Company registration number: 1129467 Charity registration number: 1129467
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
Stewart & Co Accountants LLP Knoll House Knoll Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3SY
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Contents**
|Trustees's Report|1 to 7|
|---|---|
|Independent Examiner's Report|8|
|Statement of Financial Activities|9 to 10|
|Balance Sheet|11|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|12 to 26|
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Trustees's Report**
The trustee, a director for the purposes of company law, presents the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The financial statements comply with 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
**Charity name** Easthampstead Baptist Church **Charity Registration Number** 1129467 **Principal Office** South Hill Road Easthampstead Bracknell Berkshire RG12 7NS **Names of the charity Trustees who** Mr S Lace, Minister **manage the charity** Ms P Marsh, Ministry Director Mr O Fawole, Church Secretary Mr R Lea, Treasurer Mr P Roe Mr P Jones Mrs J Darby Shearing Ms J Castelow-Sturges Mr E T Chamanga Mr A Ajayi-Obe **Bankers** The Co-operative Bank PLC P.O. Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
Page 1
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Trustees's Report**
**Independent Examiner**
Stewart & Co Accountants LLP Knoll House Knoll Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3SY
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **The charity**
Easthampstead Baptist Church was registered under a Constitution on 16 October 2008 with the registration number 1129467.
## **Recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The charity is controlled by its Constitution, which was agreed at a Church Meeting in October 2008, and put forward to the Charity Commission in mid-April 2009.
The governance of the church is as follows: whole church policy and issues are addressed at church meetings, which happen at least four times per year.
At these, major decisions are made and, when required, Trustees, Church Secretary and Treasurer will be/are appointed. The Church Elders are responsible for spiritual oversight, policy and future direction. The Trustees are responsible for the development and general running of the church and this group consists of the Minster, Treasurer, Church Secretary and elected individuals from the church membership.
Induction and training for new trustees includes “on the job” coaching/mentoring and the requirement to read through and understand the Baptist Union Guideline Leaflet C15 which has been specifically written for Church Secretaries, Treasurers, Ministers, Elders and other Charity Trustees.
Having completed his process of Ministerial Formation and training, Simon Lace was formally commended as a nationally accredited Baptist Minister, and duly ordained and inducted as EBC’s Minister on Sunday 4th August 2024.
## **Organisational structure**
The Elders are responsible for the oversight of the Church’s vision. They keep under review the ministries and other activities of the church and consider any new proposals to ensure that they fit within the overall ethos and contribute to fulfilling vision of the church.
The Elders may from time to time make recommendations to the Trustees Team but as a group they have no direct decision-making powers. They also provide pastoral support to the Minister and assist him or her with matters of serious confidential pastoral concern, in which context only do they act independently of the Trustees Team.
Elders include the Team Minister; the remainder are appointed by the church meeting (as with appointments to the Trustees Team, the support of at least 2/3 of the members present and voting is required). Elders are nominated by the Trustees Team, usually in response to advice from the serving Elders. Currently there are four Elders in addition to the Minister.
Page 2
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Trustees's Report**
The Trustees are responsible for the overall leading and management of the church. In recent years, the increasing introduction of specific staff roles to lead individual areas of ministry from day-to-day has meant that the Trustees Team is primarily concerned with broader areas of oversight, staffing and financial management.
Trustees Team members are appointed by the Church Meeting at the AGM following a rigorous nomination process, usually for a period of three years. In the period prior to the AGM, members are asked to prayerfully consider whom they might nominate to serve on the Trustees Team. They will be advised of the number of vacancies and the names of any serving trustees who have reached the end of their term but are willing to stand again. Those individuals who receive at least seven nominations are then approached by the Minster who will tell them of their nomination and talk to them about the role, and their suitability for it before they prayerfully decide whether or not to allow their names to go forward.
Although there is no limit on the time an individual may serve on this team, they must be actively re-appointed after their three-year term. There are currently ten members of the Trustees Team.
The church Treasurer and the Church Secretary are nominated from the Trustees Team.
From time to time the Trustees will appoint sub-groups to advise them on specific topics, such as building work or staffing reviews.
Rev. Lace, Mrs Marsh, and Mr Jones are the only remunerated Trustee.
## **Major risks and management of those risks**
_**Loss of premises and facilities;**_ This is addressed by comprehensive insurance cover for its buildings, contents and liabilities.
_**Financial risk;**_ This is addressed by regular monitoring of income and expenditure, the requirement for a second signatory on cheques over £1,000, and through approval and support of the budget by the membership. _**Availability of people to undertake tasks and to lead activities within the Church;**_ This is addressed through a program of teaching, encouragement, and courses to help people identify, develop and apply their gifts.
## **Public benefit**
We continue to review the activities of the Church in order to identify ways in which we can provide a greater service to the community in which it is situated.
The Church has continued to provide public benefit in numerous ways, and the work normally includes the following activities--
## **Storehouse**
For many years now we have run a ministry to the community that we call “Storehouse”. We accept donations of good quality furniture and household items. Where we know of someone who is in need (through our own contacts or referred to us by local agencies) we either give them needed items directly if we have them in stock or we use the “Storehouse Fund” to buy things such as white goods, clothing or hygiene items. The Storehouse fund comes from two specific Sunday offerings we have each year. We have a branded van that is used to collect and deliver items and in 2024 we replaced this with support from a grant from the local Council.
Page 3
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Trustees's Report**
## **(Social) Action Sundays**
These help to foster within the church a wider sense of community involvement than just talking about it. In effect, we are giving up something that we love to do to do something practical to help others. The first of these Sunday mornings usually happens in late Spring when there is a “fifth Sunday” in the month. Rather than hold our usual services we head out in small teams to carry out local community projects. In 2024 this included litter picking, tidying up our public areas, gardening in a local youth housing scheme, and writing to persecuted Christians around the world. On the second occasion, in November, we held our “Shoe Box Sunday” when we dedicated our service time to filling shoe boxes in support of the Christian charity “Link to Hope” using items that individuals and the church itself had donated.
## **Local Agencies and Groups**
Because of our support for community projects and ministries such as Storehouse and the lunch clubs, the church is held in generally good regard by the local authorities and our local councillors. Local agencies frequently refer needy folk to us for help and some hire our buildings for training and conferences. We have good relationships with the local police and PCSOs who sometimes attend our services. Easthampstead Baptist Church also plays a full role in the ecumenical Bracknell churches group known as “Bracknell Christian Network” (BCN), which collectively supports the town centre pastoral group named ‘One Step Closer’. As well as engaging in the weekly Zoom meetings of the various church leaders in 2024, Easthampstead Baptist Church also hosted a quarterly breakfast prayer meeting for the group and our Minister, Rev. Simon Lace, is a member of the steering committee for the group.
In these ways, the trustees have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to the guidance issued by the charity Commission in respect of public benefit.
## **Objectives and activities**
## _**Objects and aims**_
The primary objective for the year was to fulfil the church’s stated purpose which is: “To love God, to love people and to grow together to become more like Jesus” Each ministry in the church contributes towards that goal
Each year the church sets strategic objectives which are discussed and agreed between the Trustees and the Church Membership in the final quarter of the year for the year ahead. For 2024, the church reviewed our progress against the agreed 2023 objectives and formally agreed the following objectives for 2024 –
## _**EBC OBJECTIVES 2024: ABIDING, FRUITFULNESS, ENVIRONMENT**_
## **1. ABIDING (‘Be… disciples.’)**
## **What will success look like?**
## _**Our personal relationships with God deepen**_
- ‘Abiding’ continues to be a focus area for preaching and courses.
- Life Groups (and things like Life Groups) are valued as essential parts of our personal discipleship. We take part positively, and bring our whole selves to the table. We help them to become safe places for our mutual growth.
- More people are in Life Groups.
- More people come forward for membership and Baptism.
- People will continue to grow and develop through spiritual disciplines and daily communion with God and others.
Page 4
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Trustees's Report**
## **2. FRUITFULNESS (‘Be… fruitful.’)**
## **What will success look like?**
## _**We will be a people of good news, who bless, invite and disciple others.**_
- Being good news:
- Our local ministries flourish and develop - Storehouse, Food Pantry, Bacon Butty Club, EBC Coffee Mornings, Holiday at Home, Turkey & Tinsel, Soup & Sandwich etc, alongside our Sunday services.
- _We continue to bless people through frontline discipleship as well as through community events (e.g. Social Action Sundays)_
- _Sierra Leone: Abs’ visit takes place to encourage and support him_
- _Ongoing global links with CSW, Tearfund, Link to Hope etc._
- Being inviting:
- We continue to make personal invitations to come to church (‘Four Tables’ approach and direct invitation to EBC events and services).
- We invite people into our lives, to be salt and light for them.
- Discipling others:
- We intentionally disciple people on our frontlines by our word and personal example, as well as inviting them to EBC.
- We take a lead in helping others to join Life Groups (and things like Life Groups) and in encouraging and supporting everyone in them.
- We use our God-given gifts and abilities whole-heartedly to bless, affirm and encourage our whole church family.
## **3. ENVIRONMENT (‘Be… welcoming.’)**
## **What will success look like?**
## _**We are known as a safe and welcoming environment for all.**_
- Our physical and digital environments keep improving:
- Accessible and upstairs toilet projects are completed.
- ‘EBC Online’: Our social media and website presence improves.
- Garden areas are improved, including addition of a proper side-path.
- We are recognised as a safe place for vulnerable people:
- EBC becomes a ‘Beacon Church’.
- EBC is recognised for treating all people with dignity and respect.
- CAMEO is celebrated and promoted as a mission partner reaching local people with learning difficulties.
- _Ongoing links with local agencies to support vulnerable people: Berkshire Women’s Aid, Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Pilgrim Hearts and others._
## **Church Ministries**
During 2024, we continued our Sunday services and weekday activities. We also overhauled our website and upgraded our social media presence to reach out more widely, especially mindful of younger people. Having completed his formal process of ministerial formation at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, our Minister, Rev. Simon Lace, was formally ordained as a nationally accredited Baptist Minister on August 4th 2024. Our Ministries Director, Philippa Marsh, commenced her own formal development with the Baptist Union of Great Britain on her path to becoming a Locally Recognised Minister.
Page 5
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Trustees's Report**
## **Mission Support**
The church remains committed to supporting churches and other Christian organisations, both in the UK and overseas. Support is given in terms of finance and leadership support.
## **Sierra Leone**
Our work with charities and our partner church in Sierra Leone continues and in 2024 we hosted our key Mission leader, Dr. Abdulai Dumbuya, whom we flew in and hosted for a two-week visit. Throughout the year we stayed in constant touch with our key contacts, offering financial support and pastoral encouragement as required.
## **Financial review**
During the year ended 31 December 2024 the church had a total income of £353,547 (2023: £316,272). This total included: offerings and gifts - £184,759 (2023: £152,171); income tax recoverable - £41,850 (2023: £34,569); pastoral needs - £5,118 (2023: £24,592); other causes - £6,395 (2023: £2,254); miscellaneous donations - £765 (2023: £931); charitable activities £19,177 (2023: £13,513); church lettings - £91,973 (2023: £84,261); bank interest - £2,352 (2023: £2,804). Total Expenditure for the year was £333,481 (2023: £331,893). Of this total, significant costs were: ministry direct costs - £184,376 (2023: £201,942); missionary & charitable giving direct costs - £33,362 (2023: £20,811); support costs - £72,286 (2023: £67,325); governance costs - £5,250 (2023: £5,100).
## _**Policy on reserves**_
The Church aims to keep minimum reserves of approximately 10% of its annual expenditure. This is partly to cover any excess of expenditure over income, provision for cash flow fluctuations, and so that the Church may meet commitments under contract e.g. to employees, for a reasonable notice period, if it is unable to continue to function. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted reserves of £458,289(2023: £410,979), designated reserves of £20,760 (2023: £36,806), and restricted reserves of £206,574 (2023: £217,772). The designated fund balance is held for ministry activities and works needed at the church. Of the restricted reserves balance, £182,420 (2023: £193,268) represents sums given since 1995 to fund the development of the Church premises, which was completed in 1997, and to pay off the money borrowed at that time to finance the development; £4,828 (2023: £5,172) is for the refurbishment of the toilets, £6,891 (2023: £11,064) is for costs relating to Storehouse, £4,457 (2023: £4,693) is held for costs relating to audio visual equipment, £1,298 (2023: £1,730) is held for costs relating to a stair lift and £1,555 (2023: £1,575) is held for cost related to supporting Bracknell Christian Network.
## **Statement of trustees's responsibilities**
The trustees (who is also the director of Easthampstead Baptist Church for the purposes of company law) is responsible for preparing the trustees's report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".
Company law requires the trustee to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustee must not approve the financial statements unless he is satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustee is required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
Page 6
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Trustees's Report**
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustee is responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. He is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The annual report was approved by the trustee of the charity on 7 August 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
**SIGNED SECURELY**
**07/08/2025 at 1:45:58 PM UTC**
......................................... Mr R Lea Trustee
Page 7
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustee of Easthampstead Baptist Church ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the Company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of , which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Easthampstead Baptist Church as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
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.
...................................... L A Evans BSc FCA
Knoll House Knoll Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3SY
7 August 2025
Page 8
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investment income
6
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
7
Other expenditure
8
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
17|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
226,628
19,177
91,973
2,352
340,130
(270,659)
(38,207)
(308,866)
31,264
31,264
447,785
479,049|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
13,417
-
-
-
13,417
(24,615)
-
(24,615)
(11,198)
(11,198)
217,772
206,574|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
240,045
19,177
91,973
2,352|
|---|---|---|---|
||||353,547|
||||(295,274)
(38,207)|
||||(333,481)|
||||20,066|
||||20,066
665,557|
||||685,623|
The notes on pages 12 to 26 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 9
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investment income
6
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
7
Other expenditure
8
Total expenditure
Net expenditure
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
17|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
187,209
13,513
84,261
2,804
287,787
(262,387)
(36,715)
(299,102)
(11,315)
(11,315)
459,100
447,785|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
28,485
-
-
-
28,485
(32,791)
-
(32,791)
(4,306)
(4,306)
222,078
217,772|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
215,694
13,513
84,261
2,804|
|---|---|---|---|
||||316,272|
||||(295,178)
(36,715)|
||||(331,893)|
||||(15,621)|
||||(15,621)
681,178|
||||665,557|
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 17.
The notes on pages 12 to 26 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 10
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **(Registration number: 1129467) Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
13
**Current assets**
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
15
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
16
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity:**
**Restricted income funds**
Restricted funds
**Unrestricted income funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**
17|**2024**
**£**
551,750
23,498
119,447
142,945
(9,072)
133,873
685,623
206,574
479,049
685,623|**2023**
**£**
564,519
22,139
85,488|
|---|---|---|
|||107,627
(6,589)|
|||101,038|
|||665,557|
|||217,772
447,785|
|||665,557|
For the financial year ending 31 December 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Director's responsibilities:
- The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
- The director acknowledges his responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The financial statements on pages 9 to 26 were approved by the trustee, and authorised for issue on 7 August 2025 and signed on his behalf by:
**SIGNED SECURELY**
**07/08/2025 at 1:45:58 PM UTC**
.........................................
Mr R Lea
Trustee
The notes on pages 12 to 26 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 11
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **1 Charity status**
The charity is limited by share capital, incorporated in . The address of its registered office is: South Hill Road Easthampstead Bracknell Berkshire RG12 7NS
These financial statements were authorised for issue by the trustees on 7 August 2025.
## **2 Accounting policies**
## **Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates**
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
## **Statement of compliance**
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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2020) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
The objectives of the charity are to advance the Christian Religion, relieve poverty, hardship and distress, and to advance education. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities re initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity. The church is a registered charity in England and Wales. The Trustees are the members of the church named on page 1.
## **Going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.
## **Income and endowments**
Income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
- �the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
- �it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources; and
- �the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Donations and legacies**
Donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met.
Page 12
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Grants receivable**
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.
## **Tax reclaims on donations and gifts**
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as theinitial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
## **Investment income**
This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable, and the amount receivable can be measured reliably. Income from membership subscriptions
Membership subscriptions received in the nature of a gift are recognised in Donations and Legacies.
## **Volunteer help**
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees’ annual report.
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category.
## **Liability recognition**
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
## **Governance and support costs**
Support and governance costs incurred are apportioned across the charitable activities based on the time support staff spend working on each one. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.
## **Government grants**
Government grants are recognised based on the accrual model and are measured at the fair value of the receivable.
## **Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is exempt under Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 on its income and section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 on its capital gains. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
All assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised and valued at historical cost.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
Page 13
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
|**Asset class**|**Depreciation method and rate**|
|---|---|
|Buildings|2% and 1% on cost|
|Fittings and equipment|10% on cost|
## **Trade debtors**
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Creditors**
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.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. Designated funds represent funds earmarked for specific reasons as decided by the Trustees. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
## **Pensions and other post retirement obligations**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable for the year are charged to the SoFA in the period to which they relate.
Page 14
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **3 Income from donations and legacies**
|Offerings and gifts
Income tax recoverable
Pastoral Need Fund
donations/Storehouse
Tear Fund
Link to Hope
Sierra Leone trip
Homestart
General Mission Support
Miscellaneous donations,
gifts & sundries|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated**
**£**
**General**
**£**
23,660
161,099
4,020
36,855
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
229
-
765
27,680
198,948|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
975
5,118
794
292
5,125
184
929
-
13,417|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
184,759
41,850
5,118
794
292
5,125
184
1,158
765
240,045|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
152,171
34,569
24,592
566
232
1,286
170
1,177
931|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||215,694|
In 2023 £28,485 of donation income related to restricted funds and £19,988 to designated funds
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
|Catering
Children and youth
Older persons work|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
12,817
1,388
4,972
19,177|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
12,817
1,388
4,972
19,177|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
8,686
1,184
3,643|
|---|---|---|---|
||||13,513|
In 2023, no income from charitable activities related to restricted funds.
Page 15
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **5 Income from other trading activities**
|Church lettings|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
91,973
91,973|**Total**
**funds**
**£**
91,973
91,973|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
84,261|
|---|---|---|---|
||||84,261|
In 2023, no income from other trading activities related to restricted funds.
## **6 Investment income**
|Interest receivable on bank deposits|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
2,352|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
2,352|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
2,804|
|---|---|---|---|
In 2023 all of the investment income related to unrestricted funds.
## **7 Expenditure on charitable activities**
## _**By fund**_
|**Note**
Missionary and
charitable giving
7.1
Ministry
7.2
Allocated
support costs|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated**
**£**
**General**
**£**
-
29,391
9,868
153,864
-
77,536
9,868
260,791|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
3,971
20,644
-
24,615|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
33,362
184,376
77,536
295,274|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
20,811
201,942
72,425|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||295,178|
In 2023 £32,791 of the total expenditure on charitable activities related to restricted funds and £25,124 related to designated.
Page 16
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## _**By Activity**_
|**_By Activity_**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Note**
Missionary and charitable
giving
7.1
Ministry
7.2|**Activity**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**£**
33,362
184,376
217,738|**Activity**
**support costs**
**£**
998
76,538
77,536|**2024**
**£**
34,360
260,914
295,274|**2023**
**£**
20,811
274,367|
|||||295,178|
In addition to the expenditure analysed above, there are also governance costs of £5,250 (2023 - £5,100) which relate directly to charitable activities. See note for further details.
## **7.1 Analysis of Direct Expenditure on Missionary and Charitable Giving**
|**Note**
BU Home Mission
Tear Fund - general
Link to Hope – Xmas
shoeboxes
Dorothy – Springer Trust
Storehouse
Mission support – general
Mission support – Sierra
Leone
Others
Homestart|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
2,500
1,700
9
14,000
-
4,817
2,761
3,604
-
29,391|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
794
292
-
1,772
-
-
929
184
3,971|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
2,500
2,494
301
14,000
1,772
4,817
2,761
4,533
184
33,362|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
2,500
1,742
1,318
8,000
1,360
1,173
3,479
869
370|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||20,811|
Page 17
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **7.2 Analysis of Expenditure on Ministry Activities Undertaken Directly**
|**Note**
Trustees’
remuneration
Trustees’ pension
costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Travel costs
Conferences and
training
Evangelism &
publicity
Affiliation fees &
worship costs
Catering
Youth & Children
Older Person’s work
Depreciation
Storehouse
TV Licence
Replacement
equipment
Sundries
Ministry materials
Ministry unto Church
Hall hire
Refresh café running
costs
Gift Day – 2022
Gift Day – 2023
Gift Day – 2024
Berkshire Christan
Network|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated**
**£**
**General**
**£**
-
79,790
-
2,019
-
28,343
-
6,368
-
319
-
947
-
4,676
-
3,861
-
2,331
-
7,714
-
1,918
-
2,862
-
1,293
-
-
-
159
-
1,844
-
1,329
-
12
-
3,224
-
833
-
4,022
-
-
8,938
-
930
-
-
-
9,868
153,864|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12,086
8,494
-
-
44
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20
20,644|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
79,790
2,019
28,343
6,368
319
947
4,676
3,861
2,331
7,714
1,918
2,862
13,379
8,494
159
1,844
1,373
12
3,224
833
4,022
-
8,938
930
20
184,376|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
73,466
1,800
27,349
5,441
1,458
1,043
6,813
3,956
1,977
5,058
2,474
2,243
13,540
14,693
159
1,186
1,625
7,551
2,309
864
388
8,124
17,000
-
1,425|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||201,942|
Page 18
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **7.3 Analysis of Support Costs and Governanace Costs**
|**Note**
**Support costs**
Heat, light, power and water
Insurance and maintenance
Cleaner salaries
Website costs
Office & Administration costs
HR Consultancy
Caretaker salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
**Governance costs**
Independent Examiner’s remuneration
**8**
**Other expenditure**
Wages and salaries
Social security
Pension costs
Light and heat
Other costs|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
5,266
15,409
12,673
1,122
15,202
3,051
18,107
1,064
392
72,286
5,250
77,536
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
31,089
2,023
746
3,536
813
38,207|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
5,266
15,409
12,673
1,122
15,202
3,051
18,107
1,064
392
72,286
5,250
77,536
**Total**
**2024**
**£**
31,089
2,023
746
3,536
813
38,207|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
5,505
11,781
12,385
1,004
13,143
288
21,703
1,060
456|
|---|---|---|---|
||||67,325|
||||5,100|
||||72,425|
||||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
29,555
1,712
684
3,536
1,228|
||||36,715|
Page 19
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **9 Net incoming/outgoing resources**
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year include:
|Depreciation of fixed assets
Trustees’ remuneration
Trustees’ pension costs (defined contribution scheme)
Independent examiner’s remuneration|**2024**
**£**
13,379
79,790
2,019
5,250|**2023**
**£**
13,550
72,466
1,800
5,100|
|---|---|---|
## **10 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
Total employment benefits including employer pension contributions of the key management personnel was £81,809 (2023: £74,266).
The Minister and Trustee, Mr S. Lace, received £46,422 (2023: £41,282) and the Ministry Director and Trustee, Mrs P Marsh received £33,367 (2023: £31,184).
The total pension contribution from the Church for the Senior Minister was £nil (2023: £1,011). No pension contributions were outstanding at the balance sheet date.
## **Trustees’ expenses**
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses from the charity during the year.
## **11 Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
|**Staff costs during the year were:**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs|**2024**
**£**
155,725
9,455
3,476
168,656|**2023**
**£**
150,320
8,213
4,398|
|---|---|---|
|||162,931|
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:
|Ministry
Upkeep of Church Premises|**2024**
**No**
4
1
5|**2023**
**No**
5
1|
|---|---|---|
|||6|
No employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) in excess of £60,000 (2023: none).
Page 20
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **12 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
## **13 Tangible fixed assets**
|**13 Tangible fixed assets**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Cost**
At 1 January 2024
Additions
At 31 December 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2024
At 31 December 2023
**14 Debtors**
Prepayments
Other debtors
**15 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash at bank
Other cash and cash equivalents|**Land and**
**buildings**
**£**
778,310
610||**Furniture and**
**equipment**
**£**
100,730
-
100,730
93,736
2,187
95,923
4,807
6,994
**2024**
**£**
7,701
15,797
23,498
**2024**
**£**
119,297
150
119,447||**Total**
**£**
879,040
610
879,650
314,521
13,379
327,900
551,750
564,519
**2023**
**£**
1,813
20,326|
||778,920||100,730|||
||220,785
11,192||93,736
2,187|||
||231,977||95,923|||
||546,943||4,807|||
||557,525||6,994|||
||||**2024**
**£**
7,701
15,797
23,498
**2024**
**£**
119,297
150
119,447|||
||||||22,139|
||||||**2023**
**£**
85,338
150|
||||||85,488|
Page 21
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|**16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
|Other creditors
Pension scheme creditor
Accruals|**2024**
**£**
3,760
62
5,250
9,072|**2023**
**£**
1,489
-
5,100|
|||6,589|
## **17 Funds**
|**17 Funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted funds**
General
**_Unrestricted designated funds_**
Gift Day 2016
Gift Day 2020
Gift Day 2021
Gift Day 2022
Gift Day 2023
Gift Day 2024
Designated
**Total unrestricted funds**
Church Building Fund
Other donations
Sierra Leone
External Causes
Storehouse
Toilets
Berkshire Christian Network
**Restricted funds**
**Total funds**|**Balance at 1**
**January**
**2024**
**£**
410,979
17,218
7,875
8,466
259
2,988
-
36,806
447,785
193,268
6,693
-
-
11,064
5,172
1,575
217,772
665,557|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
312,450
-
-
-
-
5,990
21,690
27,680
340,130
-
-
5,125
2,199
6,093
-
-
13,417
353,547|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(298,998)
-
-
-
-
(8,938)
(930)
(9,868)
(308,866)
(10,848)
(938)
-
(2,199)
(10,266)
(344)
(20)
(24,615)
(333,481)|**Transfers**
**£**
33,858
(17,218)
(7,875)
(8,466)
(259)
(40)
-
(33,858)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Balance at**
**31**
**December**
**2024**
**£**
458,289|
||||||-
-
-
-
-
20,760|
||||||20,760|
||||||479,049|
||||||182,420
5,755
5,125
-
6,891
4,828
1,555|
||||||206,574|
||||||685,623|
Page 22
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General
**_Unrestricted designated funds_**
Gift Day 2016
Gift Day 2020
Gift Day 2021
Gift Day 2022
Gift Day 2023
Designated
**Total unrestricted funds**
Church Building Fund
Other donations
Sierra Leone
External Causes
Storehouse
Toilets
Berkshire Christian Network
**Restricted funds**
**Total funds**|**Balance at 1**
**January 2023**
**£**
417,158
17,218
7,875
8,466
8,383
-
41,942
459,100
204,116
7,903
-
-
1,555
5,504
3,000
222,078
681,178|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
267,799
-
-
-
-
19,988
19,988
287,787
-
-
1,286
1,637
25,562
-
-
28,485
316,272|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(273,978)
-
-
-
(8,124)
(17,000)
(25,124)
(299,102)
(10,848)
(1,210)
(1,286)
(1,637)
(16,053)
(332)
(1,425)
(32,791)
(331,893)|**Balance at 31**
**December**
**2023**
**£**
410,979|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||17,218
7,875
8,466
259
2,988|
|||||36,806|
|||||447,785|
|||||193,268
6,693
-
-
11,064
5,172
1,575|
|||||217,772|
|||||665,557|
## Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted funds are available to be spent for any of the purposes of the charity.
## Restricted Funds
The Church Building Fund represents sums given since 1995 to fund the development of the Church premises, which was completed in 1997, and to pay off the money borrowed at that time to finance the development. The other small restricted fund balances are held for the purpose of that described in the headings.
## Designated Funds
These funds relate to monies raised during the annual Gift Day’s which are then set aside for specific purposes depending on the yearly requirements.
The funds from Gift Day 2016 are held for ministry activities e.g. older persons work, children and youth work. The funds from Gift Day 2020 and 2021 are held for works needed at the church.
The funds from Gift Day 2022 are held for solar panel batteries for the Dorothy Springer Trust and to support 3 children with SEN in Sierra Leone.
The funds from Gift Day 2023 are held for engaging a person to manage the charity's social media strategy The funds from Gift Day 2024 are held for continuing to support the 3 children in Sierra Leone and to repair the roof in the DST office.
Page 23
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **18 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets|**Unrestricted funds**
**General**
**£**
**Designated**
**£**
359,925
-
107,436
20,760
(9,072)
-
458,289
20,760
**Unrestricted funds**
**General**
**£**
**Designated**
**£**
360,608
-
56,960
36,806
(6,589)
-
410,979
36,806|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
191,825
14,749
-
206,574
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
203,911
13,861
-
217,772|**Total funds at**
**31 December**
**2024**
**£**
551,750
142,945
(9,072)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||685,623|
||||**Total funds at**
**31 December**
**2023**
**£**
564,519
107,627
(6,589)|
||||665,557|
## **19 Related charities**
During the year the charity made the following related party transactions: The custodian Trustee of the Church is the Baptist Union Corporation Limited (charity number 249635), which iscontrolled by the Baptist Union Council. The Church is also a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and theSouthern Counties Regional Baptist Association.The Church made donations to the Baptist Union Home Mission Scheme as set out in note 7.
## **19.1Defined Benefit Pension**
The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.
The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund, started in 1925, but was closed to future accrual of defined benefits on 31 December 2011. Prior to this date the main benefit provided through the Defined Benefit (DB) Plan was a pension of one eightieth of final minimum pensionable income for each year of pensionable service together with additional pension in respect of premiums paid on Pensionable Income in excess of Minimum Pensionable Income.
Page 24
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
From January 2012, pension provision is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan within the Scheme. 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. [Members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.]
The Scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102. Because it is not possible to attribute the Scheme’s assets and liabilities to specific employers, the scheme is accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. The Minister(s) are eligible to join the Scheme.
## **Actuarial valuation as at 31 December 2019**
A formal valuation of the DB Plan as at 31 December 2019 was carried out by a professionally qualified Actuary using the Projected Unit Method. At the valuation date the market value of the DB Plan assets was £298 million, whilst the level of assets needed to pay benefits was £316m, giving a deficit of £18m (equivalent to a past service funding levelof 94%). The Church and the other participating employers in the DB Plan are collectively responsible for funding this deficit.
The key financial assumptions underlying the valuation were as follows:
|**Type of Assumption**|**% pa**|
|---|---|
|RPI price inflation assumption|3.20|
|CPI price inflation assumption|2.70|
|Minimum Pensionable Income increases (CPI plus 1.0% pa)|0.50|
|Assumed investment returns||
|- Pre-retirement (gilt yield plus 1.75% pa)|2.95|
|- Post retirement (including benefits matched by the insurance policy) (gilt yield|plus 0.5% pa)1.70|
|Deferred pension increases||
|- Pre April 2009|3.20|
|- Post April 2009|2.50|
|Pension increases||
|- Based on CPI with an annual floor of 0% and annual cap of 5%|2.70|
Mortality is assumed in accordance with 80% of the S3NA standard mortality table. Future improvements projected from 2013 in line with the “CMI 2019” projection with a long-term rate of improvement of 1.75% p.a. for males and 1.5% p.a. for females with the core smoothing parameter and with additional initial mortality improvement factor A=0.5%.
The next actuarial valuation of the DB Plan within the Scheme was due to take place not later than as at 31 December 2022. However, the DB Plan is to be wound up, and the process to wind it up was started with effect from 31 March 2024 and therefore no formal valuation is due to take place.
Page 25
## **Easthampstead Baptist Church**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Recovery Plan**
In addition to the contributions to the DC Plan set out above, where a valuation of the DB Plan reveals a deficit the Trustee and the Council agree to a rate of deficiency contributions from churches and other employers involved in the DB Plan. Following the 2019 valuation a Recovery Plan was signed in September 2020 under which deficiency contributions were payable until June 2026.
On 30th June 2022 the Baptist Pension Scheme signed an agreement with the insurance company Just Group (“Just”) to secure DB Plan members’ pension benefits. Just are now providing financial backing for all pensions provided through the Scheme’s DB Plan and, following this transaction, the Scheme no longer has a shortfall. An updated Recovery plan was then signed in August 2022 under which recovery contributions from each participating employer in the DB Plan reduced to £1 per month from August 2022. These contributions ceased in November 2024, as the scheme was no longer in deficit. The outstanding deficiency contributions due under the Recovery Plan up to November 2024 are not considered material and therefore have not been included in the balance sheet.
Page 26