## **Trustees’ Report for the period** **From 13.09.2022 Period start date To 31.12.2023 Period end date Charity name: LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **Charity registration number: 1200361** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The principal 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.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The activities may include but are not
restricted to:
-
regular public worship, prayer, Bible
study, preaching and teaching;
-
baptism, as defined in the Baptist
Union’s Declaration of Principle;
-
the Communion of the Lord’s
Supper which shall normally be
observed at least once a month;
-
evangelism and mission, locally,
regionally, nationally and
internationally;
-
the teaching, encouragement,
welcome and inclusion of young
people;
-
nurture and growth of Christian
disciples;
-
education and training for Christian
and community service;
-
giving and encouraging pastoral
care;
-
supporting and encouraging
charitable social action in the United
Kingdom and abroad;
-
encouraging relationships with and
supporting Baptists and other
Christians.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees confirm that have had regard
to the guidance issued by the Charity
Commission on public benefit| |---|---|---| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|The Church classifies its giving as gifts or
donations rather than grants.| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|As stated in the summary of the purposes
of the Charity| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|This is essential to the Charity’s
effectiveness and is carried out by
members of the Church, the wider
fellowship and supporters from the
community.| |Other||| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|The regular weekly activities, include
Sunday worship services and Bible
Studies. There are two cafés on church
premises: Working for Wellbeing
(Thursdays) and Beans Saturday café.
Both are open to the public. The premises
are used by a local choir, Alcoholics
Anonymous and a Women’s institute
Reading Group.
Special events last year including a
Coronation Tea Party.
Occasionally there are visiting speakers
who take meetings on Friday mornings,
e.g. Educacion Plus Work in Costa Rica,
The Society for the Distribution of Hebrew
Scriptures, Open Doors.
Gifts were made to a wide variety of
Christian activities including Barnabas
Fund, Open Doors, Tearfund, Samaritan’s
Purse, SDHS, as well as to responses for
humanitarian Aid (e.g. the Turkish
earthquake in February)
.| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |||| |---|---|---| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|A quinquennial Report was completed and
recommendations activated.
The church garden was successfully
landscaped. Overgrown trees were
substantially reduced.| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|The Church does not fundraise. All
finances received were gifts plus Gift Aid.
Also rent on the church manse.| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Accounts for the period are attached.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|We endeavour to hold a balance of six
months expected expenditure| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£14,846 at 31 December 2023.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|Not applicable| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|Not applicable| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|Static membership| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |||| |---|---|---| |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|All finances received were gifts plus Gift
Aid. Also rent on the church manse.| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The fact that the church building is listed
Grade II means that its upkeep at times is
expensive. That for 2023 was effectively
met by income from the Manse and 2024
will be similar| |Other||| **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Church Constitution Document| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated Organisation| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|The Charity Trustees are appointed in
accordance with the directions of the
Church Members’ Meeting and the
provisions of the Church Constitution| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |||| |---|---|---| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|Lechlade Baptist Church is a Member of
the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB)| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Lechlade Baptist Church| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charity number|1200361| |Charity’s principal address|Lechlade Baptist Church
Sherborne Street
Lechlade
GL7 3AH| ||| **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||David Hopkins|Church Secretary|2023|| ||Michael Stone|Church Treasurer|2023|| ||David Chandler|Trustee|2023|| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved ## **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |Robert J. English|**2023**|CHURCH PREMISES
CHURCH MANSE| |TRUST COMPANY
MANAGER
WEST OF ENGLAND
BAPTIST TRUST
MANAGER||| |||| |||| |||| |||| **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers** |**Type of**|**Name**|**Address**| |---|---|---| |**adviser**||| ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** As indicated in the Declaration attached to the Accounts, while The Charity Commission issued its authorisation of Lechlade Baptist Church as a CIO on 13 September 2022, it subsequently confirmed that the merger of LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH (UNINCORPORATED) with LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH – 1200361 was registered on 23 January 2023 with an effective asset transfer date of 1 January 2023. It should therefore be noted that until the transfer of assets took place on 1 January 2023, all transactions continued to belong to the UNINCORPORATED entity. Therefore, while the period covered is shown as beginning on 13 September 2022, there were no financial transactions in respect of it prior to 1 January 2023. All transactions in 2022 concerned only the UNINCORPORATED entity. ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s)** David Hopkins Michael Stone **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)** Secretary **Date** 14 October 2024 Declarations The truslees deGlare that they hav¢ approved the tru¥ttts' report abovc. SlgTh•d oh bèhalf of thè charity's trustees Slgnaturelsl Full nam•lsi David Hopknns Mich*1 Slono Posluon (•g S•cr•tary, Chair, etc) Secretary '1 R L-*) Date 14 Oclobor 2024 Lechlade Baptist Church CIO Registered Charity No. 1200361 Accounts for Period 13 September 2022 to 31 December 2023 LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH CIO Registered Charity 1200361 Declaration Accounts for the period 13 September 2022 to 31 December 2023 Early in 2022, the leaders of Lechlade Baptist Church (LBC) applied to The Charity Commission to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), having f irst consulted with the church members. This decision had been reached in light of anticipated changes to relevant legislation as LBC was at that time functioning as an 'excepted charity, through its membership of Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), and prepared its annual reports accordingly without reference to The Charity Commission. The necessary legal steps were carried out using Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP (ACS) who had been introduced by BUGB to inform and advise any Baptist Churches that wished to engage them. Following ACS'S work, notif ication was received from The Charity Commission that Lechlade Baptist Church had been registered as a CIO on 13 September 2022. ACS later advised that The Charity Commission had authorised the transfer of Assets and Liabilities on 23 November 2022, and subsequently conf irmed that the merger of LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH (UNINCORPORATED) with LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH - 1200361 had been reglstered on 23 January 2023 with effective asset transfer date of l January 2023. It also conf irmed that LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH (UNINCORPORATED) had been removed f rom the Register of Charities. In the accounting information which follows it must therefore be noted that until the transfer of assets took place on l January 2023, all transactions continued to belong to the UNINCORPORATED entity. Therefore, while the period covered in the attached statement in respect of the new CIO is designated as beginning on 13 September 2022, there were no f inancial transactions in respect of it prior to l January 2023. All transactions shown in the comparative 2022 information relate solely to the UNINCORPORATED entity. Approved by Trnstees of Lechlade Baptist Church CIO and signed on their behalf . Signature: Name: i&1 Date: 11 o&ioJ LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH CIO Registered Charity 1200361 Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees/Members of Lechlade Baptist Church for the year ended 31 t)ecember 2023 I report on my examination of the accounts of the above charity C'the Trust") for the year ended 31 December 2023, and set out on pages 3 and 4 attached. Respective responsibilities of the Church and the Independent Examiner As charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 fthe Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act, having followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)b of the Act. Basis of Independent Examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking expl(mations f rom the appointed officers of the Church 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 'true and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (i) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: (a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act: and (b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met: or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Martyn Cook.............. .... .. 26 St Phillips Rood. Upper Stra 2024 on. on, SN2 7QH LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH CIO Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity 1200361 Income & Expenditure Report for Lechlade Baptist Church The notes on the next page form part of these accounts. 2023 Total 2022 Total Notes Unrestricted Restricted Incoming Resources Collections, donations & other gifts Grants Received Planned Giving Loose Collections Tax Refunds 580 580 3,130 6,569 7,590 2,164 3,279 599 680 1,161 13,000 38,172 7,480 1,149 1,519 373 930 1,656 12,000 25,687 7,480 1,149 1,519 373 930 1,656 12,000 25,687 Gift Aid GASDS Use of Church Beans Café Manse Rent Total incoming resources Less Resources Expended Mission Support Baptist Union Home Mission BMS- World Mission Other Missionary Agencies Pastoral Support 1,800 1,440 7,040 1,273 11,553 1,800 1,440 7,040 1,273 11,553 1,800 2,440 6,740 Total Gifts & fithes 10,980 Church Costs Heat, Light & Water Maintenance New Fixtures & Fittings Insurance CCLI Licences / IT Cleaning & Flowers & Stationery Total Church Costs 1,569 11,895 214 783 770 1,292 16,523 1,569 11,895 214 783 770 1,292 16,523 919 1,409 2,366 679 874 1,071 7,317 Other Expenses Leadership Assistance Visiting preacher / musician expenses Baptist Union Subscription Beans & Meet and Eat / Social Events Legal Costs Other expenses Auditor's honorarium Total Other Expenses 4,867 1,268 880 170 526 1,280 407 880 170 526 1,280 407 329 1,853 1,476 150 9,943 3,262 3,262 Manse Costs Insurance Refurbishment / Maintenance Ridgeway Fees 331 1,485 1,440 3,257 331 1,485 1,440 3,257 288 372 1,560 2,219 Total Manse Costs Total - All Expenses 34,595 34,595 30,459 Total Income less Expenditure (8,908) (8,908) 7,713 Cash Balance at l January 23,754 16,042 Cash Balance at 31 December 14,846 23.754 LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH CIO Financial Statements year ended 31 December 2023 Registered Charity 1200361 Statement of Assets and Liabilities 31-Dec-23 31-Dec-22 Bank Accounts Barclays Bank 14,846 23,754 14,846 23,754 Debtors Working4Wellbeing HMRC re GiftAid 60 2,571 2,631 1,892 1,892 Liabilities Chaplaincy to Swindon Crown Court 150 150 Other Assets include: Freehold Church premises at Sherborne Street, Lechlade Freehold Manse, at 3 The Close, Hambidge Lane, Lechlade Church Organ and Piano Photocopier, Desktop PC and Audio Visual Equipment Church Fixtures and Fittings Manse Fixtures and Fittings Notes l The church building is over 200 years old. It is Grade 2 listed and it became necessary to repair/replace the windows while retaining the original glass. This was done in 2021 and grant monies were received in that year, but some were received early in 2022 along with VAT recovery from the DCMS. 2 Disparity due to a timing difference in 2022. 3 Includes Educacion Plus, Tools With a Mission, Open Doors, Barnabas Aid, Tear Fund. 4 External works including gutter repairs, tree lopping and substantial frontage improvement. 5 The 2022 figure included new audio/visual equipment. 6 Our part-time pastor left in 2022 for personal reasons. 7 Current year includes 2022 which was overlooked at the time. 8 These relate to the formation of the new CIO. Approved by Trustees of Lechlade Baptist Church CIO and signed on thelr behalf: Signature: Name: Date: Martyn Cook, J.P., B.SC., Dip I.A. 26 St Philip’s Road Upper Stratton Swindon, SN2 7QH Tele : 01793 825535 07802 486448 e-mail : martyn@thecookhouse.org October 14[th] , 2024 Mr M Stone, Treasurer, Lechlade Baptist Church By email to : stone.michaelz@gmail.com Dear Michael. ## **LECHLADE BAPTIST CHURCH ACCOUNTS YEARS ENDING : DECEMBER 31[st] , 2022 AND DECEMBER 31[st] , 2023.** Thank for the declaration setting out the situation regarding the Church accounts relating to the change of Lechlade Baptist Church from an Unincorporated Association to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. I am writing to confirm the declaration, made by the Church Trustees and signed on their behalf by yourself, that the accounts for the period January 1[st] , 2022 to December 31[st] , 2022, for which I carried out the Independent Examination in March 2023, were for the Church as an Unincorporated Association. Therefore, there were no financial transactions or financial assets held by the Church as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in the period 13[th] September 2022 to 31[st] December 2022. Consequently, with the church becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation from January 1[st] , 2023, the accounts for year January 1[st] to December 31[st] , 2023, for which I carried out the Independent Examination in April 2024, were for the Church as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Yours Faithfully Martyn Cook letter-lbc accounts-2024-10-14.docx Page 1 of 1