inchester Baptist Church Openllurts l Open l OwAvmi Winchester Baptist Church ANNUAL REPORT for tho year onded 31 March 2025 Statutory Inforniatlon Charty Name Winchester Baptist Church Principal Address Swan Lane Winchest8r Hampshire S023 7A4 Charty Registratioft Number 1130292 Charity Tru8tee8 Mrs C Barttt Mr M Dickinson (Minister) Mrs J Jones Mr G L¢xkhart Mrs K Plant (Treasurer) Mr A Reeves (Secretary) Mr S Riddle Mrs H Taft (until 13102r2025) Propety Trustees The Baptist Union Corporation Limrted Baptist Housè 129 BroaaY Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 8RT Bankers CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Independent Examiner Carole Taylor FCA of Smrih Newmans, Chartered Accountants 2025 Winchester Baptist Church Annual ReF* Page 1 of 15
ANNUAL REPORT for 2025 The Trustees present their Annual Report and financial statement for 2025. Charitsble Objectlve The purpose of the Charity. as stated in the Constitutton i8 Yhe princrpal purpose of the Churth is the advanment 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 l or other parts of the world". The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd. on trust which is entirely compatible wtth the above objective. Organisation Structure and Doclslon-maklng Process People ar8 a¢¢epted into membership of the Church in accordance wth the Constitution, which requires them to be or to have been baptised after making their own decisM)n to become a Christian, or otherwise to have made their own public statement of faith in Jesus Christ. The Church Members. Meeting nomalty takes plac8 at teast four Me$ per year and has Tesponsibilty for the overall policy of the Church. In accordance wrih the Constitution, the members appoint Charity Trustees, collectively known as the Leadership Team, who are responsible for the day to day running of the Church's work and for the financial and legal aspects of the Church. All members are encouraged to tske an appropriate part in the Swlual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the ChurGh'J Ghafitable objeth've. Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church Meeting by the Leadership Team for guwjance or decision or may be raised by members in the Church Meeting for further consideration by the Leadership Team. Though the Constitution permrts derisions to be made at Church Meeting8 by appropriato majorrt*$, tho Church $80k$ to work by cons•nsu$ whorever possibie. Objectives and Actlvities For mos( rf not au. of our Mem1[S as weli as many of those who attend our seprfices, Christnty give8 meaning to our IFves and ¢ontrFl>utes to our Spirituat welkbeing as ¥4 as provn9 a moral or ethical framework to live by. We aim, as a Church, to develop members, spirituality - strengthening our relationship with God. We also aim to serve our communty. purely for the sake of serving it. We do not make receipt of the services we offer conditional upon people listening to the Christian message or accepting it. 2025 Winchester Baptist Church Annual Report Page 2 of15
Perfonnance and Risk Ministe8 Report- April 2024 to March 2025 We have continued to meet weeY for worship and teaching on Sundays and have intr(xJuced monthly service of Prayer & Discussion which started off as a Church Hall saNica in our hall on Swan Lane. These monthly ServIS continue to be an invaluable way of exploring topical issues where our faith impacts the practicalrties of modern lrfe. We have covered a multitude of topics including evangelism, politics & farth, issues of human sexualty. what happens when Christian's disagree, and assisted dying. This past year has been one of change wrthin our church as we prepared ourselves to say farewell to Eleanor as our Youth Worker as well as seeing Ali Stanbrook step down from her role as book- keeper. In preparation for the departure of our youth worker we entered into a partnership with Wildfire. a local youthwork group that helps delivef youthworf< in schools as well as churches, and they have taken the lead in running our mtheek youth group ImpacL We registered with Hampshire County Council as one of their Spaces of Sanctuary whereby we seek to offer a physical and emotionalty safe environment where Peop can go to seek peace and guidance to address their concerns without fear or prejudice. When accessing support at th8 Spac8 of Sanctuary people will be treated equitabty and wrth respect and their concerns listened to and taken seriously. Whilst we may not be able to meet the needs of those who seek a safe space we will endeavour to signpost them to a pkqce where they can receNe further help or advice. The elders mat with the leadership and some members from North Winchester Communty Church to continue to nurture a closer working relationship between the two fellowships. We feel that there is much we can learn from one another desprte our two felkywships travelling down very different 8cclesiaslical paths. We held our very flrst Christmas Fair. wrth outside organisats'ons invited to set up stalls and sell handmade crafts and gffts ahead of the Christmas season. Feedback from the stallholders was sudi that they found our venue (and the church volunteers) to be invtiing and one of the most helpful they have attended. Our church members and fellowship have consislently demonstrated outstanding dedication by offering their time and effort to all our church activities throughout the year. Special thanks to those who helped finalise the decorating within the sanctuary and haIvaYS as we51 as those involved with the ordering and installation of soft furnishings for the new reptIOn area on City Road. achleve all that We do. May we continue to offer tove and care to our surrounding communities and one another as we joumey on our Christran pilgrimage tO9ether. Marcus Dlcklnson, Mlnlstor 2025 Winchester Baptist Church Annual ReFrt)rt Page 3 of15
Socretary'8 Report During the year we had tsvo staff departures. Our Youth Worker left after 7 years wtth us and vn't be immediately replaced. in September 2024 our part-time bookkeeper left to take up a fulktime position with another charity and we have been actively considering how to replace this role. In the short tenn our accountants have been providing the bookkeeping service together with voluntary help from wrthin the church. The Leadership team (Minister. Elders and Deacons) recognise that"church" is not just our Sunday services but also the various groups that meet during the week. This means that our mission involves meeting and talking with people. some of whom don't attend on Sundays, and covers the whole week's activib'es. To achieve this. we have a very hard VrkIng and loyal team of volunteers who run and help run groups. organise and lead acts'viti'es, set up and put away, and just talk to people who may need the friendship and fellowship. Additionally church members are involved in rnMunty outreach, visrting Matilda PlarA (which offers a more supportive environment for those with a diagnosis of a cognitive impairment) to sing hymns with the residents as well as chatting with them. Communty contsct also takes place with our Wednesday moming Job Seekers club where we provide resources to help people looking for work. Over a whole week a great deal of tirne, effort and money goes towards making a succ888 of everything we do. Our churth family continue to be generous in the support that they provide. Some of the other tasks which happen, both as part of our serVIS and behind the scenes, are: pastoral support sound desk service leading and sung worship prqection bible reading livestream stewarding and duty person Cleaning and tidying preparing for communion provision of rpfreshments, both as part of services and at other times Apart from our regular Sunday services the following groups meet on a regular basls: DipIeShiP small groups which meet in people's homes as well as in the church building IMPACT youth club meeting Job Se8kers club Little Trea8ure8 Mission Action Group Saturday breakfast (wann space) Silver Service Wednesday morning pray8r Welcome to Wednesday Winchester Wellbeing lunch Club In addition to these we have regular bookings from exiemal users as 11 as a number of ad hoc events. Regular bookings are from". ABRSM Adam Archliect$ English Naturally Hyde Vll Jiggy Wrigglers (sensory and development classes for (k6 year olds) Grateful thanks and blessings go to our ministor, our staff and everyone elsa who is involvad in making sure activities take place in a safe environment each time. As always. we could always do with more volunteers to help on some of the many rotss. Adrian Re8ve8. Church Secrntary 2025 Winchester Church Annual Rewrt Page4of15
Financial Review- Treasurerfs Report Financial Report for tho financial yaar 2024 - 2025 Winchester Baptist Church continued to raise funds primarity through its membership and congregation. supplemented by income from hiring out Church premises. No public lundraising appeals were mad8 during the year, and no grants or aid were sought from charitabk8 foundations or government bodies for the Church's daY-tdaY operations. Winchester Cty Council generously awarded a grant of £600 to SUPFQrt WBC'S role as a designated Warm Space. This enabled the Churth to offer a welcomw envwonment and breakfast to visitors one morning per week from September 2024 to the end of th8 financial year.. tht8 valuable Work ha$ continued post year-end. The financial year commenced April 2024 with the WBC Membership agreeing to a 9% increa58 in giving, with a primary aim of enabling the Church to restore Mission Giving to 15.fi of annual income and accepting a m¢)dest budget deficrt of £7,500 in the belief that God's gracè would resofve this. Several notable developments led to 8ndd-year funds exceeding budget expectations.. Staffing Changes: The departure of both the Youth Worker (Juty) and Bookkeeper {September) to attematNe roles, resutted in savings of £17.300. These positions have not been refilled at year end. Restrict Incomo.. An additwial £5,000 in restricted income was rec8Ned to fund the installation of an accessibl8 lrft. Givlng Shortfall.. The targeted increase in personal giving was not forthcoming, with only 1 /0 increase achieved by the end of the year. A number of factors contributèd to this with o treasured Members passing into the Lor(fs care. a couple retiring and a signfficant number unabl8 to increase grving due to the cost of living crisis. Despite the shortfall in gmng. the other fadors contrbbuted to an uplrft of £11,000 in unrestricted funds. Loan repaymerrts continued as scheduled. with a 5tulrt increase in savings to ensure future obligations can be met. No repayments were required dunng the reports'ng period. Late in the year. the Minister moved into private accommodats'on. WBC intends to rent out the Manse to help offset the Housing Allowance now due to the Minister. Leadership acknowledges the risk that either the preparation costs may exceed expectations andlor rental income may nol fully cover the allowance. R8S8rves are in place to absorb any unforeseen expens88. The Church's accountants, Smith Newmans. have been retained to manage payroll, Gift Aid, and bookkeeping functions. Reserves main intact and within the Church's policy guidelines. Smith Newmans will continue as WBC'S appointed Accountants for bookkeeping and end- of-year reporting. For FY24-25, they have prepared the annual statements in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities, using the historical cost convention and in compliance with the Financial Reporting StarKlard applicalk in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), issued on 16 July 2014. and the Chartties Act 2011. Kirsty Plant, Church Treasurer 2025 Winchester Baptist Church Annual ReF Page 5 of 15
Approvgd by the Leadership Team on 11th September 2025 and signed on their half by: Marcus Dlckln$on Ministor Adrian RooV•8 Church Socretary FINWICIIL STAIEMENTS FOR ThE YE*R ENDED 31 IIIACH 2tr25 Y•vwA•d JI Ilwth 1•15 15 2025 Winchester Baptist Church Annual Report Page6 of15
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