# **Stalham Baptist Church – Charity Number 1192914 Annual Report 2023** Registered Address: 140 High Street, Stalham, NR12 9AZ Correspondence Address: The Manse, 56 Brumstead Road, STALHAM, 4AZ Leadership Team Trustees: Ron Skivington (Pastor) Jerry Otieno (Assistant Pastor) Diana Gordon (Church Secretary) Stewart Marsh (Treasurer) David Child Henry Nicholson Elaine Smith Daniel Nicholson Maggie Harpur Bankers: Barclays Bank: P. O. BOX 6539 Independent Examiner: Paul Ellis ## **MISSION STATEMENT** Our logo says ‘Jesus at the Centre’ sums up quite well what we are about as a church. We want to see the love, care , compassion and presence of Jesus to be seen in our individual lives and in the wider life of our church because when it does it naturally flows over into our wider community where there are many people who face difficult and challenging situations and need help which may be as simple as a listening ear and some company or practical help because they are struggling to feed their families. SBC has been a respected central part of this community since 1884 providing a vibrant spiritual presence as well as a place for the community to access space and take part in activities that benefit their spiritual, physical and mental well-being and our vision is to see that ethos continue and expand to meet the needs of future generations. ## **Organisational Structure and Decision-making processe** s - Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which requires them to normally have been publicly baptised by immersion on their profession of faith in Jesus Christ. - Members Meetings take place quarterly during the year, one of which is the AGM. - In accordance with the Constitution Members elect Trustees for a term of three years who together with the Leadership Team 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. ## **Objectives and Activities** **Activities:** We have a balance between the things we do that relate to the spiritual life of our fellowship like services and church-based family and children’s events and the things that are more geared to serving our local community. SBC has very strong relationships in the wider community, service providers local businesses, welcoming people from all social backgrounds and levels of ability. The Church was open every day of the week at some point for: - The collection and distribution centre for a Trussell Trust Food Bank - Community Fridge’ (supported by North Norfolk District Council and Hubbub UK) will enable residents and businesses to share surplus food and mitigate food waste. This is available for anyone to help themselves too. - Warm Spaces: With a grant of £2,000 from Norfolk Community Foundation SBC started the ‘Warm Spaces’ project in October 2022 when we welcomed folk to come and have refreshments/soup and companionship. - Stalham Horticulture Society, over 55,s Club, R.A.F.A and a Bereavement Group. - Table Tennis - Coffee and Chat - Bible Art - Messy Church - Men’s Breakfast with guest speaker - Ladies Breakfast with guest speaker These events take place in the Stables but some of them will move to the Schoolroom and associated rooms in the New year (see Refurbishment Project) ## **Worship and Prayer** - Monday to Friday: the church is open 10.00am until 12 O’clock for private prayer, prayer meetings and donations to Food Bank - A weekly worship service – with 90 people attending sometimes more - A weekly online service - Prayer meetings via zoom/in the church - Bible study via zoom/home group/church - Quarterly Church meetings ## **Provision of pastoral Care.** All are welcome to attend our regular services on Sunday Morning 10.45 to 12.00 with Sunday School running at the same time, at present SBC has 68 members the average weekly attendance in December was 90. Attendance is not restricted to Members as we have new people who have moved into Stalham joining us and holidaymakers visiting the Broads National Park. Some members and friends were unable to attend, these people have the benefit of our online service or a paper copy containing the sermon to those who have no access to the internet. As well as regular services we enable our community to celebrate and thank God for the milestones in life through: - Children’s dedications we celebrate the gift of life. - Adult full emersion baptism celebrates people following the path of Jesus. - Marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing. - Through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete and to commend the person into Gods keeping. The Pastor, Assistant Pastor and other members of the church family also make visits to members of the congregation. ## **Mission and Evangelism** - Monthly Messy Church Started June 2022. - Monthly Men’s breakfast with guest speaker. - Ladies breakfast with guest speaker. - Bible Art - We usually read a short Bible passage, reflect on it and then try to find a creative way to express what became important to us. - Bible Study via Zoom/home group. - SBC donated to: - £4,376.21 Baptist World Mission - £4644.49 Eastern Baptist Association Home Mission - £4985.25 Church mission - £493.12 Christian Agencies - £596.79 Secular Charities - Our magazine Community Scene is published three times a year at Easter, Harvest and Christmas and is delivered to 1700 homes and businesses in and around Stalham, this is also available online. This popular magazine contains many articles and is free of charge also available on www.stalhambaptist.org.uk - Our weekly Bulletin, online services and much more is made available to the congregation and friends weekly on www.stalhambaptist.org.uk ## **Reserves Policy 2024** The reserves policy of Stalham Baptist Church is to hold three months of all expenditure plus a further three months staff costs to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church. The trustees currently believe this amount to be £35,231 compared to£51,641 in free cash reserves held at the 31st of December 2023. The figure of £51,641 consists of the General Fund and Contingency Fund. The Trustees have budgeted to use the excess of the General Fund £40,641 and The Replacement Reserve £11,000 after allowing for the reserves £16,410 towards the building refurbishment project this will be reviewed in January 2025. ## **Refurbishment Project – SBC Community Rooms** We are delighted to report that the refurbishment of SBC’s Victorian schoolroom and anti-rooms began on May 15[th] , 2023, due to £595,172 having been raised. Priority areas identified included: - The Schoolroom (a large Hall) - Installation of Unisex/Disabled Toilets to incorporate baby changing facilities. - Installation of a new and larger kitchen - Creating a room over the toilets and kitchen for small group meetings/prayers/office. - Widening the link corridor to facilitate wheelchair users and a larger number of people. The building works were completed in December 2023 and the official opening of this new facility will place on January 13[th] , 2024 ## **Volunteers** SBC have been very blessed over the years with volunteers not only from our church fellowship but also our friends in the community of Stalham and surrounding villages who work so hard to make SBC the vibrant and lively community. It is enabling: - Financial stability: through the amazing contribution of our volunteers including non-church folk and some carrying out more than one activity. It would not work economically if it was a commercial enterprise. - An opportunity to promote the value of volunteering: Coming out of isolation is a great opportunity to feel part or the community, making new friends, learning new skills building confidence and a feeling of self-worth. It can enhance a person’s CV and improve their employment prospects. - The Church has in place policys/procedures to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service and where necessary First Aid training. Receipts and Payments Accounts for year ending 31[st] December 2023 ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **Statement of Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2023 STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **Reserves Policy year 2024** The reserves policy of Stalham Baptist Church is to hold three months of all expenditure plus a further three months staff costs to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church. The trustees currently believe this amount to be £35,231 compared to£51,641 in free cash reserves held at the 31st of December 2023. The figure of £51,641 consists of the General Fund and Contingency Fund . The Trustee’s have budgeted to use the excess of the General Fund £40,641 and The Replacement Reserve £11,000 after allowing for the reserves £16,410 towards the building refurbishment project this will be reviewed in January 2025. Page 1 ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## Receipts and Payments Accounts for year ending 31[st] December 2023 |||Unrestricted Designated Restricted|Unrestricted Designated Restricted|Unrestricted Designated Restricted|Endowment|||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Total Prior Year||| ||**_Receipts_**|||||||| ||Planned giving|14,854.00|—|5,000.00|—|19,854.00|14,285.00|| ||Collections and other giving|13,317.28|—|50.00|—|13,367.28|11,428.52|| ||Other voluntary receipts|32,274.53|393,671.00|5,677.81|—|431,623.34|90,173.59|| ||Gift Aid recovered|11,915.11|—|500.00|—|12,415.11|18,348.93|| ||Other receipts|90.00|—|2,150.00|—|2,240.00|156.99|| ||Activities for generating funds**2**|3,821.36|—|3,574.21|—|7,395.57|9,291.49|| ||Investment Income|10,526.02|—|—|—|10,526.02|3,767.73|| ||**Total receipts**|**86,798.30**|**393,671.00**|**16,952.02**|**—**|**497,421.32**|**147,452.25**|| ||**_Payments_**|||||||| ||Missionary and Charitable Giving**3**|852.22|—|14,243.64|—|15,095.86|11,461.43|| ||Clergy and Staffing costs|62,790.54|—|—|—|62,790.54|61,145.13|| ||Church Running Expenses**4**|13,436.10|—|27,123.29|—|40,559.39|6,463.84|| ||Church Repairs & Maintenance|570.95|399,370.08|99,807.58|—|499,748.61|1,564.80|| ||**Total payments**|**77,649.81**|**399,370.08**|**141,174.51**|**—**|**618,194.40**|**80,635.20**|| ||**Net income / (expenditure)**|**9,148.49**|**(5,699.08)**|**(124,222.49)**|**—**|**(120,773.08)**|**66,817.05**|| |||||||||| ||**_Transfers_**|||||||| ||Gross transfers between funds - in|423.01|—|11,663.38|—|12,086.39|8,445.96|| ||Gross transfers between funds - out|(11,663.38)|—|(423.01)|—|(12,086.39)|(8,445.96)|| ||**Net income / (expenditure)**|**(2,091.88)**|**(5,699.08)**|**(112,982.12)**|**—**|**(120,773.08)**|**66,817.05**|| ||**_Other recognised gains / losses_**|||||||| ||**Net movement in funds**|**(2,091.88)**|**(5,699.08)**|**(112,982.12)**|**—**|**(120,773.08)**|**66,817.05**|| ||**_Reconciliation of funds_**|||||||| ||**Total funds brought forward**|**42,805.24**|**19,397.50**|**178,093.02**|**—**|**240,295.76**|**173,478.71**|| |P|**Total funds carried forward**|**40,713.36**|**13,698.42**|**65,110.90**|**—**|**119,522.68**|**240,295.76**|| Page 2 ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## Receipts and Payments Accounts for year ending 31[st] December 2023 ## **Statement of assets and liabilities at 31[st] December 2023** ||**Current assets Year to 31/12/2023 Year to 31/12/2022**
**_6501: Barclays Current Account_** **_3,858.60_**
**_9,359.56_**
**_6503: Baptist Union 7 Day Deposit account_** **_66,063.23_** **_—_**
**_6506: Barclays Current Acc. No.2_** **_8,855.64_** **_2,007.34_**
**_6510: Baptist Union 90 Day Deposit Account_** **_76,244.72_** **_230,781.93_**
**_6590: Cash in hand_**---**_—_**
**Total Current assets155,022.19242,148.83**
**Liabilities**
**_6699: Agency collections_**
**_2,800.86_**
**_1,853.07_**
**_Z04: Accounts Payable_** **_32,698.65_** **_—_**
**Total Liabilities35,499.51**
Net Asset surplus (deficit)**119,522.68240,295.76**
**Reserves**
**_Excess / (deficit) to date_**
**_(120,773.08) 66,817.05_**
**_Z01: Starting balances_** **_240,295.76_** **_173,478.71_**
Total Reserves **119,522.68 240,295.76**
**Funds of the Church Year to 31/12/2023 31/12/2022**
**Unrestricted**
General fund 40,641.86 42,805.24
**Designated**
Replacement Reserve 11,000 .00 11,000.00
Future Loan Repayments 0.00 8397.50
Grants ,2698.42
**Restricted**
**Building**Fund 59.801.75 172,795.95
Church Mission 71.50 786.19
General Youth Fund 584.84 584.84
Warm Space 2,636.95 1,768.68
Youth Work 2,087.36 2,087.36
BMS World Mission 0**.**00 70.00
**Page 3**| |---|---| ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## Receipts and Payments Accounts for year ending 31[st] December 2023 ## **Notes** ## **1. Basis of accounts** These accounts have been prepared on a “receipts and payments basis” basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011. The charity has exceeded the £250,000 income limit, this will be for one year only due to income received from grantors for a refurbishment project. Budgeted income for the year 2024 is £92,620. ## **2. Activities for Generating Funds 4 Church Running Expenses** Edna’s Gate & Christmas Fair 1,824.50 2201 Training and Missionary Expenses 90.00 Daffodil Sales 1,347.00 2302 Church Insurance 2,927.06 Harvest Supper & Auction 450.40 2310 Church telephone 252.54 Valentines Day Meal 165.00 2330 Church maintenance 113.04 Bar Room Blues 333.00 2331 Church cleaning 293.66 Other Fund Raising 237.71 2335 Church equipment 179.99 Use of Premises 3,037.96 2390 Cost of services 32,110.76 **Total Activities for generating funds 7,395.57** 2350 Web and audio 583.28 2360 Administration 364.60 **3. Missionary and Charitable giving** 2401 Church-Electric 2,758.13 BMS World Mission 4,376.21 2410 Church Running gas 300.00 Home Mission 4,644.49 2411 Communion wine 69.26 Giving to Christian agencies 493.12 2420 Church water 517.07 Giving to Secular agencies 596.79 **Total Church Running Expenses 40,559.39** Church Mission 4,985.25 Total Missionary and charitable giving **15,095.86 5. Liabilities** PAYE Tax and National insurance 1,207.65 Cost of Services AMA (quantity surveyor) 2,248.00 Cost of Services SMG (architect) 1,120.00 C W Harmer & Son Ltd (due February 2024) 15,000.00 C W Harmer & Son Ltd (due December 2024) 13,123.00 **Total Liabilities of the Church (due in 2024) 32,698.65** Agency Collections 2,800.86 **Page 4 Total Liabilities 35499.51** ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## Receipts and Payments Accounts for year ending 31[st] December 2023 **6. Grants Purpose** Norfolk County Council Social Infrastructure Fund Building Refurbishment/Alterations 250,000.00 Benefact Trust Building Refurbishment /Alterations 46,466.00 Garfield Weston Foundation Building Refurbishment /Alterations 25,000.00 Congregational & Charitable Trust Building Refurbishment /Alterations 20,000.00 North Norfolk District Council Sustainable Communities Fund Disabled Toilet 15,000.00 Norwood & Newton Settlement Building Refurbishment / Alterations 15,000.00 R C Snelling Charitable Trust Building Refurbishment / Alterations 7,500.00 Bearice Laing Family Trust Building Refurbishment / Alterations 7,500.00 Geoffrey Wating Foundation Building Refurbishment / Alterations 5,000.00 Norfolk Community Fund Community Hotspot 2,000.00 Tesco Stalham Building Refurbishment / Alterations 1,125.00 Roy’s Of Wroxham Equipment 1,000.00 **Total Grants 395,591.00** ## **5.Pension Scheme Liabilities** The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers. 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. Prior to this date the main benefit provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan was a pension of one eightieth of final minimum pensionable income for each year of pensionable service together with additional pension in respect of premiums paid on Pensionable Income in excess of Minimum Pensionable Income. Since 1 January 2012, benefits have been provided through a Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. In 2022 the Baptist pension trust signed an agreement with the insurance company Just Group ("Just") to secure DB Plan members' pension benefits. This agreement is referred to as a 'buy-in policy'. It follows a similar agreement with Just in 2019 that covered most pensions in payment at that time. The combined agreements mean that Just are now providing financial backing for all DB pensions provided through the Scheme's DB Plan. The costs of such policies are largely driven by financial markets and these have moved substantially in the Scheme's favour, particularly over the course of the last few months. As a result, this transaction takes the Scheme out of a shortfall position for the first time in two decades. Although risks remain, the Baptist Union and the Trustee have agreed that deficit recovery contributions from each participating employer in the DB Plan will reduce to just £1 per month from August 2022. The Trustee and the Baptist Union have agreed that DRCs will reduce to £1 per month for each employer from the August 2022 payment until June 2026. Participating employers remain responsible for providing a share of any additional funds that the DB Plan may require in future. The Church has been advised that the estimated cost for the church to buyout their Pension Scheme liabilities at 20 June 2022 was £18,600. Currently the Church liability to the scheme is £0.00, however if Stalham Baptist Church should decide to leave the Scheme there would be £1,000.00 expenses. Page 5 Retommended Terms of Appointment for Indep￿dent Examiner Name of Church Church','U Name of Indq*tThknt Ey2ml￿r l. Engagement a$ IndwKlont Examlner The wrpose of this agr*ment is to confimi the basls ￿ whth YfMJ as the Examlr*r wlll att as I￿ndent eyamI￿r to pre￿are a rqxyt in ￿$[ect of tr* Churth's fina￿la1 stat￿ year In acc￿thn￿ wth tion 145 of the Charitses Att 2011 CU* W. 2. ReSp￿s•bO10tles af the Church The Church and Its Charity Trustees are resrrf)n414e for a) malntsinlng protw accoLmtlThJ rwds and weparfffj accThJrts c(MnFty wlth tt* requlrements of the Att and the tharitts ￿RP. b) for deternining whether. in reskvt of the year to be exami￿0, Church tre Co￿ltionS for exemptk)n frLNn an audlt of the aCC￿nts set out in SectiLW1 145(1) of the Art; arn c) for provRJing You with inforn)ath)n aThJ exFlanath)ns rffjU1￿d for Your examination. 3. Rwjlbllltles af the Ex•mlnor 3. 1 As an ilKIe￿ndent examirEr You a Statutt￿ to: a) stste In Your ￿k￿￿t whether any matter has cm to Y￿r attwrtkn In c￿r￿tt￿)n wlth the examlnatlon which gives You reasonable cause to telieve that in any Mat￿laS reS[￿tt accountlng ￿ordS have not been OFerly ke0 in acctydance wth sect￿￿ 130 of Art or do ￿ ￿C{￿d trE Kcountsffj r￿$ or crynply wlth Regulakn5 Cther than In ￿5p￿t rf tr* reqU1￿m*￿ fcy a true a￿1 falr vlew; b) dlsclose In Your ￿tI)rt nwtters clyning to Ytyjr attentkn durlng ￿ examlnakn to whlch. In Your ¢)plnlon, attenth)n SI￿￿10 trR drawn in cKder to enatle a trorer urKJer#aTrJlThJ of the acc¢xJnts to te reach￿. c) make any wrltten reExJt to the Charlty Conmlsskn In cl￿￿￿7nCe wlth SeLtlon 156 of the Act. 3.2 y¢￿ wlll Flan yow work on the tkisls that an 1rm1ep￿ert e¥amlrfs retKTht cffl ts* accounts Is r￿lTed for that year, unless we inform you in to the Cr￿trary. 3.3 You wlll ncrt retaln or (Isch)se any InfomwtM)n OLknIr￿d durln9 tts course of your eyaminatI￿ other than to the Trustees, ty Whe￿ thtre Is a 5tstuty duty to do WI￿￿ S￿IfiCalfy authorb5ed to ikn $0 In wrtUng ty the Tnjstees. Scope of the ExamIn￿l w 4.1 Your work as an indepeThJerf( examlrw wlll be car￿d In aCc￿dafft wlth general dlrectsor6 of Charlty Comffllsslon. Your examin*w will a kss fomi of suutlny than an of the accounts In acCcffthn￿ with ALmI￿r￿j &anOards and wlll Ind￿le. a) a revlew of tre accwnting records keF* ty the thurth a coryadson of the ac£(￿nts wesert&l wlth b) a revlew of trie aCc￿rtS aTrJ Con5k￿ of any unwl Itenrfs) ty dlsck)wre(s) Identbfied. In SLKh cases Whe￿ klentsfy an ur¥Jsual ￿em, You wlll an exF4ènatkn frrAn us arKJ fflay carry ye￿r￿at￿)n and vouchlng k¥cendent Examlners report (where Ind￿￿d￿rt examlner does not wlsh to hlqhmght any Iswag) Report of the Independejtt Exwnlnerfs) to the Tnuters ( On the Kewnts for the year ended 31 1OCb¥ The Church's Trustees are resFKmSitle f(x the weparth of the xCoU￿ The thurth's trustee5 c(mslder that an a￿lIt is not requir&1 for this year under stttion 144 of the tharities kt 2011 (the thariti£s Prt) and that an iNlependent examlnatlon is needed. It Is my re5pJnslbillty to: examine the accounts Lmdtr Secti￿ 145 of tr* Charltles A¢ to fc41tyA the txocedures lald down In the ge￿al t#re(thms glven by the Cunmlsston (under seLtlon 145{5){b) of the Tharitie5 Art, a￿1 to state whether partlcular rnatte￿ havè crffie to my attts)tkm. l* of Indepond¢rt ex•mIn￿O Jtst•ment My examlnatlon was carrled In accordan￿ b+Ath 9￿￿11 Dlratlons ghm ty the Charfty C4xnmls￿0n. An examlnatlon Indudes a review of the accwnting reccffds W by ￿ thurth and a c(mparison of the xcwnts ryeS￿ted with those reuKd5. It also Indudes c(n5Mleration of ary Items or disd05ures in the accounts, and seektng expknations from the trustee5 ccffj￿rnlng any such mattets. The wrKedLKes undwtrken do W￿le all the evldence that would be requlred In an aud￿, and c￿SequentIY no ￿nIOn Is ghen as to whether ts accounts we$￿t a a￿1 falrf ￿eW and the rewt Is Ilm6ted to thcse matters set •Jrt In the ststemert tjelow. Indep￿d•rt •nmln*• •t•tww Since the Church's gros5 Inc(xne exceeded £250,OLKI y￿Jr examiner must be ? munber of a LKxly listed in sectSon 145 of the 2011 Act. I ￿fim7 that l am qualrfled to undubke the exankntkffi beca￿ l am a member of [Insat named of appmcatle Ilsted tth], whld) Is (Th of the Il#ed bodles. (Delete If Inc￿ ts less than £250,000) In conneLtlon my examlnaticfj, mthrfal mth ccffie to my attenlkn whlth me cause to bell that Ini arry mate￿?1 rwed: accountlng reccKds were not kert In aCC(Ktsn￿ vlth sectl¢J1 130 cl the Charttles Art the accounts do nci accord wbth the accourrt(ThJ rths the accounts do not C￿lY wlth the appkabk r￿u1r￿nerts CLYKemiry tr* frym and cc**ent rf accounts set out In the Charfttas {Accwnts and ReFKxts) Regutstiors 2008 ¢ts than any requlrementknat the accounts gfve a kne and fair view which is a mots C￿sidered a5 Wt rf an WKleperth examinatiw. (If accounts prepared on acuuals basls* I have c(xne no cther matt¥s In conneth *lth the examlnatlcn to attenkn SIK￿k1 be drawn In order to enable a proper understandlng of the ac￿￿rtS to be reached. *Daèts the ￿ts￿65 In the trJ£*etsMtheydo rKY*¥¥ty Signed by behalf of tr* Exanwner Name Relwdnt ProfessIc￿?1 QJaimcaVN(s) LY Of any Address Page7rf8