2024-12-31-accounts

Normanton Baptist Church

Annual Report and Accounts

For the period

1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024

Normanton Baptist Church

Reference and administrative details

Registered Address:

High Street, Normanton, West Yorkshire. WF6 2AF

Email:

[e-mail]

Charity Registration Number: 1208231

Trustees

Mr Steven Kerry (Secretary) (resigned May 2024) Mr Stephen Pinder (Treasurer) Mrs Christina Stuart (Deacon)

The above named were the Managing Trustees during the actual financial year to which the Accounts relate.

Property Trustees

The Yorkshire Baptist Association (Charity No. 247173). 17-19 York Place, Leeds LS1 2EZ. Tel: [phone]

Bankers

Barclays, Leicester

Independent Examiners

Mr Brian Cresswell Mrs Joan Brady

Normanton Baptist Church

Annual Report for 2024

The trustees present their Annual Report for 2024.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity is governed by a constitution based on the Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the constitution which requires them to be or to have been publicly baptised upon the profession of faith in Jesus Christ or following other modes of baptism to renew their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The Church also applies open membership so that persons seeking membership who have not been baptised in the manner 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 members Meeting normally takes place four times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint Trustees, who together with the Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the Members), are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. 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 Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members in Church meeting for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.

Objectives and Activities

The principal purpose 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.

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 at 10.45am. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised on the church notice boards (both internal and external) and the Church’s Facebook page. The Church is part of the local Churches Together group which, in addition to ourselves, is made up of the Anglican parish church

Normanton Baptist Church

and both the Normanton and Altofts Methodist Churches. Every five Sunday month the group has a joint evening service at 6pm, each Church taking it in turn to host it. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is free to attend any of these services.

A Worship group meets weekly for bible study and prayer which is open to anyone.

A singing group meets most weeks and joins with an Anglican church in Huddersfield. The group is open to everyone.

We join together in our church with the local Methodist churches for an annual six week lent course in the run up to Easter.

The Church is responsible for a Toddler Group which meets in the Church premises on Monday mornings during term time, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.

We offer free infant dedications and adult baptisms. We also are available for weddings and funerals.

In terms of Community events, we open our doors twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays, for a Coffee morning, with the first Saturday of the month also having a home baking stall. These are well attended by the community and receive glowing feedback. To coincide with the Saturday coffee morning, we hold 2 fairs each year with various stalls and these form part of our main fundraising activities. These are well supported by the community, both in the donations of goods received for the stalls as well as by the attendees on the day.

Other Community events include an annual Strawberry Tea, usually in July, and a pie and pea supper, with a quiz, held to celebrate our harvest festival.

We also host band concerts. This year it has included a concert in September by Huddersfield Wind Band, a nationally award-winning band, and a carol service at Christmas with the local Altofts and Normanton Brass Band. Both were very well attended by the community.

We are a collection point for donations for the local food bank run by the Well Project.

We make our building available for hire to other community groups, clubs and organisations. This includes:

• Alice Bacon beetle drives (3[rd] Thursday of the month)

• Craft and Chat (weekly on a Wednesday)

• Yoga (weekly on a Monday evening during school term time)

• Blossom ladies self defence and keep fit (weekly on a Monday evening and occasional full day courses)

• FMA Karate (weekly on a Tuesday evening)

• FMA Kickboxing (weekly on a Thursday evening)

Normanton Baptist Church

• Slimming World (Tuesdays and Thursdays in February)

• West Yorkshire Police – Inspire Girls group (6 week course in June/July)

Additionally, we make the building freely available to the local district councillors to host their monthly community surgeries which coincide with our coffee morning on the first Saturday of the month. We also provided the building freely for them to host a Pension Credit event. Various local agencies attended with the aim of ensuring the community were receiving the benefits they were entitled to.

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.

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 and encouragement. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure but believe that 2024 was a positive year in the life of the church, and that it will be able to pursue its mission purposes in 2025 with renewed enthusiasm.

One person rejoined the church membership during the year. One church “friend” who had been a long-time attendee and supporter of the church died during the year. On 31 December 2024 the membership stood at 23 compared to 22 a year earlier.

Average attendance at worship services has remained at 20 during the year The Toddler Group continued to be oversubscribed with a waiting list of people wishing to attend regularly.

The church was encouraged by remarks made by the District Councillors about the positive part the church played in the life of the community of Normanton with the activities it runs and the events it hosts.

Normanton Baptist Church

Financial Review

The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation, as well as support from the wider community via the weekly activities and annual fund raising events and also from room hire by the local groups that use our buildings throughout the year. Income in 2024 increased to £45,895 from £28,748 in the previous year.

The Church expressed its part in the life of the wider church by making donations totalling £560 to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose.

The Church is heavily dependent on its membership working as volunteers in all aspects of the church’s activities, many of which run with little or no impact on the church’s expenditure but nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the church’s objectives.

Total expenditure increased from £14,438 to £18,525 due to increases in utilities costs, building maintenance and insurance costs.

The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted are set out in the accompanying financial statements.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have established that by maintaining a balance in the Church’s General Funds of 6 months of annual expenditure is sufficient to enable the church to function effectively and meet its obligations in the event of a decline in our income or a major cost.

Normanton Baptist Church

Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of Normanton Baptist Church

On the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 set out on the following pages.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The Church’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

• to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church 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 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 ‘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 material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or

• the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

• 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 come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Brian Cresswell Elmete House Smawthorne Lane Castleford WF10 4EP

Joan Brady 36 Cambridge Street Normanton West Yorkshire WF6 1ET

12[th] February 2025

Normanton Baptist Church

Normanton Baptist Church

Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2024

Receipts and Payments Account Receipts Voluntary Income Receipts (Note 3) Activities for generating funds (Note 4) Receipts from Church Activities (Note 5) Interest Received (Note 6) Other Miscellaneous Receipts Payments Ministerial costs Mission (Note 7) Premises Costs (Note 8) Administration Costs (Note 9) Church & Group Activities (Note 10) Surplus (deficit) Opening Balances (start year 1st January) Transfers between Funds Closing Balances (end year 31st December)	Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ 14271.01 0.00 14271.01 8749.34 2760.00 13287.53 16047.53 12357.46 2740.89 0.00 2740.89 2554.53 45.24 12255.34 12300.58 5058.56 510.70 25.00 535.70 28.12
	20327.84 25567.87 45895.71 28748.01
	1035.00 0.00 1035.00 1220.00 560.60 0.00 560.60 736.26 13946.07 1200.00 15146.07 10780.77 164.00 0.00 164.00 478.13 1364.08 256.00 1620.08 1222.89
	17069.75 1456.00 18525.75 14438.05
	3258.09 24111.87 27369.96 14309.96 11513.87 211664.01 223177.88 208867.92 0.00 1568.19 1568.19 0.00 14771.96 237344.07 252116.03 223177.88

Normanton Baptist Church

Statement of Assets & Liabilities as at 31st December 2024

Barclays Community A/C TSB Investment A/C Baptist Union A/C (Development Fund) Petty Cash Total Current Asset Assets for Church use (Premises & Contents) (Note 11) Liabilities	Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ 14765.96 14765.96 11457.29 19396.67 19396.67 5971.95 217947.40 217947.40 205692.06 6.00 6.00 56.58
	14771.96 237344.07 252116.03 223177.88
	4250000.00 4250000.00 4023373.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

The attached notes form part of these financial statements.

Normanton Baptist Church

Notes to the Accounts

Note 1 - Normanton Baptist Church (Registered Charity No. 1208231) has been registered with the Charity Commission since 14th May 2024 - prior to that date it was an excepted charity and as such did not require individual registration.

Note 2 - The Charity Commission threshold for 'accrual' accounts is now £250K. As Normanton Baptist Church's

income is around the £50K level, the Trustees have decided to continue using the simpler 'Receipts and Payments'

format, and these accounts have been prepared on that basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.

Note 3- Voluntary Income Receipts Weekly Offerings Gift Aid Donations Note 4- Activities for generating funds Coffee Mornings Social Events Efforts (Fairs, etc.) Hall Rental Church Room Rental Note 5- Receipts from Church Activities Fees Groups Events Special Collections Note 6- Interest Received Barclays Community A/C Baptist Union A/C (Development Fund)	Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ 7538.77 7538.77 7050.84 5886.04 5886.04 0.00 846.20 846.20 1698.50
	14271.01 0.00 14271.01 8749.34
	3873.93 3873.93 3771.83 672.50 672.50 741.20 2979.85 2979.85 2766.93 5761.25 5761.25 2742.50 2760.00 2760.00 2335.00
	2760.00 13287.53 16047.53 12357.46
	500.00 500.00 450.00 1244.45 1244.45 1275.00 655.00 655.00 383.00 341.44 341.44 446.53
	2740.89 0.00 2740.89 2554.53
	45.24 45.24 0.00 12255.34 12255.34 5058.56
	45.24 12255.34 12300.58 5058.56

Normanton Baptist Church

Note 7- Mission Baptist Missionary Society Home Mission Fund Leprosy Mission Mission Aviation Fellowship B.M.M. Operation Agri Christian Aid Martin House (Christmas Card Donations for 2023) Royal British Legion Note 8- Premises Costs Building & Contents Insurance Utilities Cleaning (Rooms & Windows) Maintenance Community Hall Project Note 9- Administration Costs Telephone & Broadband Postage, Printing & Stationary Subscriptions Note 10- Church & Group Activities Seasonal Items Copyright Licence Organist/Pianist Expenses Catering at Church Events Mum's & Tots Gifts (Dedication, Birthday, Retirement) Event Expenses	Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 159.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 70.00 70.00 66.00 51.10 51.10 151.26 39.50 39.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 60.00
	560.60 0.00 560.60 736.26
	4112.22 4112.22 2832.62 6214.77 6214.77 5414.83 2487.60 2487.60 1602.00 1131.48 1131.48 931.32 1200.00 1200.00 0.00
	13946.07 1200.00 15146.07 10780.77
	37.00 37.00 289.29 6.00 6.00 70.04 121.00 121.00 118.80
	164.00 0.00 164.00 478.13
	40.99 40.99 31.35 142.00 142.00 133.00 340.00 340.00 170.00 604.47 604.47 316.14 28.42 28.42 0.00 90.07 90.07 0.00 118.13 256.00 374.13 572.40
	1364.08 256.00 1620.08 1222.89

Normanton Baptist Church

Note 11 - Assets retained for Church use (Premises and Contents)

The Church is the beneficial owner of the Church premises, the legal title to which is held by the Yorkshire Baptist Association as the Church's custodian trustee (Charity number 247173). The Church premises are currently insured for £4,150,000 (2023 £3,926,035) and the contents are insured for £100,000 (2023 £97,338)

Note 12 - Designated Funds

The Church is currently in the process of raising funds to convert the buildings to the rear of the Church into a Community Centre. All designated funds are for this project.