Clarence Park Baptist Church
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Charity Number 1200257
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| Contents References and Administration Trustee Annual Report Independent Examiners Report Statement of Receipts and Payments Notes to accounts Statement of assets and liabilities |
Pages 3-4 5-14 15 16 17-20 21 |
|---|---|
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH REFERENCES AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
CHARITY INFORMATION
Charity Name and Number:
Clarence Park Baptist Church, Registered Charity number 1200257.
Principle Address:
Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1ED
Becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
On the 1[st] January Clarence Park Baptist Church became operative as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). On the 1[st] January 2023 all assets, liabilities and activities of the Church were transferred from the registered Unincorporated Charitable Organisation number: 1174118.
Trustees
The Church is administered by the Minister and Deacons who are the Charity Trustees. During 2023 these were:
From the 1[st ] January 2023 the trustees of charity number: 1174118 were all registered as founding trustees of the CIO with charity number: 1200257.
Minister and Chair of Trustees Revd Steve Christian Secretary Elisabeth Speakman Treasurer Ruth Fuller Jonathan Brownett Kaye Cooke John Dawkins Ruth Fuller Keith Newport (from 23 04 2023) Peter Price David Sewell Frances Wedlake Susannah Weeks Avril Wilson
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Revd Steve Christian was appointed as the full-time Minister on 20 September 2003. His stipend is paid through the agency of the West of England Baptist Payroll Company Limited to whom the church pays a fee ( currently £183.00 per annum ). The amount of the stipend is reviewed annually in accordance with guidelines published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
The Secretary and Treasurer are elected annually with no limit to the number of terms they may serve. Deacons are elected for a term of three years and may offer themselves for re-election at the end of the term with no limitation on the number of terms they may serve. No member of the Diaconate receives payment other than the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
Property Trustees
The West of England Baptist Trust Company (West) Limited are the holding trustees of the following properties -
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Church and Hall at Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1ED
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Manse at 137 Totterdown Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 4LW
No professional valuation of these properties has been made in recent years and the values shown in the Accounts are the current insured values.
West of England Baptist Trust Company (West) Ltd
Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke, BRISTOL, BS34 6JW Registered Charity Number 1092446 Company Limited by Guarantee Number 00188973
Bankers
CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ
Independent Examiner
Clive Bennett, 14 High Street, Banwell, Somerset BS29 6AE
Connected Charities
The Church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the West of England Baptist Network both of which are registered charities. The Church receives no grant funding from either of these bodies.
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the receipts and payments of the Charity for the period ended 31 December 2023.
Structure, Governance and Management
The governance of the Church is in accordance with the Church Constitution dated 3[rd] July 2022 which is based on the Approved Governing Document agreed between the Charity Commission with advice and assistance from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, their solicitors Anthony Collins.
Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which requires them to profess repentance towards God and faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ and have lives that bear evidence of their Christian profession. Members are usually received after baptism by immersion.
The Members Meeting normally takes place at least four times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint up to twelve Trustees usually for a period of three years who, together with the Minister, (who is also appointed by the Members), are collectively known as the Diaconate, and are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity.
The election of Trustees normally takes place at the AGM. The Constitution requires advanced notice to be given over two weeks then nominations close fourteen days before the election, with each person preparing a profile which is displayed two weeks prior to the election. At the election, nominees must receive at least 70% of the cast votes to be elected.
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Trustees are encouraged to attend both regional and national activities to gain a wider understanding of the role.
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 Members Meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Members Meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
The Trustees have made an assessment of the major risks facing the church, and are satisfied that there are policies in place to minimise these risks. The charity has a continual process of reviewing risk exposure, a formal Safeguarding Policy has been prepared covering children and adults at risk, this is regularly reviewed and updated by the church.
The Trustees have complied with their duty under the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
Objectives and Activities
The principal object 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.
The church vision is: we seek to bring people to Jesus and together grow in our relationship with God and each other as we serve the community. We do this under the strap line WORSHIP God, GROW Together, SERVE Others .
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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.
Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday, normally at 10.30am. These services are also live streamed on YouTube for those who are unable to attend in person to watch either live or later in the week on demand. There are occasional services at other times which are advertised in the services, weekly bulletin, Facebook groups and on the Church website www.cpbc.co.uk. There is a Sunday club programme usually on the first and third Sunday of the month for Children, and the services on the other weeks of the month are aimed for an all age congregation. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community and anybody is free to attend any of these services.
The Church runs a series of house groups for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some members, and further details of these can be obtained from the Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship.
The Church is responsible for a Toddler Group which meets in the Church premises on Thursdays, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. Also on a Thursday the church holds a community coffee morning open for anyone to attend where free tea and coffee is served and people are welcome to come and chat and find help if needed.
There are also groups open for the community to attend which are both social but also Christian in nature Time Out and The Ladies Friendship Group for women only, a men’s group , a craft group , a nomads group , a community choir and a hand chimes group.
The church has joined with the other Baptist churches in our town to offer Alpha courses for people interested in discovering more about Christianity.
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The Baptist churches in Weston continue to work together having taken a lease on a building in Worle, to provide a safe space for the community to experience “peace” in the form of a “Renew Centre”.
Our building is also used regularly by a Narcotic Anonymous support group, and an Indian speaking congregation who are part of a church in Bristol. The latter group shares with us in our Christmas community event ‘carols around the tree’.
Throughout the year some of our members have continued to serve on the management and executive committees of Abbeycare Residential Homes . Our Minister is a governor in a local primary school, continues as the chair of trustees for the West of England Baptist Network (Webnet), and is a trustee for the local Christians Against Poverty (CAP) group.
The Deacons have continued to meet with the church leaderships from Milton Baptist, Worle Baptist, and Bristol Road Baptist Churches to explore how we can better work together for mission within our town, to build on the projects that are already being held. And have set up a CIO to achieve this. The churches have through the CIO taken on a Minister in Training for her final year at college.
Financially the church offerings have been below our expected income. The Agape Fund has supported local families and needs.
In terms of building maintenance, the necessary repairs and maintenance have been undertaken to keep the building in good condition. At the manse the church has continued its investment in minor jobs like refurbishing the downstairs toilet and other works that have been needed to be done to keep the building in good condition.
The church has continued through the year to be involved in the Baptist Union, Webnet, and representatives have attended the meetings. Our Minister continues to support Ministers in our local Baptist cluster as he organises their activities, as well as supporting a newly accredited Minister in a neighbouring town
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through his probation years and studies. Our Minister has continued to attend both the Ministers’ meetings and Churches Together meetings.
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.
All meetings are open to the community at large.
Risk Assessment & Safeguarding
The Deacons, as Charity Trustees, are engaged in an on-going programme of risk assessment, including health and safety issues, relating to the church buildings and the church activities.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and adults at risk are appropriately vetted through the Disclosure and Barring Service and receive Baptist Union of Great Britain Excellence in Safeguarding training relevant to their role.
Achievements and Performance
The Church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship, encouragement and influence in people’s lives. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure, but believe that 2023 was a positive year in the life of the church and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2024 with continued enthusiasm.
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Membership
| Membership END | 2022 | 101 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Membership END | 2023 | 100 |
|
| additions | 1 |
||
| deletions | 0 |
moved away | |
| 2 | deceased | ||
| 0 | transferred | ||
| 0 | resigned | ||
| 0 | Removed | ||
| Baptisms | 0 |
(not reported in 2021) |
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year.
The most significant expense of the Church is our responsibility for the stipend and housing costs of our Minister, Revd Steve Christian who is appointed to lead and co-ordinate the church’s activities including the Sunday Services, to provide pastoral care for the congregation and other people, and to equip and encourage the membership in their life, Christian witness, and service.
The Church continues to maintain its membership with the wider Baptist family through the West of England Baptist Network and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. In the year to 31 December 2023, it supported Baptist missionary work through donations amounting to £2,724 for Home Mission and £2,724 for BMS World Mission. In addition, the Church financially supports local work such as Foodbank, Christians Against Poverty and requests from National mission partners to help with disaster and crisis relief.
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The Church is very fortunate in having people who are willing to give their time and talents to support its life and work. Whether it be leading study groups, setting up and packing away for services and meetings, staffing the office, providing refreshments, making music, supplying flowers, welcoming people into the premises, cleaning or any of the many other tasks, quietly - day by day. This is truly appreciated, and the Church wishes to record its thanks to all our members and friends for their support.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
Remuneration of Trustees
Apart from the Minister, all Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity. Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by Trustees in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves, together with ongoing income anticipated, to enable the Church to function effectively in the coming year.
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Description of Funds
UNRESTRICTED FUND
General Fund - Working fund to meet general running expenses
DESIGNATED FUNDS
Agape Fund Minister's confidential fund for meeting needs within the fellowship and the community
Legacy Fund Holding fund for legacies pending final disbursement Fabric Fund General maintenance and repair to the church premises
Manse Fund General maintenance and repair to the manse
Equipment Fund Upkeep, upgrade and replacement of audio, visual and office equipment
Youth Fund For future youth work
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Training Fund - Income from the invested capital may only be used for training purposes
Agency Funds - The Church receives and distributes money for other registered charities, including Baptist Home Mission, BMS World Mission, Baptist World Aid, Operation Agri, ARocha and Spurgeons Childcare. Individual funds are maintained for each charity to ensure that these amounts are separated from normal Church funds. By this means the church can claim and pass on to those charities any tax rebates received under Gift Aid.
CHURCH GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS
The various groups and organisations associated with the Church are listed with details of money they have received and paid. All money received and paid out by the groups and organisations has been included in the Statement of Receipts and Payments.
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Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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Make judgement and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provision of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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Authorisation
The Annual Report and the accompanying Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 were approved by the Minister and Deacons on 12[th] April 2024 and we are authorised to sign the Report on their behalf.
Ruth Fuller Church Treasurer/Trustee 12[th] April 2024
Elisabeth Speakman Church Secretary/Trustee[th] April 2024
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Clarence Park Baptist Church report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Clarence Park Baptist Church for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Charity trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (’the Act').
I report.in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act;
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or the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content. of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement. that the accounts. give a 'true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to. which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Clive Bennett
9[th] April 2024
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES TO ACCOUNTS PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
18 Church organisations
| organisation | opening | income | expenditure | closing |
charitable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| balance | balance | giving | ||||
| Boys Brigade | 908.73 | 0.00 |
0.00 |
908.73 |
||
| Boys Brigade Camp Fund | 742.81 | 0.00 |
0.00 |
742.81 |
||
| Build Social Club | 98.29 | 639.45 |
469.06 |
268.68 |
||
| Caprione Choir | 0.00 | 1320.74 |
1323.26 |
-2.52 |
1300.39 |
|
| Clangers | 371.28 | 268.00 |
308.97 |
330.31 |
280.00 |
|
| Community Coffee Morning | 39.25 | 214.53 |
200.78 |
53.00 |
190.00 |
|
| CPBC Mens Group | 406.00 | 290.50 |
400.00 |
296.50 |
400.00 |
|
| Flower Fund | 423.99 | 225.00 |
320.90 |
328.09 |
||
| Girls Brigade | 856.42 | 0.00 |
0.00 |
856.42 |
||
| Ladies Friendship Group | 291.06 | 596.75 |
589.24 |
298.57 |
570.00 |
|
| Ladies Time Out | 98.29 | 639.45 |
469.06 |
268.68 |
||
| Pickle Ball | 144.00 | 0.00 |
144.00 |
0.00 |
||
| So Crafty | 87.17 | 818.00 |
829.73 |
75.44 |
645.50 |
|
| Tots & Toddlers | 240.78 | 675.38 |
578.76 |
337.40 |
172.93 |
|
| totals 2023 | 4708.07 | 5687.80 |
5633.76 |
4762.11 |
3558.82 |
I have examined the books and accounting records of the Church Groups and organisations listed above (Note 18) relating to the 12 months ended 31 December 2023. I have checked the figures given in this summary and can confirm that the records in each case accord with basic accounting principles and that the balances held are correct as shown.
Nick Lawrence
23 February 2024
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CLARENCE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2023
| Monetary Assets CAF Bank Cheque Account CAF Income Bond Baptist Union - 1 Year Deposit A/C Baptist Union - 3 Months Deposit A/C Baptist Union - 7 Day Deposit Account CAF new CIO Account Total Represented by Unrestricted General Funds Designated Funds Restricted Funds Agency Restricted Funds Total Other Items Gift Aid Tax Rebates Due Funds held by Church Organisations (18) TOTAL MONETARY ASSETS Fixed Assets (Insured Values) Church Building & Organ Furniture & Fittings, Instruments Etc Manse Total Fixed Assets |
2023 8,812 0 75,263 22,951 12,611 4,697 124,334 21,880 95,870 4,953 1,631 124,334 6,166 4,838 135,338 8,079,767 225,876 360,460 8,666,103 |
2022 6,304 3,574 73,071 22,013 20,191 |
|---|---|---|
| 125,153 | ||
| 2,613 116,127 4,917 1,496 |
||
| 125,153 | ||
| 6,450 4,838 |
||
| 136,441 | ||
| 7,214,077 201,675 321,839 |
||
| 7,737,591 |
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