Trustees Report 2024/25
CASTLEHOLD BAPTIST CHURCH Registered Address High Street. Newport, Isle of Wight. PO30 IBH Registered Charity No 1133748
Trustees Revd Adrian Redfearn — Minister Gordon Ainger - Secretary Dr Stephen Selby Stephen Chinedum — Treasurer (Resigned January 2025) Katie Charlton Gail Duke Roger Herbert
Volunteer
Rev Nigel Cox — Acting Treasurer from Jan 2025
Staff
Administrator:Mr John Bastin
Property Trustees
The Baptist Union Corporation Limited Baptist House 129 Broadway Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 8RT
Bankers
NatWest plc St. James Square, Newport, |. W. PO30 1 UT CAF Bank Ltd.
Independent Examiner
Mrs Ruth Witchard
Annual Report for 2024/25
The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for the year ended March 31 2025
Charitable Object
The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document which states that the principal purpose of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.
The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd as holding trustees. on Trusts which are entirely compatible with the above object.
Organisational Structure and Decision-Making Processes
Membership. Baptism by immersion upon personal profession of faith is the normal mode of entry into the membership of the church. Persons seeking membership who have not been baptised in the manner described may at the discretion of the Church Members’ Meeting be accepted for full membership based on their own public profession of faith.
Decision Making Process. The members Meeting normally takes place four times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the Constitution, the members appoint up to nine deacons, who together with the Minister, Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the Members), and collectively known as the Diaconate, are responsible for the day to day running of the church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective. Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance, or may be raised by members in Church meeting for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the Constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
Affiliations
The church is in membership with
— The Baptist Union of Great Britain
— The Southern Counties Baptist Association — The Island Baptist Fellowship
— The Evangelical Alliance.
Churches Working Together in Newport.
Through the Debt Centre, the church is also affiliated to Christians Against Poverty.
Objectives and Activities
In order to achieve the principal objective which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The church’s focus is set out as: “Reaching out to people, enabling them to become followers of Jesus Christ”
The Church holds public services of Christian worship on Sunday mornings supported by a varied music group. There is an active and busy Sunday school, Girls Brigade, parent and toddler group, young people's activities, men’s group, weekly house groups. Details of all church activities are available through the church website at www,castlehold.com. Castlehold Baptist Church continues to support the work of Revive Newport.
The Church has adopted a safeguarding policy based on the Baptist Union "Safe to Grow guidance to churches” that all people working with children are appropriately vetted with regard to the Criminal Records Bureau.
The church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and is satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrates that the charity is providing a benefit to the public.
Achievements and Performance
Castlehold Baptist Church continues to provide a benefit to the Public — and this provision continues to grow and diversify since the last Trustees Report.
We are now in the second year of operating a Debt Centre in partnership with 4 other churches and under the supervision of Christians Against Poverty. The existing Debt Centre manager had to step down for health reasons in September, but a replacement Debt Coach was appointed and is now functioning with a full workload (1 new client a month). The aim is to develop the work to the point where the debt centre becomes an independent charity.
The Children and Young Peoples Ministry is growing at every level since the last Trustees Report. We now provide classes with a range of appropriate educational and pastoral support from 3yrs — 20 plus yrs both on a Sunday and mid-week. It is important to note that these facilities and resources are as available to the Public as they are available to regular church members and attendees. This includes our 15 Newport Girls Brigade which has grown numerically between the end of March 2024 and April 1 2025.
C.B.C. continues with providing Messy Church on a regular basis; an activity which not only provides education and fun games and activities but a meal for the whole family. Anyone can attend Messy Church.
A further development is the closer relationship which C.B.C. now has with |.0.W Youth For Christ. The church is represented on the Y.F.C. Steering Group which has created a new part-time Youth Outreach Post. Like Rock Solid and the C.A.P. Debt Centre, this is an ecumenical outreach. This has now developed into an organisation called “The Newport Youth Project” which works in schools and is involved in detached youth work also, working alongside a longer-established youth organisation called Revive.
C.B.C. continues to have Open Days to the Public. This is an opportunity not only to showcase to the Community the various activities we oversee (such as Girls Brigade and Toddler Group), but also those community groups and activities which we support such as the Alzheimer’s Cafe in Newport where the Minister of C.B.C. is a trained volunteer.
Other ways in which we interact with the Public and inform them of our services to them are an annual stall at a very large Public event called Riverfest and providing free refreshments for the various carnivals in Newport.
Another group we host and support are the local Police. C.B.C. hosts a quarterly “Shopwatch” meeting where local PCs and PCSOs liase with shop owners on the growing problem of shoplifting on the |IOW.
The needs of retired and elderly people have not been neglected as our Public Service to workingage adults, children and young people has developed and diversified.
We continue to host a bi-monthly Coffee Morning for the community and we continue to host Macmillan Coffee Mornings. Our Christmas Celebrations include food and fellowship for the wider community, particularly the elderly. ,
Our Pastoral Care Team regularly visits those in hospital or not able to leave their homes.
We continue to support charities which aim to reduce poverty and hardship around the globe. This includes Tearfund. Our Tear Fund Quiz in November 2024 raised over £500.
In conclusion, C.B.C. continues to be successful in providing a benefit to all members of its local community — and beyond. This successful performance is evidenced in new initiatives manifesting during this last year with further new initiatives in the planning. These will come to fruition by the time of the next Trustees Report in 2026.
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Financial Review
In January, Stephen Chinedum stepped down from the role of treasurer because of pressure of work. The former treasurer, Revd. Nigel Cox stepped in as acting treasurer and commenced a process of identifying a group of people who could form a finance committee to oversee all the financial processes including budget setting and control, book keeping, gift aid claims and regular reports to the Leadership Team and Church Meeting. This will ensure that the trustees continue to have full oversight of the financial affairs of the charity, while at the same time spreading the burden of work away from one person.
1 Final Accounts
The final accounts show a balance in the general fund of ££29,828, an increase of £5,000, despite paying over £25,000 on property maintenance. This was covered by an insurance claim and the transfer of £4,320 from funds held in trust by Baptist Union Corporation. There was a significant increase in income including in Gift Aid. Overall costs have been very similar to the previous year. Ministry costs (The Minister’s stipend, pension, provision of a Manse and related costs) are our largest cost (40%). The next largest cost is still upkeep of the church premises (16%) which is an increase on the previous year of 1%. This reflects on the fact that costs have risen in line with inflation and although utility prices are on a fixed contract an increase in the use of the premises has meant an increase in costs. The other large area of expenditure — administration - accounted for 12%, unchanged from the previous year. The final accounts show the support mission at 4.5%. However, this does not account for £6,000 a year given to Revive Newport in the form of reduced rent on their use of 82 High Street, meaning the true total is about 9.5% Youth work and messy church would also appear to be underfunded, but this is because there are a number of people who support this work on a private basis. We will be looking into how we can bring this expenditure into the overall budget in future years.
2 Budget
Because of the change in treasurer, the budget for 2025/26 is still in the process of being finalised. It will be based on projected receipts and payments based on the period April to August. The exception is an increase in Ministry costs as from January 2026 when the annual Stipend is increased in line with the Baptist Union recommended figure. Particularly to be noted is that the present fixed contract for Gas & Electricity expires in December and there will be a small decrease in costs.
The church financial situation remains sound but we will need to be vigilant in our expenditure, trust the Lord for increased giving and plan to make significant increases in our mission support. In particular, we should consider increasing significantly, our support for the Newport Youth Project and Samuael Hughes working in Ukraine with Operation Mobilisation.
3 Reserves Policy
“Reserves” figure is in many ways a notional figure to cover a situation in which there is a sudden and catastrophic decrease in our income or a major call on our expenses which would cause the Church serious financial difficulties. The reality is that even should this happen the church has assets in the region of £5.25 million
A typical reserves policy as outlined by the Baptist Union Corporation is 3 months of all expenditure + 3 months of staff costs. On current figures, for Castlehold, that would be £26,143 which is only slightly more than the current balance. We also have £30,000 on deposit with the Baptist Union Corporation which is in part the consequence of a large legacy in 2025, giving us scope to consider expanding our mission giving.
The Trustees report was approved by the board of Trustees on 6" October 2025
Chairman
Acting Treasurer
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Revd Adrian Redfern
Reverend Nigel Cox
CASTLEHOLD BAPTIST CHURCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2025
GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Note|2024/25|2023/ 24|
|Receipts|
|Weekly|offerings|7703|8,088|
|Regular|Giving|and|other|income|2|73475|58,207|
|Income|tax|recovered|on|gifts|13545|11,481|
|ConfidentialFund|
|Rents|and|contributions|for|use|of|premises|4300|6,300|
|Donations|&|Legacies|3|5016|3,988|
|Youth|97|732|
|CAP|Debt|Centre|
|Insurance|claim|18048|11,865|
|Sundry|Income|18|40|
|Total|Receipts|122,202|100,701|
|Payments|
|Ministry|4|49218|58,176|
|Mission|& Outreach|5|5587|3,395|
|Upkeep|of|church|premises|6|45712|31,773|
|Youth|Work|394|1,378|
|Administration|7|15245|14,787|
|Gifts|to|Organisations|8|3764|.|998|
|Other|Professional|Services|2622|
|Sundries|456|585|
|Training|76|
|Pastoral|Care|Expenses|304|
|BU|Subs|870|
|Total|Payments|121550|113,790|
|Net|Receipts/(payments)|for the Year|652|(13089)|
|Transfer from|BUC|4320|16044|
|Cash|Balance|at|Previous|Year end|24856|
|Cash|balances|at|current|year|end|29828|24856|
|CAP|DEBT|CENTRE|Restricted|account|held|in|a|separate|bank|account|
|Note|2024/25|2023/24|
|Receipts|
|Donations|2275|1,722|
|Partnership|Contributions|3600|3,600|
|Phone|reimbursement|202|
|Total|Receipts|6077|5,322|
|Payments|
|Manager's|Expenses|120|251|
|Office|Costs|(Phone)|481|306|
|CAP|Support|3600|5,100|
|Equipment|307|
|Bank|Charges|48|
|Total|Payments|4556|5,657|
|Net|receipts/(payments)|for the year|1521|(334)|
|Transfers|(to)|/|from|Debt|Centre|
|Cash|balance|at|previous|year end|1279|1613|
|Cash|balance|at|current|year end|2800|1279|
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Confidential Fund
| Confidential Fund | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Balance B/fwd | 254 | 254 | |
| Transfer from General Fund | |||
| Balance C/fwd | 254 | 254 | |
| Note | |||
| GENERAL FUND | Note | 2024/25 | 2023/24 |
| Balance B/fwd | 24856 | 21,901 | |
| Net Receipts (Payments) | 634 | (13,089) | |
| Transferred from BUC | 4320 | 16044 | |
| Transferred to Confidential Fund | |||
| Transferred to Debt Centre | |||
| Total | 29810 | 24,856 | |
| From Debt Centre | |||
| Balance C/fwd | 24,856 | ||
| STATEMENTOFASSETS AND LIABILITES AT31% MARCH 2025 | |||
| Note | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Assets | |||
| Bank and other cash balances | |||
| Petty Cash | 9 | 3 | |
| Nat West Bank No 1 Account | 30073 | 25028 | |
| NatWestBank No 2Account (CAP Debt Centre) | 2800 | 1358 | |
| Total | 32882 | 26389 | |
| Representing Balances on following funds | : | ||
| General Fund | 29828 | 24,856 | |
| Debt Centre | 2800 | 1,279 | |
| Confidential Fund | 254 | 254 | |
| Total | 32882 | 26,389 | |
| Assets held in trust by BUC 7 day notice deposit | 126,299 | 126,728 | |
| Account | |||
| Liabilities |
Total Liabilities
The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 1 & 2 relating to the year ending 31 March 2025 are as approved by the deacons.
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Page 2 of 5
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
1. Basis of accounts
These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.
2. Regular giving and other income
| 2. Regular giving and other income | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Gift Aided giving | 45676.00 | 40,018 |
| General Giving | 20240.25 | 18,189 |
| Other income [Overpayment refunds from SSE &Viking) | 7559.28 | |
| Total Regular Giving and OtherIncome | 73475.53 | 58,207 |
| 3. Donations & Legacies | ||
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Tear Fund | 650 | 700 |
| Bags for Cambodia | 142 | |
| Christmas Events | 937 | |
| Legacy | 2990 | |
| Sundry | 245 | |
| McMillan Coffee Morning | 224 | 156 |
| Samual Hughes | 2960 | |
| Total | 5016 | 3,988 |
| 4. Ministry | ||
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Salaries & N.I. | 37255 | 35,013 |
| Pension contribution | 4783 | 4,530 |
| Minister’s Expenses | 6 | 680 |
| Preaching Fees | 265 | |
| Manse costs | 7174 | 17,688 |
| Other ministry [detai/ifmaterial] | ||
| TotalMinistry | 49218 | 58,176 |
4. Ministry
The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by the church.
Page 3 of 5
5. Mission & Outreach
| 5. Mission & Outreach | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| YFC | 3160 | 660 |
| Operation Mobilisation (Samuel Hughes) | 600 | 600 |
| Go Cardless | 174 | 216 |
| Literature | ||
| Christianity Explored | ||
| Cap Debt Centre | 750 | 1159 |
| Youth | 547 | |
| Evangelistic Events | 903 | |
| Publicity | 108 | |
| Sundry | 105 | |
| Total Mission | 5587 | 3,395 |
| 6 Upkeep ofchurch premises |
||
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Lighting and heating | 11190 | 4,557 |
| Cleaning | 3019 | 3,301 |
| Insurance | 3238 | 3,164 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 25691 | 19,346 |
| Water | 847 | 264 |
| Other premises: insurance | 1207 | 1,141 |
| Equipment | 180 | |
| Sundry | 340 | |
| Total Upkeep ofchurch premises | 45712 | 31,773 |
| Notes. |
Repairs and maintenance included £22,368 of storm damage and wear & tear covered by the Insurance claim and from reserve funds held by BUC Heating Lighting over charged £7600 & refunded in August 2024
7 Administration
| 7 Administration |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Bank Charges | 558 | 461 |
| Book Keeping | 640 | 655 |
| Catering | 847 | 552 |
| Web Site | 421 | 246 |
| Miscellaneous | 89 | 35 |
| Stationery & Postage | 277 | 235 |
| Telephone & Broad Band | 1459 | 2,078 |
| Printing | 396 | |
| Licenses | 1758 | 1,336 |
| Photocopier | 892 | 946 |
| Sundries | 163 | |
| Wages | 8306 | 7507 |
| Equipment (Laptop) | 177 | |
| TotalAdmin&OfficeCosts | 15247 | 14,787 |
Page 4 of 5
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8 Gifts to Organizations
| 8 Gifts to Organizations |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
| Mc Millan Nurses | 156 | |
| Tear Fund | 650 | 700 |
| Embracing Age | 154 | |
| Samuel Hughes - Personal | 2960 | |
| Bags for Cambodia | 142 | |
| TotalGiftstoOrganisations | 3764 | 998 |
6. Assets Held for the Church’s own use
The church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held by the church's custodian trustee [the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd]:
- e Church premises at High Street, Newport valued in the accounts at £4,784,165 based on insured value e Church manse at Courtlands, 128 Medina Avenue purchased for £440,000 March 2023 e Shop Premises at 83-4 High Street, Newport valued in the accounts at £550,899 based on insured value e The church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment with an insured value of £216,060
Page 5 of 5
# CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent examiner's report on the (4%) | FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees
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Castlehold Baptist Church
On accounts for the year | 31st March 2025 ended Set out on pages |
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Charity no | 1133748
(if any)
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| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 03 / 2025.
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Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of repo accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act’).
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| report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any materiai respect:
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e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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e the accounts did 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.
| 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.
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Signed: | Zs srLia~ef | Date: | 2 )— 1-257
Name: | Ruth Witchard —
Relevant professional | MIAgSA
qualification(s) or body |
(if any):
1 Oct 2018
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IER
Address: | Eades Farm, Newbridge, Yarmouth IW PO41 OUA
Section B
| Disclosure 3
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Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the IYonge| - examiner wishes to disclose. |
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IER
2
Oct 2018