Bilston Baptist Church 2024 Annual Report
Bilston Baptist Church
Charity name: Bilston Baptist Church Charity registration number: 1197318 Address: Bilston Baptist Church, Prouds Lane, Bilston, WV14 6PW Property Trustees: Heart of England Baptist Association, 480 Chester Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 5BP Bankers: Barclays Bank UK PLC Independent Examiner: Phil Watts Charity Trustees: Rev Ben Haldane (Minister, Chair) Susan Millard (Secretary) David Turner (Treasurer) Sheena Davies Margaret Dodd Roger Flukes
Annual Report 2024
The Trustees present their annual report for 2024
Structure and management:
Bilston Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by its constitution. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the constitution which requires them to be or to have been publicly 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 six times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the constitution, the members appoint Trustees (Deacons), who, together with the Minister, 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.
Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church Meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members in a Church Meeting for further consideration by the 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 principal purpose of the 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 such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine.
To achieve the principal objective, which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord.
Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public gatherings of Christian worship. The Church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is free to attend any of these services.
The Church runs two Bible study groups for the growth of faith and discipleship. It is also responsible for a Toddler Group which meets in the Church premises on Tuesday mornings, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted by 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.
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Achievements and Performance
The Church's success is not solely measured by numbers, including financial statistics, but also by less tangible areas such as fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees recognise the importance of these qualitative measures, despite their inherent difficulty to quantify.
Leadership & Teams
One of the areas of note this year was the expanding and restructuring of how we lead in different aspects of the church. Several teams have been created, such as events and facilities, to come together and focus on specific areas. This change has enabled more members to participate in service, as well as freeing the deacons and other key individuals from some of the detailed responsibilities. Each of these areas has a designated leader, all of whom will meet together, three times each year, along with the deacons, to help unify the different aspects and provide a sense of cohesion to church life and events. The first of these meetings happened in September 2024. We also designated representatives for each of our areas of mission giving, as well as for the Justice Hub organised by the local Baptist Association
As of the close of the year, the area leads and representatives were as follows:
| • | Discipleship & Teaching | Rev Ben Haldane |
|---|---|---|
| • | Pastoral Visiting Team | Roger Flukes |
| • | Events Team | Rev Ben Haldane |
| • | Facilities Team | Lucretia Lacey |
| • | Children’s Events Team | David Turner |
| • | Kings Club | David Turner |
| • | Toddler Group | Rev Ben Haldane |
| • | Boys’ Brigade | David Turner |
| • | Girls’ Brigade | Margaret Dodd |
| • | Welcome Team | Sheena Davies |
| • | Home Mission Rep | Roger Flukes |
| • | BMS Rep | Sue Millard |
| • | Annual Mission Partner Rep | Vanessa Bradley |
| • | HEBA Justice Hub Rep | Vanessa Bradley |
| • | Safeguarding Team | Rev Ben Haldane |
Worship, Discipleship & Gathering Together
Throughout the year, we have continued to gather faithfully for worship, with a steady number attending Sunday gatherings. On average, 44 adults and 9 children joined us each week, with our busiest Sunday morning being the Nativity service, which welcomed 66 adults and 18 children. It has been encouraging to see visitors among us, some of whom have continued to worship with us regularly.
The focus for our teaching this year centred on what it means to be church, exploring the statement: ‘a worshipping community commissioned to serve Bilston and the surrounding area, seeking a Kingdom impact from our homes to the ends of the earth’. As part of this, we considered what it means to be worshipping disciples during Lent, reflected on how God commissions and sends us into our daily lives in the ‘Frontline’ series, and explored the theme of being ‘Prepared for Mission’ over the summer. Alongside these, we studied the book of Ezekiel and the letter to the Ephesians, before closing the year with ‘Songs of the Saviour’ in the lead-up to Christmas.
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The Kings Club meet most Sundays, averaging between 2-6 children every week. The leading of the group is now shared between David, Karen and Lucretia who use a resource called ‘GoTeach’. The aim is to encourage and help the children in their knowledge of the Bible and in their relationship with Jesus.
Our evening services continued twice a month providing an opportunity for more time around sung worship, communion and prayer in the different services. These are informal gatherings that make use of a variety of styles. There has been a gradual increase in attendance, typically drawing between 8 and 14 people.
We have also increased our opportunity to pray together, and this year began a monthly prayer breakfast on Saturday mornings. This has been hosted by Roger and has been a time to gather and pray for one another, the church, our partners and the wider world, all followed by bacon and sausage butties. Attendance at this has been very encouraging, as we seek to be a church that puts prayer at the heart of all that we do.
Bible study groups continued to meet regularly. Around a dozen gathered on Tuesday lunchtimes and between five and seven attended on Thursday evenings. Particular focus was given to studying Revelation on Tuesdays, while the Thursday group worked through Acts, these were alongside shorter series and one-off studies.
A significant development in 2024 was our growing partnership with Darkhouse Baptist Church. At the start of the year, the two churches joined together to run an Alpha course. While originally intended as an evangelistic course, those who attended were primarily from within the churches. However, it proved to be a valuable opportunity to revisit the foundations of our faith, and feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Following this, we hosted a series of one-off evenings exploring Baptist distinctives, before running the ‘Practicing the Way’ course in the autumn. This challenged us to step deeper into discipleship, with around 20 people from Bilston Baptist joining members of Darkhouse Baptist to take part.
Members & Friends
Throughout 2024, we shared in both moments of joy and times of sorrow as a church family.
It was a privilege to celebrate Jo’s baptism in the summer and then to welcome her into membership, as well as Salmoon and Sundas earlier in the year.
At the same time, we mourned the loss of several members and friends of the church. We gathered to give thanks for the lives of Nigel, Sarah, and Myrnell, all of whom were members of our fellowship, as well as Eden, Sally, and Trevor. We continue to pray for their families, asking for God’s comfort and peace in their grief.
As the year drew to a close, our membership remained at 59.
Groups
Throughout the year, our groups continued to provide valuable opportunities for fellowship and growth within the church community.
The Girls Brigade remained active, with a regular attendance of 10 girls. They enjoyed a range of events and outings during the year, such as a first aid training course, as well as shared activities with the Boys Brigade. In July, both brigades came together for a film night, and in November, they enjoyed a visit to Bilston Fire Station. This was a highlight for both children and adults. They also participated in
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the annual Remembrance service at Bilston Cenotaph, where wreaths were laid on behalf of the Brigades. The year concluded with a fun bowling party together.
Similarly, the Boys Brigade continued to meet on Monday evenings during term time, with 9 boys on the register. They participated in a wide variety of activities as well as achievement work towards earning badges. Each evening included a devotional time and concluded with a word of prayer. The Boys Brigade also competed in several events, including the Bible Quiz, Potted Sports, Table Tennis, and Pool competitions, adding a competitive element to their year.
The Sprouts Toddler group continued to have fluctuating attendance throughout the year as children aged. It was encouraging to see returning families after the birth of new children. The group remained a supportive, welcoming space of play and connection, with bonds within the group growing stronger. More than just a place for play, Sprouts offers an opportunity to share the love of God through stories, conversations, and invitations to other church events.
Early in the year, we made the difficult decision to discontinue the Refresh Café. While it had been a space for fellowship, we acknowledged that it required significant resources to maintain, and despite the dedication of those involved, attendance remained small. We recognise that there may still be a need for a regular social gathering outside of Sundays, and we continue to reflect on how best to meet this need going forward.
Events
Throughout the year, the church hosted a variety of events, providing opportunities for fellowship, outreach, and celebration.
In the spring, we gathered for an Easter event for children, sharing the joy of the season through activities such as an Easter egg hunt and storytelling. Later in the season, an afternoon tea brought people together for a relaxed time of conversation and connection.
June saw a lively music evening, which was enjoyed by many. As summer arrived, we made the most of the warmer months with a family picnic, a children’s games afternoon and a fun day, which provided great opportunities for the church and wider community to come together. A Pudding & Games evening added to the summer’s activities, offering a chance to enjoy delicious desserts while engaging in friendly competition.
As autumn arrived, we marked Harvest with a shared meal, taking time to give thanks together. In early November, children gathered for a Light Party, providing a joyful alternative to Halloween. Around 60 people attended, enjoying an evening of light-based activities ending with fireworks.
Other events throughout the year included a dedicated games evening and regular men’s and ladies’ meals, which continued to offer valuable opportunities for fellowship and deeper connections.
Building Improvements & Maintenance
While there were no plans for major building improvements in 2024, several necessary repairs and updates arose throughout the year. Early on, the church faced the unexpected need to replace the boiler providing heating and hot water to the entrance and toilet areas, which had broken down. Additionally, two hot water boilers in the kitchen area also needed replacement. These issues underscored the importance of the Building Project fund, both as a reserve for such emergencies and as a means to plan for future improvements. As we had not initially allocated any budget towards this fund in 2024, a gift day was held in September, providing a much-needed boost to the fund and helping to cover some of the urgent costs.
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In addition to these unexpected repairs, smaller ongoing maintenance tasks were carried out throughout the year, including minor repairs and upkeep of the outdoor areas. A work day in late summer allowed volunteers to tackle several smaller maintenance projects, ensuring that the church building and grounds remained in good condition and ready for all our activities.
Partners
Bilston Baptist Church is a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (Baptists Together) as well as the Heart of England Baptist Association (HEBA). Continued partnership is made through the support given to us by these organisations and our association with other churches through the connections. Ben, our minister, has engaged in training and learning offered by HEBA, linked with Baptist ministers across the Black Country each month and has attended both the HEBA ministers conference and the national Baptist Assembly. We also began our link with the HEBA justice hub, appointing Vanessa as rep for the group and we look forward to what may come from this link in the life of our church.
We continue to support Baptist Home Mission which seeks to maintain the assistance for churches through the association and central support services, as well as planting, growing and revitalising ministries. We endeavour to give 4% of our total annual income to this project.
We also support BMS World Mission which works around the world to help people experience fullness of life in Jesus Christ. It does this through practical help, advocacy and sharing the love of God. We also endeavour to give 4% of our annual income to this project. In the summer we were pleased to have a visit from BMS to speak to us about their work.
Each year we choose a project to support for the year. In 2024 we supported Mercy Ships and heard some updates through the year about the work that they do providing medical support in hard to reach and disadvantaged areas of the world. We give 2% of our annual income to our charity of the year meaning that a total of 10% of our annual income is given to support different causes.
As well as links with other Baptist Churches, we have continued to remain a key member of Bilston and Bradley Churches Together, with Ben sitting as vice chair of the group. This year we joined together for both a Good Friday outreach and Christmas Carols in the town centre as well as the annual Hope in the Park event in Hickman Park. This saw around 1000 people join together with activities, games, worship, witness and performances from the local primary schools.
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Financial Review
Despite initially forecasting a deficit for the year, we are pleased to report that the church finished 2024 with a surplus of £4,400 in the general fund (£2,300 across all funds). This positive outcome was due in part to an increase in rental income, as well as a £2,500 rise in the amount given by church members and attendees.
Gifts from the members and congregation, alongside the Gift Aid claimed, continued to provide just under 60% of the charity’s income. Building hire remained a significant source of income, with the church continuing to offer its facilities to two other churches on a weekly basis, as well as hosting various community groups for both regular and one-off events. No wider public appeal for funds was made during the year.
The church remains heavily reliant on the voluntary contributions of its members, who work across all aspects of church life. Many of these activities run with little or no impact on the church’s expenditure, but their contributions are invaluable in supporting the church’s mission and objectives.
The church has a designated fund for building improvements and major maintenance, which stood at £5,459 as of 31st December 2024. This fund has not been added to during the year, and there are no specific plans for its use at this time, although it remains available should any major maintenance needs arise. Additionally, the church holds a designated fund to assist members and attendees who find themselves in financial need. On 31st December 2024, the balance in this fund was £500.
While the surplus this year is a positive result, it should be noted that no monies were allocated to the building and fellowship funds in 2024. This is not sustainable in the long term, and it will be necessary to address this shortfall in the coming year to ensure the continued health of the church’s finances and resources. The budget for the coming year has been set with this in mind.
The financial results for the year, along with a summary of the accounting policies adopted, are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy to enable the church to function effectively and meet its obligations in the event of a decline in our income or a major cost.
Having considered the relevant risks of changes in income and expenditure, the Trustees have determined that the appropriate level of reserves is in the range £10,000 to £12,000. On 31 December 2024, the church held total reserves of £26,375 of which £5,959 were designated. Reserves that were neither restricted nor designated amounted to £20,417.
Conclusion
This report encapsulates the diverse activities and milestones of our Church over the past year. 2024 was a year of growth in faith and community, strengthened by new teams, leaders and meaningful partnerships. We are grateful for the dedication of the church and are excited for the year ahead as we continue our mission to serve Bilston and beyond.
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Bilston Baptist Church
Charity no. 1197318
Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Notes to the Accounts
Fund Summaries
| General Fund | Income | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Offerings | 36,418 £ |
- £ |
| Gift Aid | 7,542 £ |
- £ |
| Donations, Grants & Other income | 3,806 £ |
- £ |
| Church Building | - £ |
15,013 £ |
| BuildingHire | 24,253 £ |
532 £ |
| Manse | - £ |
3,192 £ |
| Insurances | - £ |
4,404 £ |
| Church Groups | 3,386 £ |
3,733 £ |
| Catering& Refreshments | 10 £ |
686 £ |
| Church Giving | 636 £ |
7,425 £ |
| Ministry | - £ |
33,558 £ |
| Administration | - £ |
3,097 £ |
| Pension Deficit | - £ |
10 £ |
| Other Expenditure | - £ |
- £ |
| Allocation from / to BuildingProject Fund | - £ |
- £ |
| Allocation from / to FellowshipFund | - £ |
- £ |
| Net income / Expenditure | 76,051 £ |
71,650 £ |
| Opening Balance | 16,016 £ |
|
| Closing Balance | 20,417 £ |
| Fellowship Fund | Income | Expenditure | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General income / expenditure | - £ |
- £ |
|
| Allocation from / to General Fund | - £ |
- £ |
|
| Net income/ Expenditure | - £ |
- £ |
|
| Opening Balance | 500 £ |
||
| Closing Balance | 500 £ |
Bilston Baptist Church Charity no. 1197318
Page 1 of 6
Financial Statement 2024
| Notes to the Accounts Building Project Fund Income Expenditure 5 General income / expenditure 2,000 £ 4,076 £ Allocation from / to General Fund - £ - £ Net income/ Expenditure 2,000 £ 4,076 £ 7,535 £ 5,459 £ Opening Balance Closing Balance |
Notes to the Accounts Building Project Fund Income Expenditure 5 General income / expenditure 2,000 £ 4,076 £ Allocation from / to General Fund - £ - £ Net income/ Expenditure 2,000 £ 4,076 £ 7,535 £ 5,459 £ Opening Balance Closing Balance |
Notes to the Accounts Building Project Fund Income Expenditure 5 General income / expenditure 2,000 £ 4,076 £ Allocation from / to General Fund - £ - £ Net income/ Expenditure 2,000 £ 4,076 £ 7,535 £ 5,459 £ Opening Balance Closing Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Building Project Fund | Income | Expenditure |
| General income / expenditure | 2,000 £ |
4,076 £ |
| Allocation from / to General Fund | - £ |
- £ |
| Net income/ Expenditure | 2,000 £ |
4,076 £ |
| Opening Balance | 7,535 £ |
|
| Closing Balance | 5,459 £ |
| All Fund Totals | Income | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| Income/ Expenditure | 78,051 £ |
75,726 £ |
| Opening Balance | 24,051 £ |
|
| Closing Balance | 26,375 £ |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As at 31st December 2024
| Assets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bank & other cash balances | ||
| Barclays Account | £ 25,865 | |
| Cash in Hand | £ 510 | |
| Other monetary assets | £ - | |
| Investment assets | £ - | |
| Assets held for Church's own use | £ 3,998,655 | 6 |
| Accounts Recievable | £ 735 | 7 |
| Total Assets | £ 4,025,765 | |
| Liabilities | ||
| Current Liabilities | £ - | 8 |
| Long Term Liabilities | £ 4,372 | 9 |
| Total Liabilites | £ 4,372 |
The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 1 & 2 relating to the year ending 31 December 2024 are as approved by the deacons.
Signed:
D Turner (Treasurer)
Bilston Baptist Church Charity no. 1197318
Page 2 of 6
Financial Statement 2024
Notes to the Accounts
1. Basis of Accounts
These accounts have been prepared on a 'receipts and payments' basis in accordance with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.
2. General Fund
The General Fund is an unrestricted fund which is used for the general purposes of the church. A further breakdown of the fund categories can be found below.
| Income | Income | Expenditure | Expenditure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Regular Offerings | 33,854 £ |
36,418 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Bank | 20,575 £ |
25,469 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Cash/Cheque | 13,279 £ |
10,949 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Gift Aid | 11,273 £ |
7,542 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Donations, Grants & Other Income | 1,864 £ |
3,806 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Donations | 1,123 £ |
676 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Grants | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Legacies | - £ |
500 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Funeral & WeddingFees & Donations | 300 £ |
2,631 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Bank Interest | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Other income | 441 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Church Building | 20,536 £ |
24,253 £ |
15,481 £ |
15,545 £ |
| BuildingHire: | ||||
| United Methodist Church | 5,760 £ |
5,325 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| HolySpirit Ministries | 6,890 £ |
8,485 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| SlimmingWorld | 2,300 £ |
1,450 £ |
- £ |
532 £ |
| Genius Tuition HolidayClubs | 3,775 £ |
5,388 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Weight Watchers | 770 £ |
1,680 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Kingdom Influence Organisation | 560 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| Little kickers | 360 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| One-off hire | 885 £ |
1,005 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| BuildingRunningCosts | - £ |
- £ |
6,742 £ |
6,946 £ |
| BuildingRepairs and Maintenance | 156 £ |
- £ |
3,536 £ |
3,024 £ |
| Cleaning& Gardening | - £ |
- £ |
1,430 £ |
1,148 £ |
| Tech Equipment | - £ |
- £ |
709 £ |
168 £ |
| Facilities Assistant | - £ |
- £ |
3,064 £ |
3,727 £ |
| Manse | 32 £ |
- £ |
2,944 £ |
3,192 £ |
| Manse RunningCosts | 32 £ |
- £ |
2,712 £ |
2,957 £ |
| Manse Repairs & Maintenance | - £ |
- £ |
231 £ |
236 £ |
| Insurances | - £ |
4,296 £ |
4,404 £ |
|
Bilston Baptist Church Charity no. 1197318
Page 3 of 6
Financial Statement 2024
| Church Groups | 5,119 £ |
3,386 £ |
5,633 £ |
3,733 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children & Youth: | ||||
| Boys Brigade | 703 £ |
541 £ |
805 £ |
734 £ |
| Girls Brigade | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Sprouts - Toddlers | 679 £ |
797 £ |
324 £ |
554 £ |
| Youth Group | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Kings Club | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
161 £ |
| Refresh Café | 2,736 £ |
326 £ |
2,546 £ |
215 £ |
| Mens Work | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Ladies Work | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Bible Studies | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Courses | - £ |
- £ |
111 £ |
223 £ |
| Events | 1,001 £ |
1,722 £ |
1,848 £ |
1,846 £ |
| Catering & Refreshments | - £ |
10 £ |
629 £ |
686 £ |
| Church Giving | 1,357 £ |
636 £ |
7,296 £ |
7,425 £ |
| BMS | 465 £ |
394 £ |
2,783 £ |
3,050 £ |
| Home Mission | 10 £ |
14 £ |
2,945 £ |
2,900 £ |
| Churches Together | - £ |
- £ |
218 £ |
75 £ |
| Other | 882 £ |
227 £ |
1,351 £ |
1,400 £ |
| Ministry | 194 £ |
- £ |
31,295 £ |
33,558 £ |
| Minster Costs(stipend,expenses etc) | 194 £ |
- £ |
30,680 £ |
32,598 £ |
| CMD | - £ |
- £ |
264 £ |
434 £ |
| LeadershipDevelopment & Expenses | - £ |
- £ |
170 £ |
107 £ |
| Travel Expenses | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| VisitingSpeakers | - £ |
- £ |
181 £ |
420 £ |
| Administration | 57 £ |
- £ |
4,032 £ |
3,097 £ |
| General | 2 £ |
- £ |
1,735 £ |
981 £ |
| Marketing& Communication | - £ |
- £ |
362 £ |
152 £ |
| Subscriptions/Memberships/Licenses | - £ |
- £ |
1,278 £ |
1,320 £ |
| Resources | 55 £ |
- £ |
657 £ |
643 £ |
| Office Equipment | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Legal Expenses | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
| Pension Scheme Deficit | - £ |
- £ |
12 £ |
10 £ |
| Other Expenditure | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
|
| Allocation from/ to Building Project Fund | - £ |
- £ |
5,000 £ |
- £ |
| Allocation from/ to Fellowship Fund | - £ |
- £ |
1,000 £ |
- £ |
| Net income / Expenditure | 74,285 £ |
76,051 £ |
77,620 £ |
71,650 £ |
| Opening Balance | 19,350 £ |
16,016 £ |
||
| Closing Balance | 16,016 £ |
20,417 £ |
||
| Surplus / Deficit | (3,334) £ |
4,401 £ |
Bilston Baptist Church Charity no. 1197318
Page 4 of 6
Financial Statement 2024
3. Renumeration of Minister
The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of their services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by the church.
4. Fellowship Fund
The Fellowship Fund is a designated fund intended to be used for the purposes of helping church members and attendees with exceptional needs
5. Building Project Fund
The Building Project Fund is a designated fund intended to be used for the purposes of enhancing the facilities of the building/s owned by the church, as well as responding to large repairs.
6. 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, Heart of England Baptist Association:
Church premises at Prouds Lane, Bilston, WV14 6PW valued in the accounts at £3,289,312 based on insured value
Church manse at 70 Bunkers Hill Lane, Bilston, WV14 6JR valued in the accounts at £532,278 based on insured value
The church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment with an insured value of £177,065
7. Accounts Recievable
Hire invoices not yet received £ 735 Total Accounts Receivable £ 735 8. Current Liabilities Utilities billed but not yet paid £ - Cheques written but not cashed £ - Other current liabilities £ - Total Current Liabilities £ - 9. Long-Term Liabilities Baptist Building Fund Loan £4,372 Other Total Long-Term Liabilities £ 4,372
Bilston Baptist Church Charity no. 1197318
Page 5 of 6
Financial Statement 2024
10. 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.
A formal valuation of the DB Plan as at 31 December 2019 by a professionally qualified Actuary using the Projected Unit Method. At the valuation date the market value of the DB Plan assets was £298 million, whilst the level of assets needed to pay benefits was £316m, giving a deficit of £18m (equivalent to a past service funding level of 94%). The Church and the other participating employers in the DB Plan are collectively responsible for funding this deficit.
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.
As of November 2024 Bilston Baptist Church no longer has any further responsibility towards the DB plan and all payments have ceased.
Bilston Baptist Church Charity no. 1197318
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Financial Statement 2024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of BILgi6N 8APiiff On account8 for the year ended 3111212Lfr Charity no lif any) 111131g S•t out on pages As Ali PrCII&D I report to the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I'the Trust") for the year ended 3 j I i 111,, 2+. Rosponslbllltles and As the charity irusle6s of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basi8 of report of the accounts in aOrdanCe with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Act'i. I report in respect of my èxamination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charrty Commission under section 14515)Ib) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in conneCtOn with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material resped.. accounting records were not kept in accordance wrth section 130 of the Act or Ihe accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independont examln6r's sL1tsmont I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Ple8se délate the words in the br&ckets if they do not apply. Signed: Dato: Iz Namo: FPIILI/ LJAii S Relevant professional qualrficationls) or body (If any): Addre88: I I fioN, ?fiJ4J IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs lo highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity aGcounts.' directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief detalls of any items that the examlner wlshes to dlscloge. IER October 2018