OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-12-31-accounts

Saffron Walden Baptist Church

Registered Charity Number: 1199611

Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31[st ] December 2024

Saffron Walden Baptist Church, High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3HD

01799 523031

www.sw-bc.org

Administrative Details

Charity Name Saffron Walden Baptist Church Charity Registration Number 1199611 Registered Address Audley Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CBII 3HD Property Trustees The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT Trustees Revd John Goddard (Minister) Mrs Glenys Goodwin (11/07/2022 – 05/06/2024) Mrs Rosemary Timms (11/07/2022 – 05/06/2025) Mrs Tracy Todman (Treasurer) (11/07/2022 – 05/06/2025) Mrs Angela Sabey (28/11/2022 – 05/06/2026) Mr Robert Wiseman (28/11/2022 – 05/06/2026) Mr Peter Matthewson (24/06/2024 – 23/06/2027) Mr Michael Smith (02/03/2025 – 01/03/2028) Financial Administrator Mrs Rosemary Timms (voluntary) Bankers CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ The Co-operative Bank plc P O Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP Independent Examiner Mr Geoff Mann Dee House, Highworth Avenue, Cambridge, CB4 2BQ

Charitable Objective

Saffron Walden Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by its Constitution adopted on 16[th] May 2022 and registered with the Charity Commission on 11[th] July 2022, which states that, "the principal purpose of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination to include the advancement of education and other charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world” as the Church shall determine.

The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd on Trusts which are entirely compatible with the above object.

1

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2024

Structure, Governance and Management

Members of the Church are accepted, in accordance with the Constitution, which requires them to be baptised upon personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ, or by transfer from other Christian churches, or by profession of faith in Christ after visitation by two church members approved by the Church Members' Meeting. Acceptance into membership shall be the decision of a Church Members' Meeting.

In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint Trustees who, together with the Minister and the Church Secretary and Treasurer, who are also Trustees appointed by the Members, are collectively known as the Diaconate. They are responsible for the day to day running of the Church's work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity.

Church Members' Meetings are held regularly and normally take place at least six times every year and are an opportunity to consider and review matters associated with the life of the Church including:

All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the 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 Church meeting for further consideration. 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

In order 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.

The Church engages in a range of activities either on its own or with others and these vary from time to time with activities being initiated, expanded or closed as appropriate.

Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. Services take place on Sunday mornings at 10.30 am. There are also occasional activities at other times which are advertised in the Church Notices. The Church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services. The Church also runs a series of small groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some members and a fellowship group at the church on Wednesday mornings.

2

Other Church activities may include:

Church organisations, groups, committees and individuals appointed to operate within the life of the church shall be accountable to the Diaconate and also through any specific direction of the Church Members' Meeting.

The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are appropriately trained (in line with Baptist Union guidance) and vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and are satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public.

The Church's activities on Sundays and throughout the week are intended to cater for people of all ages, providing structured and unstructured leaming opportunities and encouraging worship, spiritual growth, fellowship, prayer and praise.

Achievements and Performance

Review of the Year

Attendance at Sunday morning worship is usually 30-50 people meeting in the chapel and with a few also joining on-line. Sermons are recorded and made available on-line. As at 31[st ] December 2024, the number in Church Membership was 57. The Small Groups meet during the week and a Fellowship Group, led by the Minister, meets on Wednesday mornings in the church.

In 2024 we celebrated our 250[th] Anniversary and arranged a number of events throughout the year to mark this occasion. We invited as many people with connections to our church as we could to these events and it was a blessing and a joy to see so many old friends. We also accepted the challenge collectively to promote 250 random acts of kindness behind the scenes. We were encouraged to record these on heart-shaped cards and we did meet this challenge and display all 250 of them in the chapel by the end of the year.

We began the year hosting the Churches Together United Service in January. At Easter we invited adults and children from our uniformed organisations to create Easter Gardens. In May we invited the public to our Heritage Week and organised displays in the church and in Saffron Walden Museum. In June the General Secretary of the Baptist Union, Rev’d Lynn Green, preached at our Anniversary Service and afterwards we shared a hog roast lunch at Pinkneys Farm in Wimbish. In September we held a Harvest Supper and Quiz Night and raised funds for Operation Agri.

3

Finally we marked Advent by inviting the public to a Crib festival for people to see and ensure that Jesus remains at the centre of our Christmas preparations and celebrations.

In June 2024 we had something new happening at church to mark Pride Month, when we hosted our first Pride Service in Saffron Walden. The service was well supported and well received by those who attended.

We are indebted to all the people who have faithfully taken responsibility for running the Church's activities during the year. Special thanks are due to our lettings manager: our premises are very busy and income from community use forms a significant part of the church’s funds. We especially give thanks to our minister who has guided, resourced and facilitated all aspects of Church life.

Our cleaner has been with us for over two years now and we are very grateful to him for his service.

Main Church Activities

4

Financial Review 2024

The accounts cover the period from 1[st] January 2024 to 31[ st] December 2024. The total income of the Church in 2024 was £115,407 and expenditure was £109,339 giving a surplus for the year of £6,068.

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme gives grants covering the VAT on certain eligible repairs to listed buildings used primarily as a place of worship (including those chapels within the curtilage of listed buildings). Some of the work on the chapel was eligible and we have received £903 from the scheme this year.

Funds raised from offerings from within the membership and congregation and the gift aid tax recovered thereon continue to be our primary source of income. We have been blessed once again this year with:

We are very grateful to everyone who has continued to support us financially in 2024 even during a period that has been called a ‘cost of living crisis’. As a Baptist Church we receive no government funding and are totally dependent on offerings from our congregation as our primary source of income.

Our lettings manager has worked hard to stay in touch with those who regularly hire our premises, managing our lettings and invoicing the hirers. We are grateful to him and our minister who have continued to work with the hirers to ensure that we maintain good relationships with them. Revenue from lettings forms a significant part of the church’s income and enabled us to go ahead during the year with much of the premises repairs that were needed.

We have also given £4,500 to BMS and £4,500 to Home Mission from our general fund budget and we have continued to support a number of different Mission appeals during the year including:

We are very grateful that our BMS Birthday Scheme secretary continues to send birthday cards to those in the Scheme and in 2024 this raised £405.

Funds from the Baptist Union Corporation (BUC)

During the year we received £20,267 in interest from the permanent Endowment of the Robert Cozens charity set up in 1729. A further amount of interest £3,899 accrued before the year end but was received in January 2025 and is shown as a monetary asset in the accounts. The capital sum remains with, and is managed by, the BUC. As the only known beneficiary the church will continue to receive the entirety of the income from the endowment, for the benefit of the church, for the foreseeable future. The amount receivable will fluctuate each year in line with changes in interest rates.

In 2020 we received capital from the BUC from a Trust Fund that was closed down. It is shown as a designated fund in our accounts and is not a restricted fund. At the time we agreed that we would not use to the fund to subsidise routine operating costs but use it for specific projects. We have not used any of the fund this year but we will continue to discuss what we might use the balance of these funds for but, at the moment, we have made no decisions or plans.

5

Restricted Fund5 The I" SW Boys, Brigade". 2024 saw the leaders and boys meeting together on Tuesday evenings and enjoying activities in the church and local area. A number of leaders and members enjoyed a weekend away in the Peak District in the summer. We are grateful to all those involved in the organising and Tunning of cvcnts and activities. Their funds are shown in our accounts as follows: I. January 2024 Balance BiF Receipts Ppyments 31 December 2024 Bal¥n¢e CIF 5,499 5,499 (6,795) 4.203 Penslon Deflclt: The Pension and BUGB Trusiees signed a buy-out deal in June 2022 and the closed (kfjned benefit scheme is no longer in deficit. They have wrirten and confjrnied that our church will have no further obligation to the Scheme's defined benefit plan. Reserves Policy The Trustees have a rcserves policy to C￿Sure the Church functions effectively and mttts its obli8ah.ons in the event of a decline in our income or in the event of some major costs. Having reviewed and considered the relevanl risks of changes in income and expenditure it was agreed the approprÉatc level of rescrves w35 in the rdngc £1 S,IXM) to £25,0￿. As ai 31 December 2024 thc Chu￿ h held iolal rcscrvcs of £93,387 ofwhich £48,699 was within Ihc Gcncral Fund. Thc is a delegaled spending authority policy to ensure there are appropria* controls and procedures in place. Tbe Future We are encouraged by a number of new people who have started to worship with us regularly and the church is in a slable financial posilion to fither the advancement of the Chrlstian faith whilst serving the community and other charitable purrM)scs. Signed on behalf of the Tn￿leeS of Saffton Walden Baptist Church Tracy Todman (Trustee and Treasurer)

SAFFRON WALDEN BAPTIST CHURCH (Reg charity No 1199611) Saffron Walden Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

Note
Receipts
Regular offerings
Donations & other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
3
Rents and contributions for use of premises
Raised for other causes
4
Interest from BUC
5
Payments
Ministry
6
Mission
7
Upkeep of church premises
8
Administration
9
(Loss)/Surplus for the year
Balance brought forward
Balance carried forward		 Note
Receipts
Regular offerings
Donations & other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
3
Rents and contributions for use of premises
Raised for other causes
4
Interest from BUC
5
Payments
Ministry
6
Mission
7
Upkeep of church premises
8
Administration
9
(Loss)/Surplus for the year
Balance brought forward
Balance carried forward		 2024
44,749
6,142
9,359
30,963
3,927
20,267
115,407
£
45,073
17,491
42,512
4,263
109,339
£
6,068
87,319
93,387
£		 2023
43,635
3,802
9,150
29,773
2,965
25,273
114,598
£
41,433
16,691
86,777
4,523
149,424
£
(34,826)
122,145
87,319
£		 `
Building
fund
12,691
-
-
12,691
£
UNRESTRICTED - FUNDS
Balance at 1 January 2024
Transfer between funds
Receipts
Payments
Balance at 31 December 2024		 Total
87,319
-
115,407
(109,339)
93,387		 General
fund
42,631
-
115,407
(109,339)
48,699
£		 Capital
from BUC
31,997
-
-
31,997
£

RESTRICTED FUNDS RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

Boys Brigade
Boys Brigade		 Balance
1 Jan 24
5,499
5,499
£
Balance
1 Jan 23
5,979
5,979
£		 Receipts
2024
5,499
5,499
£
Receipts
2023
9,200
9,200
£		 Payments
2024
6,795
6,795
£
Payments
2023
9,680
9,680
£		 Balance
31 Dec 24
4,203
4,203
£
Balance
31 Dec 23
5,499
5,499
£

7

SAFFRON WALDEN BAPTIST CHURCH (Rag charlty No 11996111 FINACIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEA EIIDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 REPRESENTWG 8ALNCES IJII THE FOLLOWIING £COUIITS 2023 VnrutrfCt￿ ftJnd8 Restsicted funds 93.387 4.203 •7,$91 87.319 5,499 •2,818 5T ATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LiABILtriES AT 31 DECEMBER 2024 1024 2023 ASSETS Bank baL8nc8s Othèr cash balBnc•J 97.591 92.730 •7,5•1 92.818 Olhar M¢￿•￿ry3$S•t$ (gar￿81 fuThl) £ 12 10,536 ￿16 £ 4724777 £ &499.804 rn￿￿t￿ry aB6et8 UABLITES Current118bllltl•s 12 1.4n Pe￿810n SchfAn• Ullhy ij Th• Flnanclal Stai•m•nis aet on pagat 7 to 11 raikn9 to lh• >w 31 O￿nb￿ 2024 weT8 prc¥Juced ty R08emary Tinms. Th•y wor• approv￿ by th• of Saffmn WaSd•n Bapt￿1 Chu Slgn•d on b•haN olth• TruBl•w ty. Trn¢y Tc4rnan ITruitee and Tr•J•urnrl R￿Mary Tlmm8 ffnJ8teel

SAFFRON WALDEN BAPTIST CHURCH (Reg charity No 1199611) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

(Except for Note 1 and stated elsewhere, these notes refer solely to the General Fund)

1 Basis of accounts:

These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and accord with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.

2 Donations and other income
Lunch Club income (excluding charity donations)
Donations
Bank interest
Legacies
3 Gift Aid Income
Gift Aid General Fund
Gift Aid - included in Raised for Others
Gift Aid included in Restricted BB
Total Claim
2024
4 Other causes
Receipts
BMS Birthday Scheme
405
Harvest Appeal
740
Christian Aid - CTSW Offering
831
Christian Aid - Lunch Club
979
Christmas Appeal 2024
722
Christmas 2023 (Touchpoint Stansted)
125
Christmas 2023 (Medecin Sans Frontie
125
Tommy's Charity
-
Liz & Sergio Vilela
-
DEC Turkey
-
Christmas Appeal 2022
-
Christmas Appeal 2022 - Lunch Club
-
3,927
£		 2024
360
2,178
3,604
-
6,142
£
2024
9,359
360
268
9,987
£
2024
Payments
405
790
831
979
-
340
341
-
-
-
-
-
3,686
£		 2023
352
2,048
1,402
-
3,802
£
2023
9,150
157
262
9,569
£
2023
Receipts
485
230
174
748
-
215
216
87
225
295
210
80
2,965
£		 2023
Payments
485
230
174
748
-
-
-
87
225
295
210
80
2,534
£

5 Funds from the BUC

We received £ 20,267 accrued interest associated with the permanent Endowment of the Robert Cozens charity set up in 1729 (£2023: £25,273). A further interest amount of £3,899 accrued before the year end which we received in 2025 and is shown as a monetary asset (note 10) (2023: £5,271).

The capital sum remains with and is managed by the BUC. As the only known beneficiary we will continue to receive the entirety of the income, for the benefit of the church, for the foreseeable future.

9

SAFFRON WALDEN BAPTIST CHURCH (Reg charity No 1199611) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)

6 Ministry
Minister's stipend
Pension contributions (current)
Pension contributions (deficit)
Manse costs
Travel and other expenses
Visiting preachers
Conferences & training
Resources
Miscellaneous
Sunday Club and Youth Groups		 2024
33,062
4,157
10
3,685
2,080
1,106
526
101
145
201
45,073
£		 2023
30,636
3,857
12
3,710
2,104
479
130
-
-
505
41,433
£

The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by the church

7 Mission
Given to other causes
(Note 4)
Eastern Bapist Association
Baptist Missionary Society
Lunch Club costs
Church Events (Anniversary)
Boys brigade - subs paid to HQ
DEC Turkey
BMS - Liz & Sergio Vilela
8 Upkeep of church premises
Power & water & oil
Cleaning salary and materials
Church repairs and maintenance
Church upkeep projects from buildings fund
Church upkeep projects from trust fund
Insurance
Linton Close repairs and maintenance
Equipment
Grounds Maintenance
9 Administration
Printing/Copying
Hospitality
Stationery & postage
Telephone & internet
Licences, subscriptions, website
Miscellaneous
Anthony Collins Solicitors		 3,686
4,500
4,500
360
2,891
1,554
-
-
17,491
£
10,911
7,309
19,423
-
-
3,280
1,286
-
303
42,512
£
408
730
139
646
1,437
903
-
4,263
£		 2,534
4,500
4,500
314
-
1,343
3,000
500
16,691
£
8,867
6,570
15,794
6,160
38,076
2,540
5,689
2,826
255
86,777
£
514
274
95
636
1,432
970
602
4,523
£

10

SAFFRON WALDEN BAPTIST CHURCH (Reg charity No 1199611) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)

10 Other monetary assets (general fund)
Lettings debtors
BUC Trust Fund Interest
Gift aid receivable
Shelford Oil credit account		 2024
3,954
3,899
2,306
377
10,536
£		 2023
4,939
5,271
2,206
-
12,416
£

11 Non-monetary assets - held for the Church's own use

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 Ltd.

Insured Value of the following :
Saffron Walden Baptist Church, Audley Road,
Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3HD
The Manse, 31 Linton Close,
Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3BU
The Church also owns fixtures, furniture and
equipment with an insured value of:
12 Current Liabilities
Shelford Oil balance ( see note 10 above)
Website & Zoom invoices
Gas & Electricity December invoice
Maintenance Invoices
Christmas Appeal collection		 2024
5,020,271
562,932
141,574
5,724,777
£
2024
-
140
616
-
722
1,478
£		 2023
4,859,935
502,617
137,052
5,499,604
£
2023
1,594
57
532
210
431
2,824
£

13 Pension Scheme Liabilities

The Church is an employer participating in the Baptist Pension Scheme which is administered by the Baptist Pension Trust Limited. The Scheme is a separate legal entity and the assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the participating employers.

Benefits in respect of service prior to 1 January 2012 are provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan within the Scheme which started in 1925 but was closed on 31 December 2011.

The buy-out signed in June 2022 has nearly been completed and it is estimated that the DB Plan is in surplus. The Trustees have ceased the collection of £1 per month from each employer and we have been advised that our church will have no further obligation to the Scheme’s DB Plan.

In accordance with the change in circumstances, no debt has been entered in relation to the Pension Fund.

11

Saffron Walden Baptlst Church Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Independent Examlnar's Rèport To the Trustees of Saffron Walden Baptist Church l Teport lo the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 7 to 11. Ro$poCt1￿ Rosponsibilities of the Trust¢¢$ and the Examiner As the charilys trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Acts 2f)I I I'the Acl'}. report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act, and in carrying out my examinalion I have followed the applicable directions given by the Charily Commissitsn under secllon 14515Xbl of the Act. Independent Examiner's Report I have completed my examlnalion. I confim that nts material mallers have Come lo my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe Ihat in any material respect.. th6 ac¢ounting re¢ord$ were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act., or the accounts do not accord with Ihosg rgcords; or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulallons 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination I have no ¢on¢erns and have Come across no olhtsr matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be brought in this report in order to enable a proper understanding ol the accounls to be reached. Geoff Mann Geoff Mann Limited Dee House Highworth Avenue Cambridge CB4 2Ba