# **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025**
## **STONY STRATFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1131785**
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **CONTENTS**
|**LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**|**3**|
|---|---|
|**CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT**|**5 - 12**|
|**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**|**13**|
|**BALANCE SHEET**|**14**|
|**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**|**15 - 28**|
|**PENSIONS COMMUNICATIONS**|**29 -32**|
|**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT**|**33**|
2
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
START OF FINANCIAL YEAR 1st April 2024
END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 31st March 2025
CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd
MINISTER (TEAM LEAD) Reverend Stuart Earl
ELDERS Judy Howson (Appointed Sep 2023)
Zara Lee (Appointed 06/2021) (Resigned 11/2024))
Steve Summerfield (Appointed Dec 2023)
Christine Laughlan (Appointed Feb 2024)
Ruth Bowden (Appointed Oct 2024)
Kenneth Beaton (Appointed Jan 2019)
SAFEGUARDING TRUSTEE Gillian Clarke (Appointed Sep 2023)(Resigned Mar
2024)
CHURCH SECRETARY Barry Howson (Appointed Dec 2023)
TREASURER Neil Hughes (Appointed Apr 2016)
ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES Peter Whybray (Appointed Dec 2023)
Julie Halsey (Appointed Oct 2024)
MANAGING TRUSTEES Ministers
Elders
Church Secretary
Treasurer
Administrative Trustees
Safeguarding Lead
GOVERNING INSTRUMENT The Church is governed by its own constitution and
rules as approved at the Church members' meeting.
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1131785
OBJECTS The Church exists to proclaim the Christian faith and
to serve the local community through its work and
witness. Its purpose is to turn people into fully devoted
followers of Jesus Christ.
CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE ADDRESS PO Box 44
129, Broadway
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 8RT
REGISTERED ADDRESS Stony Stratford Community Church
Horsefair Green
Stony Stratford
Milton Keynes
MK11 1JW
**----- End of picture text -----**
3
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
**PRIMARY BANK** CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ
4
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
Stony Stratford Community Church is an unincorporated association, governed by its own constitution and rules as approved at the Church Members’ Meeting. The constitution is based upon the Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches provided by the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the constitution which requires them to be or to have been publicly baptised on the profession of faith in Jesus Christ or following other modes of baptism to renew their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The Minister Rev Stuart Earl (Team Leader) is accredited by the Baptist Union. He works with a team of Elders to enable the church to fulfil its commission - namely to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Decisions are made according to Baptist practice by the Church Membership which meets at least four times a year. The Minister, Church Secretary, Treasurer, Elders, and individuals with responsibility for Safeguarding, Buildings and IT are Trustees of the church with responsibility for general decisions. They are accountable to the Church Members for decisions they make, and important decisions, including finances, are discussed and voted upon at the Church Members’ Meeting. The constitution sets out procedures and thresholds for decision making, though the aim is for decisions to be made by consensus.
Trustees are appointed according to rules set out in our constitution. Nominations are made from the church membership, considered by the Elders, and appointed by the members of the church through a vote at a Church Members’ meeting. Trustees are provided with guidance for their role using documents supplied by the Baptist Union, which also sign-posts the Charity Commission guidance they are required to be familiar with.
During the course of the year the Trustee team expanded by two to 12 – one Elder and a much-needed appointment to focus on building maintenance issues. Unfortunately, one of the Trustees with an Eldership role resigned for personal reasons and near the end of this year we lost our Safeguarding Trustee who was advised not to perform the dual role of Designated Person for Safeguarding and Safeguarding Trustee. She subsequently resigned from the Trustee aspect of her role. This has taken us back to 10 Trustees. We remain active in seeking additional people to take the team to the full complement of 14, but most approaches are unsuccessful reflecting the challenge of finding suitable people willing to take on the responsibilities that being a Trustee entails.
The full Trustees group met eight times during the year.
5
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Mission Statement:**
“To know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and to make Him known.”
## **Vision:**
“God wants to continue to build us together into a loving family, anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit, reaching out in Jesus’ name to the surrounding community and to all nations.”
## **Values:**
G- enerosity
R- adical Living
A- cceptance
C- ommunity Focus
- E- ngaging in Prayer and Worship
Stony Stratford Community Church registered as a charity in 2009. We changed our name to help us become more accessible to the local community but remain a member of the Baptist Union and operate according to Baptist principles.
The church conducts public worship services which are open and advertised to those in the locality, as well as conducting regular activities to advance the Christian Faith and serve the community held in our building and in other locations. The Trustees regularly consider ways to maximise effectiveness and have regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
Activities listed in our rules of particular relevance to this public benefit are:
- regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching;
- the Communion of the Lord’s Supper which shall normally be observed at least once a month;
- evangelism and mission;
- the teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people;
- nurture and growth of Christian disciples;
- education and training for Christian and community service;
- giving and encouraging pastoral care;
- supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom;
- encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians.
Our buildings and systems are important resources for this to happen, and the Trustees oversee their upkeep and maintenance.
6
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Sunday Worship & Prayer**
A public worship service is held each Sunday morning, including sung worship, Bible reading and prayer. First, third and fifth Sundays incorporate a sermon – themes covered throughout the year include the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus (continuing from the previous year), Jesus’ approach to acceptance of others, Advent/Christmas, and thinking about the nature of church and the challenges of the future. Second Sundays are our “Sundays Out” weeks where we meet together for a shorter time before heading out to share with our local community through activities (see the section on Mission below). On fourth Sundays, instead of a sermon we recount stories of God at work in and through our lives as an encouragement to one another to demonstrate God’s goodness and love to those around us. This is followed by a shared lunch together and some training in sharing our faith with others in order to make Jesus known to those beyond our church community. Groups for youth and children usually meet each Sunday apart from Sundays Out weeks when all participate in the community activities. During this year we have held all age Café Church services when there has been a fifth Sunday in a month.
Each month there is a Prayer and Worship evening on one Sunday which provides more time to engage with key practices of the Christian faith.
We have also continued offering regular Messy Church services, which give a hands-on approach to worship for all ages. These take place on Sunday afternoons and are often attended by families from the area who are not involved in church at other times. We have held four of these events through the year, plus a mini version at the town’s Riverside Fair.
We were very pleased to record our first Believers’ Baptisms for several years in 2024. One of our young people and one of our older people were both baptised, as a testimony to the work of Jesus in their lives and their desire to follow him and belong to the church.
## **Church Family**
A membership review has been underway for some time, including seeking to communicate with those we have lost contact with over many years. The conclusion of this has led to a significant reduction in our membership list, though we are confident that it is now a much more accurate representation.
In the time covered by this report 25 members resigned or were removed as part of our membership list review, and there was one other resignation. A further two members, Isaac Nyamweda and Maura Parsons, were promoted to glory. However, we also gained five new members giving a total of 99.
Pastoral care is overseen by a volunteer acting as Pastoral Co-ordinator who liaises with individuals/groups and the Team Leader. We now have an Elder who is actively working with the Family Fund (a fund for pastoral needs) group to make sure this is administered effectively.
7
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **Youth and Children**
As well as the Sunday morning groups, we offer a fortnightly club for children that is open to the wider community on Friday evenings in our building. These sessions include a variety of fun activities and opportunity for socialising, but also for learning and support. Occasional additional youth activities have been arranged such as social events and joining in with gatherings for young people across Milton Keynes.
One of our young people took a gap year following leaving school, gaining experience of Christian ministry at a residential centre in Sheffield working with young people and travelling to Brazil to work with children for a project there. The church was able to contribute to the costs of this.
We had hoped to be able to run a gap year scheme with trainees to support our youth and community work starting in September 2024, but our partner organisation (DNA) was unable to recruit enough trainees. Sadly, shortly afterwards, DNA took a decision to cease operating.
## **Life Groups**
The church has six mid-week “Life Groups” which meet in people’s homes, using the church building, or online. These provide an opportunity for spiritual growth and discipleship, as well as providing pastoral care for the group members. Information regarding these groups is available on our website.
## **Mission**
We have engaged in a wide range of activities as means by which we seek to advance the Christian faith in ways which also demonstrate clear public benefit. More details below.
Our review of our community engagement continued using the 5D Framework from Share Jesus International. This included holding a stakeholder event to explore issues with relevant community groups including other churches, community groups, charities, and the Town Council. It was a very positive event, and we hope to build on it in future. A number of areas to explore further have emerged, including improving co-operation with other community groups/agencies, improving communication of all that we offer generally, a new group for the visually impaired (see below) and investigations into the possibility of running student mentoring in local schools.
There is more to do with the 5D process, but the urgent response to the needs of Asylum Seekers in a local hotel has taken a lot of time and become a priority (again, see below).
Activities with a mission focus include:
## _**Sundays Out**_
Sundays Out is our monthly service where we get out of the building to serve the community, share with people and speak the Good News of Jesus to them. The activities include a service in Magdalen House (supported living for older people), litter picking in partnership with the Residents’ Associations of Galley Hill and Fullers Slade, community football, Operation Blessing (usually giving away flowers) and other opportunities to engage people in conversation on the street and pray for them.
8
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## _**Missional Communities**_
The three groups seek to balance worship and care for one another, with work in evangelism and service to the community. Details of these groups are publicly available on our website.
The Hope Group continues to develop the Hygiene Bank for Milton Keynes, providing personal care items to those who need them through community partnerships.
The Thursday Group runs our Messy Church events (see the section on Sunday Worship & Prayer) and continues to provide regular cake drops for the staff of three local schools to encourage them. The community football events that run as part of Sundays Out are also a project of this group.
The “CONNECT” group ran the Souper Saturday events which ended in April 2024 due to staffing issues. Their focus is now running monthly pop-up café events at a local park giving away free drinks and treats, as well as listening to people and praying for their needs.
## _**Community Outreach**_
We provide a variety of regular sessions to reach out and serve a wide cross-section of our community:
Weekly: Mini Blessings (our parent/carer and toddler group) and Drop In (providing a meal and social contact – mainly attended by older people).
Fortnightly: Memory Club (dementia friendly social time), Creative Threads (needlecraft-based group).
Monthly: Fellowship Tea (social event for older people). A new Visual Impairment Group offering support and social time to those with visual impairments began in November 2024 in partnership with Bucks Vision.
Winter Months: Winter Night Shelter (homeless provision fortnightly from December to March - providing venue, co-ordinator and some team).
Annually: Folk on the Green concert town event (we gave away approximately 2000 bottles of water), and Christmas Lights switch on town event (we gave away around 1000 cups of hot chocolate).
## _**Asylum Seekers**_
In November 2024 we received a call asking for help from West Northants Council due to a local hotel coming into use as accommodation for Asylum Seekers. The contact came as we are part of the Welcome Churches Network, though had never been involved in anything at this scale.
9
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
Around 60 men had been placed in the hotel awaiting their asylum applications to be processed. The isolated location on a main road with a small village nearby, meant there was little for them to do and there were concerns about problems that could be caused and the mental health impact on the men. We have responded in the following ways:
- **Clothing** – the MK: Storehouse was approached about providing clothes and agreed to help. We supported their efforts, collecting clothes from our church community and delivering them to the Storehouse. We also raised money for them as the local emphasis of our Christmas appeal.
- **Games** – we gathered donations of games and jigsaws and took several boxes to the hotel, as well as purchasing a table football set, playing cards and dominoes.
- **Toiletries** – The hotel provides shampoo, shower gel, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste. SSCC members founded the Hygiene Bank MK. Working with them, we have been supplying deodorant, razors, shaving foam, body lotion, combs and nail clippers for all the men.
- **Sports Equipment** – we provided 2 free-standing basketball hoops and basketballs, plus a set of badminton equipment (net with stand, racquets, shuttlecocks).
- **Bicycles** – we were asked to provide bikes from the start by hotel management and the hotel residents. Working with The Bike Project (which provides bikes for refugees) we were able to supply 20 bikes for the men to use. We also provided bike racks, helmets, locks, lights and puncture repair kits. This was made possible with a grant from the Central Baptist Association.
- **Open Door** – we ran sessions in our church building every couple of weeks. For two hours on a Monday afternoon, we welcomed groups of the men. Pool, table tennis, games, painting, basic English teaching and refreshments are part of this.
- **Mental Health** – the mental health of the residents is a huge issue. We had hoped to run Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing courses but have not managed this so far. Our trained facilitators are willing to run it, but as they are all women they need some male volunteers to join them. In the meantime, we have provided the hotel with links to videos in various languages covering basic mental health and wellbeing. We recognise that there is a desperate need for in depth professional mental health support, but that is beyond our resources to provide.
- **Other support** – as Christmas approached, we collected donations of chocolate that were given to all the men and hotel staff as a small gift.
10
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## _**World Mission**_
During this year we have been pleased to welcome missionaries visiting home who we support and are members of our church working in Asia, and the Destiny Africa Children’s Choir from Uganda who we have had connections with for many years. The latter group performed a concert which was attended by church members/attendees and people from the local community.
## **Buildings/Facilities**
The appointment of a Trustee with responsibility for building issues has meant that routine maintenance is now being effectively planned for and other remedial works are underway. Repairs have included drains, plumbing, doors, and lights. The extent of roof repairs required is currently being investigated but may be significant.
Unfortunately, a severe storm in September 2024 combined with a blocked drainage gully led to one of our rooms flooding. This has required an insurance claim and extensive drying out. Although the original estimate was that all works would be complete by February 2025, unexplained delays from contractors acting on behalf of the insurance company mean we are still waiting for the work to be finished. The loss of this space has had an impact on several of our activities as we have had to make adjustments.
## **Office**
Since the last annual report, the office has continued to develop as a resource for the smooth running of the church thanks to the work of our Church Support Facilitator. We are now working on recruiting a second office worker to provide PA support to the Team Leader and Trustees.
## **Accessibility**
With support from our Accessibility Co-ordinator, we have continued to consolidate our Growing Hope Silver Accessibility Award with an accessibility training day, extra resources and provision, and signs/information using the Widgit visual language.
## **Safeguarding**
The Church has necessary policy and procedures in place and operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
11
Ston
Stratford Communit Church
CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
CONCLUSION
The Trustees are satisfied that the activib'es outlined above clearly demonstrate that the
charity is providing a benefit to the public with regard to the Charty Commission guidance.
This year has been one of building on the changes of the wevious year, and lots of work to
ensure the effectiveness of structures and resources to meet our charitable objectives.
Developing team is crucial in this regard, and progress in recruitrnent for one aspect is often,
frustratingly, matched by losses in another. We are determined to be the best possible
stewards of our sOurceS and to continue to develop our work for the public benefit. All this
is following God's call on our lives and seeks to bring glory to him.
Rev Stuart Earl. Minister (Team Leader)
TRUSTEES. RESPONSIBILITIES
The Charities Act 2011 require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each
financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the
surplus of the Charity for that period. In preparing those financial ststements the Trustees
are required to=
sele suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently:
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.,
Prepare financial statements on the going conrn basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the trust will continue in existence.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posttion of the Charity. They are also
responsiblefor safeguarding the assets ofthe Charity and hence fortaking reasonable steps
for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees on..
Signed on their behalf by Trustees:
S.Q.L-
Printed Name:
ALLWQ
12
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
**For the period from 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025**
||**Notes**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Prior Year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|**Total Funds**|
|**_Incoming resources_**||||||
|Donations, Legacies and similar incoming resources|**3a/3c**|143,283|12,864|156,147|142,318|
|Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects|**4b**|2,650|0|2,650|2,318|
|Investment income|**3b**|10,786|996|11,782|3,399|
|Other incoming resources|**3d**|512|0|512|369|
|**Total income**||**157,231**|**13,860**|**171,092**|**148,404**|
|**_Resources used_**||||||
|Costs of generating funds|**4e**|3,062|70|3,132|2,482|
|Grants payable in furtherance of charity's objects|**4a**|2,286|24,958|27,243|11,588|
|Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects||76,279|956|77,235|70,705|
|Support costs|**4c**|45,584|0|45,584|20,466|
|Expenditure on managing-administering the charity|**4d**|4,538|0|4,538|6,614|
|**Total expenditure**||**131,749**|**25,984**|**157,733**|**111,855**|
|**Net income / expenditure resources before transfer**||**25,482**|**(12,123)**|**13,359**|**36,549**|
|**_Transfers_**|**5**|||||
|Gross transfers betw een funds - in||3,339|11,316|14,655|10,754|
|Gross transfers betw een funds - out||(14,655)|0|(14,655)|(10,754)|
|**_Other recognised gains / losses_**||||||
|**Net movement in funds**||**14,166**|**(807)**|**13,359**|**36,549**|
|**_Reconciliation of funds_**||||||
|**Total funds brought forward**||**197,505**|**1,334,068**|**1,531,572**|**1,495,023**|
|**Total funds carried forward**||**211,671**|**1,333,260**|**1,544,931**|**1,531,572**|
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown
13
Ston
Stratford Communit Church
BALANCE SHEET
Stony Stralford Community Church
Balancè Sheet
As at 31 March 2025
General Uesignathd l*$trlctèd
Fund
Funds
Funds
A$At
3110312025
AsAt
3110312024
Flxed assets
Tan9ts a55ds
l*rilage assets
Totsl Ftsed assets
1.294
220.200
1.032.979
1,253,179
221.494
1.032.979
1.254.473
22D.730
1.032.979
1.2S3.709
Current 8s8ets
CÈbior$
Cash at bark 2nd n hand
Totsl Curr¢nl assets
20.071
160.586
180.6$7
1,536
28 988
30.524
1.e67
78.316
79,983
23,2n
267.89D
291,163
25,727
252.958
278.685
editors. Am)unts fathro due in year
Npt current assets or Ilablllt*s
1981
80.081
705
822
27T,863
179M53
30.524
Total a6s¢ts 18ss curr¢nt Ilabllltles
179053
31018
1.333.260
1.$44931
1.531,572
Total ngt a$$Èts or liabilitles
179M3
31*18
1,333,260
1.544,931
1.531,572
Repre$8nr¢dby
Ihrestriled
C*spJnated
Pstrted
179.853
179.853
31.819
1,333.262
171.296
26,209
1.334,068
31.819
1,333.262
Fund8 of the chur¢h
179.853
31.818
1.334260
1.544,931
1,$31.572
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals rfthe pence are nol teing sho
Approved by the Trustees on:
IZ
Signed on their behalf by Trustees:
Printed Name:
14
**Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of Preparation & Assessment of Going Concern**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP - FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
## **Assessment of Going Concern**
Preparation of the accounts is on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Incoming Resources**
## _**Recognition of Incoming Resources**_
- These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when: ▪ the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
- the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
- the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability
## _**Incoming Resources with Related Expenditure**_
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
## _**Grants and Donations**_
Grants and Donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
## _**Tax Reclaims on Donations and Gifts**_
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
## _**Contractual Income and Performance Related Grants**_
This is only included in the SOFA once the related goods or services has been delivered.
## _**Gifts in Kind**_
Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity. Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SOFA as incoming resources when receivable.
15
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)**
## _**Donated Services and Facilities**_
These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.
## _**Investment Income**_
This is included in the accounts when receivable.
## _**Investment Gains and Losses**_
This included any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.
## **Expenditure and Liabilities**
## _**Liability Recognition**_
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
## _**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.
## _**Grants with Performance Conditions**_
Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.
## _**Grants Payable without Performance Conditions**_
These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to a grant which remain in control of the charity.
## _**Support Costs**_
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of the resources, eg allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
## _**Pensions**_
The Charity is an employer participating in a pension scheme known as the Baptist Pension Scheme (“The Scheme”). The Scheme is a separate legal entity which is administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). Contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme. The pension contributions include additional payments related to the current deficit recovery plan for the Defined Benefits branch of the Baptist Pension Scheme.
16
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)**
## _**Pensions**_
Further details related to this matter can be found in the last section of this report.
## _**Assets**_
Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity, these are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt.
## _**Investments**_
Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange are valued at market value at the year end. Other investment assets are included at trustees' best estimate of market value.
## _**Depreciation**_
Depreciation is calculated at a rate to write off the cost of all tangible fixed assets on a straight-line basis over an assumed useful life of four years. The rates applied per annum are thus 25% across all tangible fixed assets.
No depreciation is charged to freehold property as the properties are maintained to such a standard it is considered the residual value will not be less than cost.
There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year.
17
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **Tangible Fixed Assets**
## **Financial Year 2024-25**
||**Restricted**|**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Freehold**
**Property**|
**Purchased**
**Equipment**|
**Purchased**
**Equipment**|
**Total**|
|**Gross Block**|||||
|Costs As At 01/04/2024
Additions
Revaluations
Disposals
Costs As At
31/03/2025|1,253,179|16,968|92,125
1,726|1,362,272
1,726
0
0|
||1,253,179|16,968|93,851|1,363,998|
||||||
|**Depreciation**|||||
|As At
01/04/2024
Charge
As At
31/03/2025
_Equipment Y/E 2022_
_Equipment Y/E 2025_
_Equipment Y/E 2024_
_Equipment Y/E 2023_|0
0
0
0
0|16,968
0
0
0
0|91,630
431
0
0
530|108,598
431
0
0
530|
||0|16,968|92,591|109,559|
||||||
|**Net Book**|||||
|**As At**
**31/03/2025**
As At
31/03/2024|**1,253,179**
1,253,179|**0**
0|**1,260**
495|**1,254,439**
1,253,674|
|There maybe minor discrepancies in the totals if thepence are not beingshown|||||
The annual commitments under non-cancelling operating leases and capital commitments are as follows:
31st March 2025 : None
31st March 2024 : None
## **Notes**
A comparison to the previous year’s Note 2 will show an inconsistency when comparing the closing accumulated asset values and depreciations, as compared to the opening figures for this financial year. This has been traced to some minor, non-material errors in the historic submissions which have now been corrected here.
18
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **3. INCOMING RESOURCES**
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **Incoming Resources**
## **Selected period: 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Notes Unrestricted Designated Restricted This Year Last Year
3a) Donations, Legacies and similar incoming resources
Bank Transfer Donations 5 61,725 113 4,436 66,273 64,333
Recovered Gift Aid & GASDS 5 19,641 1,536 1,315 22,491 24,846
Offerings at services 4,210 0 0 4,210 4,597
Other regular donations 5 27,526 0 140 27,666 27,790
Non regular donations 17,443 419 0 17,862 7,246
Communion offering 5 0 0 1,016 1,016 881
On trust giving 5 0 0 1,790 1,790 1,846
Memory Club 5 0 0 459 459 369
Online donations 5 4,109 317 2,708 7,135 3,844
Legacies 0 66 0 66 500
Building Maintenance & Development 0 6,179 0 6,179 6,065
CBA Grant For Asylum Seeker Outreach 5 0 0 1,000 1,000 0
Sub Total 134,654 8,630 12,864 156,147 142,317
3b) Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects
DropIn Donations 2,650 0 0 2,650 2,318
Sub Total 2,650 0 0 2,650 2,318
3c) Investment income
Interest on bank accounts 5 2,944 0 996 3,940 3,399
Property Lettings 0 7,842 0 7,842 0
Sub Total 2,944 7,842 996 11,782 3,399
3d) Other incoming resources
Hire of premises 12 0 0 12 0
Weddings & Funerals 0 500 0 500 369
Sub Total 12 500 0 512 369
Incoming resources Grand totals 140,259 16,972 13,860 171,092 148,404
**----- End of picture text -----**
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown
19
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **4. RESOURCES USED**
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **Resources Used**
## **Selected period: 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Notes Unrestricted Designated Restricted This Year Last Year
4a) Grants payable in furtherance of charity's objects
Family fund 5 0 0 4,288 4,288 0
MSG 5 0 0 17,973 17,973 8,561
On trust payments 5 1,000 1,286 2,697 4,982 3,027
Sub Total 1,000 1,286 24,958 27,243 11,588
4b) Activities in furtherance of the charity's objects
Books 305 0 0 305 297
Conferences 1,253 0 0 1,253 1,032
Evangelism 913 0 0 913 2,384
General pastoral 364 0 0 364 516
Leadership training 999 0 0 999 108
Manse Costs 2,645 0 0 2,645 2,682
Office 195 0 0 195 93
Telephone 801 0 0 801 744
Photocopying 490 0 0 490 454
Public address system 1,742 0 0 1,742 75
Salary Pensions NI Accommodation 64,574 0 0 64,574 58,916
Special events (416) 0 0 (416) 1,321
Transport 830 0 0 830 1,173
Children & Youth 815 0 0 815 878
Community Care 37 0 641 678 31
Asylum Seeker Outreach 0 730 315 1,045 0
Sub Total 75,547 730 956 77,233 70,704
4c) Support costs
Building & Maintenance 8,627 2,065 0 10,692 5,125
Cleaning Services 664 0 0 664 446
Church Kitchen Supplies 1,187 0 0 1,187 729
Insurance 3,258 0 0 3,258 2,763
Miscellaneous payments 309 0 0 309 168
Utilities 18,929 0 0 18,929 7,399
Property Letting 455 7,306 0 7,761 2,219
Property Letting Insurance 0 279 0 279 65
Internet Based Services 1,874 0 0 1,874 1,504
Safe Guarding 0 0 0 0 48
Garden Costs 280 0 0 280 0
Health & Safety 350 0 0 350 0
Sub Total 35,933 9,650 0 45,583 20,466
4d) Expenditure on managing-administering the charity
Comms General 54 0 0 54 54
Bank charges 62 0 0 62 60
Professional fees 1,662 0 0 1,662 1,502
Computing 104 409 0 513 167
Subscriptions 265 0 0 265 1,250
Resource Copyright 1,020 0 0 1,020 972
Depreciation (Designated) 153 809 0 961 2,609
Sub Total 3,320 1,218 0 4,537 6,614
4e) Costs of generating funds
Fund raising expenses 2,946 0 0 2,946 2,374
Bank charges (fund raising) 5 111 5 70 186 108
Sub Total 3,057 5 70 3,132 2,482
Resources used Grand totals 118,861 12,888 25,984 157,733 111,855
**----- End of picture text -----**
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown
20
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **5. RESTRICTED FUNDS**
## **Stony Stratford Baptist Church**
## **Restricted Funds**
## **Selected period: 01 April 2024 to 31 March 2025**
|On trust - MSG
On trust - Funds
On trust - Family Fund
Sanctuary Buildings
Manse Purchase Fund
Building Development Funds
Building Development Funds Phase 2
Memory Club Fund
Missional Development Fund
Manse Refugee Fund
Pakistan Flood Fund
World Vision Gaza Appeal
ABCD Bethlehem Christmas Appeal
Asylum Seeker Outreach
ABCD & MK Storehouse Christmas Appeal|**Brought**
**Forward**
**Incoming**
**Resource**
**Outgoing**
**Resource**
**Transfers**
**Gains And**
**Losses**
**Carried**
**Forward**|
|---|---|
||18,575
1,279
17,354
11,316
0
13,816
3,931
2,003
2,573
0
0
3,360
9,406
7,330
4,357
0
0
12,379
1,032,979
0
0
0
0
1,032,979
267,409
996
0
0
0
268,406
746
0
0
0
0
746
97
0
0
0
0
97
693
559
341
0
0
912
(600)
0
300
0
0
(900)
782
0
0
0
0
782
50
0
50
0
0
0
0
45
45
0
0
0
0
10
10
0
0
0
0
1,000
315
0
0
685
0
639
639
0
0
0|
|**Totals**|**1,334,068**
**13,861**
**25,984**
**11,316**
**0**
**1,333,262**|
_There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown_
Restricted funds in deficit are considered to be on-going activities and are replenished during the coming financial period, except where noted below.
The restricted funds held are represented by the Charity's cash reserves and fixed assets investments and are to be expended as specified above.
**Mission Support Group (MSG) –** this is categorised as a restricted fund in these accounts. The MSG fund currently receives funds from the general fund and is administered by a team appointed by the church.
**On Trust Funds -** these are donations made for specific causes (notably but not exclusively, personal support of some of our missionaries). Income for these purposes are held in & disbursed from cause specific on trust funds, summarised here.
**On Trust Family Fund -** this fund operates in a similar fashion to the Mission Support Group. Funds are provided via a communion offering plus personal specific donations. The fund is used to assist those within the congregation experiencing unexpected financial difficulties.
**Manse** - In buying the new manse (75 Boundary Crescent) it was deemed necessary to raise additional finances since the existing fund would be insufficient. This was achieved by a special appeal to the congregation.
21
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
When this was agreed at the church meeting it was also agreed that any funds remaining after the completion of the purchase would be used for the future development of the Church premises on the Horsefair Green site.
It should also be noted that the fund value reflects the recorded value for the tangible
asset that is the property at 75 Boundary Crescent.
**Building Development Funds** – This fund reflects the consolidation of all previous funds related to the financing of phase one of the building development programme, the repayment of which was completed during 2020/2021.
**Building Development Funds Phase 2** - This fund reflects the donations received and funds raised for a possible Phase 2 of the building redevelopment programme.
**Memory Club Fund** – This fund holds income received for the purposes of operating a support group for those afflicted with dementia and other memory related diseases. There are two primary sources of income: a local authority grant to assist with operational expenses; donations received at each event.
**Missional Development Fund** – this fund holds donations received by our missional groups specific for the work of these groups, and as such represents a restricted fund. Expenditure from this fund is backed by a church designated fund from which this reserve fund is replenished annually should its expenditure outstrip its income.
**Manse Refugee Fund** – this fund was setup to receive donations towards the cost of upgrading the décor of the church Manse in anticipation of hosting a refugee family from Ukraine. During this reporting period a family from Ukraine were our guests in the Manse for a period of time, however they have now moved on.
**Pakistan Flood Fund** – this fund was set up to receive donations towards the Pakistan Flood appeal. These donations have now been fully distributed and hence this will be removed in future reports.
The remaining funds list (except the Asylum Seeker Outreach) were set up to receive donations made by individuals in the church, to the church, in the expectation of those funds being forwarded to the relevant organisations. These funds were forwarded to the relevant organisations during this accounting period. As such, these funds are now classed as closed.
**Asylum Seeker Outreach** – this fund was set up to receive a grant from the Central Baptist Association for assisting the church work with asylum seekers. This work has now ended, and we are in communication with the Central Baptist Association to determine what should now happen to the remaining grant funds.
22
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **6. CASH AT BANK & IN HAND**
## **Stony Stratford Baptist Church**
**Cash At Bank & In Hand**
## **As at: 31 March 2025**
|BB_CURR : Barclays - Current Account
BB_FF : Barclays - No 2 Account
CAFCURR : CafCash Current Account
CAFPLAT : Caf Platinum
BU Corp: Manse Account Funds
Online Stripe Payments Account
PC-ALPHA : Petty Cash - Alpha catering
PCDROPIN : Petty Cash - Drop In
PCTREASURY : Petty Cash - Treasury
PC_OFFICE : Petty Cash - Office
PCMEMORY : Petty Cash - Memory Club
PAYPAL : Virtual Bank
PCBELVOIR : Petty Cash - Belvoir Float
Charity Bank 1 Year Fixed
Charity Bank 3 Year Fixed
United Trust Bank 100 Day Notice|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**|
|---|---|
||26,371
500
(495)
26,376
13,270
0
0
1
1
1,782
21,282
13,402
27,704
62,388
165,366
0
0
0
0
21,254
0
0
50,700
50,700
49,704
0
0
0
0
716
83
0
0
83
83
86
0
0
86
380
20
0
0
20
20
5
0
0
5
5
0
0
407
407
379
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,086
0
5,086
0
31,353
0
0
31,353
0
20,000
10,000
0
30,000
0
61,385
0
0
61,385
0|
|**Totals**|**160,585**
**28,988**
**78,317**
**267,890**
**252,959**|
**BU Corp: Manse Account Funds** – These funds are held on trust by the Baptist Union Corporation for SSCC and represent the remainder of the proceeds from the sale of a former Manse, following the clearing of the mortgage on SSCC’s remaining manse property at 75 Boundary Crescent, in accordance with the agreement of the Baptist Union Corporation.
**PAYPAL: Virtual Bank** – This account arises from our attempt to donate funds direct to a missionary operating abroad. Unfortunately, this approach failed and alternative methods were employed. Whilst the account still exists, it is not currently used.
23
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **7. DEBTORS & PREPAYMENTS**
**Stony Stratford Baptist Church**
**Debtors & Prepayments**
**As at: 31 March 2025**
|Accounts Receivable
HMRC Gift Aid Recovery Year End Accrual|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**|
|---|---|
||430
0
352
782
1,054
19,641
1,536
1,315
22,491
24,674|
|**Totals**|**20,071**
**1,536**
**1,667**
**23,273**
**25,728**|
24
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **8. CREDITORS: AMOUNT DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**Stony Stratford Baptist Church**
## **Creditors: Amounts Due Within One Year**
## **As at: 31 March 2025**
|Agency Collections
Accounts Payable
HMRC Gift Aid On Negative Costs|**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**|
|---|---|
||0
0
(98)
(98)
(98)
1,020
0
0
1,020
996
(216)
0
0
(216)
(75)|
|**Totals**|**804**
**0**
**(98)**
**706**
**823**|
**HMRC Gift Aid On Negative Costs** – This is an anticipated negative liability (i.e. an amount we expect to receive) due to gift aid on donations that we intend to offset against incurred costs (hence the classification as a liability).
## **8a. CREDITORS: AMOUNT DUE AFTER ONE YEAR**
**Stony Stratford Baptist Church Creditors: Amounts Due After One Year**
## **As at: 31 March 2025**
||**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Last Year**|
|---|---|
|||
|**Totals**|**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**|
25
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **9. STAFF COSTS & NUMBERS**
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **Staff Costs & Numbers**
## **Financial Year 2024-25**
|**_Staff Costs_**
Gross Wages & Salaries
Employer's National Insurance
Employer's Pension|**This Year**
**Last Year**|
|---|---|
||47801
41695
0
0
5373
4871|
|**Total**
**_Staff Numbers_**
Engaged in activities in furtherance of Charity's Objectives|53174
46566
**This Year**
**Last Year**|
||2
3|
|**Total**|2
3|
**Gross Wages & Salaries** – As recorded in our previous accounts, there is in place a manse agreement between the church and each of its ministers whereby the church leases each minister’s property in order to fulfil its obligation to provide accommodation for each minister. As a lease arrangement this falls outside the scope of PAYE and is borne as a cost to the church.
**Employer’s Pension** – These contributions may include additional payments related to the current deficit recovery plan for the Defined Benefits branch of the Baptist Pension Scheme. Further details related to this matter can be found in the last section of this report.
26
**Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **10. TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES**
**Stony Stratford Community Church Payments To Custodian Trustees And Affiliated Groups Financial Year 2024-25**
|**_Nominal Account_**
Baptist Home Mission
Baptist World Mission|**This Year Last Year**|
|---|---|
||3,840
0
3,840
0|
|**Total**|7,680
0|
|**_There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence a_**|**_re not being shown_**|
The difference in payments made in this financial period compared to Last Year is on account of an oversight in donations not being paid to the respective organisations last year. This was rectified during this period, and included an additional gift to bless the work of these organisations.
No other payments were made to the custodian Trustees or any persons/organisations connected with them during this financial period. No other material transaction took place between the charity and the custodian Trustees or any person/organisation connected with them.
## **Ministers:**
Payments made to Ministers as Salaries and Pensions are shown in Note 9, and in Note 4a under Staff Costs, Transport Costs and Manse. Any other expenses paid to them or any person connected to them were reimbursements of expenses incurred whilst carrying out their activities for the Church.
27
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
## **11. RELATED PARTIES**
The custodian trustee of the church is the Baptist Union Corporation Limited which is a registered charity (number: 249635), and which is controlled by the Baptist Union Council. The church is also a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
## **12. RISK ASSESSMENT**
The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.
## **13. RESERVES POLICY**
During this period the Trustees adopted a more formalised reserves policy that seeks to quantify the targeted level for the reserve fund, that the Trustees wish to hold so as to mitigate any financial risks to the charity in uncertain times. The figure agreed is to be assessed annually at the end of each financial year.
For the forthcoming financial year the targeted reserves figure agreed by the Trustees is set at £98k. This is to be held as cash reserves spread across the charity’s bank accounts.
## **14. PUBLIC BENEFIT**
The Trustees acknowledge the requirement to demonstrate clearly that the Church must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the Church has achieved this are provided in the Church Annual Report located at the start of this report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
28
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **PENSIONS COMMUNICATIONS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025**
The following communication was received on 1[st] May 2024, regarding the Baptist Pension Scheme. For further information on the history behind this communication please consult prior year account reports.
--------------
**The Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”) – Defined Benefit (“DB”) Plan Further update on securing the DB Plan and removing future risk exposure**
## **To all employers participating in the Scheme’s DB Plan**
As a follow-on to our March 2024 email, we can now confirm that the Trustee and the Baptist Union have triggered the wind-up of the DB Plan as at 31[st] March 2024, as expected. The attached letter has been sent to members along with the attached timeline graphic (or a simplified version is the members pension is already in payment).
We expect to write to you again with a further update in August 2024. At that time we hope to provide a firmer timeline as the financial position of the Scheme becomes clearer.
Yours sincerely
Chris Maggs Christopher Jones
Moderator of the Scheme’s Trustee Board
Baptist Union Support Services Team Leader
Issued for and on behalf of the Baptist Pension Scheme
## --------------
Subsequent to this we then received the following communication on the 19[th] November 2024
--------------
29
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
PENSION COMMUNICATIONS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
_This email has been issued by a bulk email tool. Please do not reply to this email as the mail box is not monitored._
**The Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”) – Defined Benefit (“DB”) Plan Further update on winding-up the DB Plan and removing future risk exposure**
To all employers participating in the Scheme’s DB Plan,
This email is being sent to you jointly from the Baptist Union and the Trustee of the Scheme as a participating employer in the DB Plan. It follows on from our March 2024 email on steps being taken to fully secure the Scheme’s DB Plan benefits with the insurance company Just Retirement Limited (“Just”). As you are aware, those steps helped to improve the security of members’ benefits in the Scheme and allowed us to reduce the contributions from employers towards the DB Plan to £1 per month. This letter is a further update on the process to fully transition the DB Plan to Just which will shortly be completed. Just will make the first direct pension payment to DB Plan members who are receiving a pension on 29 November 2024.
**In summary, we are delighted to report that we estimate the Scheme’s DB Plan has a surplus. As a result, your £1 per month contributions to the DB Plan will cease after the October contribution and your organisation no longer has any further responsibility towards the DB Plan.** We are very pleased that this has been possible to achieve much earlier, and at a much lower cost, than we had anticipated.
## **What has happened since March 2024?**
In our March email we highlighted that the Scheme’s Trustee and its advisers were working to fully transition the responsibility for the DB Plan benefits to the insurance company Just. This has involved extensive work to transfer data to Just, to finalise the benefits payable to members and to make the final premium payments.
We are pleased to confirm that the DB Plan benefits will shortly be transferred over to Just and members will shortly be provided with welcome packs and individual policies from them. This part of the process is known as moving to “buy-out”. From that point Just will be responsible for the administration and payment of the DB Plan members’ pensions.
Just will be legally responsible for paying the DB Plan benefits and the Scheme’s Trustee will be discharged from any further responsibility in relation to the DB benefits of members and their beneficiaries.
The Trustee and the Baptist Union formally triggered the wind-up of the DB Plan with effect from 31 March 2024 and there are a number of tasks to complete before the DB Plan can be wound-up. We currently expect the wind-up of the DB Plan to be completed in the first half of 2025.
## **Surplus Assets**
At the completion of the buy-out the Trustee’s advisers estimate that the DB Plan will have around £7m of surplus assets. It was agreed between BUGB and the Scheme’s Trustee that up to 50% of the surplus assets would be used to enhance members’ benefits and the remainder would be transferred to the Scheme’s Defined Contribution (‘DC’) Plan.
To enhance members’ benefits, an additional increase estimated to be around 2.7% will be applied to all pensions that were in payment on 1 January 2023. Those pensions received an increase on 1 January 2023 that was lower than the high levels of inflation seen in the UK at the time.
30
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## PENSION COMMUNICATIONS (continued)
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
The additional increase goes some way to address this. Members will receive this additional increase in December 2024 and it will be subject to annual increases as appropriate in the usual way.
## **DB Plan finances**
As explained in our March email, one objective of the buy-out is to remove permanently the employers’ risk exposure to future deficit contributions. Now that the buy-out has nearly been completed and we estimate the DB Plan is in surplus, we are pleased to say that the Trustee will cease the collection of £1 per month from each employer after the October contribution, and that your organisation will have no further obligation to the Scheme’s DB Plan.
You do not need to take any action as a result. The cessation of contributions will be dealt with automatically by our administrators who will update your direct debit mandates.
## **What about cessation events?**
For many years, employers in the DB Plan have needed to inform the Baptist Pensions Team if they were expecting to experience a “cessation event” (broadly, when an employer ceases to have active members in the Scheme’s DC Plan). We are very pleased that these complexities have now fallen away.
After wind-up was triggered in March 2024, the previous cessation event regime fell away. Whilst at that stage employers remained potentially liable should any shortfall arise, we can confirm as above your organisation is now released from this commitment with effect from 31 October 2024.
As a result, DB Plan employers no longer need to tell the pensions team about potential cessation events, for example on conversion to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Similarly, there is no longer any requirement to apply for a “period of grace”, or take other action to manage a cessation event, if your organisation ceases to have any active members in the Scheme’s DC Plan. Employers previously in an existing period of grace have been contacted by the Pensions Team.
## **If you have any questions about the DB Plan**
If you have any questions about the DB Plan please contact the Baptist Pensions Team using this email address pensionshared@baptist.org.uk
## **What about the Defined Contribution (“DC”) Plan?**
Although the DB Plan is transitioning to Just, the Scheme’s DC Plan will continue to be run as the Baptist Pension Scheme. If you and your minister/employees are currently contributing to the DC Plan, then this will continue as before. None of the DC Plan funds are being transferred to Just.
If members have not yet retired, there is an option to combine both their DB and DC pension benefits at retirement. This can be helpful if they wish to take part of their pension benefits as a tax-free cash lump sum. We have an agreement in place with Just to continue to offer this option.
If you have any questions about the DC Plan and your contributions to it, or about the DC Plan’s insurances (life cover and income protection), please contact Broadstone (the Trustee’s administrators):
31
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
PENSION COMMUNICATIONS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025
Telephone: 0117 937 8700 Email: baptistpensions@broadstone.co.uk Address: Broadstone Consultants & Actuaries Limited Broadstone House 23-25 St George’s Road Bristol BS1 5UU
**Next steps**
Following the transfer to Just, the Trustee will be working to complete the final tasks to formally windup the DB Plan. Please note that, now all the DB Plan benefits have been secured with Just, once the winding up of the DB Plan has been completed, there will be no further assets remaining in the DB Plan and the DB Plan will cease to exist.
Yours sincerely
Chris Maggs Christopher Jones Moderator of the Scheme’s Trustee Board Baptist Union Support Services Team Leader
Issued for and on behalf of the Baptist Pension Scheme
_This email has been issued by a bulk email tool. Please do not reply to this email as the mail box is not monitored._
32
## **Stony Stratford Community Church**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS**
Report to the trustees/ members of Stony Stratford Community Church on the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 set out on pages 13 to 28.
## **Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner**
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent Examiner's Statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## K. Collaku MAAT
Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street
Arundel
West Sussex BN18 9AJ
Dated: 19th December 2025
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