ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH
Annual Report and Financial Statement for
the 16-month period
30 August 2022 to 31 December 2023
Charity Number 1200212
Alcester Baptist Church Report for the period 30 August 2022 to 31 December 2023
Accounting Period
Although Alcester Baptist Church is now in its 384th year, we registered as a new Charitable Incorporate Organisation (CIO) with effect from 30 August 2022. Therefore these accounts cover the period from 30 August 2022 to 31 December 2023. Future reports will revert to the Annual January to December pattern.
Charitable Object
The purposes of the Church are ‘the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.’
Structure, Governance and Management
Membership of the Church is open to all who profess faith in Jesus Christ, who commit themselves to regular worship at the church, a willingness to serve through the ministries of the Church, to support the church financially and prayerfully and to live a life in keeping with being a disciple of Jesus.
Members are interviewed for membership as a way of getting to know their faith story, and a recommendation is brough her Church Members Meeting for decision. The Church is in membership nationally with ‘The Baptist Union of Great Britain’, also known as ‘Baptists Together’ and regionally with our local Association of Baptist Churches known as ’The Heart of England Baptist Association.’
Church members take all the major decisions in the life of the church, including those that relate to the appointment of a Minister, other Church Staff, Church Trustees or Church Property. Four members meetings are held a year so that the whole fellowship is involved in all decision making at the church.
Appointment and removal of Trustees is by the Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Constitution (Section 14) and Charity law. The minister(s) are automatically Trustees, and all Trustees manage the day to day running of the church. Between them they cover all areas of church life, which include worship services, pastoral care and discipleship, children, families and community outreach, administration and premises management.
The church currently has 46 members as at the end of 2023 but many more who attend either regularly or occasionally. Two of our longstanding church members died in this last year and one person was baptised by immersion.
Safeguarding of Children, Young Adults and Adults at Risk.
The church has a safeguarding policy in place which promotes the protection of children, young adults and adults at risk through clearly defined processes and procedures. This policy gives clear guidance on how to maintain a safe environment for all. The Safeguarding Policy is reinforced to the church as a whole at the Annual General Meeting, where the abridged version is read in its entirety. DBS checks are regularly undertaken for all who work and volunteer at the church and whose role entails contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
Our Designated Person for Safeguarding is Elaine Willis and our Safeguarding Trustee Lynne Thompson.
Activities during the Period
This period has been a busy and fruitful period in the life of the church, with many encouragements. Our numbers of young people attending has begun to increase and given us confidence to begin a new teenage group early in 2024.
In Autumn 2022 we took the decision to employ Beth Clarke as our Family Missioner, and although Beth felt the need to step down from her role at the end of August 2023, she made a big impact in the life of the church in her short time with us. Beth facilitated a number of outreach initiatives, including our ‘Friday Fun and Food’ summer outreach for the community in August 2023. This was the second successful summer outreach programme over the last two years and we anticipate this continuing in future.
A significant time in the last year was the period of sabbatical I was able to take from June to August. Baptist Ministers are afforded this privilege every seven years and I’m grateful to the Church for enabling this to happen. My thanks to Rev David Kerrigan, one of our church members, for taking on full ministerial duties during my sabbatical period.
In the first half of the year we started a monthly Monday evening singing worship gathering which attracted a reasonable number of people from the church and beyond. This was discontinued after the summer.
Little Angels, our Tuesday morning toddler group, continues to attract young parents, grandparents and their little ones. Play, storytelling, singing and dancing create a vibrant atmosphere in a safe space at no cost, other than those who wish to make a small donation.
Three housegroups meet each week, providing time and space for bible study, prayer, pastoral support and the deepening of friendships.
The Wellbeing Café continues to meet on Wednesday mornings, where people drop in for a coffee and a chat with friends and those who come as more occasional visitors. Over the 2022/23 winter this was also advertised as a ‘warm hub’ to enable people to find a warm space whilst avoiding high utility bills at home.
The Alcester Community Fridge continues to thrive, with upwards of 45 volunteers involved in collecting food from supermarkets and those generally managing the project behind the scenes, making it available through our 6-day a week opening hours. Over 30 of those volunteers are from the wider Alcester community rather than from the church community. Two new part-time paid coordinators started in September 2023.
During the Autumn 2023 season we ran our first Alpha Course for some years. This was well attended, mostly by church folks, nevertheless, this enabled us to get reacquainted with the Alpha material and ethos, and to reexamine matters of faith together. This was held on a Saturday morning, including breakfast. We are grateful to the breakfast crew for facilitating this each week. Our hope would be to revisit Alpha later in 2024, maybe through a different approach within house settings.
On a Sunday morning we now have a new prayer team, facilitated by David Hurst. This has added to the overall spirituality of the church, and it is good to see the team in action on a Sunday morning, practicing grace and faith following a morning service.
Over the last year we have been exploring what it means to be an inclusive church, and on Sundays we’ve looked at understanding better the issues raised by those who live with, for example, mental health concerns, those who are disabled, neuro-diverse, or financially less well off as others, as well as those whose sexuality is other than heterosexual. The mind of the church has long been to ensure that everyone is welcome and able to play a full part in the life of our church, irrespective of their personal circumstances. As a result, at our church meeting on 22 November we agreed to become a member of the Inclusive Church Network - (https://www.inclusive church.org) and look forward to working out the fullness of this commitment in the years to come.
On behalf of the Trustees
____ Revd Alison Mackay Minister
5 February 2024
_____ Date
Treasurer’s Annual Report For the Year Ending 31 December 2023
Although Alcester Baptist Church has existed since 1640, the decision was taken in 2022 to register as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with the Charity Commission. This was done with effect from 30 August 2022. This first set of accounts for the new CIO covers the 16-month period up to 31 December 2023, as required by the Charity Commission.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus says “ ... where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:21). Having recorded a 13% rise in regular giving in the year to December 2022, and now a further 34% rise for the year to December 2023 it is clear that our growing congregation has their heart in the witness of the church.
Baptist Churches historically are known for their generosity and it is our understanding that how we use our wealth – however much or little we have – is part of our commitment to being followers of Christ. Giving ‘generously, proportionately and sacrificially’ is our approach to money.
A significant portion of the extra regular giving enabled us to employ Beth Clarke as Missioner, though we are sorry that Beth felt the need to step back from her paid role at the end of August 2023. In 2023 also we were also able to catch up on a backlog of Gift Aid receipts which allowed us to address a number of repairs and make some significant property improvements. Gift Aid will revert to a more normal level of around £10,000 pa in 2024.
Rental income held up well during the period covered by these accounts and looks stronger for the early part of 2024. We are delighted to see our premises used by the wider community, seeing this as part of our wider commitment to the people of Alcester.
Our Alcester Community Fridge (ACF) project opened in August 2022 and continues to thrive in its second year, with success in attracting grants and personal donations that covered the cost of the project. The work of the ACF rests upon the dedicated service of more than 45 volunteers, most of whom come from the wider community.
Thanks to a generous Grant from the Baptist Insurance Corporation (BIC) in late 2022 we were able to initiate a number of outreach projects in 2023 including a summer outreach to the community that was incredibly well received.
The church remains generous towards others, and our support for BMS World Mission and the Baptist Union’s Home Mission Fund remained strong in 2022 and 2023 and will be increased in 2024. The church responded also to appeals connected to the Turkey/Syrian earthquake in February 2023, the Women’s Refuge ‘Gilgal’ in Birmingham, and towards support of those addressing the suffering in Gaza in recent months.
We would like to note our special thanks to a number of local organisations whose grants have helped our community outreach work. These include ‘Moor Street Charity and ‘Church Street Properties’ Alcester, Hubbub, Alcester Academy, Warks County Council, Alcester Food Festival, Rotary Club (Alcester), Alcester Town Council, Co-op and LIDL.
We are grateful to God for his many blessings upon our church in this season of growth and look forward with confidence to the year ahead.
David Kerrigan Treasurer
ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNTS 30 AUGUST 2022 to 31 DECEMBER 2023
| ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOUNTS 30 AUGUST 2022 to 31 DECEMBER 2023 | ||||||
| A | B | C | D | |||
| INCOME | Note | Undesignated Funds |
Designated Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 16 months to 31 Dec 2023 |
|
| Weekly Offerings | 1 | 64,727 | 1,200 | 65,927 | ||
| Gift Aid | 2 | 28,682 | 28,682 | |||
| Communion | 204 | 204 | ||||
| Designated Income (eg WBC) | 160 | 160 | ||||
| Other - ABC | 2,238 | 2,238 | ||||
| Other - ACF | 5 | 1,642 | 1,642 | |||
| Total Offerings | 95,851 | 1,360 | 1,642 | 98,853 | ||
| 0 | ||||||
| Hire and Lettings | 3 | 13,263 | 13,263 | |||
| External Grants & Gifts - ABC | 4 | 11,010 | 11,010 | |||
| External Grants & Gifts - ACF | 5 | 15,982 | 15,982 | |||
| Interest & Other | 265 | 265 | ||||
| Raised for other Baptist causes | 0 | |||||
| - BMS World Mission | 810 | 1,244 | 2,054 | |||
| - BU Home Mission | 137 | 564 | 701 | |||
| - Other Baptist Causes | 129 | 129 | ||||
| Raised for Non-Baptist Causes | 0 | |||||
| - Earthquake Relief (Turkey/Syria) | 230 | 1,511 | 1,741 | |||
| TOTAL INCOME | 110,557 | 3,297 | 30,145 | 143,998 | ||
| EXPENDITURE | ||||||
| Local Ministry | 6 | 51,521 | 51,521 | |||
| Manse | 7 | 10,867 | 10,867 | |||
| Local Mission | ||||||
| - Outreach | 684 | 5,000 | 5,684 | |||
| - ACF | 0 | 16,920 | 16,920 | |||
| - Fellowship Fund | 1,412 | 1,412 | ||||
| Wider Mission | ||||||
| - BMS World Mission | 2,810 | 1,342 | 4,152 | |||
| - BU Home Mission | 2,100 | 700 | 2,800 | |||
| - Other Baptist Causes - EBF | 129 | 129 | ||||
| - NBC Earthquake/Gilgal etc | 230 | 1,511 | 1,741 | |||
| Administration | 8 | 5,200 | 5,200 | |||
| Property Upkeep | 9 | 21,806 | 5,000 | 26,806 | ||
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 96,630 | 2,171 | 28,431 | 127,232 | ||
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 13,927 | 1,125 | 1,714 | 0 | 16,766 | |
| MOVEMENT ON ABC ACCOUNTS | Current A/C | Savings A/C | BU Trust Fund TA007 |
Total Funds | ||
| Opening Bal 1 Sep 2022 | 11,526 | 15,442 | 7,658 | 34,626 | ||
| Total Income for 16 mths to Dec 2023 | 143,998 | 147 | 345 | 144,490 | ||
| Total Expenditure for16 mths to Dec 2023 | (127,232) | (265) | (127,497) | |||
| Closing Bal 31 DECEMBER 2023 | 28,292 | 15,589 | 7,737 | 51,618 | ||
| MOVEMENT IN ABC FUNDS Aug 22 to Dec 23 | 16,992 | |||||
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | O/Bal 30 Aug 2022 | Income | Expenditure | C/Bal 31 Dec 23 | ||
| ACF | 9,680 | 17,624 | (16,920) | 10384 | ||
| Summer & Monday Outreach (BIC) | 0 | 5,000 | (5,000) | 0 | ||
| Church St Prop & Moor Field | 0 | 5,000 | (5,000) | 0 | ||
| Relief Appeals | 0 | 1,511 | (1,511) | 0 | ||
| Other | 1,702 | 1702 | ||||
| TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS | 9,680 | 30,145 | (28,431) | 11394 | ||
| TOTAL DESIGNATED FUNDS | 0 | 3,297 | (2,171) | 1125 | ||
| GENERAL FUNDS (GF) | ||||||
| - GF in Current Account | 1,846 | 110,556 | (96,630) | 15772 | ||
| - GF in Savings Account | 15,442 | 147 | 0 | 15589 | ||
| - GF in Trust Fund BU TA007 | 7,658 | 345 | (265) | 7738 | ||
| TOTAL GENERAL FUNDS | 24,946 | 111,048 | (96,895) | 39099 | ||
| TOTAL ALL FUNDS INC SAVINGS ACs | 34,626 | 144,490 | (127,497) | 51618 |
| ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH | ALCESTER BAPTIST CHURCH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCOUNTS 30 AUGUST 2022 to 31 DECEMBER 2023 | ||||||
| A | B | C | D | |||
| INCOME | Note | Undesignated Funds |
Designated Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 16 months to 31 Dec 2023 |
|
| Weekly Offerings | 1 | 64,727 | 1,200 | 65,927 | ||
| Gift Aid | 2 | 28,682 | 28,682 | |||
| Communion | 204 | 204 | ||||
| Designated Income (eg WBC) | 160 | 160 | ||||
| Other - ABC | 2,238 | 2,238 | ||||
| Other - ACF | 5 | 1,642 | 1,642 | |||
| Total Offerings | 95,851 | 1,360 | 1,642 | 98,853 | ||
| 0 | ||||||
| Hire and Lettings | 3 | 13,263 | 13,263 | |||
| External Grants & Gifts - ABC | 4 | 11,010 | 11,010 | |||
| External Grants & Gifts - ACF | 5 | 15,982 | 15,982 | |||
| Interest & Other | 265 | 265 | ||||
| Raised for other Baptist causes | 0 | |||||
| - BMS World Mission | 810 | 1,244 | 2,054 | |||
| - BU Home Mission | 137 | 564 | 701 | |||
| - Other Baptist Causes | 129 | 129 | ||||
| Raised for Non-Baptist Causes | 0 | |||||
| - Earthquake Relief (Turkey/Syria) | 230 | 1,511 | 1,741 | |||
| TOTAL INCOME | 110,557 | 3,297 | 30,145 | 143,998 | ||
| EXPENDITURE | ||||||
| Local Ministry | 6 | 51,521 | 51,521 | |||
| Manse | 7 | 10,867 | 10,867 | |||
| Local Mission | ||||||
| - Outreach | 684 | 5,000 | 5,684 | |||
| - ACF | 0 | 16,920 | 16,920 | |||
| - Fellowship Fund | 1,412 | 1,412 | ||||
| Wider Mission | ||||||
| - BMS World Mission | 2,810 | 1,342 | 4,152 | |||
| - BU Home Mission | 2,100 | 700 | 2,800 | |||
| - Other Baptist Causes - EBF | 129 | 129 | ||||
| - NBC Earthquake/Gilgal etc | 230 | 1,511 | 1,741 | |||
| Administration | 8 | 5,200 | 5,200 | |||
| Property Upkeep | 9 | 21,806 | 5,000 | 26,806 | ||
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 96,630 | 2,171 | 28,431 | 127,232 | ||
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 13,927 | 1,125 | 1,714 | 0 | 16,766 | |
| MOVEMENT ON ABC ACCOUNTS | Current A/C | Savings A/C | BU Trust Fund TA007 |
Total Funds | ||
| Opening Bal 1 Sep 2022 | 11,526 | 15,442 | 7,658 | 34,626 | ||
| Total Income for 16 mths to Dec 2023 | 143,998 | 147 | 345 | 144,490 | ||
| Total Expenditure for16 mths to Dec 2023 | (127,232) | (265) | (127,497) | |||
| Closing Bal 31 DECEMBER 2023 | 28,292 | 15,589 | 7,737 | 51,618 | ||
| MOVEMENT IN ABC FUNDS Aug 22 to Dec 23 | 16,992 | |||||
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | O/Bal 30 Aug 2022 | Income | Expenditure | C/Bal 31 Dec 23 | ||
| ACF | 9,680 | 17,624 | (16,920) | 10384 | ||
| Summer & Monday Outreach (BIC) | 0 | 5,000 | (5,000) | 0 | ||
| Church St Prop & Moor Field | 0 | 5,000 | (5,000) | 0 | ||
| Relief Appeals | 0 | 1,511 | (1,511) | 0 | ||
| Other | 1,702 | 1702 | ||||
| TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS | 9,680 | 30,145 | (28,431) | 11394 | ||
| TOTAL DESIGNATED FUNDS | 0 | 3,297 | (2,171) | 1125 | ||
| GENERAL FUNDS (GF) | ||||||
| - GF in Current Account | 1,846 | 110,556 | (96,630) | 15772 | ||
| - GF in Savings Account | 15,442 | 147 | 0 | 15589 | ||
| - GF in Trust Fund BU TA007 | 7,658 | 345 | (265) | 7738 | ||
| TOTAL GENERAL FUNDS | 24,946 | 111,048 | (96,895) | 39099 | ||
| TOTAL ALL FUNDS INC SAVINGS ACs | 34,626 | 144,490 | (127,497) | 51618 |
| Notes to the Aug 2022 - Dec 2023 Accounts | Notes to the Aug 2022 - Dec 2023 Accounts | Notes to the Aug 2022 - Dec 2023 Accounts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | ||||||
| Note 1 | Weekly Oferings | Note 6 | Local Ministry | |||
| Gi�-Aided Bank Giving | 54811 | Minister and Missioner - S�pends, NI and Pension | 47,472 | |||
| Gi�-Aided Loose Giving | 4694 | Travel, Courses | 2,802 | |||
| Non Gi�-Aid Giving | 6422 | Mobile, Broadband, landline | 369 | |||
| 65,927 | Visi�ng Preachers | 878 | ||||
| 51,521 | ||||||
| Note 2 | Gi� Aid | |||||
| Gi� Aid - rela�ng to Current Year (2023) | 24032 | Note 7 | Manse Costs | |||
| Gi� Aid - rela�ng to Previous year (2022) | 4650 | Council Tax | 3,579 | |||
| 28,682 | Hea�ng, Ligh�ng & Water | 3,531 | ||||
| Landline, Broadband & Mobile | 740 | |||||
| Note 3 | Hire and Le�ng of Premises | Repairs and Maintenance | 2,409 | |||
| Alcester Musical Theatre | 1,990 | Insurance | 608 | |||
| Alcester Day Care | 8,990 | 10,867 | ||||
| Yoga Classes | 2,283 | |||||
| Other | Note 8 | Administra�on | ||||
| 13,263 | Post, Stat, Tel, Broadband at ABC | 751 | ||||
| Prin�ng | 1,876 | |||||
| Note 4 | External Grants & Gi�s ABC | Fees, Licenses | 2,573 | |||
| Moor Field Charity (for soundproofng) | 1,000 | 5,200 | ||||
| Church St Proper�es (2023 for front Paving) | 4,000 | |||||
| Bap�st Insurance | 5,000 | Note 9 | Property Upkeep | |||
| Alcester Town Council (ex Western Power) | 0 | Church Repairs and Maintenance * | 20,402 | |||
| Alcester Male Voice Choir | 1,010 | Hea�ng and Ligh�ng | 4,318 | |||
| 11,010 | Water | 181 | ||||
| Insurance | 1,905 | |||||
| Note 5 | External Grants & Personal Dona�ons - ACF | 26,806 | ||||
| Rotary Alcester | 500 | |||||
| Alcester Town Councilo | 1500 | * Church Repair and Maintenance | ||||
| LIDL | 500 | Front of Church Paving | 4,448 | |||
| Co-op Charity of the Year | 1490 | Upper Room Refurbishment | 1,224 | |||
| Hubbub | 1000 | Upper room Stairs - replastering | 1,530 | |||
| Cornerstone | 0 | Hall - Soundproofng | 3,839 | |||
| Alcester Academy | 0 | Hall - strip & repolish | 1,530 | |||
| Warks County Council | 3810 | Hall - new heater | 2,820 | |||
| Alcester Food Fes�val | 7182 | Hall - new TV | 300 | |||
| Small Dona�ons | 1642 | Bap�stry (part-payment) | 537 | |||
| 17,624 | Other | 4,174 | ||||
| Total | 20,402 |
Report of the Independent Examlners to the Trustees of Alcester Baptist Churth on the aCcoltsfor the 16 months fnxn 30 Aiigiist 2022 to 31 Dernber 2023 Respective responsibilitles of Tntstees and Independent Eyaminers The Church's Trustees are responsible for the preDaratlon of the accounts. The churcn" e trustees consider that an audit is not requlred for thÈs year urKler section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) but that an independent examination is needed. It 15 our resp)nsibility to: • examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities ACL to follow the procedures laid down in the generdl Directions given by the a)artty ComMi10n under section 145151(b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to our attention. Basls of Irtdependent Examinees Statement Our examination was tarried out in accordan with general directions gNen by the tharity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept bv the Churcn and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or dis¢losure5 in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement bek)w. Independent Examiner's Statement In connection with our examination. rK> material matters have come to our attention which gives us cause to believe that in, any material respect: • accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charrties Act or The accourrts do not accord with the aceoLrnting records the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements cOeming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008) We have come across no other matter5 in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandir4 of the accounts to be reached. Signed by the Examiners L2kn 1Trl. L(JiLci, Elaine Willis Alcester Tom Catterall Alcester Lo-2_ 2u-. IL* Date Date
Legal Information
Charitable Status
Alcester Baptist Church (‘The Church’) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission on 30 August 2022, though the Church traces its roots in Alcester back to 1640.
The Church Registration Number is 1200212
Church Address
Alcester Baptist Church Church St Alcester B49 5AJ
Trustees
During the 16 months from 30 August 2022 to 31 December 2023, the following people served as Trustees in their various roles:
Revd Alison Mackay (Minister) Mrs Lynne Thompson (Secretary) Mr William Reg Rose (Treasurer – until 1 March 2023) Rev David Kerrigan (Treasurer – from 1 March 2023) Mrs Mary Elizabeth Bowld Mrs Catherine Barbara Tomlinson Mrs Mildred Ann Gough Mr Christopher Denis Gough Mr Brian John Williams Mrs Elaine Willis (from 1 March 2023) Mrs Beth Clarke (from 1 January until 31 August 2023)
Property Trustees
The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House 129 Broadway Didcot OX11 8RT
Bankers
Barclays Bank Leicester L87 2BB
Independent Examiners
Mrs Elaine Willis Mr Tom Catterall
Website
www.alcesterbaptist.org.uk