64% 99% 177% 0% 100% 84% 106% 132% 92% 156% 961% 109% 72% 264% 87% 151% 92% 8% 99% 76% 80% 130% 128% 204% |
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| Surplus /(Defcit) for year Add Opening balance b/f 1st January Closing Balance 31.12.23 Represented by : Treasurer's A/c 30 Day A/c NS&I A/c HEBA A/c Total Bank Accounts Funds General Fund (Unrestricted) |
-£ 6,068.21 £448,976.23 £442,908.02 £ 6,889.99 £ 28,017.42 £120,000.00 £288,000.61 £442,908.02 £442,908.02 |
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Carters Lane Baptist Church Accounts for 1/1/2023-31/12/2023
The Deacons (acting as managing trustees of the Church) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts under S.42(3) Charities Act 1993. The income of the Church is below the threshold of £250,000 and these accounts have therefore been prepared on a ‘Receipts and Payments’ basis with review by an independent examiner.
The funds for the Church are distributed across 4 bank accounts. There are no restrictions placed on the funds held by the Church.
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Business Banking Extra Current Account Lloyds Bank (termed hereafter as Treasurers Current Account/TA)
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30 Day Account Lloyds Bank (termed hereafter as 30 day account / 30D)
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NS&I Bonds
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HEBA
The accounts for the Treasurers Current Account and 30 Day Account were prepared throughout the year by Mrs Gail Rothnie, Mrs Lesley Jones and Heart of England Baptist Association (HEBA). They were independently examined by Ms Emoke Simon. A trail was established from invoice, to payment, to bank statement and HEBA Finance Summaries and in reverse by Ms Simon . The funds within the Lloyds Bank accounts, NS&I and HEBA were confirmed based on statements.
A summary of the accounts is given here:
| Opening Balance 1/1/2023 |
Closing Balance 31/12/2023 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Treasurers Current Account (TA) | £11,653.64 | £ 6,889.99 |
| 30 Day Account (30D) | £41,631.89 | £28,017.42 |
| NS&I Bonds | £120,000.00 | £120,000.00 |
| HEBA | £275,690.70 | £288,000.61 |
| **Total ** | £448,976.23 | **£442,908.02 ** |
| Total Receipts | £71,044.99 |
|---|---|
| Total Payments | £ 77,113.20 |
| Deficit | (£ 6,068.21) |
Note: Comparative figures for 2022 were:
| Total Receipts | £ 91,365.30 |
|---|---|
| Total Payments | £ 86,543.07 |
| Surplus | £ 4,822.23 |
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Financial Statement for the year ended 31 December 2023
General Receipts and Payments
Receipts and payments are summarised here. Additional detail is given in the accompanying notes later in the document.
| RECEIPTS | |
|---|---|
| Weeklycollections(plate) | £9555.00 |
| Collections(standingorder) | £25,592.50 |
| Donations | £3,500.81 |
| Gift Aid | £8,481.30 |
| Investment Income/Interest | £3921.51 |
| Hall Rental | £2,975.00 |
| Legacy | £1840.34 |
| Weddings/funerals | £600.00 |
| Raised for other causes | £2,168.62 |
| Printingand stationery | £100.00 |
| Bank interest from HEBA | £12,309.91 |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £71,044.99 |
| £36,093.83 £5,578.13 £32,844.34 £2,596.90 £77,113.20 |
|
| PAYMENTS | |
| Ministry | £36,093.83 |
| Administration | £5,578.13 |
| UpkeepChurch Premises | £32,844.34 |
| Amounts passed onto other causes |
£2,596.90 |
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | £77,113.20 |
Overall income and expenditure
| Receipts | Payments |
|---|---|
| £71,044.99 | £77,113.20 |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31/12/2023
| Assets | Opening 1/1/20223 |
Movement | Closing 31/12/2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freehold Land and Buildings | £0.00 | £0.00 | Note 3 | |
| Cash Assets | £448,976.23 | (£6,068.21) | £442,908.02 | |
| Total Assets | £448,976.23 | (£6,068.21) | £442,908.02 | |
| Liabilities | £0.00 | £0.00 | Note 4 | |
| Overall Position | £448,976.23 | (£6,068.21) | £442,908.02 |
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Notes to the Accounts
The accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.
1. Additional Details of Receipts
| RAISED FOR OTHER CAUSES | |
|---|---|
| BMS | £955.54 |
| BMS BirthdayScheme | £250.00 |
| Home Mission | £318.00 |
| Project – DeLIVERingHope | £645.08 |
| Total | £2,168.62 |
2. Additional Details of Payments
| MINISTRY | UPKEEP | ADMIN | AMOUNTS PASSED ON |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SALARY | £12,518.63 | Cleaning | £4,348.24 | Bank | £229.35 | BMS Birthday Scheme |
£650.00 |
| HMRC | £4,143.68 | Gas | £2,631.30 | Bookkeeping & Payroll |
£595.00 | BMS | £800.00 |
| Expenses | £1,921.03 | Electric | £3,724.62 | Subscriptions | £1,194.48 | Home Mission |
£638.00 |
| Manse | £10,432.17 | Manse (rented) |
£161.93 | WIFI | £650.44 | Donations | £100.00 |
| Pension | £7,078.32 | Repairs | £19,226.42 | Printing & Stationery |
£1,505.22 | Project | £408.90 |
| Water | £233.33 | Sundry | £1,319.39 | ||||
| Insurance | £2,518.50 | Equipment | £84.25 | ||||
| £36,093.83 | £32844.34 | £5,578.13 | £2,596.90 |
3. Freehold land and buildings
Freehold land and buildings are shown at no value as it is considered that they have no commercial value due to the restricted covenant placed by the vendor when the land was originally acquired. This is a conservative position since, if time and resources are invested in pursuing this, a more positive outcome may be forthcoming but cannot be assumed unless tested legally. If the Church were to be in financial difficulties this would be pursued more fully.
4. Liabilities - Pension Fund
On 30th June 2022 the Baptist Pension Scheme signed an agreement with the insurance company Just Group (“Just”) to secure DB Plan members’ pension benefits. Just are now providing financial backing for all pensions provided through the Scheme’s DB Plan and following this transaction, the Scheme no longer has a shortfall. An updated Recovery plan was then signed in August 2022 under which recovery contributions from each participating employer in the DB Plan reduced to £1 per month from August 2022.
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Mrs. Gail Rothnie, Treasurer
Mrs. Lesley Jones ……………………………………………………………..
Ms. Emoke Simon, Independent Examiner …………………………………..
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