## **Stalham Baptist Church – Charity Number 1192914 Annual Report 2024** **Registered Address** : 146, High Street, Stalham, NR12 9AZ **Correspondence Address** : The Manse, 56 Brumstead Road, Stalham, NR12 9DE. ## **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 Leicester LE87 2BB ## **Independent Examiner: Mr. Paul Ellis** ## **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. Those who are part of our fellowship who are not members are welcome to attend. - 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** 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. **Objectives:** We are delighted to report that we achieved our goal in May 2023 by raising £595,172.00 for the refurbishment of SBC’s Victorian schoolroom. and antirooms. The building work began immediately and was completed in December 2023. The official opening of this new facility took place on Saturday January 13[th] , 2024, with the first Sunday morning worship the following day. **Activities:** 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 has been 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. - Warm Spaces: We have been able to continue offering this project due to raising grants from Norfolk Community Foundation, welcoming folk to come and have refreshments/soup and companionship. - Baby and Toddlers group: Growing Together Through Play and Stories.: - Memory Café: We held first memories café in July 2024 for people who for many reasons may find their memories fail them. - Coffee and Chat: a drop in for tea and coffee and meet up with friends and enjoy a bacon roll and/cake/scone. - Table Tennis: a great way to get some exercise and make new friends. - Positive Creations Craft: provides a perfect balance for creativity, relaxation and friendship. - Bereavement Support Group: we provide a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental space for open and honest sharing experiences, feelings and memories. ## **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 SBC ensures that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and where necessary training. including First Aid. ## **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. - A weekly online service. - Bible Art: look at a few Bible verses and then each person creates something that reflects what it means to them whilst enjoying coffee and cake and fun. - Prayer meetings via zoom/in the church. - Bible study via zoom/home group/church Messy Church. - Zoom/Church prayer meetings. - Men’s monthly Breakfasts with guest speaker. - Ladies Monthly Breakfast with guest speaker. ## **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. Some members and friends are unable to attend but do have the opportunity to watch the service online/or have a paper copy delivered with the Bulletin. 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. . ## **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/church - 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, Facebook and much more is made available to the congregation and friends on our website www.stalhambaptist.org.uk ## **SBC donated to:** - BMS World Mission £3,963.43 - Home Mission £4,431.74 - Giving to Church Mission £6,713.04 - Giving to Christian agencies £200.00 - Giving to Secular Charities £109.65 ## **Reserves Policy 2025** The reserves policy of Stalham Baptist Church is to hold three months of all expenditure plus a further three months staffing 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 £38,998.00 compared to £41,404.00 in free cash reserves held at the 31st of December 2024. The figure of £41,404 consists of £30,404.00 in the General Fund and £11,000.00 in the Contingency Fund. The financial results for the year together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements. **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH RECEIPTS and PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS 1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024** ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** **Statement of Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2024** **Reserves Policy Year 2025** The reserves policy of Stalham Baptist Church is to hold three months of all expenditure plus a further three months staffing 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 £38,998.00 compared to £41,404.00 in free cash reserves held at the 31st of December 2024. The figure of £41,404 consists of £30,404.00 in the General Fund and £11,000.00 in the Contingency Fund . . ## **Stalham Baptist Church** ## **Statement of Financial Activities** ## **For the period from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024** ||||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**Endowment**||**Total**||**Prior year**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||**funds**||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|||**funds**|**total funds**|| |**_Receipts_**||||||||||||| |Planned giving|||17,473.00||—|200.00|—|||17,673.00||19,854.00| |Collections and other giving|||13,536.29||—|—|—|||13,536.29||13,367.28| |Other voluntary receipts|||31,446.11
37,638.20|||6,513.47|—|||75,597.78||431,623.34| |Gift Aid recovered 7|||11,765.63||—|68.75|—|||11,834.38||12,415.11| |Other receipts|||75.00||—|582.09|—|||657.09||2,240.00| |Activities for generating funds 2|||4,499.47||—|20.00|—|||4,519.47||7,395.57| |Investment Income|||5,132.46||—|—|—|||5,132.46||10,526.02| |**Total receipts**|||**83,927.96**||**37,638.20**|**7,384.31**||**—**||**128,950.47**||**497,421.32**| |**_Payments_**||||||||||||| |Cost of generating funds|||605.33||—|—|—|||605.33||—| |Missionary and Charitable Giving 3|||309.65||—|15,108.21|—|||15,417.86||15,095.86| |Clergy and Staffing costs 5|||63,236.79||—|—|—|||63,236.79||62,790.54| |Church Running Expenses|4||15,091.23||926.24|697.38|—|||16,714.85||40,559.39| |Hall Running Costs|||3,744.83||—|30.00|—|||3,774.83||—| |Church Repairs & Maintenance|||326.11
18,657.02|||11,543.70|—|||30,526.83||499,748.61| |**Total payments**|||**83,313.94**||**19,583.26**|**27,379.29**||**—**||**130,276.49**||**618,194.40**| |**Net income / (expenditure)**|||**614.02**||**18,054.94**|**(19,994.98)**||**—**||**(1,326.02)**||**(120,773.08)**| |||||||||||||| |**_Transfers_**||||||||||||| |Gross transfers between funds||- in|40.00||500.00|10,892.15|—|||11,432.15||12,157.89| |Gross transfers between funds||- out|(10,892.15)||(500.00)|(40.00)|—||(11,432.15)|||(12,157.89)| |**Net income / (expenditure)**|||**(10,238.13)**||**18,054.94**|**(9,142.83)**||**—**||**(1,326.02)**||**(120,773.08)**| |**_Other recognised gains / losses_**||||||||||||| |**Net movement in funds**|||**(10,238.13)**||**18,054.94**|**(9,142.83)**||**—**||**(1,326.02)**||**(120,773.08)**| |**_Reconciliation of funds_**||||||||||||| |**Total funds brought forward**|||**40,641.86**||**13,698.42**|**65,182.40**||**—**||**119,522.68**||**240,295.76**| |**Total funds carried forward**|||**30,403.73**||**31,753.36**|**56,039.57**||**—**||**118,196.66**||**119,522.68**| ## **Receipts and Payments Accounts for year ending 31[st] December 2024** Statement of assets and liabilities at 31[st] December 2024 ||||||**As at**|**As at**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||**31/12/2024**||**31/12/2023**| |**Current assets**||||||| |||6501: Barclays Current Account|||9,380.95|3,858.60| |||6503: Baptist Union|7 Day Deposit account||651.37|66,063.23| |||6506: Barclays Current Acc. No.2|||9,701.26|8,855.64| |||6507: Baptist Union|1 Month Deposit Account||1,227.53|—| |||6510: Baptist Union|90 Day Deposit Account||100,161.51|76,244.72| |||6590: Cash in hand|||—|—| |||||**Total Current assets**|**121,122.62**|**155,022.19**| ||**Liabilities**|||||| |||||Agency collections|2925.96|2,800.86| |||||Liabilities|16,223.45|| |||SeeNote 6|**Total Liabilities**||19,149.41|**35,499.51**| |||||||| ||||**Net Asset surplus (deficit)**|||**119,522.68**| |||||||| ||**Reserves**|||||| |||Excess / (deficit) to date|||(120,773.08)|| |||Z01: Starting balances||||240,295.76| |||||**Total Reserves**||**119,522.68**| |||Funds of the Church||Year to|31/12/2024|31/12/2023| ||**Unrestricted**|||General Fund|30,403.73|40,641.86| ||**Designated**|||Replacement Reserve|11,000.00|11,000.00| |||||General Grants|2,638.01|2,698.42| |||||Groundwork UK (VCSE)|15,076.20|0.00| |||||John Lewis|225.98|0.00| ||||Stalham Town Council||354.18|0.00| |||||Legacy|2,458.99|0.00| ||**Restricted**|||Warm Space|3,191.65|2,636.95| |||||General Youth Fund|584.84|584.84| |||||Building Fund|50,175.72|59,801.75| |||||Shine Project|2,087 .36|2,087.36| |||||Church Mission|0.00|71.50| |||**Funds of the Church Totals**|||**118,196.66**|**119,522.68**| ## **STALHAM BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **Statement of Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2024** ## **Notes to the Accounts.** **1.** These accounts have been prepared on a “receipts and payments basis” in accordance with section 133 of the charities act 2011. **2. Activities for Generating Funds** Edna’s Christmas Fayre (2023) 6.00 **Note 3. Missionary and Charitable Giving** |Stalham Street Fair 35.00|BMS World Mission 3,963.43| |---|---| |Daffodil Sales 507.00|Home Mission 4,431.74| |Janet’s Knitted Gloves 15.00|Giving to Church Mission 6,713.04| |Use of Premises 3,956.47|Giving to Christian agencies 200.00| |**TOTAL 4,519.47**|Giving to Secular Charities 109.65| ||**TOTAL 15,417.86**| ## **Note 4. Church Running Expenses** Cost of food for events 683.61 Church Insurance 1,898.56 Church phone 272.78 Church Maintenance 1,983.05 Church Cleaning materials 593.87 Church Equipment 2,585.29 Web & Audio 1,489.96 Administration 571.68 Church Electric 3,376.21 Communion wine 71.49 Church Water 645.48 Cost of services 2,542.87 **TOTAL 16,714.85** ## **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 Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund, started in 1925. At the beginning of the financial year, the scheme comprised of a defined benefits scheme which was closed to future accrual on 31 December 2011 and a defined contribution plan which was opened in January 2012.The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.** **For the current financial year, the pension provision for members of the Scheme is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Broadstone Corporate Benefits Ltd. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited. Furthermore, members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.** **In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased and the £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date.** **The Minister(s) [and some members of the church staff] is / are eligible to join the Scheme.** **[Movement in Balance Sheet liability – not applicable if no pension liability before the start of the comparator year]** **Section 28.11A of FRS 102 requires agreed deficit recovery payments to be recognised as a liability. The present value of the agreed deficit contributions were immaterial at the beginning of the financial year and were fully extinguished once buy out was completed by Just Group in October 2024.** ## **6.Liabilities 7.Debtors** Cahill Renewables 12,000.00 HMRC Gift Aid 933.32 C W Harmer 1,992.88 HMRC tax & Ni 1,100.19 Electricity 1,130.38 Agency Collections 2,925.96 **TOTAL LIABILITIES 19,149.41 TOTAL DEBTORS 933.32** ## **8. Assets Held for the Church’s own use.** The Church is the beneficial owner of the following assets the legal title to which is held by the church’s custodian trustee. (The Baptist Union Corporation). Stalham Baptist Church Complex insured value £3,120,980 Manse 56 Brumstead Road insured value £356,354 Recommended Ternis of Appointment for Independent Examiner Name of Churth Cthe thijrth,, 'Us? Name of Independent Examiner l. Engagement as Independent Examiner The purpose of this agreement is to confirni the basis vthith You as the Examiner wi to prepare a report in respect of the thurch'5 firkincial statern￿ts for the year ended Section 145 of the Charitie5 Art 2011 Cthe Art). 2. Responsibilities of the Churth The Church and its Charity Trustees are res[￿￿lble for a) maintsining proper accountsng rectyds and kYeparirKJ accounts which compty ¥￿th the requirements of the Art and the Charities SORP; b) for determining whether, in resrect of the year to be examined, the Church meets the condibons for exemption from an audit of the accounts set ¢yrt In Sectth 145(1) of the kt. and c) for prO￿ding You with infcffmatlon a￿1 explanatIc￿5 requlred Your examlnauon. 3. Respmslbllltles of the Examlner 3.1 As an independent examiner have a ststut￿ duty to: a) state in Y(yJr whether any matter has come to Your attentlon in connection wlth the examlnatlon whlch gives yc￿ reasonatle cause to belleve that in any mateTOol resrt x(￿rtIftg records have not been proper kept in attordance with Sectim 130 of the Act or do n(* ècccrd with the accounting records or comply with the Regukib"ons other than in respert ￿ the wuiremert for a true and fair wew; b) disclose in Your re￿t matters comirrtj to Your attents'on during the examination to whith, In Your opinion, attentiM shoukl be drawn in order to enable a woper understanding of the aCc￿jnts to be reached; c) make any written report to the Charity C￿MiSsI¢)n in Complian￿ Section 156 of the Art. 3.2 You will plan your wc*k on the ba￿S that an independent examiner's repyt C￿ the accounts 15 required for that year. unless we inform you In wribng to ttt cMtrary. 3.3 You wlll not retain ￿ dlsctse any information olrtained during the course of your examinatlon ¢)ther than to the Trustees, or where there Is a ststutory duty to do so or where speaficalty athorised to do so In wrfting by the Trustees. 4. Scop¢ of the Examlnerfs work 4.1 Your work as an independent examlner wlll be onled wt In accwtsKe ¥NIth general dlrethons of the Charty commis9￿. Your examinati￿ wsll ￿ a *ss C￿e￿)uS f(m d SCTUtiny than an JLKIIt ￿ the xcounts In acctrdèn¢e with Auditing Standards and will indude.. a) a rewew of the accounting records kept bv the Churth arxl a compari>￿ of the accounts w(th those Examlner., You., 'You art as indeperrflert examiner In acctydance with b) a review of the accounts and congderatI￿ (rf ary 6tLyn(s) or dlscb)qKe(s) Identffled. In such cases where You idenbfy an UnLtsual item, You wlll seek an expkinatson from us arKI may cary out verlflcation and vouching p￿edureS where You require lurther clarlfication. 4.2 Your wtrk cannot be relied upon to identsfy the c(caS￿OI omi590n ty Insignlficant errty, nor to dlsdose bread)es of trust or ststute, neglert rK fraud whKh have taken FAace and the Church a re5F￿￿bility to guard agalnst. Shouhj You become aware. for any reasons. that the accounts may be mlsleadlng and we cannot agree approprbote amendments, and You conclude that the matter cannot be adequatety dealt with in Your reF*Jt, You will not issue any repjrt. will wthdraw frwt the engagwnent and notify Us in writing of the reasons. 4.> Should Yw (C￿Clude that the ￿Urch is not entl￿d to exernF￿0n from èn audit of the accounts or shoukl You be unable to reath a condus1￿ on this matter then You wll nth'fy U5 in writing of the reason5. If oppropYiate* YOU will dixuss with us the need to appxjint an auditor. 4.4 A5 Part of ntymal procedures, You may request U5 to pro¥ide written cC￿fiMiati￿ of any infomwti¢yb c* explanatic￿S glven by Us oralfyl during the course of your w 5. Fees [EmiER The ro￿ & Indepe￿￿nt examiner Is nrt remurwated OR The Church agrees to pay Yw £ upon receipt by the Chanty Trustees of the CLvnpleted reM in the I￿nat required ty the Charty Commi55ion.]. The church will cover ary wt of ￿ket exper6es inwrred in the course of Y￿r work. Confirnbation Thi5 ag￿ernent wll remain effective until rt is replaced ¢x until Y(MJ cease to hokl the ￿￿tiOn ￿ Indep￿dent examiner. You will confirm Your acceptance of the terms d this weem￿t ty arrnnging for the %gnature and return of the attathed copy to Us. Signed on behaff of the Church Signed by c* m ￿half cl the Examiner Date L£ Page6￿8 Template for Independent Examinets report (where independent examiner does not wish to highlight any issues) Report of the Independent Examinerfs) to the Tntstees of kc On the accounts for the year ended ReSpertI￿ respon8lbllltles of Trustees and Examlner The Church s Trustees are r¢yMisile for the kKeparoticffi of the accc4Jnts. The thurch's trustees wslder that an audlt is not required for this year ursder section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the charib.es Act) and that an independent examinati￿ Is needed. It15 my reSpon￿bi￿ty to.. examine the accounts under secty'ffi 145 of trt Charities A¢ to fdlow the wocedures laid down in the gerthl ENrections g1¥￿ by the tharlty Conmisgon (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, arMI to stste whether particular matters c(¥ne to my attenti￿. Bas1$ of Independent examIn￿5 statement My examination was carried out in accordance with gerwal txrertkns glven try the Olarity Commisslon. An examlnatlon includes a review of the accounbng records kept ￿ the thurth and a comparison of the accwnts presented with those records. It also includes considerats.(￿ of any unusual items c* discbwres in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees C￿Cerning any such matters. The ryc(edU￿ undertsken ¢Jo not F￿￿le all the e￿den￿ that would be requlred In an audlt, and Cc￿sequen0v no w1n1￿ Is glven as to whether the accounts Eyesent a 'true and falr, vlew and the report15 limths to th(￿e matters set in the ststement below. Independent examlner's statemert Since the Church'5 gr055 inccmne exceeded £250.OC(J y￿r examiner MU￿ be a member of a t