Trustees Report Year Ending 2024
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 in 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.
In addition to this we host weekly discussion and prayer meetings and a monthly house group. The church 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 a toddlers group for child minders, music tuition, children’s tuition, NCT baby classes, baby massage classes, language classes, theatre groups and more. Pine Ridge Housing Association hire the hall for occasional meetings. The building is also used as a polling station about once a year.
The Watford School’s Trust Charity is now based at the church and has a Portakabin office within the church grounds and a shed to store their resources.
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 including 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 Malawi 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).
North Bushey Baptist Church 218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, WD23 2BD Contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk Charity Number: 1201858
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.
Approvals
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Owen Harvey (Treasurer) Date: 07/01/25
Jayne Entwistle-Thomas (Secretary) Date: 07/01/25
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 2024
218 Park Avenue, North Bushey, Herts WD23 2BD contactus@northbusheybaptist.org.uk www.northbusheybaptist.org.uk
Complied by Alison and Owen Harvey January 2025
Independently Examined by Paul Hayler
Income Expenditure Summary 2024
Income
| Income | |
|---|---|
| Cash | £4,946.00 |
| Cheques | £500.00 |
| StandingOrders / BACS | £15,127.96 |
| Gift Aid Tax Refund | £3,572.10 |
| Toddlers, Playtime & Library | £1,469.71 |
| Hall Hire | £17,319.51 |
| InPost Box | £1,000.00 |
| Website & SumUp | £1,085.15 |
| Other | £2,409.00 |
| Interest from 7 Dayaccount | £127.87 |
| Interest from 3 month account | £579.69 |
| Total | £48,136.99 |
Expenditure
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| Ministerial Costs(incpension) | £5,323.20 |
| Church | £8,143.79 |
| Donations | £1,950.00 |
| RunningCosts | £31,638.40 |
| Total | £47,055.39 |
Difference £1,081.60
(Income - Expenditure)
22
Accounts Summary 2024
7 Day savings Account
| Date | Details | Withdrawl | Deposit | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2024 | Opening Balance | £4,794.57 | ||
| 30/01/2024 | Deposit | £2,000.00 | £6,794.57 | |
| 13/03/2024 | Withdrawl | £2,000.00 | £4,794.57 | |
| 05/06/2024 | Withdrawl | £2,000.00 | £2,794.57 | |
| 14/08/2024 | Deposit | £5,000.00 | £7,794.57 | |
| 31/12/2024 | Interest | £127.87 | £7,922.44 | |
| Balance Carried Forward | £7,922.44 | |||
| Difference £3,127.87 |
3 Month savings Account
| Date | Details | Withdrawl | Deposit | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2024 | Opening Balance | £12,461.52 | ||
| 30/01/2024 | Deposit | £1,000.00 | £13,461.52 | |
| 31/12/2024 | Interest | £579.69 | £14,041.21 | |
| Balance Carried Forward | £14,041.21 | |||
| Difference £1,579.69 Current Account |
||||
| 01/01/2024 | Opening Balance | £7,991.52 | ||
| 31/12/2024 | Balance Carried Forward | £4,365.56 | ||
| Difference -£3,625.96 |
North Bushe Ba tist Church Assets 31/12/24 y p
| North Bushey Baptist Church Assets 31/12/24 | |
|---|---|
| 7 Day Account | £7,922.44 |
| 3 Month Account | £14,041.21 |
| Current Account | £4,365.56 |
| Total Assets 31/12/24 | £26,329.21 |
| Total Assets 1/1/24 | £25,247.61 |
|---|---|
| Difference in Assets during 2024 | £1,081.60 |
33
North Bushey Baptist Church Current Spending to the end of December 2024
| Budget | Total Spent 2024 | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministerial | |||
| Salary (Visiting Preachers) | £1,960.00 | £2,000.00 | -£40.00 |
| Salary (Alison) | £1,872.00 | £1,859.00 | £13.00 |
| Pension (Alison) | £150.00 | £187.20 | -£37.20 |
| Salary (Bernie) | £840.00 | £835.00 | £5.00 |
| Pension (Bernie) | £75.00 | £84.00 | -£9.00 |
| Baptist Pension | £24.00 | £10.00 | £14.00 |
| Payroll Fee | £180.00 | £348.00 | -£168.00 |
| Minister's Expenses | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Church | |||
| CCLI (Copyright License) | £370.00 | £384.72 | -£14.72 |
| Electricity | £2,400.00 | £5,252.97 | -£2,852.97 |
| Insurance | £1,500.00 | £1,453.40 | £46.60 |
| Subscriptions | £200.00 | £140.00 | £60.00 |
| Telephone & Broadband | £600.00 | £405.93 | £194.07 |
| Web Hosting | £250.00 | £206.40 | £43.60 |
| Water | £400.00 | £300.37 | £99.63 |
| Donations | |||
| CBA (Home Mission) | £700.00 | £650.00 | £50.00 |
| BMS | £700.00 | £650.00 | £50.00 |
| SIM (Fazakerley's) | £700.00 | £650.00 | £50.00 |
| Misc Donations | £700.00 | £0.00 | £700.00 |
| Running Costs | |||
| Sunday Club | £50.00 | £53.92 | -£3.92 |
| Worship Group | £50.00 | £36.82 | £13.18 |
| Services | £1,000.00 | £842.51 | £157.49 |
| Outreach | £1,000.00 | £1,001.03 | -£1.03 |
| Catering & Cleaning | £700.00 | £1,252.95 | -£552.95 |
| Stationary Supplies | £400.00 | £357.79 | £42.21 |
| Pastoral | £80.00 | £135.16 | -£55.16 |
| BuildingMaintainance | £10,000.00 | £27,958.22 | -£17,958.22 |
| Total | £26,901.00 | £47,055.39 | -£20,154.39 |
4
Itemised Expenditure over £50
Services
| Itemised Expenditure Services |
over £50 |
|---|---|
| New Drum Machine | £205.00 |
| Sound Cloud | £75.00 |
| Stationary | |
| A3 Trimmer | £129.20 |
| Building Maintainance | |
| Church cladding and soffits | £17,919.00 |
| Sunday Club Cupboard | £291.66 |
| Defibfilator | £668.00 |
| 3 Recycled Benches | £1,265.95 |
| Fire Check | £60.00 |
| Weed Fabric and fixlings | £119.35 |
| New Fire Signs | £234.00 |
| 3 Recycled Benches | £1,258.14 |
| Ring Doorbell | £59.05 |
| Tablet Camera | £75.93 |
| Garden Tool Shed | £587.88 |
| Faulty heater timer replaced | £117.93 |
| 3 Recycled Benches £1,258.14 Ring Doorbell £59.05 Tablet Camera £75.93 Garden Tool Shed £587.88 Faulty heater timer replaced £117.93 |
3 Recycled Benches £1,258.14 Ring Doorbell £59.05 Tablet Camera £75.93 Garden Tool Shed £587.88 Faulty heater timer replaced £117.93 |
|---|---|
| Outreach | |
| Updated Sum Up Machine | £94.80 |
| 100 Official Shoeboxes | £59.00 |
| Rotating Chair (SEN) | £93.99 |
| A1 Frames x3 | £89.97 |
| Catering & Cleaning | |
| Beko Dishwasher | £329.00 |
| Small Hoover | £59.99 |
| Large Metal Trolley (!st class paid £35) | £76.35 |
| Pastoral | |
| Thank you gift and voucher | £66.38 |
| Some items we got at a bargainprice! | |
| Blue Storage Cupboard | £20.00 |
| 40 Gold Mugs | Free |
| Hot Plate | £20.00 |
| Storage boxes for hall | £23.00 |
| Sensor Light in entrance | £24.00 |
| Tablet for heaters | £49.99 |
| big poster | £37.00 |
5
North Bushey Baptist Church Current Assets at the end of December 2024
| November | December | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance Brought Forward | £26,393.41 | £26,083.19 |
| Income | ||
| Interest on Savings | £707.56 | |
| Income into current account | £2,557.95 | £2,955.40 |
| Money transferred from current account | ||
| Expenditure | ||
| Expenditure from current account | £2,868.17 | £3,416.94 |
| Money transferred into savings | ||
| Actual Income | £2,557.95 | £3,662.96 |
| Expenditure | £2,868.17 | £3,416.94 |
| Monthly surplus/Deficit | -£310.22 | £246.02 |
| Balance | £26,083.19 | £26,329.21 |
| Banked Assets | ||
| Current Account | £4,827.10 | £4,365.56 |
| Savings Account - 7 Day | £7,794.57 | £7,922.44 |
| Including interest of: | £127.87 | |
| Savings Account - 3 Months | £13,461.52 | £14,041.21 |
| Including interest of: | £579.69 | |
| Total to be carried forward | £26,083.19 | £26,329.21 |
| Non-Banked Assets | ||
| Sub Total | ||
| Total | £26,083.19 | £26,329.21 |
6
Income 2024
| Amount | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | |||
| Gift Aidable Donations | £0.00 | Named donations | |
| Gift Aidable Small Donations Scheme | £4,946.00 | Anonymous donations under £20 | |
| Non GASDS | £0.00 | Anonymous donations over £20 | |
| Cheques | |||
| Gift Aided | £500.00 | ||
| Non Gift Aided | £0.00 | ||
| Direct Payments | |||
| StandingOrders/BACS | £15,127.96 | inc £5000gift from Chipperfield BC | |
| Other Income | |||
| Grants | £0.00 | ||
| Gift Aid Refund | £3,572.10 | ||
| Toddlers | £142.35 | ||
| Playtime | £1,179.00 | ||
| Library | £148.36 | ||
| Hall Hire | £17,319.51 | AA | £624.00 |
| WST | £250.00 | ||
| Centralian Players | £465.50 | ||
| Dotted Note | £8,465.96 | ||
| PRHA | £100.00 | ||
| WSHA | £430.00 | ||
| Church:Together | £2,895.00 | ||
| Child Minders | £519.05 | ||
| First Class Learning | £1,535.00 | ||
| Grow to Love | £200.00 | ||
| Others | £1,835.00 | ||
| Donations Via 'Sum Up' | £1,085.15 | ||
| Other | £3,409.00 | In Post Box | £1,000.00 |
| Other donations | £2,409.00 | ||
| Total Paid into Current Account | £47,429.43 |
| Total Paid into Current Account £47,429.43 Bank Interest £707.56 |
Total Paid into Current Account £47,429.43 Bank Interest £707.56 |
|---|---|
| TOTAL INCOME | £48,136.99 |
7
Sub Accounts
Toddlers 2024
| Details | Income | Expenditure | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Income | £16.50 | £16.50 | |
| Feb | Income | £26.00 | £42.50 | |
| April | Income | £43.00 | £85.50 | |
| May | Income | £19.00 | £104.50 | |
| June | Income | £20.50 | £125.00 | |
| Nov | Income | £17.35 | £142.35 | |
| **2024 ** | Totals | £142.35 | £0.00 | £142.35 |
Playtime 2024
| Details | Income | Expenditure | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Income | £78.50 | £78.50 | |
| Feb | Income | £125.50 | £204.00 | |
| March | Income | £94.50 | £298.50 | |
| April | Income | £84.80 | £383.30 | |
| May | Income | £124.10 | £507.40 | |
| June | Income | £74.00 | £581.40 | |
| July | Income | £91.50 | £672.90 | |
| August | Income | £123.50 | £796.40 | |
| Sep | Income | £82.00 | £878.40 | |
| Oct | Income | £115.70 | £994.10 | |
| Nov | Income | £82.00 | £1,076.10 | |
| Dec | Income | £53.00 | £1,129.10 | |
| **2024 ** | Totals | £1,129.10 | £0.00 | £1,129.10 |
Library 2024
| Details | Income | Expenditure | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb | Income | £19.00 | £19.00 | |
| April | Income | £14.50 | £33.50 | |
| May | Income | £25.20 | £58.70 | |
| July | Income | £13.76 | £72.46 | |
| August | Income | £22.80 | £95.26 | |
| Sep | Income | £17.10 | £112.36 | |
| Oct | Income | £19.00 | £131.36 | |
| Dec | Income | £17.00 | £148.36 | |
| **2024 ** | Totals | £148.36 | £0.00 | £148.36 |
8
North Bushey Baptist Church 2025 Proposed Budget
| Budget 2024 | Budget 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Salaries | ||
| Salary (Visiting Preachers) | £1,960.00 | £2,300.00 |
| Salary (Alison) | £1,872.00 | £2,000.00 |
| Pension (Alison) | £150.00 | £200.00 |
| Salary (Bernie) | £840.00 | £900.00 |
| Pension (Bernie) | £75.00 | £100.00 |
| Baptist Pension | £24.00 | £25.00 |
| Payroll Fee | £180.00 | £380.00 |
| Ministers Expenses | ||
| Totals | £5,101.00 | £5,905.00 |
| Church Utilities | ||
| CCLI (Copyright License) | £370.00 | £400.00 |
| Electricity | £2,400.00 | £6,300.00 |
| Insurance | £1,500.00 | £1,500.00 |
| Subscriptions | £200.00 | £200.00 |
| Telephone & Broadband | £600.00 | £600.00 |
| Web Hosting | £250.00 | £250.00 |
| Water | £400.00 | £425.00 |
| Donations | ||
| CBA (Home Mission) | £700.00 | £750.00 |
| BMS | £700.00 | £750.00 |
| SIM (Fazakerley's) | £700.00 | £750.00 |
| Misc Donations | £700.00 | £750.00 |
| 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 | £700.00 | £1,200.00 |
| Stationary Supplies | £400.00 | £400.00 |
| Pastoral | £80.00 | £100.00 |
| BuildingMaintainance | £10,000.00 | £15,000.00 |
| Total | £26,901.00 | £37,380.00 |
9
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of North Bushey Baptist Church 2024
NBBC CHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 EXAMINERS COMMENTS
This examination of the accounts is not an audit. It is merely a careful checking of the accounts to make sure that everything looks right and there are that there are no obvious discrepancies and no obvious omissions of things that should be included.
As usual the accounts of North Bushey Baptist Church are laid out so clearly that they would easily fulfil the requirements of a full audit. Every transaction is recorded and each one is backed up by verifiable receipts and a full bank statement to show where all the income has come from and where all the expenditure has gone. Any examiner and any auditor would be delighted to be working with a set of accounts so clearly laid out.
The accounts for 2024 reveal another year of increased income and a year in which income has slightly exceeded expenditure allowing a small increase in the church reserves. The increase in income has come largely from increased hall hire fees. The treasurer and administrator should both be congratulated on the way in which they have managed the use of the church to fulfil both its principal purpose as a place of worship and its secondary purpose as a place for community groups to enhance the life of the local area.
That said the increase in reserve assets against possible major costs in the future has been modest, rising from £24,000 to £25,000 . 2024 has been another year in which substantial improvements to the church premises have been made (notably renewed cladding to the church frontage) but these improvements come at a cost.
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 a good safe stewardship of the church resources.
Paul Hayler February 1[st] 2025
10
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of North Bushey Baptist Church 2024
NBBC Church Accounts FOR 2024
EXAMINERS COMMENTS
This examination of the accounts is not an audit. It is merely a careful checking of the accounts to make sure that everything looks right and there are that there are no obvious discrepancies and no obvious omissions of things that should be included.
As usual the accounts of North Bushey Baptist Church are laid out so clearly that they would easily fulfil the requirements of a full audit. Every transaction is recorded and each one is backed up by verifiable receipts and a full bank statement to show where all the income has come from and where all the expenditure has gone. Any examiner and any auditor would be delighted to be working with a set of accounts so clearly laid out.
The accounts for 2024 reveal another year of increased income and a year in which income has slightly exceeded expenditure allowing a small increase in the church reserves. The increase in income has come largely from increased hall hire fees. The treasurer and administrator should both be congratulated on the way in which they have managed the use of the church to fulfil both its principal purpose as a place of worship and its secondary purpose as a place for community groups to enhance the life of the local area.
That said the increase in reserve assets against possible major costs in the future has been modest, rising from £24,000 to £25,000 . 2024 has been another year in which substantial improvements to the church premises have been made (notably renewed cladding to the church frontage) but these improvements come at a cost.
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 a good safe stewardship of the church resources.
Paul Hayler February 1[st] 2025