## **Epworth Baptist Church** TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 Registered Charity No: 1060523 Principal Address: Station Road Epworth North Lincolnshire DN91JZ Trustees: C. Todd (Treasurer) Lesley Wilson Ann Lane Jeremy Cole Jill Tonge Independent Examiner: Joyce Gail Priestley Coverdale, King Edward Street, Belton, Doncaster DN9 1QN Principal bankers: HSBC Bank Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire The Trustees present their report with the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 The Trustees are appointed through an open and public process by the church members meeting to be responsible for the governance of the church. Trustees, except for the Minister, are appointed for an initial three-year term and serve so long as they have the support of the church members' meeting. They have the opportunity to be nominated for reappointment at the end of each three-year term. The Trustees, who form the Leadership Team, control, manage and administer the church, subject to any specific or general directions from the church members' meeting. The Minister (when in post), who is also a Trustee, takes responsibility for the implementation of direction set by the Leadership Team and in addition, each member of the Leadership Team has responsibility for a particular area of the church's work. There are also other volunteers involved in the activities of the church. The trustees during the year were those listed above. The Epworth Baptist Church operates under clauses 4 to 22 of a scheme of the Charity Commissioners for the regulation of Wolverhampton Baptist Church, this being imposed by the Charity Commission by an order sealed 31/05/1935. It is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the East Midlands Baptist Association is trustee of the Church. **Objectives** : The Church exists for the worship of God, the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and for the deepening of the spiritual life of Christians; the doctrinal position is based on a belief in the inspiration and authority of the bible. Baptism is of believers and by immersion. It has a congregational form of government, to whom the trustees are directly responsible and meetings are on a quarterly basis for the conducting of business. The Annual General Meeting has now been changed to April each year, still remaining within the terms of the Constitution The principal purpose is to advance the Christian faith as well as to advance education and to carry out other charitable activities. The church's vision is to extend the kingdom of God through its members loving God, loving one another and loving the community of the Isle of Axholme. Grants are made as directed by the donor or where the Leadership Team considers the payment would further the objectives of the church. Review of activities and future developments in the context of the objectives, the following achievements show how the vision to extend the kingdom of God has come to life. - Congregations Looking out into the communities around us - to make church more relevant and accessible to the wider community. We continue to have joint services and meetings with a local House Church, which has included various service including Easter, Harvest and Christmas. - Alongside regular weekly Sunday services, we continue with Prayer and Bible study meetings, Thursday coffee group, Friday sewing group. To support the charity Tear Fund we held a quiz evening and our Christmas services included a Nativity and a Carols by Candlelight Service. - Celebrations Worshipping God in a way that is culturally relevant holding special services including Good Friday service and Walk of Witness, Easter Sunday Service with Communion held every third Sunday of the month, Family Services, Carol service, and special celebrations including services to share the work of Christian charities supported by the church. - Community Reaching out into the community, we continue to work with St Andrews and Wesley Memorial church as Christians Together in Epworth at our annual events, Service of Christian Unity, Lent groups, Easter Walk of Witness, Summer outdoor service, Carols in the Market Place and sending out Christmas cards to every house in Epworth town. - Care The Pastoral Team ensures the welfare of EBC members/friends and regularly contacts those who are missing from church and makes home visits. - Children Continuing to provide activities for young people from 0 to 15 provided through children’s groups during the Sunday Service as needed and through Pre-School Praise, a Carer and Toddler group which runs once a week during term times. - Compassion Working alongside Scunthorpe Foodbank, under the Trussell Trust, the EBC Foodbank supports families on the Isle sharing food parcels to those in the community in a time of crisis. We have seen an increase in the number of food parcels requested by couples and single people alongside families in need this year. At Christmas, the foodbank donated Christmas Hampers to these households including a supply of meat vouchers, fresh vegetables and fruit. We continue to support Compassion UK - currently sponsoring children in various countries. We are involved in local outreach to meet the needs of the local community by our involvement in Epworth Christians Together with other local churches. - Teaching Alongside a message on Sunday mornings, weekly bible study groups have been meeting on a Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon. We held a Reflection day in March and a teaching/discussion day in September to explore the churches future direction. We continue to hold prayer meetings and bible studies in the church building. Minister: Without a Minister there are now five trustees that continue to manage church life including inviting visiting speakers for each Sunday Service or having in house services, arranging other activities, maintaining the church buildings and ensuring the members are involved in all decision making. ## **Financial Review 2025** Available cash reserves (general fund) totalled £15,300 at the year-end with the bank savings account at £4255. The church has funds saved in the Baptist Union Corporation Savings accounts. Across all accounts there was an end of year balance of £64,213. This is an increase on previous years because of income exceeding expenditure, partly due to the church having no ministerial costs. Any excess in the General bank account is invested if not required for the day-today running costs of the church. ## **Investment strategy** The church continues to invest in the Baptist Union Corporation Savings accounts. The church holds a 6 month notice Savings account which is designated specifically for ministry and church premises costs. It was agreed by members to use a some of these funds to employ 2 part time Local Mission Facilitators from January 1[st] 2026 for 2 years. Their role is to develop new opportunities in the community to bring people into the church building for different activities and social events and also encourage and assist members in growing their faith in order that they can reach out to others in the community and share the Gospel more widely. This fund will be monitored and reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the funds are being used in the way agreed by members. A second BU savings account holds a reserve of £9000 which is kept aside in order to - meet church running costs/responsibilities in the event of a sudden drop in income - meet an unforeseen emergency eg unexpected large repair bill ## **Receipts** Church giving in the weekly Offertory and Monthly Standing Order Donations totalled £24,850, an increase of around £1000 compared to 2024. The majority of this giving comes via regular monthly standing order from church members. Gift Aid reclaimed from HMRC was £6037. The church also continues to receive regular donations for the foodbank from members of the public and the local Foodshare project. ## **Expenditure in 2025** Costs have remained on a level with last year. The majority of the expenditure covering the cost of running the church building and operating costs for the activities of the church. There have been ongoing minor repair costs this year including outside the building with the installation of a new fence to the rear of the property. With no employed minister, the church invites visiting speakers on a regular basis who are given a small financial donation towards expenses. This year’s foodbank expenditure covered costs for additional items for Christmas hampers distributed to families in need. Trustee payments: The church continued without a paid minister this year. The church employs a part time administration assistant to help and support the Trustees with the weekly running of the church. This person is a church member but not a trustee and is employed for 40 hours per month. No payments have been made to any trustee. ## **Charity Giving:** The church has given £4005 to other causes and charities. This is similar to last year’s giving. These charities include Baptist Home Mission, BMS World Mission, other local and national Christian charities and two couples on mission working in South Africa and Zambia – these are well known to the church as they were previous attendees at EBC and keep in regular contact. Across all church accounts there was a surplus of £8505 reported at the year-end which is an increase on last year’s surplus, due to lower annual expenditure and higher gifts to the Foodbank. For 2025 the expected income is around £40,000, a slight increase on 2024 as regular attendees continue to support the church. Forecast expenditure is around £62,000. This increase is due to the employment of 2 Part time Local Mission Facilitators as described above and some added expenditure for additional items relating to their work. There is also additional Buildings cost for the repair and upkeep of the Church Burial Ground walls. The budgeted deficit of £24,000 will be funded from the BU Savings account. At this time the church acknowledges the regular monthly giving by Standing Order by the majority of its members, for which it is very grateful. Alongside these and the weekly service offertory, other church run activities receive small donations adding to church funds. All these provide for a more profitable position for the church which has allowed money to be put aside for new projects. The church is looking forward to its new undertaking in 2026. ## Public Benefit The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and complied with section 17 (6) of the 2011 Charities Act when reviewing the aims and objectives prior to planning and developing activities. ## Statement of Trustees' responsibilities: Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charily and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, they are required to: Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and governing document of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. (On behalf of the Trustees) Dated: Deacon/Trustee EPWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEIABER 2025 Flnal Accounts GENERAL RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Nole 2025 (£) 2024 (£) Recgipts: Offertory Monthly Stsnding Order Gmng in¢ Gift AKI Offertory Income lax recovered as Gfft Ajd 2.376.40 22,475.00 6,037.70 1.262.00 512.50 3.728.00 20,130.00 6.222.00 Patchwork & Swng gr￿p, Orchestra Donations Donations and other incom inc PSP etc Grfts for other rauses- non foodbank 1.338.00 407.50 995.00 1,228.00 3.613.00 Gifts for other causes- F*Jodbank Financial donatiorts- Miscellaneous Receipts Totsl Receipts 5.180.60 400.00 Payments: Ministry inc Preacher ExpenseslAdmin As6iSt & Pen 5 Upkeep of church premises Mlsslon - Inc Charty givlng not inclL¥JiNJ Foodba 7 Mission - Foodbank expenses Administration in¢ IT armg AV Miscellaneou$ - in¢ Training, lund￿ & sharing events Total Payments 9,807.(MJ 9,592.47 7.511.50 9.417.50 5,486.80 2.905.92 8.318.90 2,196.20 3,966.00 1,013.00 32 423.10 2,228.04 513.50 30 333.73 Tolal Surplus or Defi¢lt for the year Taking into account ￿ns￿￿nI donations from foodbank 8.505.47 6,230.79 4,641.40 3.224.80 HSBC Current Account Transfers (Current Acct tofftom Sa¥ir¥Js) && Balance brougtrt fovward Balanc• in Curr•nt Account cavrl•d forward 3.255.38 10 081.03 15.331.12 1.000.00 4,439.98 10.081.03 HSBC Savlngs Account Receipts - Inte￿$1 for the year Transfers inlout from or to Bank Current Account 1.95% 69.30 84.12 1,000.00 5,101.68 Balance Brought Forward from previous year Balance in HSBC Savings Account carried forward 4,185.80 4.255.10 Church saving￿OntIng•neY Accounts 2025 (£) 2024 (£ Interest Rate 8APTIST UNION CORPORATION Aecounts (from 20231 One YT Fixed Temi Acc to 31110f24- Intwest 6 Morrth Nots'ce AC￿unt. Op￿ed 1￿25 Interest ac¢xwl to 31112r25 3.(MY 3 Month Notic8 Account 111r25- 23112r25 Inteffjst accJwl to 23112r25 2.75% 1 Month Noti￿ A¢wint- for Churth R¢ser¥e 1.905.21 62.464.03 723.08 NIA NIA 9.067.44 392.95 284.23 44.028.15 416.28 Irrterest 8ccn*AI to 3111zr25 2% 7 Day Noti￿ Account 111r25 to 311Tf25 Interest acuwl to 31A)7r25 1% Balance in BU COrp￿atrOn SaviNJs camed loward 718.02 3,322.81 75.71 24.19 64,213.55 STATEMEKf OF A&SEfs AND LIA8ILmES AT 310ECEM8ER 2025 20251£) 20241£ MONEfARY ASSErs: General Account 15,331.12 4.255.10 64,213.55 10.081.38 4.185.80 59.208 55 35.20 HSBC BU￿neSS say1r￿ Accwnt count8 administered by BU Corwation (Saviw8) Cash in hand Total Cash Balanc•8 73 510.93 NON4IONETARY ￿SSEr8. Held for churth,? uae Church Premises incl the Burial GrourK* linsurnKo i 1,126,385. Indudes publ￿ Liabilty on all Church Pro￿ and Enwoyer Lialxlrty Insurance Fixtures, Fumiture & Equiwnent (in8uran¢8 valu•) 59.282. 1.008.278.00 57.276.00 &&: SavirvJs incorreLtytrwsferr•d irto Cwrert froffl 8U Sa¥Yffj• cffj 2Y12r25. £8OCKI to 1 monlh aco)unt 2￿28 ￿ part of Chwth Reserye Th• accounts #nd •tsl•mgntof•w•ts aNI Il•blllll•B ••* Ixrton p•9•• 14 2 rnlllhig to th• yeaff 31 Slgned: Dat•: 28la NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 20Z5 2024 W} 20241 512.50 ￿)7￿ 1*J. 105. 2.193 20 1.153.IJJ NIL 3.120.C¥J S. P•nthn (f*fvil F￿￿ ￿ r** ￿1). 101KI 85.10 J44.75 413.50 NIL 165.tKI 24&).￿1 149.60 308.21 410.71 437. E*tIKYty & Ga¥ 2240. 247.>) 1313 79 1278. 1207 07 121Z. 7.12160 Glft• t• Ch•riiiw IMiMionl Churth Pkn"$5ion pay￿nts lo lan & inZ•Y**a atsj Da*n & Frase1J￿0n in SrAth Africa Independent Examib*rfs rep￿ to the T￿￿tte5 of The Baptist Churth Trust I report on the actounts of the Trust for the year ended 3151 t)ecernber 2025. whith are set out on Pages I to 2. RespectNe responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner. The chariV5 trustees a￿ responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charitrfs trtsstees consider that an audit ￿ not requlred for this year under section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an Independent exarninatlon is needed. It is rny responsibility as Independent Exarninef to: examinè the accounts under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act: to follow the procedures lald down in the General Dirertions given by the Charity Cornmls5ion under sertion 145lSllb} of the 2011 Act and to State whether particular matters have coffle to my attentiofi 31¥ ol Indepondert Ex•mlnees r•porV. My examlnatlon was carrled out In accordance with the General Dirertions Blven by the Charity Commi55ion. An examlnation includes a review of the accounting records kept by the tharlty and a compariwn of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes conslderation of anv unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanatK)ns from you as trustee5 concernlng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that ￿￿Uld be requlred in an audit and consequently no opinlon is gNen as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair ¥1￿ and the report is limited to those maners sei out In the statement below. Independent Examlnerfs Stat•m•nt: In connection with my exarnination. no matter has come to my attentlon: 111 whlch 8ives me reasonable cause to belleve that in any materlal respect the requirements: to keep accountin8 records wi accordance wlth section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts whlch actord with the accountln8 records and comply wlth the accountin8 requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met: or 121 to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in ordèr to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Name: Joyce Gail Prlestjey 4R Address: Coverdale. KinB Edward Street. Belton. Nr tk)ntaster. DN9 IIY4 Date-