L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s
Trustees' Annual Report
For the period: 01 September 2022 to 31 August 2023
Section A Reference and administration details Charity name Ackhill Baptist Church Registered charity number 1195592 (Date of registration: 23 August 2021) Principal address Ackhill Manse, Dolley Green, Presteigne, LD8 2EE Charity Trustees (appointed by voting members of Ackhill Baptist Church) Name Office Held Dates Acting Richard John Mansell Pastor and Chairman For the full financial year Ronald William Crutchley For the full financial year Matilda Rose Phillips For the full financial year Philip Pain Deacon For the full financial year Benjamin Peter Thornton For the full financial year Benjamin Gill For the full financial year
Section B Structure, governance and management
Type of charity Ackhill Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Governing document Ackhill Baptist Church is governed by its constitution, Revision 1 dated: 24 April 2023 Trustee selection All Charity Trustees must subscribe and adhere to, in belief and lifestyle, the Statement of Faith as set out in the constitution. New trustees are proposed by the existing trustees or the leadership team at a members’ meeting. A two-thirds majority of voting members is required for the proposed new trustee(s) to be appointed. Three trustees will step down in the coming period and at least one new trustee will be appointed.
Policies and procedures Although Ackhill Baptist Church is a small fellowship (typ. 30 people attend Sunday worship each week), we nevertheless have put in place a number of policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our attendees and the proper management of our affairs. These include:
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Health & Safety Policy (including a series of risk assessments for activities where hazards could lead to injury or harm)
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Safeguarding Policy
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Data Protection Policy
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Conflict of Interest Policy (to ensure trustees’ outside interests or loyalties do not compromise their ability to make decisions in the best interests of Ackhill Baptist Church)
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L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s
Section C
Objectives and activities
Charitable objects as set out in The Object of the CIO is, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian our constitution faith according to Baptist principles and in accordance with the Statement of Faith.
Main activities undertaken for the public benefit
We exist to glorify God and to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ as His disciples. We do this in a variety of ways. We:
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Gather for corporate worship, prayer and praise, welcoming all who would join us
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Proclaim the salvation available by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone
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Teach children the Word of God in Sunday School
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Run a mother-and-toddler group
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Encourage our members to live godly lives, understanding what God expects of them
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Stand ready to disciple new converts
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Observe the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Table
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Reach out to those we meet with the compassion which Christ affords us, hoping to be the fragrance of Christ
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Hold faithfully to the whole counsel of God in our teaching and practice
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Cooperate with other evangelical fellowships
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Support missionary work at home and overseas
Grants and investments
Ackhill Baptist Church does not dispense grants, neither does it invest, other than at the bank in a savings account. Total funds in our current and savings accounts do not exceed the FSCS compensation limit of £85,000.
| Section D | Achievements and performance |
|---|---|
| Main achievements during the | We are thankful to the Lord that there was no serious ill-health in the |
| year | congregation due to the Covid pandemic. All restrictions and constraints due to |
| Covid have now been lifted, the last to go being socially distanced seating. | |
| Sunday School and the Dolley Tots mother-and-toddler group meetings are both | |
| running once again. Dolley Tots numbers are growing steadily and are almost | |
| back to pre-pandemic levels, whilst the new families attending Sunday worship | |
| have boosted Sunday School numbers. Our overall attendance at Sunday worship | |
| is up by ca. 20% compared to 2021/22. | |
| Our mid-week prayer and Bible study meetings continue to be held on-line as this | |
| has been found to suit those living further away from the Chapel and not wishing | |
| to drive, especially during winter months. Consideration is being given to starting | |
| one or two homegroup meetings for those wishing to meet face-to-face for | |
| fellowship and prayer during the week. | |
| Ackhill Baptist Church has continued to reach out to its congregation and the | |
| local community. We have held two fellowship meals in the period – one at | |
| Christmas and a barbecue in the summer. As well as regular chapelgoers, friends, | |
| family and neighbours were invited, all free-of-charge. |
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L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s
Section D, cont
Achievements and performance
Main achievements during the We continue to support the local Knighton & Presteigne Foodbank both year, cont. financially and with donations in kind, as well as providing the services of the treasurer and designated safeguarding officer free of charge. Both treasurer and safeguarding officer are also trustees of the foodbank.
The church has long been a supporter of the Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Appeal by making up a number of boxes and acting as a local collection point and dropoff centre for the area. This work continues despite our sister-in-Christ, Margaret, being called home by the Lord. Margaret was the main driving force behind our Shoebox work for many years. We also said farewell to another lady in the period, confident that she is at rest with the Lord. Funeral services for both ladies were held at the Chapel.
Several in the congregation are elderly and struggle with health problems of various kinds. As well as long term health troubles there are a number who have been waiting on operations. As we continue to remember one another in prayer and seek to encourage and support one another, there is a strong spirit of unity and love in the fellowship.
We continue to receive several visitors throughout the year. These have included people on holiday who have looked us up via our website, as well as people thinking of moving to the area. There have also been some who are already local or from the surrounding area. Several have continued to attend regularly and are thinking of becoming members. It is expected that some of these will be accepted into membership at the AGM in October 2023. This bodes well for the future of Ackhill Baptist Church.
Following our registration as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), all work to transfer the various property assets of the church and make the CIO sole holding trustee of the property trusts has been completed. We are now waiting for the Land Registry to register the titles in the name of the CIO and have been advised that this might not happen until autumn 2023 at the earliest.
Significant property maintenance has been required during the period, including two new toilets for the Manse, painting of exterior woodwork at the Chapel and a complete replacement of the Chapel outside lighting. Also woodworm had been identified in the Manse roof timbers, but treatment could be undertaken until sometime within a two-week window in September, due to the suspected presence of a bat roost. This work has now been carried out.
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L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s
| Section E | Financial review |
|---|---|
| Reserves policy | We aim to maintain reserves at the bank of £60,000, £35,000 of which covers |
| approximately 12 months running costs and £25,000 is designated for | |
| maintenance and repairs to the Chapel, Hall, and Manse. Timing of the | |
| expenditure of these designated funds is uncertain. However, repairs to the | |
| Manse roof and Chapel windows are expected within the next 2 years. | |
| Funds in deficit | There are no areas where funds are in deficit. |
| Sources of funds | Income arises from weekly giving, monthly giving via standing order direct to the |
| Ackhill Baptist Church bank account, one-off gifts and gift aid. One or two regular | |
| gift aided donations are still administered by Stewardship and paid by grant to | |
| the church each month. | |
| Main areas of expenditure | Staff costs, building maintenance and utilities accounted for 68% of total |
| expenditure in the period. Other significant items were solicitor's fees of £5,974 | |
| (for charity formation) and Council Tax of £2,256. | |
| Payment to Trustee | As allowed within the Constitution, a salary and pension amounting to £18,520 |
| for the year to 31 August 2023 was paid to the Pastor who is also a trustee of the | |
| church. Our independently reviewed financial statements are set out in the | |
| Appendix. | |
| Section F | Declaration |
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above (at the trustees’ meeting on 28[th] September 2023).
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
| Signature(s) | |
|---|---|
| Full Name(s) | Richard John Mansell |
| Position | Chairman |
| Date | 28thSeptember 2023 |
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L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s
Appendix
Ackhill Baptist Church financial statements for the year to 31 August 2023
| Receipts and Payments | A1 |
|---|---|
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | A2 |
| Independent Examiners Report | A3&A4 |
Ackhill CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Ackhill Baptist Church 1195592 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To Olm9I2022 3110812023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted fund8 to thè nearest RestTlCted fund$ Endowment fund$ Total funds L3st year toth• nearest £ to th• ngarest £ to th8 n•are5t£ ¢0 thg nohr•st£ A1 Recelpts Weekly offer.ngs 13.34Q 1,070 5,445 14,855 4.316 13,340 13,664 1,847 14,589 SI&Nardship Givingwlh GIftAid Declaration GIAAid Payments from HMRC 5,445 14,855 4,316 100 120 1.3g5 180 120 Upkeep oGraveyard Re5aie ol teaching mal8nal% 1nreSt Received Sub total(Gross Jn¢orn8 for 120 400 4W 300 39,440 31,902 AR) 39.540 A2 Asset and investment 5ale5, Isoe table). Sub total 39,540 300 39.840 31,902 A3 Pa ments Salary Pension & Tsx CD8ts Vising Preachers VanDu5 MISSIMS Insurance Bank Ch Coun1 Tsx & Water Light & Heal Re?8irs & Renovations Health & Salety Grounds Maintenance TÈIèPhoneiBroèAband POSI. Statiorw. Website. Liierature. e Parish Exrenses Subscriptions & Lieences Profe5510nal Fe Purchase of Eouiwent 19,347 140 478 853 19,347 140 6S8 853 122 2.554 2,641 2,7Y d04 152 415 302 62 265 6,310 17.947 18D 287 827 74 2,432 2,263 2.554 2.641 2.794 404 32 425 302 62 265 6,310 1,273 419 369 120 99 236 1,199 37,980 Sub total 36.729 300 A4 Asset and investment urchases, see table) Sub totsl Total payments 36,729 300 37.029 37,9BO Net OfelPtsI<p8Yrnents) A5 Transfors between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this y•ar énd 2,811 2,811 6,076 59,117 61,928 59.117 61,928 65,195 59,117 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI Al 0710912023
Ackhill Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestdcted Restricted fund8 fund8 to neBfèst£ to neafy8t£ Endowment fvnd8 to néare9t£ Categories Details 81 Q$h fLtnd$ HSBC ChBtiEabie Account 21,231 HS8C Money kncoLWrt 40.697 Cash w¥vod notban¥ Total Cash funds 61,928 r¢r4ptsAnd paymm i)1 Unrestrlcied fund8 to n•aro8t£ Re8tActed funds to n42fot£ End0vent nds to n¢awt£ Detslls Fund to whlch AMOt bo10 CurroTrtvalup kJnJl Detalls Co5É{Opu8I1 B3 Investment aBBets Fund towhlth CostloNionHII CuYr•ni¥4lue onal Details Cspe1. Hau, Man98 B4 Assèts retained for the h•rity's own use G6r$I GFaveyarf, car path. Land GenBrd Fixturas, Flltln99, E4upml G¢rw Fulldtowhlch Arnountduè ion end Dtalls 8$ Llobllltles S(qn8d by one orbYotrust&es o b8haWof a11 the Iru5tees Date of rovor Signature Print Name llrtD ELL +h6J P 09 CCXX R2 aGcounts ISSI 0710912023
Ackhill CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examin•r'$ Rfjport R•port io th• irust••81 mombers of I i ACKHILL BAPTIST CHURCH On aecount• for yèar onded 31 AUGUST 2023 harlty no 1195592 lif anyl Set <)ut on pages A1 AND A2 I report to Ihg Iruslees on my examination of the accoiJnt8 of the above charity I"Ihe Tru$t"I lor the year ended 31 108 12023 R•spon8ibillti•s and As the charity trustees of th& Trust, you ar• rèsponsibl• for thè praparalion basis of report of thtr accgunts In accordance with the reqU1MentS of the Charities Act 2011 I-the Act"). I c&port In rtspect ot rny examination of the Trust's a¢¢ounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carrying oul my examination, I have followed the applicable Oirection$ given by the Charity Commission under section 14515Xbl ol Ihe Act. I have compltt•d my 8xamin8lion. l confim that n¢ mal¢rial matters have come to my attention I ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respect. accounting fe¢ords rtt not kept in a¢¢ordan¢e with ¢tion 130 01 the Acl or ihe accounts do not accord with the accounting r&cords Independent gxaminor's statomgnt I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with Ihe examination lo which atlenlion should be drawn in order to enab proper understanding of thè accounts tts bo reached. Please delele t e words in Ihe brackets ifthey do not apply. Sign•d: NJm•= [CHRISTOPHER THOMAS NATHANIEL DAVIS ACA IICAEW MEMBERSHIP # 29561471 Oato: 0610212024 R•l•vant prof•$sional qualificationlsl or body Ilf any): Addro$9: HOUSEGO ACCOUNTANCY & TAXATION LIMITED OFFICE 10 BROADAXE BUSINESS PARK PRESTEIGNE POWYS LD8 2UH. IER October 2018 A3
Ackhill Section B Disclosure Only compltrte Il the examiner needs lo highlight matters ol concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts". directions and guidancg for examinersl. Glve here brièf dotalls of ny items that tha examiner wishes to dlsclos•. NOTHING FURTHER TO REPORT. IER October 2018 A4