MOORTOWN
BAPTIST CHURCH
Annual Report 2024- 2025
**Annual Report for 2024-25**
## **Moortown Baptist Church**
## **1. Statutory Information**
## **Registered Address**
204 King Lane, LEEDS, LS17 6AA. Charity Registration Number: 1128960
## **Trustees**
Mr Andy Berry (Appointed March 2024) Dr Phil Commons (Until October 2024) Mrs Shelley Dring (Minister – appointed July 2022) Mr Geoff Fennell (Appointed March 2021) Mrs Krystyna Gadd (Appointed February 2023) Mr Zac Mwanje (Until October 2024) Mrs Mandy Russell (Appointed March 2024) Mr Rod Russell (Appointed February 2023) Mrs Diane Sunter (Until October 2024) Dr Claire Taylor (Appointed March 2024) Mr John Clark (Appointed October 2024) Dr Jonathan Darling (Appointed May 2025)
## **Property Trustees**
The Baptist Union Corporation Limited / The Yorkshire Baptist Association (Incorporated) Baptist House 129 Broadway DIDCOT Oxfordshire OX11 8RT
## **Bankers**
Virgin Money Bank Yorkshire Baptist Association Trust Fund Baptist Union
## **Independent Examiner**
Wyatt & Co Chartered Accountants, 125 Main St, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1AF
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## **2. Annual Report for 2024/25**
The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for the year to 31[st] March 2025.
## **3. Charitable Object**
Moortown Baptist Church (MBC) is governed by a Constitution which states that the principal purpose of the Church 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/or other parts of the world. The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, on Trust which are entirely compatible with the above object.
## **4. Public benefit**
When reviewing the aims and objectives of the charity, and in planning future activities, the trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission, and in particular the guidance for charities for the advancement of religion. The Church proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This benefit is available to all who come into contact with the Church in any way. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.
## **5. Organisation Structure and Decision making processes**
Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the Constitution which requires them to have been baptised on their profession of faith in Jesus Christ, or (at the discretion of the Church Members meeting) on their own public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
Governance of a local Baptist church is achieved through the Church Members meeting together to consider matters related to the life and work of the church. Local Baptist churches nevertheless appoint individuals to responsibilities within the church, so its mission can be advanced through the effective and deliberate sharing of tasks, within a framework of mutual accountability.
In accordance with the constitution, deacons have been appointed by the Church Members Meeting, who for 2024/25 together with the minister Shelley Dring (also appointed by the Church Members meeting) have formed the church Leadership Team and shared the responsibility for the church’s mission and pastoral care. Nine individuals have served as deacons during the course of 2024/25 with one election at the end of the year. The deacons and minister are together the charity trustees of the church, responsible for governance and administration of the charity. All church members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective.
The Church Members meeting usually takes place up to six times per year and is where matters affecting the life and activities of the church are discussed in the context of worship, including prayer and the reading of Scripture. Attendance at the meetings through Zoom is an option where members cannot attend in person. At the church meeting in September 2024 it was agreed to change the Constitution to allow online voting where people were attending online. The intention is that, so far as is possible, practical issues are not perceived as being separate from the spiritual
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aspects of the Church. Relevant matters may be raised to the Church Members Meeting by the Leadership Team or at the request of church members. The Church Members meeting is where overall policy and key decisions of the church are determined. Although the constitution permits decisions to be made by appropriate majorities at Church Members meetings, the church generally seeks to work by consensus where possible.
## **6. Objectives and Activities**
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission in December 2008.
In order to achieve the principal object which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the wider community generally. In loving God and living generously, our aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord, by following Christ.
## **– Our shared life Christian worship and discipleship**
Moortown Baptist Church continues to be an increasingly diverse community of Christians, drawn from neighbourhoods across Leeds and surrounding areas. We seek to apply a vision of Truth and Grace as a church together and in whatever context we find ourselves in our everyday lives. When we gather together we seek to promote Christian living, offer hospitality and equip our members.
All through this period Shelley Dring, the church’s minster, took on responsibility, together with the deacons and supported by many volunteers, of compiling and delivering much of the church’s output.
At the heart of this are our Sunday services, in which we share teaching, sung worship, prayer and communion. Sunday services continue to be streamed on YouTube to enable ministry to continue for those who cannot attend in person.
Prayer is a vital part of a thriving church and in the last year we have sought to make it more prominent in the life of our church. This has been evident in a number of different ways:
- 9 o’clock prayers during Lent
- A group met every evening for 15 minutes, virtually, via a WhatsApp group to pray for the church and many other issues.
- June was designated a month of prayer and we use a guide adapted from the Church Prayer Leaders Network to guide the prayers each day.
- In July, we had a day of prayer, where the congregation were invited to pray at any time during a 24 hour period beginning at 11am on Saturday 22[nd] the of July and ending Sunday 23rd of July. We also had a period of time of the Saturday where we met in the building to explore prayer and worship in many different forms:
- Using the Our Father as a model prayer
- Collage
- Artwork
- Movement and breath prayer
- We now have a Sunday prayer team, which started in March 2023. The purpose of this team is on a Sunday to be available after the service to pray for anyone about anything they need.
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In addition to the above, faithful ongoing prayer by individuals and in various church groups has continued.
A number of house groups and bible study groups met on a regular basis during the year, either in people’s homes or in the church, for fellowship, prayer and bible study as part of their seeking to grow in faith.
**YouTube** Moortown Baptist YouTube channel continued to be used to stream Sunday services to enable people to “attend” who could not be present in person. This was used both by members of our own church and also by others who were seeking somewhere to worship God.
**Facebook** is also regularly used to communicate with members of the church and beyond about everything that is happening at Moortown Baptist Church.
**Zoom** Zoom meetings continued to be used in various ways to enable those to take part who could not attend activities or meetings in person. This has proved particularly useful for church meetings and some house groups.
## **Worship and Teaching**
The teaching series on a Sunday is planned and coordinated by the Minister, with others prayerfully feeding in and delivering teaching. It is designed to be accessible and included: a series on resurrection, Jesus life and ministry in the light of the Trinity, stories and parables Jesus told in the book of Luke and the power of storytelling, Jesus journeying through Galilee and the ripples his ministry caused and what this might say to us, the book and story of Ruth, David as king – that God looks on the heart, a series about advent and the coming of Jesus into the world and our lives, developing strong roots and the importance of being connected and a Lent series about wilderness, how Jesus chose to move away from busyness and distractions to make space to hear God. On the first Sunday of the month, all ages take part in creative activities in café church and on the other Sundays this takes place both in the service for all and in a separate group next door for children. A live band is led by a worship leader each week. The worship leader chooses songs and arrangements in collaboration with the Minister. Each week they are supported by a tech team who facilitate sound and visuals including live feed, recording content and loop system.
**Baptisms** . There were six Baptisms of members of the church and two more are planned.
**Staff .** The church employed four people during the year: the Minister, a Seniors Worker, an Administrator and a young person who prepared various rooms in different parts of the building for the whole variety of activities taking place each week. The church is extremely grateful to have four such amazing employees. Without them it would not have been able to function so well.
**Volunteers.** In all of its activities, the church relied on volunteers to support its staff and trustees. Numerous volunteers helped with Lunch Club, Sunday services in all its aspects, the pastoral team, toddlers, small study groups, children and youth, overseas mission links, the Beacon cafe, encouraging the prayer life of the church, maintaining the building, helping with administration and compliance with the church’s legal duties as a charity and employer in a whole variety of ways. Many individuals helped in a number of different aspects and the church is enormously grateful for all their help and commitment.
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## **Outward Focus**
## **Our local and citywide connections**
We are committed to equipping one another in our daily living and work. As a church we partner with others to achieve common goals, through action, campaigning, prayer and financial support. We encourage individuals to get involved with community groups and charities and continue to host open contact groups such as a Monday morning Beacon Café and Thursday afternoon Craft Group. Specific events open to all and attended by many from across the community included Gather 2025 a worldwide event, the annual plant sale and a Christmas Steel Pans Drum event.
As a church we have continued our support for Baptists Together Home Mission. Additionally, we continued to support a range of groups including Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store, Grace Gospel Church and Pathways Counselling Service.
The church continued to offer outreach to members of the local community through its weekly drop in “Beacon” cafe every Monday morning between 10 am – 12pm. Many people (up to 50) may come on any one day. Members of the church chatted with them and they shared in a hot drink and snack. Home-made cakes were on offer! A short prayer session was held at the end for anyone wanting to stay. Prayers were offered for any name put forward and strength was requested for the coming week.
In January 2025 the church received had received a grant from Leeds City Council as part of a ‘Warm Spaces’ initiative in the city. Beacon cafe continued to be designated a Warm Space and as the church already provided this it became a natural part of our week. Everyone was welcome to come inside, get warm, and share in food and fellowship.
The craft group continued over the period and some 20+ members attended. Some brought their own work to continue, some learned new skills. Some preferred to just come to chat! A stock of wools and needles for knitting or crochet work was available. Some made cards or other crafts as requested. This weekly group also continued to be designated a “Warm Space” and again some new people came in to get warm and share in a hot drink and snack. Some have since joined the group whilst others have stopped coming as the weather improved. A record of those attending has helped members to keep a watchful eye on people and check if they are ill or away. This pastoral element has helped a lot and friendships have been formed.
The church operates what it calls the “Lords Pantry” where items of food and supplies are given to those who are struggling. It is available for anyone who approaches the church and regular donations are given by members to restock items. To the same end, the church received a further Government Household Support grants through Leeds City Council and connected agencies to enable it to support people who were struggling with the cost of living. As part of this scheme our Lords Pantry grew substantially. Up to 15 people have been helped weekly. In order to cope with the numbers requiring food the items were limited to eight per family and six per single person. We made up and provided special food hampers at Christmas which were very well received. The grant funding was also used to help towards electricity/gas costs for those who were really struggling to pay their bills. A local postmaster agreed to help us run the scheme. We provided him with the cash and numbered vouchers and he gave out electricity/gas prepayment vouchers. The use of the money was recorded and fed back to the grant provider.
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Building and strengthening relationships across communities continued to be important. Organisations we were involved with included Lingfield Living Local and the Leeds Jewish Housing Association. Some of our Jewish friends regularly attended Monday Beacon Café and church services, and some of our church members regularly attended activities and lunches at the Ziff Community Centre.
The church continued its links to the Pathways Christian Counselling service, which offers counselling to all in the community through its team of professionally trained counsellors and students. The service uses the church premises for some of its counselling sessions and one of the church’s trustees continued to serve on the Pathways management committee.
The church maintained its partnership with the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store through encouraging donations of furniture. In addition, several church members were closely involved either through working for the Store or as trustees.
One of our members has continued to pastor the Ethiopian church in Leeds and the Ethiopian church continues to reach out to asylum seekers in the UK with God’s love and to supply practical and spiritual support.
## **Our international links**
The Overseas Mission Group currently meets 2 or 3 times a year to try to co-ordinate the church’s support of the different overseas mission agencies supported by church members. The group includes The Minister and a Deacon and Representatives of BMS, MAF, Radio Worldwide, The Romania Group and MERF. One aim of this group is to try to keep news of overseas work before the congregation by occasional mission spots in Sunday Services.
## **BMS World Mission**
The Church continues to channel most of its support for overseas mission, Development and Medical Work and Relief Aid, through the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS World Mission).
We have slightly increased the level of monthly financial support for BMS from general church funds. Individual giving by church members on a monthly or annual basis (including through the Birthday Scheme – inviting people to donate on their birthdays) continues to be generous, but the numbers involved have diminished and attempts to recruit new donors have failed.
During the Autumn our Medical Mission Partners working in Chad led a morning service with a challenging message highlighting the effects of Climate change on poor countries as they described unprecedented Damaging floods in the Sarah Desert! Following the Retirement of our Mission Partners in France we need to find new BMS Overseas Partners - perhaps in South Asia.
We continue to circulate regular letters from overseas workers through the Church’s weekly online newsletter and through the BMS free Engage Magazine.
## **MAF**
Members of the Church support the Mission Aviation Fellowship {MAF) in its mission of providing transportation of Church and Aid organisations to many of the most remote and needy areas of the
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world. The publicity of this work has been less this year due to illness of the church MAF rep. However, individuals continue to give to MAF and to receive prayer diaries from pilots working in increasingly difficult situations,
## **Work with Asylum Seekers**
We referred earlier to the church’s links with the Ethiopian church in Leeds. In addition to that, one of our church members who pastors that church has made a number of trips to France and Belgium to give practical support and show the love of God to people in refugees’ camps there.
## **Romania**
Over the year we have continued to maintain our links with four churches in Romania and to provide financial support to their ministries. £4,350 was raised through donations and other activities including a successful strawberry cream tea.
As a result we were able to send £4,300 to Romania this year which was used to support summer camps for young people from churches in Cluj, Cserefalva and Udvarhely. We also supported an outreach to a church in a deprived gypsy community as well as providing assistance for needy people and bursaries for some students. In addition, we sent £2,000 donated by church members to Manastur church in Cluj for their continued work in supporting Ukrainian refugees.
Two visits to Romania by members of Moortown church took place during the year including two people for whom it was their first visit. The visit in February was mainly to Udvarhely and the husband and wife pastors who previously spent time at our church in Leeds. The three people who visited in September spent time in Cluj and Manastur church visiting the gypsy church we support and a Christian centre in the mountains. They also stayed in Cserefalva and visited Udvarhely as well as some tourist sites.
In addition, there is regular communication between our churches, including updates for the congregation as a whole. Communication also takes place on an individual basis as part of the friendships that have developed over the years.
## **WEC International**
The Church continues to support (through an annual donation and regular giving by individuals) the work of two of our members working with Radio Worldwide (WEC International). Chris continues to serve as a full-time missionary, while Bela is retiring from WEC, while continuing to work in Christian ministry as a volunteer. This includes ministering to women and girls in Sri Lanka, training them in skills to make them self-sufficient by generating funds using vocational skills. Bela is also seeking to help hospital chaplains by visiting and encouraging patients spiritually in hospitals.
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Chris’ work is carried out in two main ways.
Firstly, by running training courses by travelling to different countries and also online on Zoom in the use of radio and other social-media for Christian work – most notably in African countries.
Secondly by producing an audio and video, Christian Thought for the Day, in Hindi, which is distributed via radio stations in India, Australasia, Fiji etc, and also through social media to thousands of Hindi speaking people online in India and other countries.
In these ways we continue to witness, in words, service and actions, to the truths of the Good News of Jesus Christ for the wider world.
## **Sri Lanka**
Two people from MBC went out in February to Sri Lanka to a refuge run by the Women’s Development Centre in Kandy. The refuge is for girls who have suffered gender-based violence and have fled there for safety. Krys Gadd one of our deacons, has had connections with the charity since 2019 and this was her second visit.
The two people from MBC funded themselves to go and stay in Kandy and money was also raised to take out to the refuge. Monies raised from a tabletop sale and other events helped with not only with the running costs of the refuge but several other projects.
One weaving project was to make a bag from recycled fabric and another to make reusable nappies for the babies in the refuge. The sewing teacher knows how to make them now and will teach the girls how to sew them. A third project which involved learning to crochet a bag from cotton yarn was also a huge success.
The trip went really well. Prayers really made all the difference – no delays, illnesses, mishaps or even insect bites. Tea towels made by some of the girls have been brought back and sold to raise nearly £500 so far.
## **Children and Young People**
On Sunday mornings, except when there is cafe church, a faithful group of volunteers have taken children and young people into an adjoining room where they have carried out a range of teaching and activities on the same theme as is being followed in church. The children have then usually shared with the whole congregation what they have learnt and been doing.
## **Toddlers**
Stepping Stones Parent and Toddler Group was started in April 2022 following Lockdown for people in the local community. The group meets once a week during term time on Tuesday mornings. The group is an opportunity for children to explore, play and mix with other young children. For parents and carers’ the group offers a chance to socialise in a relaxed environment, build friendships, and
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share worries and concerns within a trusted group. Attendees include Mums, a few Dads and a significant number of grandparents who are caring for grandchildren while parents are at work.
Stepping Stones is run entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers from the church who are DBS checked. The volunteers aim to offer a safe and stimulating environment for the children who attend, and to offer friendship, care, support, understanding and acceptance to all the families who attend. Above all the volunteers seek to demonstrate the Love of God to all who attend through the care and friendship they offer. Activities within the group include craft activities, messy play, role play opportunities, construction play, and physical activities. The weekly session ends with everyone coming together for a joint singing time together.
Initially the group met together in one large room in the church. As the group has become more popular and numbers have increased Stepping Stones has now expanded to utilise 3 rooms of the church. The initial large toddler room, the sports hall for physical activities and a third room as a “quiet room” for those wanting a more relaxed environment. There is also opportunity to use an outdoor secure gated area in the better weather. Parents/ carers and their children are able to move between the rooms and the outside area as they choose.
Stepping Stones makes a nominal charge per family per session to cover the cost of resources and drinks and snacks. However, no family is excluded if they are unable to pay.
Stepping Stones group started with a small number of families, but the numbers continue to grow with around 30 families each session, mainly due to word of mouth, and the group continues to be very popular.
Just before Christmas, the group offered a toddler friendly interactive Nativity in the afternoon. The youth within the church were actively involved in the making of the Nativity story by acting , singing or music making. The nativity was open to all the toddlers who attend and their families, along with the wider church family and local community. This was a very successful event that we hope to repeat again in the future.
## **Youth**
## **Introduction**
It’s been another interesting and encouraging year for the youth groups that meet in church on a Sunday night. We have continued to run 2 groups (split by age) and have a regular core of youth who come each week. Whilst we as leaders can see some great things happening, we are also aware of the need for some support to help us widen the reach and impact of the youth ministry. A member of staff dedicated to reaching youth would be a superb and would allow us to reach more youth who are not yet part of the church family, as well as being available at other times during the week.
It’s been great this year to welcome two new regular volunteers (Ruth Berry and Pete Argyle) as well as one of the older youth making the commitment to get baptised! We continue to trust God’s leading and are committed to this essential ministry.
## **Younger age group**
We continue to meet alongside the older age group, but we use the meeting area for the video input and bible study, the pool table and table tennis table in the lounge, along with the sports hall and kitchen for our drink and snack break.
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Pete has joined us this year and is showing the youth a thing or two about playing pool as well as prayer!
Our numbers have ranged between 6 and 14 youth this year, but we usually have about 10 that come most weeks. The Rock Solid sessions provided by Youth For Christ are a good basis for our group but sometimes they are aimed at larger numbers so we often adapt the activities. Each week we ask the youth to read the verses from the bible passages being studied, we watch the ‘video talk’ they provide and have the opportunity to discuss these. A quick snack break then gives us time to socialise followed by a response activity. 8pm usually comes round too quickly!
This year has seen new people come to us and we feel incredibly lucky to be leading the younger group in their journey with Christ.
## **Older age group**
The numbers in the older group have fluctuated this year – and this will change again after the summer, when some of the younger group ‘move up’. Whilst some of the youth are very committed and are regulars, we have some who are more sporadic. Whilst this can make planning a little harder, God is good and the conversations we are able to have as we read and study the bible have been great. Over the course of the year we have looked at the book of James, the story of Joseph and have spent time considering how the stories of old have relevance today. In addition, we have had many conversations about how the challenges in the world today can be shaped and influenced by faith or even how they might challenge our belief systems, causing us to re-evaluate what we thought we knew! The youth join in with these and are confident to not only ask questions of and challenge each other, but feel quite comfortable challenging the leaders too
We have also had several social nights (lots of them over Christmas) and are in early stage planning for trips and calendar events for the next year. That said, we were very encouraged when the youth asked for more time to be spent studying the bible!
## **Seniors**
Our Seniors Worker worked alongside a team of over 20 volunteers who supported her in her work with seniors.
The Lunch Club met weekly during term time with a summer special in August, a multi- generational event with our Youth Group and two outings for lunch. There are up to 24 Lunch Club members aged from their 60’s to 90’s who normally attend. A fresh meal was cooked onsite each week and a variety of activities took place.
The monthly midweek worship service continued to flourish with an average of 30 people meeting together. It was attended by a mixture of people from lunch club, from church and some with little connection with either.
The Seniors Worker and volunteers stayed in touch with members by telephone when they were absent from the group through illness or other issues and through the school holidays.
The Seniors Worker continued to signpost to or liaise with other organisations as appropriate to help people’s particular needs and requests.
The Management Committee continued to meet during the year to plan and oversee the running of Lunch Club.
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The Seniors Worker offered Dementia Awareness Training on an informal basis to groups within the church.
## **7. Pastoral Care**
The church is committed to the pastoral care of its members and those connected with it and has a Pastoral Care Team (PCT) and a volunteer Team Leader. Pastoral care is one of the 5 key areas of ministry and gives opportunity for many people to be involved in the life of the church. The church has continued to develop and offer quality pastoral care under the leadership of the Minister, Shelley Dring, and the Leadership Team of the church, with the support, involvement, and advice of our Designated Leaders for Safeguarding, as required. The Pastoral Care Team Leader meets as required with the Minister to review and to share needs within the fellowship.
The priority of the PCT has been to maintain contact, connection and communication with people in the church, and those connected with it. The team has been involved with individuals and families offering precise, targeted and consistent support, with the emphasis of our involvement being confidentiality. Our ability to offer a wide range of support to members and friends has of late been limited by the reduction in numbers of the team and in some cases their own health needs. In this situation, much of the support has been given through the Home Groups and Bible Study Groups that are operating well in the fellowship. Groups such as Lunch Club for senior members, Mums and Toddler Group, Safe Spaces Beacon Café, Craft Group and Wednesday Worship have successfully grown to offer a wide range of support to both church and community.
The church has a Prayer Team who are available after service every Sunday morning, led by our Minister and a Member of the Leadership Team, with a trained and supported team of church members, offering specific prayer for those who seek this support and help. The PCT are also committed to praying for individuals and families, and the confidential WhatsApp Group Prayer link is well established. Specific prayer requests are shared in the group and are held in the strictest confidence.
**A Baptist Union Level 3 Safeguarding Training course** was attended by one of the Leadership Team and three members of church in group leadership
Our Church Administrator **,** who is often the first point of contact for pastoral care, attended completed a Risk Assessment and Mental Health Awareness course.
## **8. Health and Safety / Facilities / Data Protection**
Our Health and Safety Policy and Practice was monitored by the Health & Safety Deacon working alongside a dedicated Health & Safety team supported by our church administrator. A recent visit by the Health & Safety Executive found Moortown Baptist Church to be fully compliant with their practices and procedures and the building was deemed a safe place to be.A
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The church has an agreed GDPR policy and privacy statement and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
An inspection by the Food Hygiene inspector in April 2024 awarded MBC a Level 5 Food Hygiene Certificate.
## **9. Leadership Team and Church**
During the year the Leadership Team of the deacons and Shelley Dring the minister sought to ensure the continuing ministry and mission of the church. They met approximately fortnightly to pray and discuss a full range of issues.
The deacons, as well as all being committed Christians, brought a range of skills to their roles as trustees, including media, education, coaching, training, childcare, health, accountancy, construction and business.
A continuing focus for the church was on strengthening relationships to build a community centred on Christ. Our congregation grew gradually in numbers as they sought to continue to grow in their Christian faith.
## **10. Online and electronic communications**
The continued use of our website (www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk) together with a weekly online E newsletter has more or less guaranteed that MBC is served not simply with a fresh face to face look but also vibrant online news. It has helped to keep families in touch with what the church is doing and the website currently holds a library of many hundreds of stored items all of which can be easily traced and downloaded.
The weekly newsletter, which the Minister has emailed out to all those on the church’s email address list, included a message in which she shared thoughts on our Christian lives and faith and also set out information about what was happening in the coming week and where appropriate further ahead. For those without email and who wished to receive news, a printed version was photocopied and either hand delivered or posted out. Further copies were available at the Sunday service for anyone to collect.
## **11. Future Plans**
As we move from one financial year to another, Moortown Baptist Church’s main focus will be to continue to try and discern what God wants from us and for us and for those we have yet to meet.
We will continue to pray and to seek to put Jesus at the centre of everything we do. We will continue to offer pastoral support where needed via our dedicated pastoral team.
We will continue to be outward looking by offering outreach to our local community (Beacon cafe, Seniors, Toddlers, support for those struggling financially through the Lords Pantry and external funding), across our wider city (Grace Gospel Church, Leeds and Moortown Furniture store,
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Pathways Counselling service) and supporting mission across the world (for example BMS and WEC). In short, we aim to continue to be Christ to our neighbours both near and far.
## **12.Financial Review**
The Church continues to raise the funds needed to carry out its activities primarily through voluntary giving from within its own membership and congregation, from our charitable activities and from tax refunds through the Gift Aid scheme. The Church is intensely grateful for the continuing generous giving of its membership.
The year saw an increase in unrestricted income for the church compared with the previous year of £6,830 (after allowing for a legacy of £10,000 in 2023/24). Offsetting that was an increase in unrestricted expenditure of £826. There was a surplus in year in unrestricted funds of £10,050.
Unrestricted funds at the beginning of the year were £68,398 and the surplus above meant that unrestricted funds at the end of the year amounted to of £78,448. Total funds amounted to £282,931 (2024 £276,008). The church was able to make grants during the year of £29,660 to individuals and other organisations.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted, are set out in the accompanying financial statements. The trustees will continue to report the ongoing financial situation to the whole church.
## **13.Reserves**
The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy to hold six months’ worth of running costs, equivalent to about £65,000 based on unrestricted running costs. At March 2025 unrestricted reserves stand at £78,448 as described above.
The trustees are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves at the Balance Sheet date, together with anticipated ongoing income, to enable the church to function effectively in the coming year. The reserves at March 2025 exceed six months’ worth of running costs and will be closely monitored. The Trustees have made an assessment of the major risks facing the church, and are satisfied that there are policies and plans in place to minimise these risks.
## **14.Trustees’ Responsibilities**
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which give a true and fair view of the state of the charity and of its income and expenditure for the year. We are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently.
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
- State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts.
- Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2022.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
## **15.Approval**
This report was approved by the Trustees at their meeting on 9[th] June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Geoff Fennell (Treasurer and Trustee) Claire Taylor (Deacon and Trustee)
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Charity Registration Number: 1128960
## Moortown Baptist Church Annual Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2025
|Contents:|Page|
|---|---|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|2|
|Statement of Financial Activities|3|
|Balance Sheet|4|
|Notes to the Accounts|5–15|
Moortown Baptist Church 204 King Lane Leeds LS17 6AA
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## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Moortown Baptist Church**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Moortown Baptist Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025 on pages 3 to 15 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 5 and 6.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
The charity's gross income did not exceed £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Nigel Wyatt B.Sc, FCA Independent Examiner
125 Main Street Garforth Leeds LS25 1AF
2
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|Notes
**Income & endowments from:**
Donations & legacies
5
Charitable activities
6
Grants
7
Investments
8
Total
**Expenditure on:**
Costs of generating funds
Charitable activities
9
Total
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
17
**Net movement in funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
£
£
£
£
£
131,070
-
17,891
-
148,961
7,602
-
-
-
7,602
-
-
6,269
-
6,269
2,415
-
-
-
2,415
141,087
-
24,160
-
165,247
-
131,037
6,525
20,762
-
158,324
131,037
6,525
20,762
-
158,324
**10,050**
**(6,525)**
**3,398**
**-**
**6,923**
-
-
-
-
-
10,050
(6,525)
3,398
-
6,923
68,398
70,595
11,824
125,191
276,008
**78,448**
**64,070**
**15,222**
**125,191**
**282,931**|**Total**
**2024**
£
170,998
5,978
12,344
3,258|
|---|---|---|
|||192,578|
|||-
162,748|
|||162,748|
|||**29,830**
-|
|||29,830
246,178|
|||**276,008**|
The notes on pages 5 to 15 form an integral part of these accounts.
3
## **Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Tangible Fixed Assets**
13
**Current Assets**
Debtors
14
Prepayments
14
Cash at Bank
15
**Current Liabilities**
Creditors falling due
within one year
16
**Net Current Assets**
**Net Assets**
18
The funds of the charity:
Endowment Funds
17
Restricted Funds
17
Unrestricted Funds
17
**Total Funds**|**2025**
**£**
**£**
**149,261**
3,698
1,408
130,068
135,174
(1,504)
**133,670**
**282,931**
125,191
15,222
142,518
**282,931**|**2024**
**£**
**£**
**155,786**
4,077
1,358
119,983
125,418
(5,196)
**120,222**
**276,008**
125,191
11,824
138,993
**276,008**|**2024**
**£**
**£**
**155,786**
4,077
1,358
119,983
125,418
(5,196)
**120,222**
**276,008**
125,191
11,824
138,993
**276,008**|
|---|---|---|---|
||135,174
(1,504)|125,418
(5,196)||
|||||
||||**276,008**|
||||125,191
11,824
138,993|
||||**276,008**|
The notes on pages 5 to 15 form an integral part of these accounts.
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on 9[th] June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Geoff Fennell Treasurer and Trustee
Claire Taylor Deacon and Trustee
4
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **1. Charitable Status**
Moortown Baptist Church is a registered charity in England and Wales, number 1128960. The address of the registered office is 204 King Lane, Leeds, LS17 6AA.
The financial statements are presented in sterling (£), which is the functional currency of the Charity, and are rounded to the nearest £.
## **2. Accounting Policies**
## **a) Basis of preparation**
The accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention, in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 1 January 2019.
The following are the accounting policies which have been applied in dealing with material items:-
## **b) Going concern**
The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis, as there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue. Based on the adequacy of the charity’s reserves as at the balance sheet date, along with their knowledge of the charity’s ability to meet bills, payments and other liabilities as they fall due, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has sufficient resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
## **c) Income**
All incoming resources are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is probable that the resources will be received, and the monetary value of incoming resources can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Donated income and grants receivable are taken into account when received by the charity. Income received in circumstances where a claim for repayment of tax has been or will be made to HM Revenue & Customs is grossed up for the tax recoverable. Any amount of tax reclaimed from HM Revenue & Customs but not yet received is shown within the charity's debtors. Income from donated goods is accounted for on the basis of the value of average donation times no. donations received.
Legacies are recognised when the charity is entitled to the income, receipt is probable, and the amount can be measured reliably. Entitlement is usually the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. Pecuniary legacies are recognised upon grant of probate provided there is sufficient evidence of the estate's solvency. Residuary legacies are recognised when estate accounts are received or reliable estimates of value are available.
The charity has relied significantly upon volunteers in carrying out its activities during the year. In accordance with paragraph 6.22 of the SORP, the role of volunteers has not been recognised as income from donated services in the accounts.
Investment income is taken into account when receivable and expenditure, including irrecoverable VAT, when incurred by the charity, regardless of when payment is made.
## **d) Fund raising and publicity costs**
The Church does not make formal appeals for funds and expenditure on these items is therefore not material.
## **e) Grants payable**
The church makes grants to other organisations whose charitable objects complement its work. Grants payable are taken into account at the earlier of when they are paid or become constructive obligations.
5
## **2. Accounting Policies (continued)**
## **f) Governance costs**
Other than the costs of independent examination of the accounts, direct expenditure on the governance of the church is not material. Most of the management of the church is carried out without charge by volunteers. This intangible cost is not included in the Statement of Financial Activities since there is no measurable cost to the volunteers for their service.
## **g) Funds**
Income is allocated to specific funds based on any restrictions by the donor or grant provider. Where funds are received for a particular purpose, they are classified as restricted and applied accordingly. Income which is not subject to specific restrictions is treated as unrestricted and is used in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds which have been set aside by the trustees for specific future purposes or projects.
## **h) Financial Instruments**
The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. These include cash at bank, short-term debtors and creditors. Financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **i) Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements**
The preparation of financial statements requires the trustees to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date. The key areas of estimation and judgement that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year include depreciation rates and useful economic lives of tangible fixed assets.
## **j) Fixed Assets**
The church premises are included in the balance sheet at deemed cost of £125,191, a valuation obtained on 1[st] January 1977, plus the cost of new windows installed in the year of account. Furniture and equipment in the church premises is included at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Assets costing less than £2,500 are not capitalised.
## **k) Depreciation**
Depreciation has not been charged on the main church premises because, in the opinion of the Trustees, the residual value of the asset is not less than the deemed cost. In addition, there is a long estimated useful life of the building and depreciation in any year would not be material. Depreciation on replacement windows and other fixed assets is calculated to write off the cost on a straight-line basis over their expected useful life, at the following rates:
Replacement windows 10% Furniture and Equipment: 20% Computer equipment 33%
## **l) Pension liability**
In previous years there were significant amounts due to the Baptist pension scheme. However, during the previous year the scheme announced that it was no longer in deficit. To reserve its position, it maintained the requirement for monthly deficit payments by churches at a nominal £1 per month up until October 2024. Payment of the previously stated full employer debt to the pension scheme would still be triggered by a cessation event, such as the Church still not employing a member of the Baptist Pension Scheme. However, the church’s minister has now joined the scheme which means that the situation is not currently relevant and therefore there is no longer the need to account for a pension creditor.
## **3. Independent Examination Costs**
Net income for the year is stated after charging £655 (2024; £650) for costs of independent examination.
## **4. Government Grants**
Grants totalling £6,269 were received from Leeds City Council and via Leeds City Council approved organisations to help support households with food and energy costs and to support the church in providing a warm and welcome space (2024: £12,344).
6
## **5. Income from Donations & Legacies**
|Offerings
Tax Refunds
**Totals**
Total by Fund
2024|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
£
£
£
£
£
109,135
-
15,035
-
124,170
21,935
-
2,856
-
24,791
**131,070**
**-**
**17,891**
**-**
**148,961**
135,021
-
35,977
-
170,998|**Total**
**2024**
£
147,368
23,630|
|---|---|---|
|||**170,998**|
||||
2024 General Funds offerings included a £10,000 legacy
## **6. Income from charitable activities**
|Room Hire
Toddlers
Other
**Totals**
Total by Fund
2024|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
£
£
£
£
£
5,305
-
-
-
5,305
1,806
-
-
-
1,806
491
-
-
-
491
**7,602 -**
**-**
**-**
**7,602**
5,978
-
-
-
5,978|**Total**
**2024**
£
4,420
1,370
188|
|---|---|---|
|||**5,978**|
||||
## **7. Income from grants**
|Household Support
Warm & Welcome Space
Digital Hub
Grit Bin
**Totals**
Total by Fund 2024|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
5,450
-
5,450
-
-
819
-
819
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**
**-**
**6,269 -**
**6,269**
-
-
12,344
-
12,344|**Total**
**2024**
£
5,750
750
5,701
143
**12,344**|
|---|---|---|
7
## **8. Income from Investments**
|Interest:
Yorkshire Baptist Account
Baptist Union
**Totals**
Total by Fund 2024|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
£
£
£
£
£
1,057
-
-
-
1,057
1,358
-
-
-
1,358
**2,415**
**-**
**- -**
**2,415**
3,258
-
- -
3,258|**Total**
**2024**
£
1,856
1,402|
|---|---|---|
|||**3,258**|
||||
## **9. Expenditure on Charitable Activities**
|Ministry, Fellowship & Outreach
Childrens & Toddlers Work
Youth
Seniors Work
**Totals**|**Direct**
**Grant**
**Support**
**Total**
**Activities**
**Funding**
**Costs**
**2025**
(note 11)
(note 10)
£
£
£
£
61,382
29,659
48,135
139,176
1,169
-
618
1,787
150
-
79
229
11,206
-
5,925
17,131
**73,907**
**29,659**
**54,757**
**158,323**|**Total**
**2024**
£
144,491
2,074
-
16,183|
|---|---|---|
|||**162,748**|
Restricted funds included above are:
|Ministry, Fellowship & Outreach
Totals|**Direct**
**Grant**
**Total**
**Activities**
**Funding**
**2025**
(note 11)
£
£
£
3,186 17,576
20,762|
|---|---|
||**3,186 17,576 20,762**|
8
## **10. Support costs**
|Administrator
Printing, Stationery, Telephone
Governance Costs
Buildings Costs
Depreciation
Other Costs
**Totals**
Total by Fund 2024|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
£
£
£
£
£
13,485
-
-
-
13,485
1,616
-
-
-
1,616
650
-
-
-
650
27,082
-
-
-
27,082
-
6,525
-
-
6,525
5,399
-
-
-
5,399
**48,232**
**6,525**
**- -**
**54,757**
51,996
6,525
-
-
58,521|**Total**
**2024**
£
12,536
1,524
1,166
30,824
6,525
5,946|
|---|---|---|
|||**58,521**|
||||
## **11. Grant Funding**
|**Recipient**
BMS World Mission
Caring for Life
Grace Gospel Church
Household Support
Fund
Leeds & Moortown Furniture
Store
Lingfield Living Local
MAF
MBC Romania Fund
MBC Romania Fund
(Ukraine)
Pathways Counselling
Radio Worldwide
Love Gospel Mission
International
Personal gifts to
deacons
YBA Home Mission
Other
**Totals**
**Total by fund for**
**2024**|**General**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
4,310
2,051
-
-
6,361
-
612
-
-
612
1,961
-
-
-
1,961
-
3,917
-
-
3,917
431
1,423
-
-
1,854
-
-
-
-
-
431
1,499
-
-
1,930
-
2,734
-
-
2,734
-
2,001
-
-
2,001
431
-
-
-
431
1,260
1,952
-
-
3,212
-
1,050
-
-
1,050
-
247
-
-
247
3,260
-
-
-
3,260
-
90
-
-
90
**12,084 **
**17,576**
**0**
**0**
**29,660**
**11,745**
**19,252 **
**0**
**0**
**30,997 **|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
6,245
809
1,870
7,264
410
500
1,410
3,075
2,262
410
2,650
625
281
3,110
76|
|---|---|---|
|||**30,997**|
||||
9
## **11. Grant Funding (continued)**
The organisations to which grants have been given serve the following purposes:
- BMS World Mission: a Baptist missionary society that works worldwide to share the Christian faith
- Caring For Life is a local Christian charity that seeks to "Share the Love of Jesus" with at-risk and hurting people, including those who are homeless, through providing long-term support .
- Grace Gospel Church: a Leeds church that works mainly with Ethiopian immigrants and refugees
- - Household Support Fund – Government grants distributed in Leeds via Leeds Community Anchor Network to fund direct support to people struggling to pay for essentials such as food and energy
- Leeds & Moortown Furniture Store: a charity that provides donated furniture free of charge to those who could not afford to buy it
- Lingfield Living Local – an organisation that works with people in local socially and economically disadvantaged communities
- MAF – Mission Aviation Fellowship flies pastors and relief and medical workers and their necessary supplies into otherwise difficult to reach parts of the world
- MBC Romania Fund: providing support to two partner churches in Romania
- MBC Romania Fund (Ukraine) – providing support to our partner churches in Romania to assist them as they support refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine
- Pathways Counselling – a professional counselling service previously part of the church
- Radio Worldwide: a missionary organisation that shares the Christian faith through radio and media
- - Love Gospel Mission International – Works with refugees in France and Belgium, sharing the gospel and providing material support
- Personal Gifts to Deacons – private gifts for deacons from within the church membership
- YBA Home Mission: Association of Yorkshire Baptist churches that supports churches in carrying out their work including with new initiatives
- Other – for 2024/25 support for a women’s refuge in Sri Lanka
## **12. Staff costs and Trustees expenses**
|**All Staff**
Salaries
Social Security Costs
Pension Costs - Current
Pension costs - deficit contributions
Other Costs
**Totals**
The average number of employees during the year was:
The full time equivalent number of staff was:|**2025**
**2024**
£
£
71,110
67,131
946
329
5,040 4,725
7 12
1,352
1,084|
|---|---|
||**78,455 73,281**|
||4
4
1.9
2.0|
No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000 during the year (2024 none). None of the Deacons who served the church was paid in an employment capacity. No sums were reimbursed to the Trustees for their work as Trustees (2024 none). The minister as a trustee received remuneration in respect of her employment providing services as Minister:
|**Minister remuneration**
Salaries
Social Security Costs
Pension Costs
Other Costs
**Totals**|**2025**
**2024**
£
£
47,200
44,279
824
277
3,649
3,428
951
830|
|---|---|
||**52,624 48,814**|
The total value of monetary gifts given by trustees (and their connected persons), to the church during the year ended 31 March 2025 is £20,913 (2024: £28,460).
10
Four (2024: three) trustees incurred reimbursable out of pocket expenses totalling £2,297 (2024: £3,786) towards the day to day running of the charity.
The key management personnel comprises the Trustees and the Minister. The total cost of the key management personnel of the Charity during the year was £52,624 (2024: £48,814).
## **13. Tangible Fixed Assets**
|Cost
1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
31 March 2025
Depreciation
1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
31 March 2025
Net Book Value
**31 March 2025**
31 March 2024|**Church**
**Premises**
**£**
125,191
-
-
125,191
-
-
-
-
**125,191**
125,191|**Building**
**Improvements**
**£**
8,988
-
-
8,988
899
899
-
1,798
7,190
8,089|**Fixtures, Fittings**
**& Equipment**
**£**
28,132
-
-
28,132
5,626
5,626
-
11,252
**16,880**
22,506|**Total**
**£**
162,311
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||162,311|
|||||6,525
6,525
-|
|||||13,050|
||||||
|||||**149,261**|
||||||
|||||155,786|
The Church premises are included at a valuation undertaken on 1 January 1977. The current insurance value of the property (at June 2024) is £3,101,594.
All of the fixed assets are used for direct charitable purposes.
## **14. Debtors and prepayments**
|Gift Aid Recoverable
Prepayments
Other debtors
**Totals**
**Bank and cash balances**
Cash at Bank and In Hand
Yorkshire Baptist Account
Baptist Union Short Term Deposits
**Totals**|**2025**
**2024**
£
£
3,108 4,077
1,408
1,358
590
-|
|---|---|
||**5,106**
**5,435**|
||**2025**
**2024**
£
£
58,708
51,038
28,507
27,450
42,853
41,495|
||**130,068**
**119,983**|
## **15. Bank and cash balances**
11
## **16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|General Accruals
**Totals**
**17. Funds**
**Endowment Funds**
Endowment Funds
**Restricted Funds**
Restricted Funds:
Donations for specific grants
Lords Pantry
Donations for specific
expenditure
Total restricted funds
**Unrestricted Funds**
Designated Funds:
Building Fund
Legacies Projects Fund
Capital Fund
General Funds
Total Unrestricted Funds
**Total Funds**|**1 April**
**2024**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Resources**
**Expended**
£
£
£
125,191
-
-|**2025**
**2024**
£
£
1,504
5,196|
**31 March**
**2025**
125,191|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**1,504 5,196**||
|||**Gains &**
**Transfers**
**Losses**
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-||
||4,491
19,894
(17,576)
935
2,410
(1,538)
6,398
1,856
(1,648)||6,809
1,807
6,606|
||11,824
24,160
(20,762)||15,222|
||30,000
-
-
10,000
-
-
30,595
-
(6,525)||30,000
10,000
24,070|
||70,595
-
(6,525)||64,070|
||68,398
141,087
(131,037)||78,448|
||138,993
141,087
(137,562)||142,518|
|||||
||276,008
165,247
(158,324)||282,931|
## **Restricted Funds**
These are comprised of donations and grants made to the church for a specific purpose and include the following:
- Donations for specific grants; see note 11 above
- Lords Pantry; a fund that provides food and other essentials free of charge to those who are struggling to make ends meet
- Donations for specific expenditure and Children’s and Youth Work Fund; where donations or grants have been given to enable the church to make specific purchases or carry out specific works
12
## **17. Funds (continued)**
## **Designated Funds**
## _Building Fund_
The Trustees and the Church Members Meeting designated an amount of £30,000 during 2023/24 for possible future capital spend on major building maintenance and improvements.
## _Legacies Projects Fund_
During 2023/24 a legacy of £10,000 was received, which the Trustees and the Church Members Meeting agreed to designate towards unspecified future projects.
## _Capital Fund_
This fund represents the depreciated value of those tangible assets subject to depreciation in the Accounts which cannot be disposed of without limiting the scope of the Church's activities.
## **There were no transfers between funds during 2024/25. Transfers in 2023/24 were:**
||General|Designated|Restricted|
|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|Funds|Funds|
||£|£|£|
|For future spend on major building maintenance||||
|and improvements|(30,000)|30,000||
|Legacy receipt allocated towards unspecified||||
|future projects|(10,000)|10,000||
|Transfer of fixed assets purchased during the year|(20,215)|20,215||
|Transfer of fixed assets purchased during the year||16,905|(16,905)|
|Tithe–transfer to Lords Pantry|(225)||225|
|Miscellaneous|(149)||149|
||_________|_________|__________|
|**Total**|**(60,589)**|**77,120**|**(16,531)**|
||_________________|_________________|___________________|
## **18. Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**At 31 March 2025**
Endowment Funds
Restricted Funds
Designated Funds
General Funds
**Totals**
**At 31 March 2024**
Endowment Funds
Restricted Funds
Designated Funds
General Funds
**Totals**|**Fixed**
**Net**
**Current**
**Asset**
**Assets**
£
£
125,191
-
-
15,222
24,070
40,000
-
78,448
**149,261 **
**133,670**
125,191
-
-
11,824
30,595
40,000
-
68,398
**155,786**
**120,222**|**Total**
£
125,191
15,222
64,070
78,448|
|---|---|---|
|||**282,931 **|
|||125,191
11,824
70,595
68,398|
|||**276,008**|
13
## **19. Baptist Ministers Pension Scheme**
The Church is a participating employer in the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund, started in 1925. At the beginning of the financial year, the scheme comprised of a defined benefits scheme which was closed to future accrual on 31 December 2011 and a defined contribution plan which was opened in January 2012.The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.
For the current financial year, the pension provision for members of the Scheme is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Broadstone Corporate Benefits Ltd. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited. Furthermore, members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.
In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased and the £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date.
The Minister is eligible to join the Scheme and has chosen to do so.
Section 28.11A of FRS 102 requires agreed deficit recovery payments to be recognised as a liability. The present value of the agreed deficit contributions were immaterial at the beginning of the financial year and were fully extinguished once buy out was completed by Just Group in October 2024.
The total pension cost in respect of the Baptist Minister's Pension Scheme was as follows:
|**Accounting date**
Contributions to DC scheme for current employees
Deficit contributions
Administration Costs|**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-24**
£2,189
£2,057
£7
£12
£1,460
£1,371|
|---|---|
||**£3,656**
**£3,440**|
## 20. **Funds Received as an Agent**
During the year the church received a number of donations from church members that were given confidentially as gifts for specific individuals and which were passed on in accordance with the donors’ wishes. The money received and passed on in this way totalled £900 but is not included in either the income or expenditure in these accounts. Included in this total was £300 given for the minister and related persons.
## **21. Related Charities and Parties**
The Custodian Trustee of the Church is the Baptist Union Corporation Limited which is charity number 249635. The Church is also a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA). The church made donations to the following related charities: YBA Home Mission Fund - £3,260 (2024 £3,110) of which £3,260 (2024: £3,110) was from general funds. A close family relative of a trustee received £423 for work done.
14
## **22. Statement of financial activities comparative note**
|**Income & endowments from:**
Donations & legacies
Charitable activities
Grants
Investments
Total
**Expenditure on:**
Costs of generating funds
Charitable activities
Total
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
17
**Net movement in funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
£
£
£
£
£
135,021
-
35,977
-
170,998
5,978
-
-
-
5,978
-
-
12,344
-
12,344
3,258
-
-
-
3,258
144,257
-
48,321
-
192,578
130,211
6,525
26,012
-
162,748
130,211
6,525
26,012
-
162,748
**14,046**
**(6,525)**
**22,309**
**-**
**29,830**
(60,589)
77,120
(16,531)
-
-
(46,543)
70,595
5,778
-
29,830
114,941
-
6,046
125,191
246,178
**68,398**
**70,595**
**11,824**
**125,191**
**276,008**|**Total**
**2025**
£
148,961
7,602
6,269
2,415|
|---|---|---|
|||165,247|
|||158,324|
|||158,324|
|||**6,923**
-|
|||6,923
276,008|
|||**282.931**|
15