## **Trustees’ report and accounts for the financial year ending 31[st] December 2023** ## **Crockenhill Baptist Church** Crockenhill Baptist Church – a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered charity number 1199873 ## **Crockenhill Baptist Church** ## **Reference and Administratve Details** **Trustees** Mark Drury - Pastor Laurie Everest - Elder Peter Clarridge - Elder David Manderscheid - Deacon Gareth Clarridge - Deacon Richard Jones – Deacon (resigned w.e.f. 29/1/24) Philip Fuller - Deacon (appointed w.e.f. 29/1/24) **Charity Registration Number** 1199873 **Registered address** Crockenhill Baptist Church Eynsford Road Crockenhill Kent. BR8 8JS **Independent Examiner** Mrs Susan Lee Tasha Lyn Main Road ORPINGTON BR5 3ET **Bank** Santander Bank plc Crockenhill Baptist Church – a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered charity number 1199873 ## **Trustees’ Report** The trustees present their annual report, together with the financial statements of the charity for the financial year ended 31 December 2023. ## **Structure, governance and management** The ‘charitable incorporated organisation’ (CIO) known as Crockenhill Baptist Church was registered by the Charity Commission on 29[th] July 2022; registered charity number 1199873. Crockenhill Baptist Church was previously an unincorporated charitable association and continued to function as such until 31[st] December 2023. On 31[st] December 2023 all assets were transferred to the CIO, including properties previously held under trust by the Baptist Union Corporation (title numbers K582357 and K922998). The governing documents of the church are the constitution, agreed by the Charity Commission, and the handbook. The handbook is written for members and sets out how the church is run and is based on members’ understanding of the Bible. It is designed to be consistent with the constitution, but the constitution always takes precedence for legal purposes. The principal address is Crockenhill Baptist Church, Eynsford Road, Crockenhill, BR8 8JS. ## **Organisational structure** The members of Crockenhill Baptist Church believe that all members have been given gifts that can be used in the service of the church. All members have equal decision-making authority through a members’ meeting, whilst being guided by those called to leadership within the church. Members’ meetings are held at least four times a year. There are currently six people in recognised leadership roles: a paid full time pastor, who is an office holder rather than an employee, plus two elders and three deacons. These individuals are the charity trustees, as set out in the constitution. The method of appointing trustees, and their functions and duties, are set out in the governing documents. New trustees undergo DBS checks and are asked to confirm that they have read ‘The essential trustee’, published by the Charity Commission, and the government guidance on ‘Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees’. Crockenhill Baptist Church is affiliated to the FIEC, and annually confirms that it is in agreement with the FIEC statement of faith. ## **Risk management** The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Crockenhill Baptist Church – a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered charity number 1199873 ## **Objectves and actvites** ## **Objects and aims** Crockenhill Baptist Church aims to advance the Christian faith through weekly services of worship and preaching, midweek groups for Bible study and prayer, and regular evangelistic events. The activities of the church are carried out in accordance with the basis of faith set out in the church handbook. The church also provides financial support to other Christian charities and currently aims to give one tenth of its income to support the work of Christian Prison Resourcing, the Christian Institute, Barnabas Aid and Zimbabwe Partnership Trust. ## **Public benefit** The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. They consider that the objectives for which the church was registered as a charity, and the manner in which they have exercised their duties and powers, are for the public benefit. ## **Achievements and performance** ## **Review of activities and financial review** Although Crockenhill Baptist Church was registered as a CIO on 22[nd] July 2022, there was no activity as a CIO during the period to 31[st] December 2023. As explained earlier, the unincorporated charitable association known as Crockenhill Baptist Church continued to exist until 31[st] December 2023 and all activity was in respect of this association. All assets of the previous unincorporated charitable association were transferred to the CIO on 31[st] December 2023, including properties previously held under trust by the Baptist Union Corporation (title numbers K582357 and K922998). There was no other financial activity in respect of the CIO from the date of registration, 22[nd] July 2022, to the end of the reporting period, 31[st] December 2023. ## **Reserves policy** The policy of the trustees is to maintain sufficient liquid reserves to finance ongoing commitments such as rent and salaries, and to build sufficient reserves to enable the future development and expansion of the ministries of the church. Crockenhill Baptist Church – a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered charity number 1199873 The trustees’ report was approved by the trustees of the charity at their meeting on 8[th] September 2024 and signed on their behalf by: Peter Clarridge Trustee and Elder ## **Independent Examiner’s Report** Attached. **Financial Statement** Attached. Crockenhill Baptist Church – a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered charity number 1199873 # ## ## ## ## ## ## ##