CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Re ort for the erlod From Period 01-1-24 To Period end date 31-12-24 Charity name.. Orchard Baptist Church, Colchester Address: 23 Blackheath. Mersea Road, Colchester, Essex, C02 OAE A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity registration number: 1196891 Our Governance We have referred to a constitution which falls within the permitted variations of the approved governing document for Baptist Churches. Briefly stated= Membershlp of the Church is open to those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and wish to become members, and who, by applying for membership have indicated acceptance of the Beliefs, a willingness to participate in the activities, have indicated their agreement to become a member and acceptance of the duty of members. Each member shall have one vote which they may use at a Church Members. Meeting after hearing about the issues and any comment5 or questions raised by other members In advance of the vote. For matters requiring a formal decision or resolution a vote shall be taken and the outcome of the vote recorded as the resolution af the Members. The Church Member5, Meeting shall appoint Charity Trustees, including a Church Secretary lor equivalentl and a Church Treasurer lor equivalentl to be responsible for the governance of the Church and where there is a Minister that pprson is also a Charity Trustee because of their role and responsibilities. Sublect to any specific or general directions of the Church Members, Meeting and the provisions of this constitution the Charity Trustees shall take responsibility for the control management and admlnistration of the Church save that the Charity Trustees are required not to do anything that would cause them to be in breach of this constitution or any trustee duty placed upon them as a result of thls role. Objectives and Activlties The principal purpose5 of the church are:_ 3.1.1 The advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomlnation. 3.1.2 The church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom andlor other parts of the world. As a member of the Baptist Union the Church sub5crlbes to the Baptist Union's Declaration of Principle. In fulfilling the Purpose the Church will engage in a Tange of activities either on its own or with others that wlll vary from time to time with activities being initiated, expanded, or closed, as appropriate. The activities may include but are not restricted to- l. Regular public worshipi prayer. Bible study, preaching and teaching; 2. Baptism, as defined in the Baptist Union's Declaration of Principle; 3. The Communion of the Lord's Supper which shall normally be observed at least On￿ a month- 4. Evangelism and mission, locally, regionally. nationally and internationally: 5. The teachin& encouragement, welcome and incluslon of youn8 people; 6. Nurture and growth of Christian disciples; Education and training for Christian and community servlce; 8. Giving and encouraging pastoral care- 9. Supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad- 10. Encouraglng relationships with and supportlng Baptists and other Christians. Public Benefit All Charity Trustees have established due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. We believe that hospitality is at the heart of all that we do to fulfil our charitable aims for those in our community. Together we advance religiorF by offerlng: Rewlar publle worshlp, {includlnz prayer, 8lble studyi preachlng and teaching}; We have offered weekly Sunday Services throughout the year which usually includes a monthly celebration of the Lord'5 Supper and the promotion of baptism as a personal commitment to Christ. Our services and our events have been designed to share biblical insights. illustrations from life, the heart of the meaning in the Bible in a modern way nd to discern the heart of God for the church. These are offered to those attending in person and those listening to our sermons online. SeNlces have continued to offer prayer, contemplation, testimony, and communion, and all normal Christian festivals have been marked. More specificalty, we have focused on the themes of Questions Jesus asked, the prophet Elijah, and Heroes of faith. Our preaching team framework recognises that we need to be very sensltive to people with different needs and views our congregation. Thls pays attention to the Equality Act, and recognises the importance of loving our neighbours whilst preachin8 the Bible. Prayer Meetln Monthly Prayer meetings continue in support of all those within the church, for our activities and for local community needs and this attracts good attendance. Ecumenical prayer continues weekly online for local needs and outside agenciesl i55ues/ people who come to our attention. Weekly Homegroups These meetings aim to deepen our Christlan faith, grow discipleship and encourage fellowship and approximately half our membership attends them. As well as spending time studying passages of the Bible and praying for each other and our community, time has been given to consider'project Violev, a Bèptist Union initiative con5iderlng the place and value of women in Ministry. Sunday School /AII Age Worship We are currently offer two groups for those aged 3-Ilyrs, who are our'Followers', and those aged between 12- 16yrs which is our'CY' group, although the numbers of children and yOLtng people are not large. This teaching, encoura8ement, welcome and inclusion of young people is offered each week, supplemented by our All-age worship (including Café Church, drama, puppets and craft-based worship) together once a month. Outreach At Leadership and at our Outreach meeting we have agreed that we want.. To serne all a8es To discem activity together, not individually To use the wide range of talents in our church To acknowledge the context of people's lives To work within the budget set To work strategically across the year Our Little Pips Toddler group meets in our church building and creates pastoral and missional opportunitie5 Wlth young families. This ha5 served approximately 4(P60 different families each week during term time over the past year. Here, Christian Festivals tontinue to be marked through crafts and storytelling and prayer Is often a feature. We continue to hold regular Film events and have held 2 themed craft events at Christmas and Easter. We p￿sented the Christian community in our area at several local events to raise our profile and meet our charitable aims in Colchester. We continued making links with our loc31 community by holding a weekly Table Tennis Club, and a Needlework, Knitting and Crochet Craft Group. A 'Cake and Cuppa, group arose in response to members of the local community requesting a safe place to feel welcome and to chat, particularly for those who feel more isolated in the community or who have experienced grief or trauma. IThese all have reached around 12 people.) In a new initiative we have begun an occasional Series called 'HymTlS we love, which seeks to engage particularly wlth older members of the community with familiar hymns; the first session was focussed on a well-known Christmas Carol. We joined with another local church at Christmas time in an outdoor carol slngin8 evening in the local community. We put in a bid and were provided with a grant of approximately £2,500 from Essex County Council to deliver a course on nutrition and food education, aiming to increase our links with the local community and provide a practical help to them. This was delivered early in 2024 reaching 24 households and a total of 49 individuals from the community. People enjoyed coming along and making friends. They particularly enjoyed eating together and learning food saving and stretching idea5. They liked parucipating in sharing infomiation and pictures of the food they had cooked. They loved seeing people from different generations- bables were particularly welcome as were stories from previous generations who had needed to save money and budget during the war. There were a number of people with special needs who came. We were delighted to be able to welcome and enable participatlon in our project alongside them because our volunteers had skills from their personal or work experience. Two people brought along carers who participated well. Serving food before the demonstration worked well and encouraged people to mix. Officiatlon at funerals / memorlal servlces These are offered for those who know our church through our outreach activity as well as past and present congregations. We have a Minister, moving on in Feb 2025, as well as two retired Ministers and a Minister in training in the congregation who are able to take on the organisation of these events as requlred. Admlnlstratlon To help fulfil our requirements and need5 35 a church we appointed a paid part-time Adminlstrator In September. They have improved our efficiency and ability to serve the Church and the communlty, particularly in facilitating meetings, keeping records of meetings and producing other documents, and assisting in the registration of the Toddler Group. Volunteering Aside from its four employees (Our Minister, Minister in training, part-time Administrator and a cleaner), the charity relies on volunteers to further its aims. Funding The accounts are attached with this report. The organisatlon 15 mainly funded through voluntary givin& and reclaim of taxpayerfs money through gift aid. The reserve5 policy of Orchard Baptist Church Colchester is to hold six months of all expenditure to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church. The trustee5 currently believe this amount to be £34203, compared to £45424 in free cash reserves held at the year-end. The trustees have b¥Jdgeted to run a small deficit in the coming year which may reduce the free cash but still meet the policy. This policy will be reviewed again later in the year as circumstances change. In the longer term, bullding up larger reserves would be helpful in preparing to pay a full time minister in the future. Social Investment Pollvi Our policylpattern is a '5adderf approach. First, we will ask members for loans and gifts, then the Baptist family before looking outside and lastly considering Social investment funds or commercial loans only as necessary. Tlthes IGrant4naking Local, national and international misslonary / home mission support complete our outreach and education actlvity. We currently make grants to linked missionaries in BMS, HMF, Wycliffe Bible Translators, New Growth Ministries, and Christian Youth Outreach in Colchester, all of which Bdvance the Christian faith. Our current policy is to give 12% of our 8iving, tax reclaim and other income to external agencies in sympathy with our aims in the *orm of grants. The amount of these grants is subject to annual scrutiny and review by Church members. Our Bulldings The local church building has regular lettings to the following group5'. Age-well East Dementia Club Singing for the Brain Dlfferent Strokes Group Presbyterian Church of Ghana and has continued to let premises to private individuals, local residents, association meetlngs and for use as a polling station in elections. Hall bookirEs are reviewed annually regarding local price equivalence and for their Impact on our own activities. We have a pricing Structure with differentiated rates charged for Charities. Business and Private hire to ensure affordability within our wider community and financial prudence. Our on-going premises review continues to monitor the safety and cleanliness of the premises. and a further review of the use of the premises is planned in 2025. The ongoing repairs to our fabric are managed largely 'ln house, by professional caretakers, builders and decorators within the congregation and other volunteers. Use of Tethnology Christian educational materials are delivered uslng electronic resources via our services, our church website, Fa￿bOOk, emails, etc., carefully signposting our members to other Christlan materials, leaflets and books with a view to individual and local context which align with our overall aims. These come from partner organisations such as Baptists Together, E8A, or Churches Together in England. LICC, BMS etc. We have worked on the development of a Social Media Policy to enable individuals and the church as a whole to be wiser and safer online. Our Polkles and Procedures We have policies regarding GDPR, Data Retentlon, Safeguarding, Hall Hire, Food Hygiene, Health and Safety, and Social Media. 'BaptisVs Togetherf guidance and information are circulated with due regard for the legal implications artrd is adapted where possible, according to local context across the calendar year, and the Baptist Union guidelines, found on their website, are consulted for guidance on many matters. Table l. The Purpose of our Actlvltles Rwar Ynhip. pr9yW. Bibk i¢ethi ¢n￿raggmthrf, MWcom?and B8pt*m Nurturg sty￿hL ¢￿￿tIl￿ disciple J1￿InIng Swr pa8i0roic EnL¥JUMgt ai*iDn YDWWJ i8￿h Sunday Services 40 Vveekly Refreshments & Fellowship 4U Baptismal education with Inqui￿r$ Sunday S&tcK)I 11 Homegroups 40 Funer81 and Memorial Services EJ 40 40 Grant-making to local, national and international mission 11 4EI Weekly Online Ecumenical Prayer Family Fun Days and raft events 4c] 4tJ Film Showings Little Pips Toddlers Grou 4c) 4Q Weekly Table Tennis, Crochet, and 'Cake and Cuppa, Groups 11 11 4tJ 40 40 Church Website, Use of Social Media and Technology 4c] 40 Regular Lettings 11 Reference and Administrative detalls Chari n8me Other name the Chari uses Registered charity number Orchard Ba tist Church, Colchester None 1196891 Charity's principal address 23 Blackheath, Mersea Road, Colchester. Essex. C02 OAE Truslee name Office {rf any) Dates acted if not for whole year Name of person (or body) entitled to int trustee ifan Church Members Church Members Kathryn Rose Young Linda Joy Paterson Brian Derek Paterson Hilary Sonia Hannan Adrian John Cuthbert Richard Giles Martin Bolam Paul Bccking Shonaidh Marsh Minister Church Secretary Treasurer 1.12.2021 to present 1.12.20211o present 1.12.2021 to present Church Members 1.12.2021 to present 1.12.2021 to 4.9.24 Church Members Church Members Church Members 1.12.2021 to present 30.3.2022-present 30.3.24 to 30.06.24 Church Members Church Members 12 13 Shonaidh Marsh Assistant Minister 1.7.24 to present Chur¢h MemlkTS 14 15 The trustees dedare that they have approved the trust￿S. report above. Sign&a on behalf of the charity's trustees Signaturelsl Full name(sl Position leg Secretsry, Chair, etcl IF4Prf- Joy PATEi280 r Date l& Izr ## **Orchard Baptist Church Colchester 2024 Account signed** ## **Orchard Baptist Church Colchester CIO Registered Charity 1196891** |notes|Financial Statement for the year ending 31 December 2024
**General Fund Receipts & Payment Account**
**2024**
**2023**
Actual
Actual
**Receipts**
Note
Offering
45709
44508
Gift Aid
8271
7836
Interest on bank accounts
973
1079
FIT from Solar Panels
986
977
Rent of premises
9516
8584
Family event donations
2
0
Other Income
186
66| |---|---| ||Total Receipts
65643
63051| |2
3
4
5
6|**2024**
**2023**
**Payments**
Actual
Actual
Total Personnel & Ministry Costs
2
39730
36152
Total Local Mission
3
919
1640
Wider Mission Giving to Others
4
7313
6813
Running Costs for premises
5
14697
8924
Administration
6
4432
1151| ||Total(Payments/budget)
67091
54679| |7
7
8
9|Surplus / (- Deficit)
-1448
8371
Transfer from General Fund
0
23430
Balances brought forward 1 Jan
44415
59473
Balances to be carried forward 31 Dec
42967
44415
**Giving to Other Causes via the General bank account**
Receipts
Total Receipts
7
1883
491
Payments
Total Payments this year
8
383
491
Payments frompreviousgifts
9
0
446| ||Totalpayments
383
937| |10
18|Surplus / (- Deficit)
1500
-446
Total of Balances brought forward 1 Jan
10
0
446
Balances to be carried forward 31 Dec
18
1500
0
**Building Fund Receipts & Payment Account**
**2024**
**2023**
**Receipts**
Offerings
45
657
Income Tax recovered on gifts
32
875
Interest on bank accounts
3
5| ||Total Receipts
80
1537| ||**Payments**
Loan Interest
0
524
Loan repayments
0
24807| ||Totalpayments
0
25332| ||Surplus / (- Deficit)
80
-23795
Transfers to Building Fund
0
23430
Balances brought forward 1 Jan
152
517
Balances to be carried forward 31 Dec
232
152| 2024 Account signed Page 1 of 5 Printed on 14/03/2025 ## **Orchard Baptist Church Colchester 2024 Account signed** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DEC 2024** |11
12
13|**ASSETS**
**2024**
**2023**
**General Fund Receipts & Payment Account**
11
Cash
0
130
CIO Coop bank account
1115
2111
CIO Coop Deposit account
13336
21348
Baptist Union Deposit account
30741
25065
**Building Fund Account Assets**
12
Cash
0
5
CIO Coop bank account
0
0
CIO Coop Deposit account
232
147
**Assets held for the Church's own use**
13
1699183
1677524| |---|---| ||Total Assets
1744607
1726330| |14
15
16
17
18|**LIABILITIES**
Current Liabilities
14
235
1316
Long Term Loans
15
0
0
Baptist Pension Scheme Liability
16
0
0
Funds held in bank account for groups
17
705
2923
Balances to be carried forward 31 Dec
18
1500
0| ||Total Liabilities
2440
4239| The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 1 to 5 relating to the year ending 31st December 2024 are as approved by the Leaders Signed Page 2 of 5 2024 Account signed Printed on 14/03/2025 ## **Orchard Baptist Church Colchester 2024 Account signed** Notes to the accounts ## 1 **Basis of accounts:-** These accounts have been prepared on a 'receipts and payments' basis and accord with Sections 145 & 152 of Part 8 of the Charities Act 2011. These figures are rounded off to the nearest £. |2|**Personnel & Ministry Costs**
**2024**
**2023**
Minister's stipend
26812
26500
Employer's Pension Contributions
3405
3375
Employer's National Insurance
0
0
Minister's Expenses
922
1103
Minister's NAM & CMD training
630
941
Visiting Speakers expenses etc
170
340
Manse Council Tax
2060
2248
Manse Water
318
654
Manse Insurance
641
631
Pastoral Care Fund
72
321
Asst Minister / Other Ministry
4056
40
Asst Minister Expenses
643
0| |---|---| ||Total Personnel & MinistryCosts
39730
36152| |3|**Local Mission**
Evangelistic Events
186
107
Sunday School
0
593
Training & Study
56
246
Worship & Technology
495
597
Catering
182
97| ||Total Local Mission
919
1640| |4|**Wider Mission Giving to Others**
Baptist Missionary Society
1303
1202
R W Owen & S J Owen
1880
2004
B.U.G.B. Home Mission
1303
1202
Christian Youth Outreach
2030
1603
New Growth Ministries
796
801| ||Total Wider Mission Givingto Others
7313
6813| |5|**Running Costs for premises**
Electricity
1382
740
Gas
6100
2335
Water
764
645
Cleaners' Wages
2223
2016
Cleaning Materials & Bin hire
791
754
Insurance
1384
1335
Repairs & Maintenance Church
1492
489
Repairs & Maintenance Manse
421
380
Other Fabric Projects
141
230| ||Total RunningCosts forpremises
14697
8924| |6|**Administration**
Comms Admin & printing
777
528
Publicity
141
442
Subscriptions (BU, EBA, ICO)
239
180
Administrator
3276
0| ||Total Administration
4432
1151| Page 3 of 5 2024 Account signed Printed on 14/03/2025 ## **Orchard Baptist Church Colchester 2024 Account signed** |7
B
D
E
G|**Giving to Other Causes via the General Fund bank account**
**Receipts**
**2024**
**2023**
Tear Fund
268
34
Colchester Food Bank
115
230
Disasters Emergency Committee
0
227
WorshipGroupSound equipment
1500
0| |---|---| ||Total Receipts
1883
491| |8
B
D
E|**Giving to Other Causes via the General Fund bank account**
**Payments**
Tear Fund
268
34
Colchester Food Bank
115
230
Disasters EmergencyCommittee
0
227| ||Total Payments thisyear
383
491| |9
K
L
M
N|**Giving to Other Causes via the General Fund bank account**
**Payments From Previous Extra Gifts**
Colchester Food Bank
0
11
Family Events
0
317
Ukrainian Refugee support
0
98
Missions Reserve
0
19| |---|---| ||Payments frompreviousgifts
0
446| |10|**Balances of Previous Gifts Received (brought forward)**
Colchester Food Bank
0
11
Family Events
0
317
Ukrainian Refugee support
0
98
Missions Reserve
0
19| ||Total of Balances brought forward 1 Jan
10
0
446| |11
12
13|General Fund has three accounts for funds.
Building Fund has two accounts but is not being actively used at present.
**Assets held for the Church's own use**
Freehold church premises at 23 Blackheath, Mersea Road
1251807
1211817
The church also owns contents with an insured value of
72177
71462
100% of Freehold church manse at 6 Adelaide Drive,Colchester
375199
394245
The Church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held
by the church's custodian trustee, the Baptist Union Corporation Limited. They are stated at insured values.| ||Total
1699183
1677524| |14|**Current Liabilities**
Cheques written but not cashed
20
1316
Other Current Liabilities(S Marsh re Pension contributions)
215
0| ||Total Current Liabilities
235
1316| Page 4 of 5 2024 Account signed Printed on 14/03/2025 ## **Orchard Baptist Church Colchester 2024 Account signed** |15|**LIABILITIES (long term)**
**2024**
**2023**
**Building Fund Loans outstanding**
Baptist Union Loan Fund
0
0| |---|---| ||Total Long- term Liabilities 31 Dec
0
0| ||| |16|Baptist Pension Scheme Liability
0
0| 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. 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. The Baptist Pension Scheme have now said that "we are delighted to report that we estimate the Scheme’s DB Plan has a surplus. As a result, your £1 per month contributions to the DB Plan will cease after the October 2024 contribution and your organisation no longer has any further responsibility towards the DB Plan. We are very pleased that this has been possible to achieve much earlier, and at a much lower cost, than we had anticipated." |17|**Funds/Float held in bank account for groups**
**2024**
**2023**
Little Pips/Toddlers
386
283
ECC Taste & See course
78
2400
Orchard Café Float for equipment
241
241| |---|---| ||Total Funds held
705
2923| Gifts not yet forwarded to another charity or used by the Church will be sent early in 18 2025 or used during events in 2025 Page 5 of 5 2024 Account signed Printed on 14/03/2025 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Orchard Baptist Church Colchester, CIO Registered Charity 1196891 On the accounts for the twelve months ended December 31. 2024. Respective responsibÈlitie$ of Trustees and Examiner The Church's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church's trustees Lonsider that an audit is not required for this hvelve month period under section 144 of the Charitie¥ Act 2011 (the Chariti¢s Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act to follom.. the procedures laid down in the general Direelions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5) (b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have com¢ to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's statement My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by th¢ church and a comparison of the accounts prcsented with ih05e records. It also includes consideration of (Iny unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such m(itters. Thc procedures undcrtaken do not provide all the evidenc¢ that would be required in an audit, and eonsequently no opinion is given as to whethLr the accounts present a 't￿e and tair view" and the report is limit¢d to thosc matters set out in the statement below. Independent ex8miner's statement In Connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my altention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were D_ot kcpt in accordanc¢ with section I30 of the Charities Act or lh¢ accounts do not accord with the accounting records the accounts do not comply H'ith the applicable requiretnents concerning the fonn and content of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. I have come across no other matters in conncclion with the cxamination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed by the Examiner Date 21512 Name.. Robert Colin Brady Relevant Professional Qualifications.. BA Honours (Economics)- Fellow, Chartered Institufr of M(InagLmcnt Accountants Address.. 5. Langenhoe Park, Lai)genhoe. Colchester, Essex, C05 7JF