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2025-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025

Contents

Trustees Report 1-18
Statement of Financial Activities 19
Balance Sheet 20
Statement of Cash Flows 21
Accounting Policies 22-27
Notes to the Accounts 28-32
Independent Auditors’ Report 33-34

Cirencester Baptist Church

Annual Report 1st January 2025 to 31[st] December 2025

Statutory Information

Name of Charity: Cirencester Baptist Church (Sometimes shortened to CBC)

Registered Charity Number: 1127222

Registered Address:

Chesterton Lane

Cirencester

Gloucestershire GL7 1YE

Trustees

Mr Matthew Frost (Senior Pastor)

Rev Carolyn McCrone (Associate Pastor)

Mrs Naomi Shrubsole (Youth and Children’s Pastor)

Mr Peter Marrow (Secretary)

Mrs Caroline McKemey (Treasurer) Mrs Clare Baker Mr Granville Gray Mr Colin Lawford Dr Michael McKemey Mrs Clare Hannis

Mrs Emily Luckham (until January 2025) Mrs Anna Marshall Mr Patrick Tampkins Mr Ben Fernandez

Mr Sam Bartholomew

Mrs Annie Campbell (from September 2025)

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Property Trustees

The Baptist Union Corporation Limited, Registered Charity No. 249635

Baptist House 129 Broadway

Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT

Other Officers

Administrator Mrs Debbie MacGregor Pastoral Workers Miss Ann-Rachel Harwood Mrs Kathryn Macnamara Friday Under Fives Worker Mrs Stephanie Kingsley Facilities Manager Mr Colin Sayles Children’s Pastor Mrs Elizabeth Glover Youth Pastor Mr Luke Dives

Bankers

Auditor

Lloyds TSB Bank plc Sumer Auditco Limited 14 Castle Street Hermes House, Cirencester, Glos Fire Fly Avenue, GL7 1QJ Swindon. SN2 2GA

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Annual Report for 2025

The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019.

(a) Objectives and Activities

The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document (Constitution), adopted at a Special Church Members’ Meeting on the 9[th ] September 2008. This states that the principal purpose of the charity 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 other parts of the world. The Church occupies premises that are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, on Trusts which are entirely compatible with the above objectives.

In order to achieve the charitable objectives which are set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its Membership and to the community generally. The Trustees of the Church have considered and have regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

The principal activities of the Church may include, but are not restricted to:

To undertake activities as a means of achieving the Charitable Objectives, the church works on its own, or with other churches or groups. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed; to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord; to support and encourage charitable social action; and to encourage relationships with other Christians.

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Church services and congregation

Central to the work and witness of the church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place at 9am, 10:30am and 6:30pm on Sundays. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised within the church and its website at www.cirencester-baptist.org. Services of a special nature are advertised more widely in Cirencester. There is a full programme for children and young people during the 10.30am service on Sundays. A monthly AllAge Worship service provides a choice of involvement and activity for all ages. Each of the Sunday services has its own style to suit the differing preferences of the church and community. The church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is free to attend any of these services.

Easter Sunday worship

Throughout 2025, new people joined the congregation at Cirencester Baptist and others moved on for reasons including moving house, getting involved in other churches in the surrounding areas, and general changes to life circumstances. The number of people joining us from overseas continues to increase. This brings an exciting diversity to the congregation. In addition, people joined us from other places in the UK. This year, we saw several young people connecting with us as they explored faith and Christianity for themselves. A number of these young people would describe themselves as ‘having come to faith’ and looking for a church, whilst others would say that they are simply exploring what it might all be about.

Staff and volunteers

There were no staff changes this year. However, many of the staff took on additional or increased responsibilities as the church continues to grow. In 2025, Naomi Shrubsole (Youth & Children’s Pastor) took four weeks of sabbatical to pray and reflect away from the day-today duties of her role.

Staf team frst aid training

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Volunteers continue to ensure that much of what we do can happen. Their dedication and diligence, many offering multiple hours each week, are vital to ensuring that the church can continue to function and grow. Around 300 people regularly volunteer across the different groups, services, activities and ministries of the church. A number of these volunteers are under 18 and we have seen them grow in confidence and ability throughout the year. How best to use the space we have, and consideration of options, particularly for children and young people on a Sunday morning, continues to be part of our thinking. Around 30 people regularly engage with our services live through YouTube each week, and these are then watched by around 150-200 more to ‘catch-up’.

Spring clean volunteering Some of the Friday Under 5s team

Youth serving on welcome team

House groups

Fairford meal

As the church grows, house groups continue to be a core part of life together and we have identified these as an important area for growth to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be part of a house group. These groups encourage friendship, enable the growth of faith, provide pastoral care, and help to develop relationships with the local community. The church leadership recognises the importance of those who lead these groups and continues to provide training and support of those in these positions. Pastoral care in the church is mainly provided through house groups with additional support, offered by a small team, to those who are older and less physically able. Our pastoral workers oversee much of the pastoral care which takes place over and above what is provided through house groups. In 2025, there were 23 of these groups for adults, comprising some 300 people.

Many of these groups meet in homes across Cirencester and in the surrounding areas, whilst a small number use the church building. Some meet in evenings during the week and others during the day. One group meets online and provides support to those who are more vulnerable and those who live further away or travel with work. This year we began a new house group in the village of Ashton Keynes and another which meets in the centre of town on Cricklade Street. The Bible study element of these groups generally follows the Sunday service teaching. All who consider themselves part of the church are encouraged to integrate into the life of a house group. Details of these groups are advertised on an information sheet in the church. The house groups meeting weekly in Fairford and in Kempsford, are also involved in running bi-monthly prayer and praise nights in Fairford, as well as a monthly Sunday evening service with St Mary’s Church in Fairford.

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Children’s and youth ministry

Children listening to God

Cake sale

Ministry with youth and children on Sundays and in the week has been maintained. On Sunday mornings, many families worship with us; on average about 85 attend each week, but over a month we have 117 families who attend, averaging 179 different individuals. We have an established monthly music-based worship event called ‘Revive’ which is designed to appeal to young people in the church. This is in addition to the four midweek youth & children’s house groups that regularly attract 33 nine to eighteenyear-olds each week. This year the young people raised money through a cake sale, car wash and other activities which enabled us to reduce the cost of their annual weekend away to Viney Hill to £50 (instead of £120). It raised the profile of the weekend, developed relationships between the young people, and also meant that more young people attended the weekend away (48). We were very grateful to the church who supported them, donated and helped them to raise the funds required.

- (Clockwise from top left): Youth at Viney Hill; Youth bowling night; Christmas Revive - (youth worship night); BBQ; Avalanche house group (yr 5 6)

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Christian discipleship and leadership development

There are a large number of other church activities which provide a means of friendship, encouragement, practical support and growth in Christian faith to all in the church. These cater for different ages, genders and interests, and contribute to the ethos and life of the church. They are a means of encouraging new people to come among us and benefit from what we provide. Numerous special events and regular activities took place during the year to provide opportunities for deepening friendships. We ran a youth Alpha at the beginning of 2025 which was a great way for young people to explore faith togehter. During February and March 2025, 12 couples attending the Marriage course, taking time out to invest in strengthening that relationship. After Easter, we ran a ‘Freedom in Christ’ course which involved 10 weeks looking at being set free to live in our true identity. Furthermore, in June 2025, the church held Hospitality Sunday. This involved people either offering a meal in their home or being welcomed for a meal in the home of someone else. In the autumn term we ran the ‘Parenting for Faith’ course, supporting parents and others involved in taking care of children. In the same term, we ran the ‘Alpha course’ for those with questions about faith. 15 people attended this in 2025 and a number of them have signed up for a course exploring the Bible which will begin in January 2026.

Our regular groups and meetings include monthly curry club, banner, making group, Food for Thought (monthly lunch club for those around during the day), Friends Café (monthly support group for widows and widowers), monthly prayer breakfast, monthly prayer time on a Monday and a weekly prayer meeting.

Food for Thought Christmas meal

Elder Retreat

Leadership Development Community

We continue to invest in the development, training and equipping of leaders, both those who have been in leadership for a while, and those new to these roles. This happens in a number of different ways from giving people opportunities to try activities and offering feedback, through training and equipping. In 2024 a leadership growth community was started. This is a 11-month programme running from September 2024 to July 2025 following a discipleship programme and meeting monthly to explore character and leadership development. Seven people went through this course and at the end of 2025, everyone of them is serving in a leadership position in the church, including one who has gone forward for ministry training. In September 2025, we launched the second year of this, inviting another seven people to take part. This will run until July 2026.

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In 2025, two of our church members became interns with the church, going through the Invest internship with the West of England Baptist Network (Webnet). As part of this they explored a number of different ideas and served in many ministries. During the year we were also exploring, alongside two other church members, the possibility of them beginning ministry training. Both met with the Baptist College in Bristol, those discerning ministry calling within the Baptist network and were presented to the church membership, all of whom overwhelmingly endorsed their callings to ministry. In September, they began their formal training and with this joined the team at Cirencester Baptist Church in a more formal way, as trainee ministers.

Providing space for Biblical teaching, worship and prayer is very important to the church. Regular services provide some of this and during 2025 we had a number of guest preachers who brought challenge and encouragement in teaching. These included Keiko Holmes, Emma Worrall (Open Doors), Nigel Coles (Webnet), Ken Benjamin (LICC), Paul Springate (Cirencester Parish Church) and Kang SanTan (BMS). The New Wine conference in the summer each year, continues to be an important event for many in the church, with around 70 people from the church attending it this year. The church seeks to prioritise prayer and so, alongside prayer in services, other gatherings and even regular specific prayer gatherings, we set aside two weeks (one in January and one in September) to pray. To encourage this, we set aside a room in the building and used specific creative and interactive prayer stations.

- Kang San Tan (BMS)

Community activities

Friday Under 5s (FUFs)

Our two mid-week youth club events (Fusion) cater for those aged 10-16 and are attended by about 90 young people each week (although the average that have attended over a term has been about 178 different young people). These young people generally have no other church connection, except for the regular school assemblies which we run.

Our weekly Friday-Under-Fives group runs three sessions every Friday morning during school term time. We run two sessions for parents and toddlers, and one session for parents and pre-crawling babies - called FUFlings. These groups have given encouragement and support to 294 pre-school families this year. The church employs someone for eight hours a week to help run this successful activity.

Fusion Infatables Night

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Messy Church provides ‘alternative’ church for families who are less keen on the formality of Sunday worship or as an introduction or outreach to bring friends and extended family. Its style is relaxed, and activity-based including games, craft activities and a shared tea, and is greatly appreciated by those who attend. Our Easter Messy event attracted 164 guests and was run with the help of a team of 42 volunteers. At our Light Party (31[st] October) 227 people came along (of which 116 were children), and a team of 45 volunteers helping before, during and after the event to make everything run smoothly. At our Christmas Messy event we had 184 guests, 102 of which were children. We also had 41 volunteers who helped with preparation, set up and on the actual day. We are very grateful for the all-age team that supports this ministry and it has been great to see young people growing in their gifts and skills as they have volunteered alongside their families. We find that Messy Church links in well with other ministries that we run. It is also a great time to invite friends and families to church.

Messy Church Teams and Events

In December, it was great to have 4Front Theatre with us for their Christmas show. We invited local schools to attend one of two interactive pan-tivity showings, seven schools attended (784 people) and were delighted to be able to come.

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We are delighted that those assemblies have continued in schools this year and relationships have continued to grow. 11 primary school assemblies take place six times a year, and we also share a story in a local pre-school bi-monthly. Members of CBC lead school assemblies and activities in all the primary and secondary schools in the area, sometimes in partnership with other groups such as Open the Book. Kingshill School has termly assemblies with each year group, and we have continued to lead a group called “Inspire” with Year 9s at Deer Park School every Friday during tutor time. This is an optional session that young people choose to attend. We have had large numbers attending this academic year and so increased the team to include 3 volunteers alongside the staff team. We average about 40 young people a week (most of whom we have known from Fusion), but over 90 different Year 9s have attended this year. We have provided “It’s Your Move” books to Year 6s transitioning to Secondary School and conducted six interactive sessions at the local schools during July. We also provided the “Next Step” book for parents of those starting school (via FUFs and our links with the local pre-school).

Hymns and Pimms at the Royal Agricultural University

The church continues to be involved in numerous other community activities. These include Cirencester Pilgrims (football team), the chaplaincy team at Cirencester Hospital, and our Senior Pastor is a chaplain at the Royal Agricultural University along with one of our trainees. The Senior Pastor along with a different church leader continued the Two Pastors in a Pub podcast, which has grown in the year to over 600 downloads each month. We also have the Time Out Café which is open weekly on Wednesday mornings for coffee, cake, and a chat. The Time Out Cafe continues to be an important space for many people, particularly for pastoral support.

Around the Table, a twice monthly board games evening, has continued to grow during the year. In 2025, all-day games conventions averaged around 100 people and led to more people attending the regular gatherings.

Several members of the Church continue to be involved with Cirencester Home-Start (who have an office in our building), which provides support for parents of young children in the community. The Cirencester, Fairford and Tetbury Foodbank continues to have its warehouse in the basement of our church building. In addition, many individual Church Members have responsibilities and involvement in a whole range of community activities e.g. people being involved in taking services in local care homes.

CBC’s building continues to be used not only by the church but also by many other groups in the community, totalling over 130 different groups throughout the year.

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Churches Together Events

We work closely with the other churches in Cirencester. During 2025, we shared together in a Good Friday service and Walk of Witness through Cirencester, which ended with a short service in the marketplace. All the churches in Cirencester worshipped together on Pentecost Sunday here at Cirencester Baptist Church, which included an interview with Katerina Hasapopoulos. Several people from across the churches in Cirencester gathered at Cirencester Baptist for the World Day of Prayer service. At Christmas, many gathered for a Christmas carol outreach in the town centre.

Our concern is not only for people in the church and the local community, but further afield too. We partner with church members (and former church members) working as missionaries in Japan and Lancashire with Teach Beyond, South East Asia with Interserve, and the Middle East with Frontiers. In each case, they continue to be supported through mission agencies as we consider that provides them with a more secure support base.

Romania Team

We also support missionaries in Bangladesh through the Baptist Missionary Society World Mission. The relationship with pastor Daniel and his churches in Romania has continued. In November 2025, the Missions Overseas Support Team, hosted a Global Focus weekend including a quiz, guest speaker from BMS, and services including updates and prayer for the missionaries. In 2025, we collected shoeboxes to be sent out to Romania where pastor Daniel is working. In addition, five church members visited Daniel and his churches in Romania, offering prayer and practical support. Our senior pastor also visited Rwanda with a team from other churches, in March 2025. This was a trip to support, encourage and train pastors across many churches in that country.

The Church expresses its part in the wider Christian community by giving to national and international Christian organisations and societies with aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose.

The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. The trustees consider that they have acted in the public benefit.

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(b) Achievements and Performance

The Church does not only measure the success of its programs in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship, support, and encouragement. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure but believe that 2025 was a positive year in the life of the church.

Some of those baptised in 2025

Nine people were baptised following a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. We were pleased to welcome 21 new people into church membership. 14 of our members joined our Friends List or resigned from membership; 6 of our members died during the year. On 31st December 2025 the membership stood at 306, which was a net increase of 3 over the year. We were delighted that 6 babies were born to families in the church and two couples from the church were married at CBC in 2025.

The congregation is becoming increasingly ethnically diverse and we are seeing increasing integration with the wider church community. This is welcome and is hopefully also allied to a growth in community, spirituality, and service.

Towards the end of 2025 those who volunteer within the life of the church numbered around 300 (and this says nothing of those who are also serving elsewhere in their local communities). This is a measure of the activities and enthusiasm of the congregation. One way in which we are seeing new attendees integrate into the life of the church is through increasing numbers of people volunteering within the church.

Youth car wash

Youth led Sunday service

‘Next Steps day’ attendees & team

The weekly attendance at Sunday services has stayed similar to that seen in 2024, being around 450 per week in 2025. However, there is an awareness of increasing numbers of different people attending services, but choosing to attend less regularly e.g. twice a month rather than every week. Many of these people are connected to house groups and are involved in serving on teams and so express continued commitment to the church. Additionally, with some attending services online, we are aware that measuring numbers can be difficult.

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In January 2025 we ran a Youth Alpha course, which was run by a team of 11 young adults and young people (17 young people attended the course). In February 2025, 12 couples attended the marriage course and after Easter around 55 people took part in the Freedom in Christ course. Furthermore, in June 2025, around 60 people took part in hospitality Sunday. The Leadership Growth Community currently has 7 people taking part in it. Over the Autumn Term we ran the original Parenting for Faith Course. This was attended by 5 people. These smaller numbers enabled greater vulnerability among the group.

Youth Alpha

We continued to support the following Baptist Churches: Kings Stanley, Bourton on the Water, Arlington, Stonehouse, Winstone and Chalford. There has also been a growing connection with Stroud Baptist Church, and a partnership with other Christians in Fairford as mentioned earlier in the report.

(c) Financial Review

The church continues to raise the funds that it needs to carry on its activities from giving by the congregation and income from letting the building. The generosity of many in the church has enabled us to continue to repay the loans on the new building.

The church is dependent on members of the congregation working voluntarily to achieve its objectives. Many of these run with little or no impact on our expenditure.

The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted, are set out in the accompanying financial statements. Our total income was £645,868; of this total, £504,055 was allocated to unrestricted funds, £141,813 was allocated to the restricted funds, and £0 to the endowment fund. Our total expenditure was £663,638. This is made up as follows: £511,690 from the unrestricted funds, £82,580 from the restricted funds and £69,367 from endowment funds. We ended the year with a deficit of £17,770.

The net assets held on 31 December 2025 were £3,116,523. This was made up of: fixed assets of £3,549,537; current assets of £155,944; current liabilities of -£288,502; and long-term liabilities of -£300,456.

Reserves of £88,537 were held in the unrestricted funds; £121,840 in the restricted funds; £2,831,096 in the endowment fund; £40,051 in the unrestricted fixed asset fund; and £35,000 in the designated building maintenance fund.

Our reserves policy states that there should be reserves for three months of normal church general fund expenditure. General Fund expenditure, which has grown to about £125,000 this year due to employing more staff hours and increased operating costs. Our reserves at the end of the year stand at £88,537, which is lower than the required level. We will try to increase our reserves over the next few years to the required level. We also have reserves of £35,000 in our designated maintenance account. We note that the Church has current net liabilities of £132,559 for which we will seek to generate the required funds.

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Going Concern

The trustees acknowledge the net current liabilities of £132,559. An increase in member loans used to make a lump sum overpayment of the mortgage has increased net current liabilities. We note that giving has reduced on 2024 due to the appeal in 2024 to aid the purchase of the manse and reduce our property loan. However, regular general giving and hire of premises have increased on 2024.

The Trustees are confident that the charity will be able to generate sufficient income to meet its loan repayments and if a member requires their loan to be repaid the charity can seek to refinance the properties. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The principal funding source is donations from the congregation. Regular giving enabled us to repay £70,210 against our loans. Our total loans are £566,251.

Significant expenses include the employment of three full-time Ministers and seven other employees to lead and co-ordinate the church’s activities. These activities include Sunday services, pastoral care for the congregation and the local community. They encourage the congregation in its life, Christian witness and service. They also help with the running and upkeep of our building.

A further significant expense is the support of both overseas and UK missions and outreach. The Church expresses its part in the wider Christian community by making grants to national and international Christian organisations and societies, with aims and objectives compatible with the church’s own charitable purpose.

The major risks to which the church is exposed have been identified by the Trustees as follows, and systems have been established to manage these risks:

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(d) Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document (Constitution), adopted at a Special Church Members’ Meeting on the 9th September 2008.

Those seeking Church membership are accepted into membership in accordance with the Approved Governing Document (Constitution). Church Members’ Meetings are held on at least four occasions in the year. In 2025, we held six in-person meetings with the option of attending on Zoom. At these meetings, the Members seek to discern the mind of God for the overall policy and affairs of the Church.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Members appoint Trustees, both Elders and Deacons. Together, Elders and Deacons, the Ministers, Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the Members), are responsible for the day-today running of the Church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. Trustees, both men and women, must be baptised Church Members securing the support of at least 66% of the Members voting by secret ballot at a Church Members’ Meeting. Apart from the Ministers (also Trustees), they are appointed for a period of three years, subject to the on-going support of the Church Members’ Meeting. Trustees meet at least bi-monthly to consider the affairs of the Church.

All Members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objectives. Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for consideration or may be raised by Members in Church Meeting for consideration by the Trustees and Members. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.

The Trustees confirm that the major risks have been reviewed and systems or procedures have been established to manage those risks.

The remuneration package for ministers (classed as key management personnel of the charity) is based upon BUGB guidelines and national agreements made between BUGB and HMRC, and also takes account of existing historic arrangements with individuals. Remuneration will be reviewed annually each October/November for inclusion in the budget. Recommendations will be made by the Finance Team and authorised by the Trustees.

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e) Future Plans for 2026

Continue to grow spirituality, friendship, hospitality, and care among members.

Continue to offer online services and gatherings.

Increase the number of house groups and also house group leaders.

Seek opportunities to serve those in need in the local area.

Welcome and encourage students at the local Royal Agricultural University.

Develop further space for intergenerational connection and relationship.

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(f) Trustees' responsibilities statement

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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.

Fundraising Standards Information:

The Charity does not employ a professional fundraiser/Commercial participator.

The Charity or any person acting on behalf of the charity was not subject to an undertaking to be bound by any person voluntary scheme for regulating fundraising, or voluntary standard for fundraising in respect of activities on behalf of the charity.

We did not directly monitor activities carried out by any person on behalf of the Charity, for the purpose of fundraising.

No complaints were received by the Charity or a person acting on its behalf about activities by the charity or by a person on behalf of the Charity for the purpose of fundraising.

We do not actively fundraise outside of our church building. Collections at each service are stressed to be on a purely voluntary basis and more directed at regular members and attendees.

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W Independent examination The independent examiners, Sumer Audit Limlted, will be proposed for re- appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. (h) Declaratlon The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charty's trustees: I Signatory l Full Name Peter Marrow Caroline McKemey Posltion Church Secretary Church Treasurer Date 131£12 18

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Cirencester Baptist Church Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 12 2025

Accounting Policies

a. General information and Basis of Preparation

Cirencester Baptist Church is an unincorporated charity. The address of the registered office and the nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are given in the trustees’ annual report.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest pound.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

There are no significant areas of judgements or key sources of estimation uncertainty.

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Going concern

The trustees acknowledge the net current liabilities of £40,332 and the continuing need to generate income to service the loan repayments. Remortgaging the church, taking out a mortgage on the manse, and repaying member loans has reduced net current liabilities. We are also pleased to see that both giving and hire of premises have increased on 2023. The trustees are confident that the charity will be able to generate sufficient income to meet its loan repayments. There is also sufficient capital in the church building to secure against another loan if needed. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Legal status

The charity is an unincorporated trust constituted by its governing document.

b. Income

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received.

For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of:

the date on which the charity is aware that probate has been granted;

the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made; or

when a distribution is received from the estate

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Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probably when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Income from trading activities includes income earned from fundraising events and trading activities to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.

Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend and rent income is recognised as the charity’s right to receive payment is established.

Income from government and other grants are recognised at fair value when the charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met, then these amounts are deferred.

c. Grants payable

The church makes grants to individuals and other organisations whose charitable objectives complement its work. Where unconditional grants are offered, this is accrued as soon as the recipient is notified of the grant, as this gives rise to a reasonable expectation that the recipient will receive the grants. Where grants are conditional relating to performance then the grant is only accrued when any unfulfilled conditions are outside of the control of the charity.

d. Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual’s basis. All expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings in the statement of financial activities. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.

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e. Volunteers

Most of the management is carried out without charge by volunteers. This intangible cost is not included in the Statement of Financial Activities since it is not practical to measure the value of the volunteers’ time.

f. Funds

Unrestricted funds comprise general funds which the church can use for ordinary purposes, and designated funds which the church has allocated to particular purposes.

Restricted funds represent monies received or invited by the church for a specific purpose. The funds may only be expended on the specific purpose for which they were given.

Transfers from the general fund to restricted funds occur when the expenditure on the restricted fund has exceeded the income.

The endowment funds represent the value of buildings owned and used by the church. In the opinion of the Trustees the endowments are expendable, but the church may not sell any of its property without the express permission of the holding trustees, Baptist Union Corporation.

g. Employee benefits

The charity operates a defined contribution plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expensed as they become payable.

h. Current assets

Amounts owing to the charity at 31st December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provisions for amounts that may prove uncollectable.

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of twelve months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

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i. Current liabilities

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

j. Loans and borrowings

Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the transaction price including transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less impairment. If an arrangement constitutes a finance transaction it is measured at present value.

k. Financial risk management

The charity has minimal exposure to customer credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk. Please refer to the risk section of the trustees’ annual report for information on how risks are managed. The charity does not have any non-basic financial instruments.

l. Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are recorded at cost and depreciation is calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value over their expected useful lives. Fixed assets costing more than £200 are capitalised. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.

Depreciation is provided at the following rates on a straight-line basis:

Freehold Land0%

Freehold Buildings2%

Computers and other electronics25%

Furniture and fittings10%

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m. Tax

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.

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