Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 Page 1 of 12 ___________________________________________________________________________________ ## MELKSHAM BAPTIST CHURCH ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS** for ## **YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023** ## **Presented on behalf of the Deaconate by:** ………………………….. Mr Alan McFall Church Secretary & Treasurer Date: ……………………. ## **Approved by Deacons (Managing Trustees) at Diaconate Meeting on** ……………… Chairman ………………………… Mr David Payne, Deacon Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 Page 2 of 12 ## _**Legal & Administrative Information**_ Name of Charity: Melksham Baptist Church Officially “Manse for the Minister of Melksham Baptist Church & Sunday School” Address of Charity: Old Broughton Road Melksham Wiltshire SN12 8BX Email: Website: www.melkshambaptistchurch.org.uk Charitable Status: Registered with the Charity Commission of England & Wales Registration Number = 261709 Administration: The Church was founded under Trust Deed, originating in 1669. Day to day administration and leadership are the responsibility of deacons (managing trustees). Of the deacons, the church secretary and church treasurer constitute the officers of the church. Decision-making is the collective responsibility of the church members through the Church Meeting, a quorum being represented by thirty percent of the church membership. At the date of this report, managing trustees or deacons are: Mr Alan D McFall Secretary/Treasurer Miss Caroline Hancock Mr David Payne Deacons are elected at the Annual General Meeting to serve for a period of three years; following which they must stand-down but may offer themselves for re-election. The Church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and its regional administrative body, the West of England Baptist Association. The West of England Baptist Trust Company Limited (WEBTC) are Custodian Trustees, holding in trust the title deeds of the property at Old Broughton Road, known as Melksham Baptist Church and Sunday School; and the property at Western Way known as The Old Baptist Burial Ground. Since April 2019 the church owns, in conjunction with WEBTC, a property at 102 Linnet Lane which serves as the church manse (photo on page 1). Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 Page 3 of 12 ___________________________________________________________________________________ ## _**The Church**_ Melksham Baptist Church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and to the West of England Baptist Association (also known as Webnet). It is also a member of the Melksham Family of Churches. Membership of the Church is open to all who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and whose lives bear evidence of that fact. The usual means by which people become members is through Believers' Baptism. Those desiring to become members are asked to seriously consider the New Testament teaching on baptism, but the Church shall welcome into membership those who earnestly desire to serve and follow Christ and who come from other Christian traditions. The fellowship was formed in 1669 and the building in which we worship today is Grade II listed, having been built around 1776 _._ ## _**Objectives**_ The advancement of religion for the salvation of all who believe in Jesus Christ and for the benefit of society in general, both locally and in the wider world. Specifically, making Jesus known in Melksham. ## _**Principal Aims**_ - Be a worshipping, witnessing community of Christians; ministering to the members, wider congregation and local community including through links such as Melksham Family of Churches, schools and other voluntary organisations as appropriate from time to time. - Help others come to a closer relationship with their Creator and Saviour. - Support the work in Great Britain of the Baptist Union Home Mission and that overseas of BMS World Mission - Encourage the giving of time and talent to aid and development work, primarily through other charities whose aims are compatible with our own - Maintain the church premises as a safe and sound environment in which we, and other groups to whom we give access, may function; doing so in a manner that preserves the listed building, as far as possible, in its original form Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 Page 4 of 12 ## _**Policy Statements**_ ## **Reserves** The policy of the trustees is to retain sufficient reserves to maintain the smooth day to day running of the church, avoiding as far as possible being overdrawn on any bank account. We also need to be in a position to meet our commitments as an employer of the Pastor both during employment and in the event of unexpected cessation. We need to be mindful of the requirement for significant capital expenditure, from time to time, on maintenance of our property portfolio which from 2019 now includes a manse. ## **Investment** Where the trustees have opportunity to exercise influence over investment decisions, they do so on the strength of advice from the Custodian Trustees, seeking to maximise the annual return over a period of at least ten years and through either Government or ethical stocks. Short-term surplus funds are held in a “pooled” bank account, managed by the Baptist Union Trust Company Limited. ## **Risk Management** A Health & Safety Review is conducted every two years and reported to the trustees. A two-yearly portable electrical appliance check is conducted. An electrical installation condition report is produced every five years (latest in April 2019). A quinquennial (5-yearly) inspection of the property is carried out and reported to trustees and custodian trustees. (This was last done in April 2019). The most significant risk we face is of the occurrence of a “cessation event” whereby we no longer make contributions to the Baptist Pension Scheme and are required to make a single payment to clear our share of the deficit in the Defined Benefits section of that fund. To this end, it is our policy to avoid a cessation event and to make use of the period of grace facility by which we continue making contributions during the time of a pastoral vacancy. ## **Internal Financial Controls** We follow the guidelines contained in the Association of Church Accountants & Treasurers Handbook as far as is practicable for a congregation of our size. ## **Conflict of Interest** We take care to avoid situations where conflict of interest may arise, whether in letting of contracts (deacons declare/monitor interest) or in making of decisions at church meetings (members absent themselves where necessary). ## **Complaint Handling** The Church Secretary, involving other deacons or specialists as relevant, initially deals with complaints. A record is kept of all correspondence and discussions. Where relevant, we take guidance from the Charity Commission guidelines on Reporting Serious Incidents. ## **Safeguarding** It is policy for Pastor, deacons and all involved in leading work with children or vulnerable adults to have attended the complete set of Safeguarding Training sessions to level 3, as provided by WEBA. DBS checks have been completed on all relevant members in the past and are renewed in line with recommendations (currently after 3 years). Policy and associated procedures were reviewed during the year 2020/21. ## **Data Protection** We have a policy and procedures to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (May 2018). Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 Page 5 of 12 ## _**Brief Review of Church Life in the Year to March 2023**_ ## **Summary** The basics of regular Sunday worship, Sparklers Group and hosted activities such as Zumba and Choir practice sessions all carried on again in full swing. We managed to cope with Foodbank at times taking over even more space than before due to their increased demand but social events have not returned to the level at which they had been. Church meetings were held only for urgent and very important business, and this included an AGM at which everyone who wished was able to attend. The year was punctuated for several months by Josh being incapacitated for a while due to the aftermath of an operation on his ear, there was a difficult period during which we suffered from disquiet within the diaconate, culminating in one of the deacons standing down at the time of the AGM. And at the end of the year Josh, Alanna and family decided to move to pastures new at Woodville BC in Cardiff with effect from 31[st] March. The remaining deacons continued to work on, and attend motivating re:imagine events with Webnet colleagues. These have been challenging and enjoyable and have led to new pew Bibles being used regularly, the introduction of sharing “good news” items in worship and the reference to a set of Core Values at relevant times as we take stock of what we are doing and where our focus is placed. We continue to be grateful for the moral and financial support of our neighbours in Corsham Baptist Church as well as the guidance from the Baptist Union and West of England Baptist Association (aka Webnet). ## **Members & Friends** - Sadly, two members passed away. Another transferred her regular attendance to The Vineyard Church in Trowbridge. And a longer-standing member resigned her membership. All have been sadly missed. - There have been encouragements via new people joining us for worship with varying degrees of regularity, although the pastor’s departure has seen the, hopefully temporary, suspension of Rhyme Time activity. - At 31[st] March, church membership stood at 28 people (although 4 have lapsed over the years). Attendance at worship has typically been in the mid-20s. - We are in regular contact with over 40 individuals via email/phone/letter. ## **Outreach** - The pastor, his wife and children had seen growing numbers attending Rhyme Time since returning to full operation since the Covid-related lockdown. - With changes in other churches in the town, sadly Messy Church has had to cease operation. We still have the opportunity of contributing to three “Holiday Club” sessions throughout the calendar year. - Members take a copy of “Good News” newspaper and some pass this on to others in their acquaintance. - The ladies’ Sparklers group have been meeting regularly again every week, providing significant mutual support and raising generous donations for several good causes; the church included. ## **Social Activity** - None has been possible for most of this church year. ## **Church Growth – Development of Faith** - The Home Mission Grant from Webnet allowed us to continue to employ our Pastor in fulltime service since training concluded in August 2022, and he has been very faithful in preparing a sermon each week, as well as supporting those in need of prayer and moral support. He has been very active in leading Christian elements of school assemblies in several of the primary schools in town. Study groups were in abeyance during most of 2021 and, for a variety of reasons, have been slow to re-commence in the early part of 2022. Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 Page 6 of 12 ___________________________________________________________________________________ ## **Other Witnessing** - It has again been our privilege to provide food and essential support to those who have been referred to the Melksham Foodbank. The demand through the periods of lockdown has almost doubled and, thankfully, so has the level of donation of food and finances from the community. - Funerals and weddings have given an opportunity for witnessing to the faith and have led to new contacts being established. - **Management of Premises** - This has been limited to essential routine maintenance that can be carried out within our limited financial capabilities. The organ had its regular tuning and maintenance last year. Since January 2022, most organisations hiring the halls have been able to resume. - **Overseas Mission** - We are formally partnered, through the BMS World Mission organisation, with a mission worker in Peru (Laura-Lee Lovering). Former partners in Uganda (Darby Family) have now returned to the UK. - • We continued to provide storage space to Tools with a Mission (TWAM) and members also supported Christian Aid (although we have not restarted door-to-door collection, largely due to fewer members being sufficiently mobile). ## _**Outlook**_ With most people having been vaccinated against Covid, we are finding that individuals are contracting the illness, falling ill for a few days and seeming, at least, to make a good recovery without the church having to return to the severe restrictions on activity that we had in the past. The pastor’s decision to move on at the end of the financial year, whilst a surprise, has meant that the financial outlook took a sudden upward turn as a result of the significant cut in ministry-related costs and the positive impact of rental income from letting the manse property. By a combination of our own resources and securing the services of a variety of external speakers, we have every Sunday service in the remainder of the current calendar year booked and are already starting to fill dates in 2024. With newcomers joining at the rate of 1 every 1-2 months, home-groups comprising approximately 60% of the congregation, a baptism preparation group beginning to meet in July and a generally positive atmosphere when we meet, the outlook is very encouraging. We are looking to build people’s faith and confidence, are hoping to be able to restore the reserves fund to at least its former level and look with increased confidence to seeking grant-aid to address some essential improvements to the buildings that have had to be placed outside current reach during the last couple of years. Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 Page 7 of 12 ___________________________________________________________________________________ ## **ANNUAL ACCOUNTS** **&** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT** Note: Accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022123 Page8of 12 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees EL¥-SHArf CHwlc4 On accounts for the year ended Charlty no Ilf any) ￿￿￿116￿ Set out on pag9$ I report to the trustees on my 8x8min8tlon ofth8 a￿Ounts ofthe above harity llhe Trust") for the year ended Re$pon$lbllltle$ and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you responsible for the prèpaTation of the 8ccounts in 8C(x)rdanc8 wrth th8 wuir8mgnts of the Charit￿$ Act 2011 Ilhe Acfl. l ￿port in respect of my examination of the Trust's acetsunts C8rri8d out und8r section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directlons given by th8 Ch8fty Commission under s8Ction 14515llbl of th8 Act. Independent ￿he charitys gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualrfied to examinerfs staternent undertake the examination by b8ing a qualrfied member of linsert name ol applicable listed bodyll. Delete I l rfnot applicable. I have completed my eXaminat￿n. I Confi￿ that no materfal matters have (X)rn8 to rny attention in (x)nn8Ction ￿1th the 8xamination lother than that disclosed below'l which gives me cause to believe that in, any material r8spect.. the accounting ￿cOrdS were not kept in accordance wrth section 130 of the Charities Act.. or the accounts did not accord with the acc(xJnting records., or the accounts did not cornply with the applicable requirements conceming the fom and content of accoullts 58t out in th8 Charities IA¢¢ounts at7d Reportsl Regulations 2008 other than any wuirement that the accounts give a Irue and fair. view which is not 8 rn8tter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in conn8dion th the examinatK>n to which attentitsn should be drawn in this r8POrt in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Ple8S8 tl818t8 words in th8 brackets rfthgydo not 8ppIy. Slgn•d'. Date: *3 Name.. Rèlèvant prohsslonal quallfi¢atlonl$l or body IER Oct 2018 Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022123 Page9of 12 Melksham Baptist Church Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 VersKn. Total R•c•lpts & Pa￿tr Account R¢celpts Olfent¥J$ DDnatyon5 Grants Fund4a&ng 21.5$7 1,350 21,557 23,914 2,897 15,904 14,1 GrftAJd Tax Invesknenl Inco Prwty IncoT r Causèa Realised investment gains rotsl Incorn1￿9 R*#ourt#* 5.391 I 3.￿7[ 9,2%1 S.391 3,807 4.938 4.288 4.288 2,947 S,216 2,947 58,2 4.288 61.0•2 PayrnoTrts klinthy Chufth Lrfe 31.746 1.254 13.727 10.555 28.074 1.912 13.gy 16,5 5,2 14727 1 nistrhtitin (XheT CaLWS & MrAion 4.6301 4.6301 57261 Nolbgts8 tyan¥fw¥ 7M Tran8fwsbots4wn Fw NelRe￿￿wPAyM￿tsI 701 Openin9 Balances 17.813 Z1914 Ttrweare no rwimdgam c¢ kn5EeSol￿rtharn the Tr¥utsfoTth&5wra5 Wt ￿rtab￿. AI a￿daSseda&￿nlnulng. Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022123 Page 10of 12 Molksham Baptist Church Statemgnt of Asuts & Llabllltl8¥ At 31 March 2023 5.711 12.101 17.612 1.192 htynWE8T COLII 71.372 77.4 18.400 97.082 14 3,e53.319 81.127 98.076 19.321 £ 1Q4.242 ITr￿ 8t•tThntolA•ML*knY £212.362 £J3ty,OUQ InW2019 Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022123 Page11 of12 Melksham Baptist Church Notes to the Accounts For the Year Ended 31 March 2023 l. Propwty incorn• kidudes £1,710 insular￿ddIrn forstorndamaw to pio[￿rtYr00f l Bts¢kn>r* £2,947 K 3.AdmlnfjJtr4kn.' wa a tempordry tedLthin In repaayNngtoWEL4-£250for4rrwths 4. Accountsng PolK 4. A¢tOuntino ¢D￿￿n￿alb Th&accounts hAve been wepated undÈrthÈ hithrital (tht(Y)nVgnt￿)￿ ￿￿J0￿¥ RK4ptsand P¥Y￿￿nts ￿51& Ministers Stipend aid En￿kn￿r5 OJBts 25,855 2,1Y) 2,017 120 31,746 PKÈxhing Feèg 28.075 Chufth Lrf Wornhip mBtenal& [b¥e￿ir￿j faith & xfflmuntysuFVOrt Fltr*trs Junior¢huro* Catenny P￿in0 & ￿nIng th)naliD Subacriptsng 270 2N 475 45 51 677 1,912 JWJ 3.397 1.420 Z,7 Neala￿ Lbjhl Watsr RatsA Insuronces 103 2,I4Z 3861 765J 1J,7V 2.549 Equipment&depr&gakn 13.955 8. Admlnkn*Uo Pnnbng & stabmry T*ryhon8¥ Atsdit& Atts)tsntsncy IrG05t8 I￿rKe& 2141 12.0 3.413 16.590 360 9. 0thgrCauw44Dd Ftsne BMS w￿ld lAi%$￿n 1ASO 2.138 349 326 75 e Sooety Spur98on's Hl￿o5 ChiiSbènA Leprosy B[15t￿ B*b* Mehsham Fcoj BEnk 10 10 Can￿r￿2￿S Stewardshy IFI. V¥￿) MFOC CrLSi% Fund TheTuming MIND Tr￿T ¢sw 2S 030 Melksham Baptist Church TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 2022123 Page 12of 12 Melksham Baptist Church Ailditional Notes For the Year Ende(131 March 2023 10. Not• ff•A•••i*llnv••bMni*". 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