Trustees Report Year Ending 2023
218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, WD23 2BD. Office - 07974 979346 Church - 01923 255417 contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk www.northbusheybaptist.org.uk Charity Number: 1201858
Reference and administration details
Charity Name: North Bushey Free Church (Baptist) Address: 218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, WD23 4HJ Telephone: Church 01923 255417 Office 07974 979346 Website: www.northbusheybaptist.org.uk Email: contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk Charity Number: 1201858 Trustees: Mr Owen Harvey Chairman / Treasurer Mrs Jayne Entwistle-Thomas Secretary Property Trustees: The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8RT Affiliations: North Bushey Baptist Church is a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain Bankers: Santander Business Banking Operations, Sunderland, SR43 4FW Independent Examiner: Mr Paul Hayler 60 Northfield Gardens, Watford, WD24 7RE
North Bushey Baptist Church
218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, WD23 2BD Contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk Charity Number: 1201858
Ethos and Values
As a Member of the Baptist Union the Church subscribes to the Union’s Declaration of Principle:
“That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws.
That Christian Baptism is the immersion in water into the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, of those who have professed repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who ‘died for our sins according to the Scriptures; was buried, and rose again on the third day’.
That it is the duty of every disciple to bear personal witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take part in the evangelisation of the world.”
Our Vision Statement
A welcoming church, working to deepen our faith, while sharing the love, hope and certainty of Jesus, with the community.
Structure, Governance and Management
Members are accepted according to the Church Constitution. While Baptism by Immersion is the normal mode of entry into a Baptist Church, the church applies an open membership policy whereby persons who have not been baptised, as described I the Union’s Declaration of Principle, may at the discretion of the Church Members’ Meeting be accepted for full membership based on their own public profession of faith.
The Charites Trustees are the deacons including the Church Secretary and Treasurer. The church employs a part time administrator. The church currently has no minister and is being led by the deaconate.
Church meetings are held a minimum of 5 times a year when the church members meet to discuss and make decisions together about the life of the church. Anyone from the church can attend these meetings and raise points of discussion, however, only members are permitted to vote. Meetings are governed by rules laid out in the constitution.
North Bushey Baptist Church
218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, WD23 2BD Contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk Charity Number: 1201858
Objectives and Activities
The principal objective, as defined in the constitution, is 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.
The church does this in a number of ways through different activities for the membership and regular worshippers as well as members of the local community. The church hosts regular public worship at 10:30 am with an average of 20-30 attendees.
We also host weekly discussion and prayer meetings and a monthly house group. The church also hosts thriving groups for both seniors and toddlers as well as a local community library.
The church also hosts a number of groups and activities including music tuition, children’s tuition and language classes, theatre groups and more.
The Watford School’s Trust is now based at the church and has a Portakabin office within the church grounds.
All staff and volunteers who are in contact with children and young people are appropriately vetted with regard to the Criminal Records Bureau. The church also has a “Safe to Grow Policy” (Child Protection Policy) in place which is shared with all who work in the various activities provided.
We are grateful to God for all the facilities we have at North Bushey Baptist, our church, hall , patio and gardens, which are easily accessible and allow us to reach out to our local community. We rely heavily on volunteers for cleaning maintenance and providing refreshments for all our members and visitors.
The Church also provides prayer and monetary support to missionaries in Nepal through the SIM (Serving in Mission) organisation, the Baptist Missionary Society and through the Central Baptist Association. We also support local charities including Watford Schools Trust and New Hope (Watford).
Financial Responsibilities
Trustees are required to provide financial statements for each year and present these for examination.
The Trustees aim to keep reserves in line with Charity Commission guidance of approximately three months running costs which is currently circa £12,000.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
North Bushey Baptist Church
218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, WD23 2BD Contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk Charity Number: 1201858
Approvals
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Owen Harvey (Treasurer) Date: 24/10/24 Jayne Entwistle-Thomas (Secretary) Date: 24/10/224
North Bushey Baptist Church
218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, WD23 2BD
Contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk Charity Number: 1201858
North Bushey Free Church (Baptist)
Annual Accounts 2023
218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, Herts WD23 2BD contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk www.northbusheybaptist.org.uk
Complied by Alison and Owen Harvey January 2024
Independently Examined by Paul Hayler
Summary 2023
Income
| Income | |
|---|---|
| Cash | £4,442.40 |
| Cheques | £150.00 |
| StandingOrders / BACS | £9,537.96 |
| Gift Aid Tax Refund | £5,201.40 |
| Toddlers & Playtime | £1,106.00 |
| Hall Hire | £12,611.17 |
| InPost Box | £1,000.00 |
| Website & SumUp | £590.83 |
| Other | £153.97 |
| Interest from 7 Dayaccount | £234.16 |
| Interest from 3 month account | £749.48 |
| Total | £35,777.37 |
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| PreachingCosts(incpension) | £3,446.80 |
| Church | £4,928.60 |
| Donations | £2,410.00 |
| RunningCosts | £33,620.37 |
| Total | £44,405.77 |
| Difference | -£8,628.40 |
|---|---|
| (Income - Expenditure) |
Which balances, with the difference between the assets in January and the assets in December
| Assets 1st January 2023 | £33,876.01 |
|---|---|
| Assets 31st December 2023 | £25,247.61 |
| Difference | -£8,628.40 |
North Bushey Baptist Church Current Spending to the end of December 2023
| Budget | Used | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministerial | |||
| Salary (Visiting Preachers) | £2,600.00 | £3,373.10 | -£773.10 |
| Housing + Council Tax | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Pension | £24.00 | £63.70 | -£39.70 |
| Payroll Fee | £0.00 | £10.00 | -£10.00 |
| Minister's Expenses | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Church | |||
| CCLI (Copyright License) | £350.00 | £366.30 | -£16.30 |
| Electricity | £2,000.00 | £1,942.36 | £57.64 |
| Insurance | £1,400.00 | £1,352.07 | £47.93 |
| Subscriptions | £200.00 | £87.55 | £112.45 |
| Telephone & Broadband | £500.00 | £576.21 | -£76.21 |
| Web Hosting | £250.00 | £180.00 | £70.00 |
| Water | £200.00 | £424.11 | -£224.11 |
| Donations | |||
| CBA (Home Mission) | £600.00 | £750.00 | -£150.00 |
| BMS | £600.00 | £750.00 | -£150.00 |
| SIM (Fazakerley's) | £600.00 | £750.00 | -£150.00 |
| Misc Donations | £600.00 | £160.00 | £440.00 |
| Running Costs | |||
| Sunday Club | £50.00 | £0.00 | £50.00 |
| Worship Group | £50.00 | £19.76 | £30.24 |
| Services | £1,000.00 | £1,266.01 | -£266.01 |
| Outreach | £1,000.00 | £508.75 | £491.25 |
| Catering & Cleaning | £500.00 | £594.00 | -£94.00 |
| Stationary Supplies | £300.00 | £389.84 | -£89.84 |
| Pastoral | £80.00 | £33.27 | £46.73 |
| BuildingMaintainance | £8,000.00 | £30,808.74 | -£22,808.74 |
| Total | £20,904.00 | £44,405.77 | -£23,501.77 |
3
North Bushey Baptist Church Current Assets at the end of December 2023
| November | December | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance Brought Forward | £24,186.03 | £24,055.21 |
| Income | ||
| Interest on Savings | £495.27 | |
| Income into current account | £2,338.96 | £3,101.60 |
| Money transferred from current account | ||
| Expenditure | ||
| Expenditure from current account | £2,469.78 | £2,404.47 |
| Money transferred into savings | ||
| Actual Income | £2,338.96 | £3,596.87 |
| Expenditure | £2,469.78 | £2,404.47 |
| Monthly surplus/Deficit | -£130.82 | £1,192.40 |
| Balance | £24,055.21 | £25,247.61 |
| Banked Assets | ||
| Current Account | £7,294.39 | £7,991.52 |
| Savings Account - 7 Day | £4,765.36 | £4,794.57 |
| Including interest of: | £29.21 | |
| Savings Account - 3 Months | £11,995.46 | £12,461.52 |
| Including interest of: | £466.06 | |
| Total to be carried forward | £24,055.21 | £25,247.61 |
| Non-Banked Assets | ||
| Sub Total | ||
| Total | £24,055.21 | £25,247.61 |
4
Income 2023
| Amount | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | |||
| Gift Aidable Donations | Named donations | ||
| Gift Aidable Small Donations Scheme | £4,442.40 | Anonymous donations under £20 | |
| Non GASDS | £0.00 | Anonymous donations over £20 | |
| Cheques | |||
| Gift Aided | £150.00 | ||
| Non Gift Aided | £0.00 | ||
| Direct Payments | |||
| StandingOrders/BACS | £9,537.96 | straight into bank account | |
| Other Income | |||
| Grants | £0.00 | ||
| Gift Aid Refund | £5,201.40 | ||
| Toddlers | £197.00 | ||
| Playtime | £909.00 | ||
| Hall Hire | £12,611.17 | BOW | £140.00 |
| AA | £572.00 | ||
| Centralian Players | £240.00 | ||
| Others | £880.00 | ||
| WSHA | £510.00 | ||
| PRHA | £50.00 | ||
| Church:Together | £1,880.00 | ||
| HeadToToe | £250.00 | ||
| First ClassLearning | £285.00 | ||
| DottedNote | £7,804.17 | ||
| Donations Via the Website | £590.83 | ||
| Other | £1,153.97 | In Post Box | £1,000.00 |
| Other donations | £153.97 | ||
| Total Paid into Current Account | £34,793.73 | ||
| Total Paid into Current Account £34,793.73 Bank Interest £983.64 |
|||
| TOTAL INCOME | £35,777.37 |
5
Expenditure 2023
| Ministers | ||
|---|---|---|
| VisitingPreachers | £3,373.10 | |
| Housing+ Council Tax | £0.00 | |
| Pension | £63.70 | |
| Payroll Fee | £10.00 | |
| Minister's Expenses | £0.00 | |
| Church | ||
| CCLI(Copyright License) | £366.30 | |
| Electricity | £1,942.36 | |
| Insurance | £1,352.07 | |
| Subscriptions | £87.55 | |
| Telephone & Broadband | £576.21 | |
| Web Hosting | £180.00 | |
| Water | £424.11 | |
| Donations | ||
| CBA Home Mission | £750.00 | |
| BMS | £750.00 | |
| SIM(FazakerleyFund) | £750.00 | |
| Misc | £160.00 | |
| Running | ||
| SundayClub | £0.00 | |
| WorshipGroup | £19.76 | |
| Services | £1,266.01 | Items over £50 shown in separarte sheet |
| Outreach | £508.75 | |
| Catering/Cleaning | £594.00 | Items over £50 shown in separarte sheet |
| Stationery | £389.84 | |
| Pastoral | £33.27 | |
| BuildingMaintainance | £30,808.74 | Items over £50 shown in separarte sheet |
| Money Transfers | ||
| 7 DaySavings Account | ||
| 3 Month Savings Account | ||
| Total Paid out of Current Account |
£44,405.77 | |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE not including money transfers |
£44,405.77 | |
| £44,405.77 |
6
Itemised Expenditure over £50
Services
| Itemised Expenditure Services |
over £50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry Pass | £59.00 | |
| Microphone | £78.49 | |
| NBBC Mugs | £50.00 | |
| Wenzels-Church Lunch | £69.80 | |
| Mixer desk | £175.44 | |
| Sound Cloud | £75.00 |
Stationary
Photo Albums £65.96
Telephone & Broadband
New Mobile Phone £119.79
Building Maintainance
| Building Maintainance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery Henry Hoover | £550.20 | |
| Battery Mower | £509.99 | |
| Sensor light (by kitchen) lights in church | £111.48 | |
| Excavating Land (Portacabin) | £250.00 | |
| Hinges and electronics | £50.70 | |
| 4 Raised planters and plants | £110.00 | |
| Carpet Cleaning | £180.00 | |
| Desk | £167.76 | |
| Shelving (Toddlers) | £140.00 | |
| TCM-Builders | £22,242.00 | |
| Storage Cupboard Vestry | £94.00 | |
| Manhole Cover | £825.00 | |
| Plumbing-Toilet water heater | £1,650.00 | |
| 3 seats & coffee Table | £403.60 | |
| Blind for side room | £85.66 | |
| Fire Extinguisher inspection | £60.00 | |
| New BBQ | £219.00 | |
| Outdoor Cupboard Gazebo Storage | £269.98 | |
| 3 Seater bench | £129.99 | |
| Wall Heater | £129.99 | |
| Wood Pannels (soundproofing) | £69.99 |
Toddlers
| Toddlers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cage Extension | £110.00 | |
| Books for Toddlers | £79.50 |
7
Sub Accounts
| Sub Accounts | Sub Accounts | Sub Accounts | Sub Accounts | Sub Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toddlers 2023 | ||||
| 2022 | Brought Forward | £234.98 | ||
| Details | Income | Expenditure | Balance | |
| 2023 | ||||
| Jan | Income | £30.00 | £264.98 | |
| Feb | Cage Extension | £110.00 | £124.98 | |
| Feb | Income | £65.00 | £189.98 | |
| March | Income | £58.50 | £248.48 | |
| April | Income | £25.00 | £273.48 | |
| May | Income | £18.50 | £291.98 | |
| Dec | Books | £79.50 | £212.48 | |
| **2022 ** | Brought Forward | £234.98 | ||
| **2023 ** | Totals | £197.00 | £189.50 | £7.50 |
| Carry Forward to January 2024 | £242.48 |
| Playtime 2023 | Playtime 2023 | Playtime 2023 | Playtime 2023 | Playtime 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Brought Forward | £2,084.36 | ||
| Details | Income | Expenditure | Balance | |
| 2023 | ||||
| Jan | Income | £61.00 | £2,145.36 | |
| Feb | Income | £80.50 | £2,225.86 | |
| March | Income | £23.00 | £2,248.86 | |
| April | Income | £143.30 | £2,392.16 | |
| May | Income | £85.60 | £2,477.76 | |
| June | Income | £89.00 | £2,566.76 | |
| July | Income | £59.00 | £2,625.76 | |
| August | Income | £65.60 | £2,691.36 | |
| Sep | Income | £77.50 | £2,768.86 | |
| Oct | Income | £57.00 | £2,825.86 | |
| Nov | Income | £64.00 | £2,889.86 | |
| Dec | Income | £103.50 | £2,993.36 | |
| **2022 ** | Brought Forward | £2,084.36 | ||
| **2023 ** | Totals | £909.00 | £0.00 | £909.00 |
| Carry Forward to January 2024 | £2,993.36 |
8
North Bushey Baptist Church 2024 Budget
| Budget 2023 | Budget 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ministerial | ||
| Salary (Visiting Preachers) | £2,600.00 | £1,960.00 |
| Salary (Alison) | £1,872.00 | |
| Pension (Alison) | £150.00 | |
| Salary (Bernie) | £840.00 | |
| Pension (Bernie) | £75.00 | |
| Baptist Pension | £24.00 | £24.00 |
| Payroll Fee | £10.00 | £180.00 |
| Ministers Expenses | ||
| Totals | £2,634.00 | £5,101.00 |
| Church | ||
| CCLI (Copyright License)separated from services | £350.00 | £370.00 |
| Electricity | £2,000.00 | £2,400.00 |
| Insurance | £1,400.00 | £1,500.00 |
| Subscriptions | £200.00 | £200.00 |
| Telephone & Broadband | £500.00 | £600.00 |
| Web Hosting | £250.00 | £250.00 |
| Water | £200.00 | £400.00 |
| Donations | ||
| CBA (Home Mission) | £600.00 | £700.00 |
| BMS | £600.00 | £700.00 |
| SIM (Fazakerley's) | £600.00 | £700.00 |
| Misc Donations | £600.00 | £700.00 |
| Running Costs | ||
| Sunday Club | £50.00 | £50.00 |
| Worship Group | £50.00 | £50.00 |
| Services | £1,000.00 | £1,000.00 |
| Outreach | £1,000.00 | £1,000.00 |
| Catering & Cleaning | £500.00 | £700.00 |
| Stationary Supplies | £300.00 | £400.00 |
| Pastoral | £80.00 | £80.00 |
| BuildingMaintainance | £8,000.00 | £10,000.00 |
| Total | £20,914.00 | £26,901.00 |
9
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of North Bushey Baptist Church 2023
NBBC CHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR 2023 EXAMINERS COMMENTS
The financial records for North Bushey Baptist Church are comprehensive and complete. I examined every page, observing every quotation, every purchase, every invoice and every bank statement. Every single transaction of money coming in and money going out is recorded on the pages in their large lever arch file
Invoices, receipts and bank statements were annotated, filed and stored with a separate section for each individual month of the year. Individual Monthly Accounts of income and expenditure were carefully prepared and a full annual account at the end enabled everything to be balanced and checked for the full year.
The accounts show that 2023 has been a year of increased income. From an examiner's point of view it was especially pleasing to see that the income appears to have taken a long term turn for the better with much increased use of the building by external hiring including groups offering music lessons, drama practice, early learning, a choir and a peripatetic church group who hire the building for their activities. These groups now contribute over 33% of the church income and also enhance the community nature of the church without having any negative affect on the principal use of the building for worship and prayer. by the church members.
There has also been increased expenditure this year which has been costly and reduced the bank balance but has really enhanced the church. New double opening external doors to a new stepped patio into the garden, together with other improvements have cost £30,000 from a total church income from all sources of £35,000. As a result the net assets at the end of the year have declined from £33,000 on December 31st 2022 to £24,000 on December 31st 2023. This would be unsustainable if it happened year on year but with the rising income as detailed above and with much less expenditure anticipated next year the financial future looks bright for this church.
The financial reserves of the church are held in three accounts. A "Santander current account" for daily use, A Baptist Union "7 Day Notice Account" for money not needed immediately but available at short notice if required and a Baptist Union "3 months notice high interest account" for any funds which it is thought unlikely to be needed at short notice. The examiner continues to think that this is good safe stewardship of the church resources
Those keeping the accounts deserve congratulation on making the accounts so transparent and easy to check.
Paul Hayler
10
NBBC CHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR 2023
EXAMINERS COMMENTS
The financial records for North Bushey Baptist Church are comprehensive and complete. I examined every page, observing every quotation, every purchase, every invoice and every bank statement. Every single transaction of money coming in and money going out is recorded on the pages in their large lever arch file
Invoices, receipts and bank statements were annotated, filed and stored with a separate section for each individual month of the year. Individual Monthly Accounts of income and expenditure were carefully prepared and a full annual account at the end enabled everything to be balanced and checked for the full year.
The accounts show that 2023 has been a year of increased income. From an examiner's point of view it was especially pleasing to see that the income appears to have taken a long term turn for the better with much increased use of the building by external hiring including groups offering music lessons, drama practice, early learning, a choir and a peripatetic church group who hire the building for their activities.
These groups now contribute over 33% of the church income and also enhance the community nature of the church without having any negative affect on the principal
use of the building for worship and prayer. by the church members.
There has also been increased expenditure this year which has been costly and reduced the bank balance but has really enhanced the church. New double opening external doors to a new stepped patio into the garden, together with other improvements have cost £30,000 from a total church income from all sources of £35,000. As a result the net assets at the end of the year have declined from £33,000 on December 31st 2022 to £24,000 on December 31st 2023. This would be unsustainable if it happened year on year but with the rising income as detailed above and with much less expenditure anticipated next year the financial future looks bright for this church.
The financial reserves of the church are held in three accounts. A "Santander current account" for daily use, A Baptist Union "7 Day Notice Account" for money not needed immediately but available at short notice if required and a Baptist Union "3 months notice high interest account" for any funds which it is thought unlikely to be needed at short notice. The examiner continues to think that this is good safe stewardship of the church resources
Those keeping the accounts deserve congratulation on making the accounts so transparent and easy to check.
Paul Hayler
January 20th 2024