2024-12-31-accounts

Registered Charity no. 1130582

Union Baptist Church

Trustees' Annual Report and Accounts

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Contents Page

	Page
Legal and Administrative Information	1
Trustees' Annual Report	3
Independent Examiners Report	9
Statement of Financial Activities	10
Statement of Financial Position	11
Statement of Cash Flows	12
Notes to the Financial Statements	13

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Legal and Administrative Information

Reference

The Charity is called “Union Baptist Church” and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Registered Charity Number 1130582 Registered Office Easton Street High Wycombe Bucks HP11 1NJ

The Trustees

The trustees who served during the financial year ending 31st December 2024 are as follows:

Gary Hamilton Sheena Dykes Catherine McNerney Ian Manktelow Thomas Burmingham Karen Bates Resigned March 2024 Andrew Wingfield Stephen Weston Resigned March 2024 Anthony Croft Roger Pantridge Resigned March 2024 Judy Pantridge Deceased June 2024 Helen France Sarah Atwell Jennifer Rooke Mark Dykes George Haines Resigned March 2024 Carrie-Anne Barnes Appointed March 2024

Property Holding Trustees

Church and Cottage: Baptist Union Corporation Ltd Manse: Baptist Union Corporation Ltd

1

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Legal and Administrative Information

Primary Bankers

Barclays Bank PLC CAF Bank Limited PO Box 41 25 Kings Hill Avenue High Wycombe Kings Hill HP11 2BG West Mailing, Kent ME19 4JQ

Independent Examiner

Nigel Wyatt BSC FCA Wyatt & Co Chartered Accountants 125 Main Street Garforth Leeds, LS25 1AF

2

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Trustees’ Annual Report

Structure, governance and management

The Church is governed by its Foundation Trust Deed (28 March 1845) and its Constitution (19 May 2009). The Charity is an unincorporated association affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

The Managing Trustees are appointed by a Church Members’ Meeting. Church Ministers, as Managing Trustees, are appointed by resolution of the Church Members at a Special Church Members’ Meeting.

Objectives and Activities

Objects of the Charity:

The principal purpose of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. It is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and is also a member of the Evangelical Alliance. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom or other parts of the world.

The Vision of the Church is:

To see High Wycombe transformed by God through His loving, serving and worshipping church.

Activities:

In fulfilling its purpose, the Church engages in a range of activities either on its own, or with others, that will vary from time to time with activities being initiated/expanded or closed as appropriate. The activities may include, but are not restricted to:

Regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching Baptism by immersion Communion of the Lord’s Supper Evangelism and mission Children and young people’s work Christian discipleship Education and training for Christian and community service Pastoral care

Supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad Working with other Christians

Public Benefit:

In planning the activities of the charity, the Managing Trustees have considered the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.

Public Benefit activities

• We promote the central truths of the Christian faith through our many Ministries and Teams, as well as through our regular Sunday worship services and activities.

• We serve our local community in High Wycombe through our many community links and activities. Our buildings are very well used by the community, to whom the love of God is shown and demonstrated.

• We seek to make our premises and activities as accessible as possible so that all can benefit.

• Many of our members are involved in local community-based activities e.g. High Wycombe Child Contact Centre and Chaplaincies.

• We run church-based activities for youth and adults with special needs

• We run a CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Job Club

• We support Wycombe Homeless Connection.

• We fund and support Christian mission in other countries, providing help and support to those in need.

3

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Trustees’ Annual Report

Annual Report for 2024

Our church motto text for 2024:

"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood"1 Peter 2:5

Achievements and Performance

At the start of the year, we agreed a set of practical plans and aspirations for 2024, shown below. The comments in italics beneath each show how well we met these objectives.

Prayer

• We will continue our commitment to prayer as the bedrock of everything we do, increasing our focus on praying for those we want to see become disciples. A week of prayer will be held in June.

• High visibility was given to our various regular prayer opportunities and we organised several prayer walks round our location. The week of prayer was supported with creative online materials, a prayer room and prayer walking.

Growing as Disciples

• Following the successful launch of LIFE groups in 2023 we will increase the number of these groups which have an intentional focus on encouraging equipping one another to live in faith everyday. Members and leaders of groups have reported a greater openness to sharing with each other and a more intentional sense of praying for each other’s witness among friends, colleagues etc. The annual relaunch of our LIFE groups in the autumn saw more people join small groups who had not done so before although the total number of groups has remained the same.

• We will hold a Weekend at Home in February to help us grow together as a church family and closer to God as we explore the theme ‘Together on Mission’

• There was a good atmosphere, with many people attending. The event highlighted the diversity of the membership in terms of gifts and origin, and teaching from Titus encouraged us to keep serving the wider community.

Disciples who Make Disciples

• We wish to enable people who we already see or know to take steps closer to Jesus. This includes providing training on how to share our faith, increasing the opportunities to invite people into a Christian community e.g. Fit for Life, Coffee and Chat, and creating spaces where people can share their own faith journeys e.g. lunches for parents at Babies and Toddlers.

• Several initiatives including Babies and Toddlers lunches, ‘Job Club Plus’, Art at the Hub, and the Alpha Course, provided opportunities for guests to grow in relationship with Christians and discover more about our faith. Discovery Bible studies in LIFE groups prompted us all to take small steps of sharing good news with others.

• We wish to meet needs and build relationships through our community ministry. This will include expanding our team serving in our Job Club, launching a CAP money course and developing plans for our new worship space and coffee area to be used to serve our community.

• Two eight-week Job Club courses were run; 90% completed the courses, with everyone showing some level of positive impact. Follow-on sessions provided additional informal support and relationship building. We began the process to plan how the new accessible space would be used to support existing activities, to pave the way for new ideas and to improve post-service fellowship times.

• We will seek to make disciples of children and young people by encouraging and equipping our children and young people to share their faith. To provide opportunities for them to invite their friends into an engaging Christian community such as Easter Holiday Club and a Youth Weekend. To grow new relationships with children and families through links with a local Primary school.

• About 80 children attended the Easter holiday club, of whom 46 came to the following Sunday service, with follow-up activities identified. A dozen of our children and young people went to summer camp and grew in faith.

4

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Trustees’ Annual Report

200 primary-age children visited our ‘Nativity Grotto’, and the Shepherds Nativity Adventure provided great opportunities to build relationships with families as they explored the real meaning of Christmas.

Enabling Structures

• We will complete Phase 1 of construction of the Living Stones Project to transform our chapel and provide a new welcome / coffee space.

• Generous funding has allowed us to achieve more of our plan than we expected; the site was handed back in December 2024, and we expect to move worship back into the chapel in February.

• We will proceed with the appointment of a Senior Pastor as part of the ministerial team.

• We had a rigorous interview process and the proposed appointment received overwhelming support from the church meeting.

Reflections from the Church Leadership on 2024

Church Secretary’s Report 2024

The first main landmark of the year was the hiring of Andrew Wingfield to be our Lead Pastor. Andrew had been appointed as Interim Lead Pastor shortly after the departure of Malcolm Hazell, and had served a year with distinction. The Diaconate decided against opening the post to outside candidates, as it would cause delay and because no outside candidate would be as well known to us as Andrew. However, the Diaconate was determined that there should be a thorough recruitment procedure so that the church and Andrew would know that he had been fairly selected, and so that Andrew would know that the church had full confidence in him. After a rigorous application and interview process, the church meeting overwhelmingly approved Andrew’s appointment. The Diaconate was conscious that the church needed two pastors to handle the workload, so swiftly began to consider what we wanted from an Associate Pastor. By year end, a job description and person specification were ready for immediate deployment in the new year.

The second main landmark of the year was when the Living Stones Project builders handed our building back to us in December. We had set out on the project in 2023 with enough money in hand to complete essential items, which we styled Phase 1. At the beginning of 2024 we appealed for more funds, and as a result were able to go significantly beyond this. The project was driven by Colin Hutt, Stephen Weston and Aubrey Dunford, and through the year they reported on the progress of the work and on our interactions with the builders. By year end, the project arrived at a very functional state, and we still had funds in hand to let us commission further necessary items ourselves. We were able to look forward to returning to our transformed Worship Space in the early spring of 2025.

In the autumn of 2023, for the first time, Andrew had led the Diaconate through a process to define a strategy for Union, identifying the main activities on which we would focus in order to further our Mission, and resulting in a toplevel plan. Each ministry and team was then invited to develop a strategy for its own area of responsibility that would contribute to the whole. The strategic plans also implied what we would not do; we could not do everything. The top-level, ministry and team plans for 2024 were presented to an open church meeting early in the year and were well received. Development of the 2025 plans was kicked off at a Diaconate awayday late in 2024.

The relocation of worship to the Memorial Hall continued to have a beneficial effect on church culture, fostering informality, an improved welcome, and bringing people into contact with others they did not usually meet. The Living Stones Project itself engendered a sense of unity, as we waited in faith to see what God would do with the project.

In February we enjoyed a Church Weekend at Home, with John Risbridger as speaker. We appreciated the number and diversity of those attending, and we were encouraged to work for and in the community. Our week of prayer in June was supported with creative online materials, a prayer room and prayer walking. Our small group system experienced further growth at its annual refresh in September.

We were shocked by the sudden death of Judy Pantridge, a much-loved figure, central to a number of church activities. Her funeral was a worthy and God-honouring tribute to her life. Judy’s passing increased the number of vacant deacon roles to three, which had an impact on what we were able to accomplish.

5

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Trustees’ Annual Report

During the year, new people arrived, increasing our already significant level of diversity. Meanwhile there was a strong focus on outreach, the intentionality of our witness and consciousness of our frontlines. Within the HUB we continued to host a wide variety of commercial and non-profit organisations, ranging from the ABRSM’s music exams to the Child Contact Centre. We prepared to host Wycombe Homeless Connection’s winter night shelter in January, back after a four-year gap.

We look forward to what God will do in 2025, as we make plans to occupy our new spaces and use them to pursue our vision of seeing High Wycombe transformed by God through His loving, serving and worshipping church.

Mark Dykes, Church Secretary

Plans and Aspirations 2025

Based on our Strategic Plan for 2025:

Seeking First

• We will renew our commitment to prayer as the bedrock of everything we do, growing our focus on praying for those we want to see become disciples and for each other to be effective in building relationships in which we share our faith. A week of prayer will be held before we enter our refurbished worship space.

Building Up

• We will seek to grow the number of people involved in small groups which are intentional about mutual equipping around the study of the Bible and encouragement to Live In Faith Everyday.

• We will seek to fill all leadership and supporting roles within the church to ensure sustainability.

• We will appoint a second pastor to support and complement our lead pastor in leading, teaching and pastoring our church family, developing our youth and outreach ministry.

• We will restructure our admin, finance and facilities management functions and appoint into new staff roles to carry out these vital tasks.

Reaching Out

• We will grow in intentionality about sharing our faith with the people we have connections with – family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours and other contacts – encouraging one another to do this through the regular content of LIFE groups.

• We will offer opportunities to help people take the next steps towards Jesus through courses designed for those exploring faith.

• We will continue to meet needs in our town, creating opportunities to demonstrate the gospel and build relationships through our several community service projects.

• We will continue to grow our ministry to children and young people through intentional relationship building with families; growing and equipping our team of staff and volunteers; and running events such as an Easter Holiday Club and a Youth Weekend.

Moving In

• We will learn how to best use our refurbished worship space to glorify God using new AV technology, music, welcome and hospitality.

• We will use opportunities the new space gives us to welcome people into our Christian community e.g. through a launch event and guest services.

• We will review how the whole building is used throughout the week to serve our community.

• We will aim to conduct 10 baptisms in the new baptistry.

• We will make plans to carry out the remaining work to complete the transformation of the worship space.

Financial Review

A major focus of 2024 was the work undertaken during the year on the Living Stones Project to refurbish and modernise our chapel. As a result of the generosity of people in this fellowship and beyond, we were able to increase

6

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Trustees’ Annual Report

the budget for the project on more than one occasion and thereby extend the scope of the project to do so much more than originally intended in the “Phase 1” works. At the end of 2024 sufficient funds remained to be able to complete remaining planned work and fitting out in early 2025. Overall the project has cost over £1.5m, with one main element still to be completed on top of this amount – replacement of the upstairs windows.

At the same time the fellowship has continued to give faithfully to the general running costs of the church – giving that supports our paid staff, including pastors, ministry workers and Hub staff; the maintenance of our extensive property and other general admin and running costs; support for our various ministries within the church; and support for community partners and international missions work. This giving included £79,081 in the form of legacies from former members of the church which we are so grateful for.

Headlines from the 2024 financial year are:

• Total giving including gift aid and legacies was £448,091 of which over a quarter was to the Living Stones Project

• Rental and related income totalled £77,663

• Total overall income, excluding the Living Stones Project, was £412,640

• Total expenditure (excluding Living Stones) amounted to £308,876

• The General fund stood at £241,958 at the end of 2024

In relation to the Living Stones sanctuary redevelopment project during 2024:

• A total of £126,221 income was received towards the project during the year

• There was £1,084,915 expenditure on the project, mostly the payments to our contractor Beeks for the work they have undertaken

• At 31[st] December 2024 there were £42,871 funds remaining for the project

Reserves

The church has a reserves policy which was updated in September 2021. As at 31[st] December 2024 there was £42,834 in the reserves account. The required level of reserves calculated against the reserves policy at the end of 2024 was £40,605. This is just outside of the 5% tolerance specified by the policy. However, during 2025 we have been making a number of additional staff appointments and it is anticipated that we will need to increase the level of reserves to ensure compliance with the policy later in the year.

In addition, in 2023, a Living Stones Reserve of £60,000 was created by transferring money from the General Fund. This was set up to enable the Trustees to address any unexpected significant additional expenditure which resulted in the costs exceeding the total budget, a significant shortfall in the funds received, or to address short term cash flow issues relating to the Living Stones Project. As the project progressed during 2024 it became clear that we would not need to draw on this fund and the money in the fund was transferred into the main Living Stones fund to allow additional expenditure on the project itself.

Risks

In 2024 the main risk related to the successful delivery of the Living Stones Project within the budget available. This was achieved through careful project management including the appointment of an employer’s agent to manage the contract, a close working relationship with the contractor, Beeks, appropriate contingencies and reserves, and careful monitoring and reporting to Trustees. By the end of the financial year the church’s main contractual obligation with

7

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Trustees’ Annual Report

Beeks had been completed, with the exception of a 2.5% retention payment due to be paid in December 2025, for which sufficient funds are available.

Looking ahead into 2025, due to the need to restructure our admin, finance and facilities management functions, and appoint a second pastor, there will be additional staffing costs which will put pressure on the general fund going forward. The Trustees will continue to monitor this, and are seeking to address the issue primarily through seeking additional giving and rental income.

Trustees’ Responsibilities

The 2011 Charities Act require the Board of Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the Board is required to:-

 Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently.

• Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

• Prepare financial statements on the ongoing concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the trust will continue in existence.

• State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the trust. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees………………………………………………………

Mark Barclay Dykes

Name of Trustee ………………………………………………………………………..

28/08/2025

Date:…………………………………………..

8

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Independent Examiners Report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Union Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements 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.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity’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 the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3. the financial statements 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.

01/09/2025 Nigel Wyatt BSC FCA Date: Independent Examiner 125 Main Street Garforth Leeds LS25 1AF

9

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Statement of Financial Activities

			2024			2023
		Unrestricted	Endowment	Restricted	Total	Total
		Funds	Funds	Funds	Funds	Funds
	Note	£	£	£	£	£
Income
Donations and legacies		329,620	-	118,471	448,091	610,976
Charitable activities		80,163	-	-	80,163	70,617
Activities for generating income		-	-	-	-	-
Other income		10,607	-	-	10,607	12,134
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Income	2	420,390	-	118,471	538,861	693,727
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities	3	308,403	-	1,085,388	1,393,791	571,070
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Expenditure		308,403	-	1,085,388	1,393,791	571,070
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Net Income / (Expenditure) Before Gains/(Loses)		111,987	-	(966,917)	(854,930)	122,657
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Gain/(loss) on revaluation of fixed asset	7	-	-	-	-	(18,360)
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Net Income / (Expenditure) After Gains/(Loses)		111,987	-	(966,917)	(854,930)	104,297
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Net Income and Net Movement In Funds
Total funds brought forward	11	484,238	1,850,000	738,370	3,072,608	2,949,951
Transfers	11	(288,085)	-	288,085	-	-
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Funds Carried Forward	11	308,140	1,850,000	59,538	2,217,678	3,072,608
		──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

10

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Statement of Financial Position

Statement of Financial Position
		2024	2023
	Note	£	£
Fixed Assets
Tangible fixed assets	7	1,875,877	1,851,981
		──────────	──────────
		1,875,877	1,851,981
Current Assets
Debtors	8	39,127	32,840
Cash at bank and in hand		521,121	1,301,186
		──────────	──────────
		560,248	1,334,026
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year	9	147,447	113,399
		──────────	──────────
Net Current Assets		412,801	1,220,627
		──────────	──────────
Total Assets Less Current Liabilities		2,288,678	3,072,608
		──────────	──────────
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After One Year	10	71,000	-
		──────────	──────────
Net Assets	12	2,217,678	3,072,608
		──────────	──────────
Funds of The Charity
Unrestricted funds		308,140	484,238
Endowment funds		1,850,000	1,850,000
Restricted funds		59,538	738,370
		──────────	──────────
Total Charity Funds	11	2,217,678	3,072,608
		──────────	──────────
Name of Trustee:	Ian David Manktelow
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:	Ti,DWik,Lin
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
Date of approval:	15/08/2025
───────────────────────────────────────────────────

11

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Statement of Cash Flows

Statement of Cash Flows
	2024	2023
	£	£
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(828,230)	182,753
	──────────	──────────
	(828,230)	182,753
	──────────	──────────
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Investment income received	10,607	12,134
Purchase of tangible fixed assets	(28,442)	-
	──────────	──────────
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(17,835)	12,134
	──────────	──────────
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Repayments on borrowing	(10,000)	-
Cash inflows from new borrowing	76,000	-
	──────────	──────────
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	66,000	-
	──────────	──────────
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period	(780,065)	194,887
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period	1,301,186	1,106,299
	──────────	──────────
Cash and Cash Equivalents at the End of the Reporting Period	521,121	1,301,186
	──────────	──────────
Reconciliation of Net Movement in Funds to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities
	2024	2023
	£	£
Net movement in funds for the reporting period (as per the statement of financial activities)	(854,930)	104,297
Adjustments for:
(Gain)/loss on revaluation of fixed asset	-	18,360
Investment income received	(10,607)	(12,134)
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets	4,546	990
(Increase)/decrease in debtors	(6,287)	(16,849)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors	39,048	88,089
	──────────	──────────
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(828,230)	182,753
	──────────	──────────
Analysis of Cash and Cash Equivalents
	2024	2023
	£	£
Cash at bank and in hand	521,121	1,301,186
	──────────	──────────
Total cash and cash equivalents	521,121	1,301,186
	──────────	──────────

12

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

1 Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church's trust deed, 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 2019)". The Church is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Church. Monetary ‘amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

‘The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Assessment of Going Concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Church has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concem basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have set aside resources for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or the terms of specific appeal.

Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the Church.

13

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

Incoming Resources

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.

• All voluntary income from members of the church are recognised as donations and are included in full, with associated Gift Aid receivable in the Statement of Financial Activities.

• Grants where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of specific performance by the charity are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

• Income resources from charitable trading activities such as the letting are accounted for when invoices are drawn up (as the point of entitlement).

• Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified.

• Gifts in Kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised.

• Volunteer time, the value of voluntary support for the work of the church is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees annual report.

• Investment Income is included in the accounts when receivable.

Resources Expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.

Governance Costs

Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of the trustees' meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.

Liability Recognition

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.

Tangible Fixed Assets

Pensions

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

Operating Leases

Rental charges payable under operating leases are charged on a straight line basis over the terms of the lease.

14

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Impairment of Fixed Assets

At each reporting end date, the Church reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other shortterm liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Financial Instruments

The Church has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the Church's balance sheet when the Church becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements

In the application of the Church's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readly apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

15

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

2 Analysis of Income

Analysis of Income
	Unrestricted	Endowment	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£	£
Income From Donations and Offerings
Donations and gifts	212,825	-	102,981	315,806
Gift aid	37,714	-	15,490	53,204
Legacies	79,081	-	-	79,081
Grants	-	-	-	-
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	329,620	-	118,471	448,091
Income From Charitable Activities
Church activity and events income	2,308	-	-	2,308
Weddings and funerals income	192	-	-	192
Room hire income	77,663	-	-	77,663
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	80,163	-	-	80,163
Income From Investments
Interest receivable	10,607	-	-	10,607
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	10,607	-	-	10,607
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Income	420,390	-	118,471	538,861
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────

16

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

2 Analysis of Income (Continued)

Analysis of Income(Continued)
	Unrestricted	Endowment	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£	£
Income From Donations and Offerings
Donations and gifts	215,089	-	315,008	530,097
Gift aid	32,615	-	47,264	79,879
Legacies	1,000	-	-	1,000
Grants	-	-	-	-
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	248,704	-	362,272	610,976
Income From Charitable Activities
Church activity and events income	1,799	-	-	1,799
Weddings and funerals income	110	-	-	110
Room hire income	68,708	-	-	68,708
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	70,617	-	-	70,617
Income From Investments
Interest receivable	12,134	-	-	12,134
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	12,134	-	-	12,134
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Income	331,455	-	362,272	693,727
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────

17

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

3 Expenditure On Charitable Activities By Fund Type

Expenditure On Charitable Activities	By Fund Type
	Unrestricted	Endowment	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£	£
Ministry	96,218	-	452	96,670
Administration	76,759	-	157	76,916
Premises costs	96,322	-	1,084,779	1,181,101
Mission donations and grants	39,104	-	-	39,104
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	308,403	-	1,085,388	1,393,791
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	Unrestricted	Endowment	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£	£
Ministry	106,838	-	800	107,638
Administration	74,386	-	105	74,491
Premises costs	60,589	-	285,244	345,833
Mission donations and grants	43,108	-	-	43,108
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	284,921	-	286,149	571,070
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────

Premises costs includes a £8,101 (2023: £910) depreciation charge in 2024.

4 Independent Examination Fees

Fees payable to the independent examiner for:

2024 2023 £ £ Independent examination and preparation of the financial 2,700 2,610 statements

18

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

5 Staff Costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

	2024	2023
	£	£
Wages and salaries	111,252	120,466
Social security costs	3,148	4,095
Employer contributions to pension plans	7,650	6,752
	──────────	──────────
	122,049	131,313
	──────────	──────────

The average headcount of employees during the year was as follows:

	2024	2023
Average headcount	11	11

No employees received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year.

The Charity also utilised the services of some self-employed contractors during the year.

Key Management Personnel

The charity considers its key management personnel to be the Ministers. The total remuneration received by key management were as follows:

	2024	2023
	£	£
Key management personnel employee benefit	44,538	37,435

6 Trustee Remuneration and Expenses

During the year, one trustee received remuneration and other benefits in respect of their service as a minister. These benefits included the provision of manse accommodation — one property owned by the Church and another rented from the minister and their spouse. Remuneration and benefits were paid in accordance with the Church’s constitution. The individual is not remunerated for their role as a trustee. The total remuneration received during the year, including employer pension contributions, was as follows:

	2024	2023
	£	£
A Wingfield	44,538	37,435

19

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

6 Trustee Remuneration and Expenses (Continued)

During the year the trustees incurred out of pocket expenses in respect of expenses incurred as Trustees. The total expenses claimed during the year was £1,282 (2023: £1,001). The type of expenses incurred related to training costs, conference costs, books and travel.

During the year A Wingfield received £16,502 (2023: £15,422) from the church for renting a private property for use as the Church's Manse.

7 Tangible Fixed Assets

Tangible Fixed Assets
	Freehold
	land and	Fixtures and
	buildings	fittings	Total
	£	£	£
Cost / Valuation
At 1 January 2024	1,850,000	3,962	1,853,962
Revaluation	-	-	-
Additions	-	28,442	28,442
	──────────	──────────	──────────
At 31 December 2024	1,850,000	32,404	1,882,404
	──────────	──────────	──────────
Depreciation
At 1 January 2024	-	1,981	1,981
Charge for this year	-	4,546	4,546
	──────────	──────────	──────────
At 31 December 2024	-	6,527	6,527
	──────────	──────────	──────────
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024	1,850,000	25,877	1,875,877
	──────────	──────────	──────────
At 31 December 2023	1,850,000	1,981	1,851,981
	──────────	──────────	──────────

All of the fixed assets are used for direct charitable purposes.

As at 31 December 2024 the main Church site was recognised in the accounts with a value of £1,150,000 (2023: £1,150,000), based upon a formal valuation undertaken in April 2020. This formal valuation valuation of the main Church site (comprising of the Church, HUB and cottage) was performed by Duncan Bailey Kennedy LLP, a local firm of Chartered Building Surveyors in April 2020.

As at 31 December 2024, the Manse was recognised in the accounts with a value of £700,000 (2023: £700,000), based upon a valuation undertaken by JNP Estate Agents Ltd in February 2024.

20

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

**8 **	Debtors
		2024	2023
		£	£
	Trade debtors	5,727	4,272
	Prepayments and accrued income	33,400	28,568
		──────────	──────────
		39,127	32,840
		──────────	──────────
**9 **	Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
		2024	2023
		£	£
	Other creditors	126,292	98,828
	Accruals	8,688	4,571
	Deferred income	7,467	-
	Members loans	5,000	10,000
		──────────	──────────
		147,447	113,399
		──────────	──────────
**0 **	Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After One Year
		2024	2023
		£	£
	Members loans	71,000	-
		──────────	──────────
		71,000	-
		──────────	──────────

10 Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After One Year

21

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

11 Analysis of Charitable Funds

	1 Jan 2024	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	(Losses)	31 Dec 2024
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted Funds
General funds	101,589	409,951	(287,973)	18,391	-	241,958
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	101,589	409,951	(287,973)	18,391	-	241,958
Designated Funds
Property maintenance fund	18,784	-	(20,430)	10,000	-	8,354
Retained contingency fund	42,535	299	-	-	-	42,834
Sanctuary
redevelopment (LSP)	143,545	10,067	-	(138,618)	-	14,994
fund
BU deposit fund	117,785	73	-	(117,858)	-	-
Living stones project reserve	60,000	-	-	(60,000)	-	-
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	382,649	10,439	(20,430)	(306,476)	-	66,182
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Unrestricted	484,238	420,390	(308,403)	(288,085)	-	308,140
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Endowment Funds
Property endowment fund	1,850,000	-	-	-	-	1,850,000
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Endowment	1,850,000	-	-	-	-	1,850,000
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Restricted Funds
HUB enhancement	9,027	1,450	-	50	-	10,527
Crisis fund	-	-	-	-	-	-
Discretionary fund	4,267	940	(473)	-	-	4,734
Living stones project	708,676	116,081	(1,084,915)	288,035	-	27,877
Organ fund	14,762	-	-	-	-	14,762
YP bursary fund	-	-	-	-	-	-
Day centre fund	1,638	-	-	-	-	1,638
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Restricted	738,370	118,471	(1,085,388)	288,085	-	59,538
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Funds	3,072,608	538,861	(1,393,791)	-	-	2,217,678
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────

22

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

	1 Jan 2023	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	(Losses)	31 Dec 2023
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Unrestricted Funds
General funds	135,480	309,806	(273,705)	(69,992)	-	101,589
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	135,480	309,806	(273,705)	(69,992)	-	101,589
Designated Funds
Property maintenance fund	20,000	-	(11,216)	10,000	-	18,784
Retained contingency fund	42,240	295	-	-	-	42,535
Sanctuary
redevelopment (LSP)	125,592	17,953	-	-	-	143,545
fund
BU deposit fund	114,384	3,401	-	-	-	117,785
Living stones project reserve	-	-	-	60,000	-	60,000
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	302,216	21,649	(11,216)	70,000	-	382,649
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Unrestricted	437,696	331,455	(284,921)	8	-	484,238
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Endowment Funds
Property endowment fund	1,868,360	-	-	-	(18,360)	1,850,000
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Endowment	1,868,360	-	-	-	(18,360)	1,850,000
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Restricted Funds
HUB enhancement	7,527	1,500	-	-	-	9,027
Crisis fund	-	-	-	-	-	-
Discretionary fund	3,509	1,079	(321)	-	-	4,267
Living stones project	634,319	359,693	(285,328)	(8)	-	708,676
Organ fund	14,762	-	-	-	-	14,762
YP bursary fund	500	-	(500)	-	-	-
Day centre fund	1,638	-	-	-	-	1,638
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Restricted	662,255	362,272	(286,149)	(8)	-	738,370
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
Total Funds	2,968,311	693,727	(571,070)	-	(18,360)	3,072,608
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────

23

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

Fund Descriptions

Designated Funds

Property maintenance fund fund for the general maintenance and repair of church property. Retained contingency fund fund to hold reserves policy money. Sanctuary redevelopment fund fund to refurbish and modernise the church sanctuary, but where the monies were given with the explicit permission for them to be used on other projects in the church if not needed for the Living Stones Project. Also includes money agreed by the trustees/church to be transferred from other funds (normally the General Fund) for use on the Sanctuary Redevelopment. BU deposit fund monies held on our behalf by the BU following the sale of the manse garden. Living stones project reserve A reserve fund for the Living Stones Project which the Trustees are authorised to use to address unexpected significant additional expenditure which results in the costs exceeding the total budget, a significant shortfall in the funds received, or to address short term cash flow issues, to enable the church to be able to meet its contractual obligations.

Endowment Funds

Property endowment fund fund holding the value of the Church Property.

Restricted Funds

HUB enhancement a fund to enhance the facilities of the HUB, including the memorial block with any fixtures or fittings needed. Crisis fund fund to be able to donate to a major crisis happening in the world (e.g. earthquake disaster). Living stones project fund to refurbish and modernise the church sanctuary. Organ fund fund for the repair and replacement of the church organ. YP bursary fund fund to support young people going on short term mission projects. Day centre fund fund to support day centre for older folk. Discretionary fund fund used at the discretion of the pastors and elders to support those in the fellowship going through a time of particular hardship.

Material Fund Transfers

A transfer of £60,000 took place from the general fund to the newly established Living stones project reserve.

24

Union Baptist Church

Year Ended 31st December 2024

Notes to the Financial Statements

12 Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds

	Unrestricted	Endowment	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	25,877	1,850,000	-	1,875,877
Current assets	424,710	-	135,538	560,248
Creditors less than 1 year	(142,447)	-	(5,000)	(147,447)
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After One Year	-		(71,000)	(71,000)
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	308,140	1,850,000	59,538	2,217,678
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	Unrestricted	Endowment	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	1,981	1,850,000	-	1,851,981
Current assets	595,656	-	738,370	1,334,026
Creditors less than 1 year	(113,399)	-	-	(113,399)
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After One Year	-	-	-	-
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────
	484,238	1,850,000	738,370	3,072,608
	──────────	──────────	──────────	──────────

13 Related Party Transactions

During the year, L. Manktelow, a close family member of trustee I. Manktelow, was employed by the charity. The total remuneration paid by the church during the year, including employer pension contributions and employer National Insurance contributions, was £28,437 (2023: £30,266).

The church made a donation of £3,500 to Wycombe Homeless Connection during the year (2023: £3,500). M. Dykes serves as a trustee of both the church and Wycombe Homeless Connection.

Additionally, during the year, a close family member of trustee Andrew Wingfield received remuneration totalling £596.84 for casual work undertaken for the church.

14 Volunteers

The church benefits greatly from the voluntary contributions of time and money by its formal members and regular attendees. Please refer to the trustee's report for further detail about volunteer contributions in the organisation.

15 Capital Commitment

During the year, the Church embarked on a major redevelopment project in the main sanctuary and adjoining rooms, known as the Living Stones project. As of the end of December 2024 the total outstanding contractual capital commitment for this project is £119,158. This commitment signifies the charity's financial responsibility for completing the redevelopment work.

25