Charity No: 238649
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Reports for Church AGM. Jan 2020
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ANNUAL REVIEW AND CHURCH ACCOUNTS 2020
Pastor’s Report 2020
We have been in a Pastoral Vacancy since 1st July 2020 – so there is no Pastor’s report as such. However – our retired Pastor wrote these notes for our January 2021 Church Meeting:
Retired Pastor’s Report!
Under normal circumstances I would not have been writing a report this year! However, 2020 was anything but “normal”.
I retired from ministry on July 1st 2020, so I was only the part-time Pastor of FBC for the first half of the year covered by these reports. Normal practice is that a pastor who steps down from ministry would leave the church and find another spiritual home. However, as I came to FBC as an interim pastor and have retired to Ilminster it seemed possible to remain in membership, subject of course to the agreement of my successor. Karen and I are delighted with the church’s decision to call Matt, and from my conversations with him we are also very pleased that Matt is happy for us to remain members.
I am therefore writing this brief report as an “ordinary” member of Fivehead Baptist Church and I want to reassure everyone that I will not be interfering with the work of the new leadership, but instead I hope to offer whatever gifts and support I can to Matt, the Deacons and the church.
2020 was a relatively “normal” year for the first couple of months, but as we all know that changed dramatically on March 23rd when Lockdown was declared. Compared with 2019 when my report contained lots of exciting activities, 2020 has seen the cancellation of most events and plans. However, God has still been at work, but in different and often more covert ways. We had a very steep learning curve as we closed the building to “live” worship and started using Zoom, which I had never heard of before! I am impressed by the way that Steve Cutts has since managed to refine and develop this to include both live and “virtual” congregations. This seems to be a positive way to go forward. During the first Lockdown period the sermon series were, quite appropriately:
Exodus – Freedom to serve God away from home comforts in the “wilderness” Wisdom – lessons on the whole of life learned from Proverbs
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Charity No: 238649
Although Sunday worship continued, sadly a number of other activities had to be cancelled, including:
The monthly informal services at St Martin’s Close for older residents.
The monthly Folk & Acoustic Music Nights in The Crown Inn, which had become very successful, attracting some excellent musicians and regular audiences of over 30 people.
The children’s Film Clubs, Stepping Stones and Sunday Rocks.
The return visit of Oddments Theatre Company to bring their Pilgrim’s Progress to Hambridge School.
Finally, Karen and I would both like to thank you all for your partnership in the Gospel, and for your very generous special gifts on our retirement. We look forward to continuing to serve Jesus with you all in 2021. Laurie Burn
Secretary’s Report 2020.
Since my last report in January 2020 there have been so many changes and challenges.
When the country first went into lockdown during March, Laurie was up and running with zoom within the week, so that we were never without Sunday worship. There are just a few without access to zoom/internet and we are thankful to Steve who has provided recordings for those who wish to receive them. Of course, technology and zoom has been a lifeline, but nothing is the same as meeting together. Hence when we were allowed to meet again, we put in place all the guidelines to safeguard our congregation and we met again in the building from August. However, we continued to zoom our services too and used a camera in the church. On occasion, we have had readings or prayers from those zooming, whilst preaching has been in the church. One major frustration for me has been the prohibition of singing in the church building! As I write, we are in a third lockdown. On this occasion the government have not closed the churches, but the considered and strong advice for BUGB and other church leaders is that we refrain from meeting in person. So, with sadness, the Deacons felt it necessary to follow that advice.
One area to suffer the most from the restrictions is our work with the young people.
We had planned a weekend away at Lee Abbey in October 2020, but this had to be postponed. We do pray that the work at Lee Abbey can continue, and we hope that we will be able to visit once again.
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Charity No: 238649
When writing last year’s report, we had just had our vision day. I am so thankful that this happened early in the year, which meant that our search for a pastor could begin promptly, knowing that Laurie would be retiring at the start of July 2020.We had a zoom farewell, when Laurie took his last service as pastor in the church building. We are grateful for the ministry of Laurie and Karen over the last three years, and we are pleased that he and Karen have not moved far and having had discussions with Matt, are continuing in membership.
As the search for a new pastor began, the Deacons are grateful to Ruta who joined them on the search team. We were asked by the regional ministers whether we would be prepared to start any interviews using zoom. We agreed and we were given names very promptly. After an initial preach with ‘a squint(!)’ Matt Cottington came in September to preach with’a view’. At the subsequent church meeting, the membership vote to invite Matt to be Pastor was unanimous. The meeting also voted to increase the stipend. As I write this report for a meeting on Jan 26th we are planning an induction service on January 23rd. Matt Sarah and family Bethany, Lilac, Acacia, Charlotte, Isaac and Sophia have now moved into the manse. I am grateful to all who helped prepare the manse, including the change to the workshop to become and office.
We look forward with anticipation and excitement to what God has planned for us in this new stage of our life as a church family and continue to pray for our witness in the village and surrounding area. We may have to do things very differently as we emerge from the pandemic, let’s pray that we see the opportunities that God presents and act on them. So many people provide valuable service in the day-to-day life of the church (both seen and unseen). Hence, my thanks go to all those who help in any way. May I encourage everyone to use their gifts and to encourage and bring out gifts in others so that, as a Fellowship we continue to make a difference JM
Membership: Paul & Gill Pace have now transferred their membership. Tina Webber has resigned membership, Pete Burrowes has resigned membership. Matt & Sarah Cottington have joined our membership. Hence, we have 34 members and 1 junior member. (Jan 26th, 2021). Our regular attendees number around 55-60. JM
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Charity No: 238649
Treasurer’s Report
Church Accounts from 1[st] January – 31[st] December 2020
As we considered the year ahead in January 2020, the only significant change we were anticipating was the retirement on 30[th] June of our Pastor, Laurie Burn, who has guided us for the past three years. Little did we know of the other events that would change the shape of our Church finances in the coming year. Our inability to meet at church during the lockdowns meant that our weekly cash offering total for the year was significantly down on 2019. However, several church members who would normally make weekly offerings kindly transferred to monthly gifting into our bank account.
We were surprised in the interest that we had for our part-time Pastoral vacancy, and in September we called our new Pastor, Matt Cottington, who will start his new appointment in January 2021. The previous Pastor had been on a two-thirds stipend, but the church membership unanimously agreed that we would call Matt on a three-quarter stipend. Obviously, the increase in stipend and pension contribution would need to be met by increased giving, and most church members have made significant increases to standing orders since October. We reflected upon God’s promise in Malachi (3:10):
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
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Charity No: 238649
Income.
Total income for the year was £38,927.99. Monthly and weekly offerings amounted to £29,856.80, which was £2371.40 up on last year. Our individual giving was bolstered by the £5956.49 Gift Aid reclaim from HMRC.
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Income 2020
£30,000.00
£25,000.00
£20,000.00
£15,000.00
£10,000.00
£5,000.00
£0.00
Monthly Offering Weekly Offering Gift Aid Reclaim Hardship Fund Other Donations
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The Deacons approved the suggestion to set up a “Hardship Fund” for the benefit of any church or local community members who may suffer because of the Covid-19 virus. Some very generous donations rapidly swelled the fund to £1255.
“Other donations” include Laurie’s leaving gift; Harvest (“Operation Agri”) and Christmas gift (“Hope Now”); BMS Birthday donations and the understandably small amount of money in Erick’s tummy; a donation “in memoriam” and a compensation payment from our bank. Also included are the £325 for Lee Abbey deposits that we continue to hold. Lee Abbey was not able to open to guests due to the virus – but we remain hopeful that our church weekend will take place in 2021. Two members commuted their deposits into additional offerings.
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Charity No: 238649
Expenditure.
Our total expenditure for the year was £28,968.19. In 2019 it was £34,976.
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Expenditure 2020
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Laurie’s retirement meant that “Ministry” costs were only £8386.94 (just a fraction over half of last year’s cost).
Our gifts to our Mission donees amounted to £4970 in total. Most of our giving goes to the SWBA Home Mission, and this year we were able to give them £2490, which included £650 in additional donations, which is just under 7% of our total offerings plus Gift Aid. BMS World Mission received £1680; Toybox £480 and Operation Agri (our Harvest Gift recipient) £320. Our Christmas Gift to “Hope Now” was £150 from the church and £350 from The Stable – but payment was not made in 2020.
The Manse costs were slightly up on last year despite it being empty for six months. This was mainly due to costs associated with refurbishing the “Guitar Workshop” so that Matt would be able to use it for his study.
Church Maintenance was significant this year as we had some essential painting done, and “Other Costs” include the cost of church utilities; cleaning; admin; children and youth; and two payments from the Hardship Fund (totalling £450).
The church is required to contribute to the Baptist Pension Scheme to help offset the pension deficit. This is in addition to our contribution to our Pastor’s actual pension. It was agreed that the pension deficit payment would be halved as from July to assist some churches badly hit by Covid related loss of income. Consequently, our payment towards elimination of the deficit was £908 lower than expected. Contributions will resume at the full rate in 2021.
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Charity No: 238649
Balances.
The General Fund balance at the end of the year was £32,693.96. At the end of 2019 it was £22,562.46. The BUC Trust Fund was not used during the year and stands at £6172.57. Interest payments during the year amounted to £19.60
The Stable Café.
The Stable was, of course, hit badly by the required closures and restrictions, with no income at all through April, May and June, and then restricted opening for the rest of the year. The total nett takings for the year were £4600.20 compared with last year’s £10,225.21. Total Tips for the year were £390.20 (compared with £609.20 in 2019).
The Stable pays its “share” of the church utilities (£2695.83), and the most significant “other” cost was a proportion of the cost of repainting.
| Balance Brought Forward | £11,803.34 |
|---|---|
| Nett Takings (inc Tips) | £4,990.40 |
| Payments | |
| Power; Water; Phone etc | £2,695.83 |
| Other Costs | £4,695.60 |
| Maintenance Isle Abbotts Graveyard | £448.50 |
| Volunteer's Meal | £482.95 |
| Donations from Takings | £628.91 |
| Donations from Tips | £285.20 |
| Total Payments | £9,236.99 |
| Surplus / Defecit | -£4,101.39 |
| Balance Carrried Forward | £7,701.95 |
Donations from Stable takings and tips were to: Fivehead Playing Field (£500); Musgrove Easter Egg (£20); School in a Bag (£100); British Heart Foundation (£100); Macmillan (£54.11) and IcFEM Dreamlands Hospital (£140).
The Stable would not survive without the dedication and generosity of those who give up their time to serve there, and the bakers who provide such delicious delicacies.
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Charity No: 238649
Reserves Policy.
The Trustees had established a Reserves Policy to enable the church to function efficiently and to meet its obligations in the event of a decline in our income or a major cost. The Reserve had been set at £18000, but at the Deacons meeting on 28[th] September it was agreed that this Reserve be reduced to £10,000.
As of 31[st] December, the church held total funds of £38,866 of which £6172 is restricted and can only be used for repairs and improvements to the church buildings. Under the new Reserve Policy there is therefore an amount of £22,694 which is neither restricted nor designated.
Comment.
This report is, of necessity, a factual statement. We must also acknowledge God’s goodness to us in providing the means to continue His work in Fivehead, and also the generosity of the members of His church family here.
ACCOUNTS EXAMINATION
The accounts, a copy of which is attached to this report, have been examined by an Independent Examiner, whose report is attached.
On behalf of the Deacons:
Aston Key Treasurer Fivehead Baptist Church October 2021
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Chanty No. 238649 Flvehead Baptlst Church Receipts & Payments Accounts Period 1st January to 31st December 2020 Rocpts andp•ymts fvn Tatsl lunth L••t y••rl20191 R•c•lpts Weekty Off8riTr¥R•Julw Gd1• Grtt Tax R•fvnd Bank ln10rt ChilJrnn'¥ Cc418cbJns TtytAIX S¢rtwl offenn8Ms.4fW1j 8MS Bithd•y Hlrn Church Premll•B don•ib3n• th m•morth MY6c R•1Pts BUC Fund Inter•Bt 29,857 29.857 5.956 20 41 437 27,48S 5,742 59 176 748 185 110 41 437 225 87 20 65 375 4.1(6 0op)slts & Attsy Chur¢th W•ok•nd L•Jii• L•aving Gfft Cow&19 HarrlBh Fund St•bi• Ut11rt Vi•nL 325 325 86S 1,255 172 1.2S6 ln St•bl• Tb• Gmss Incom• 700 00,71S BU P•nTr D•frytsl Mini¥lry SIL9ry,wnx Church.. Inaurnrv UttM 8tc M•nM. M•lnt•MnCA•.lmpro¥wtr M•nw.'W•l•r.Courol Tw, In•ur•nc• Church.. M•intMMt. Inpro¥t1.ckn) Mi$•) Puts) Youth IChiklrnn• W¢ Adrnln.'.knurrt• Ex#m,CcprthL8U Sub• Mmc•ln0OuI, Tu, Coffw. Al•ts. 2.n4 8,387 1.775 2.T24 8.387 1.776 3.983 16.484 1,840 1,407 5.023 3711 241 4,970 010 197 491 4.•70 810 197 494 371 371 S65 Lwiio Leaving Gdl Slabl• Ut11rt Itx'd in Januwyl 297 4.059 1LKI 1CQ 450 COV H8rd8hip Fynd CwiKyM oadm•nts Th••tr• Dn•tn from Slth TIJI 1.138 Q17 37.7T8 46.•21 Not 01rKPlp•YnwrtS) 3,894 Cuh lund• l••1 ¥•ar •nd C•sh fvnds y••r•nd 8,153 •.17J 20 38,652 Cash Fund8 Nth•st 8•nk.. Gw•r•l FUAJ NatWe8t Bank.. The Stable Slab*& unb•nk•d c4•h stab Fbst Sl•bkn Tps 8U corpYat 32,894 7.597 11,485 318 106 8,173 28 8.153 .173 403
Chanty No. 238649 Statsment of assots and Ilabllltlos at the end of tho perfod Tfjl•l nd• fund• C••h fund• 7.597 7.702 6.173 •J71 8.173 Details AM•t• v•t•ln•d for th• ch•rlty'• own • IE•tlmat•d V•luatlon) Llabllltl S*wJ by or• ¢notw• tr• Prknt N•m•
FIVEHEAD BAPTIST CHURCH Page 3 FINANCIAL STATEhlENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 TREASURER3 STATEMENT I have prepared the finanal sLqtemenls on pages 1 to 2 r ended 31 Dnber 2020. name) {signalure} Idalel INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT I report on the financial slalements of Fiveheaj Baptist ChJrch for the ended 31 Dernmber 2020, whth arc out on pages 1 to 2. RoSP0CtIvo rospon81bllltlo8 The church is responsible for the preparation of tr finarKial $lalements. a1 consKlers that the audil requirement of Section 43121 of the Charities Acl 1993 (the Act) does not apply. 11 is my responsibility to stale. on the basis of procedures specified in the General Dir¢dhS given by the Charity Commi88ioners under Section 4317Xbl of the Act, whether particular matters have come lo my attent)n. Ba818 ol Independent Examlnerfs report My examination was ¢amed out in ac¢ordan¢e Vith the Genwal DirectK)ns of th8 Charity Commissioners. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by th8 ¢lwJr¢h arKI a Comparison of the accounts presented wlh those records. 11 a150 indudes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial slalements, and seeking explanations corteming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provKle all the eVKlen¢e that IUkI be required in an audrt, and consequenlly I do not express an audit onK)n on the vivw grven ty the finarmial slatemonts. Ind•p•nd•nt Examln•e8 8tat•m•nt In connection with my examination of the church funds, nothing came lo my attention which gave me ¢au$e lo believe olhemse than that the financial statements ac¢wd V¢h Ihe a¢c4)unting records of the church, and that those records Satisf the requirements of th8 Act. l am not aare of any matter to vthlch attenllon $hould be drawn in lyder to ena8 a proper underslarKlirKJ of ts finarKial $tslemenls to be reached. Signed by I e Independent Examiner.. date: n /9/2021 Name 8nd address of the lThJewMlenl Examiner: Somersel Accountancy SeThices Ltd 22 Wessex Park 8ancomb8 Business Estate Somerton. Somerset TA118SB