Oundle Baptist Church
Accounts and Trustees Report
Year ended 31st December 2024

Introduction
Oundle Baptist Church is a registered charity. charity number 1134043 which, as stated in the Charities Act
2011, is not required to produce a full annual report, but must submit a Trustees Annual Report and
Accounts, the latter of which must be independently checked. The accounts have been compiled using the
cash accounting method and the information provided here is for general purposes only. The Trustees
Annual Report on the activities of the church fellowship in 2022 is incorporated into the body of this report.
The trustees of the church during this year have changed and the current detai15 are set out below.
Minister
The Rev Martin Hi115 was called to the pastorate in October 2016
The Trustees
The following trustees were in post at 31" December 2024
Rev Martin Hills (Minister)
David Gent as Secretary
Juliet Lamar as Treasurer
Jane McDonald
Served as trustee but retired on 161 November 2024 after competing 3 years of service
Michael Brookes
Robin Croxon
Church Office
The church office is located at I, St Osyth's Lane, Oundle PE8 48G in premises which were purchased to
serve as a community outreach centre, shared with the church office.
All correspondence from the charivs banks 15 currently addressed to the treasurer at I, St Osyth's Lane,
Oundle PE8 48G
Affiliatlon
The church is a full member of The Baptist Union of Great Britain and is also a member of the Evangelical
Alliance
Bankers
The church maintains two accounts with Santander plc, Bridle Road, Merseyside, L30 4GB and a deposit
account with the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway. Didcot, OXII 8RT

Independent Examiners
The church is required to have its accounts independently examined and for this purpose it has appointed
Mr Graham Darbourne of TC Group, The Old Town Hall, Market Place. Oundle, PE8 48A.
Reserves Policy
The trustees are aware that the income of the church is heavily dependent upon voluntary giving which can
be variable. The trustees continually monitor the level of giving and expenditure and seek to try to maintain
resenies that would equate to approximately two months of known expenditure. The resenies at the end of
2024 are in excess of the amount but the trLtstees consider it prudent to maintain reserves at a higher level
as the regular income of the church is heavily dependent on members who are over 70 years of age
Mission statement
The mission statement of the church is-
Connecting to: Jesus
Each other
Our communities

Overvlew of the year
In the year 2024, the church continued meeting in-person as well as providing an online option through
Zoom to allow the inclusion of not only church family who were unwell or preferred not to mix with others,
but also individuals who had become part of the congregation online. We are grateful to our minister and
members and friends who have provided technical support as well as participating in the services. The
church also has a very active pastoral care team who assisted the minister in offering and providing pastoral
support as needs arose.
Outside of Sunday worship service, OBC continued to offer many opportunities for engagement, corporate
prayer, and Bible study as well as outreach to the greater Oundle community.
- The small-group network in the church called 'Connect Groups, continued to meet weekly either online via
zoom and/or in-person for Bible study and prayer support.
In 2024 the monthly 'Beathing Space. event held at Oundle Methodist Church came to an end and we are
looking at new ways to involve the church family in prayer and reflection.
Engage, a twice monthly youth club, continued to run on Friday evenings at Oundle Methodist. We have
seen numbers grow from 2 to 14 young people in the year.
Stitchat, a twice monthly sewing and social gathering, continued to run on Mondays at OBCS No.1 facility.
A Jigsaw exchange club was also piloted at No.1 during 2024 alongside Stitchat but low levels of support
saw the pilot come to an end.
Between January and March we ran a 'Bereavement Journey Group. with 12 participants. The group was
held at St Peter's Church and was run in conjunction with a team from St Peters.
- Walk Through the Bible. a two-day exploration course, was hosted by OBC in mid-march at Oundle Primary
School, providing an engaging and fun overview of the Old Testament and was followed by a shared meal
and evening entertainment.
Our voluntary Children and Families worker, appointed in 2020, continued to be active in the community,
hosting a weekly 'tots' group and term time after school clubs in both Laxton Junior School 'Quest Club, and
Oundle Primary School 'Bible Heroes,. She was also heavily involved in the provision of activities for the
children attending the church seniices week by week.
Our Ukrainian outreach effort, started in 2022, continued to provide support and encouragement to a large
group of refugees and their sponsor families. As the year progressed it became obvious that the drop-in
facility and immediate support needs had changed and the group disbanded but online support is still
available as needed.
In-person church members, meetings were held every bi-monthly in 20243, primarily at the Oundle
Methodist Church and occasionally immediately following the Sunday worship Service, to address matters
arising and enable in-person voting in accordance with Baptist Union regulations. Leadership team meetings
were held on second Tuesday evenings at No.1 and occasionally on Saturdays to provide longer focus days.
th
The leaders (trustees) also held a prayer meeting for an hour each week on the 1st , 3rd , and 4 Tuesdays,
with the meeting on the 1st also open to the church family.

Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Oundle Baptist Church
I report on the accounts of Oundle Baptist Church, charity number 1134043, for the year ended 31
December 2024.
Res
ective res
onsibilities of trustees and examiner
The Charitys Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charit¢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.
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission {under
section 145151(bl of the Charities Act); and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basls of Independent examlnerfs report
My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with the 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 you as 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 examinerfs statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
11) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the Trustees have not met
the requirements to ensure that:
proper accounting records are kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act. and
accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting
requirements of the Charities Act: or
{21 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts to be reached.
Graham Darbourne
TC Group
The Old Town Hall, Market Place, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4BA
Date: .

Statement of Financial Activities
Year to 31st December 2024
Unre5trirted
funds
Designated
funds
Total Funds
2024
Total Funds
2023
Income
Incoming resources from
generated funds (Note l)
Donations and legacies (Note 1,3)
3,500
80,760
87,404
97,030
Gift Aid (Note 1,31
Other income
Total incoming resources
13,104
1.727
95,591
277
13,381
1,727
102,512
11,937
780
113,247
6.921
Expenditure
Ministry (Note 4)
No I building (Note 9)
Administration (Note 8)
Other Ministries (Note 7)
49,076
5.102
20.844
3,784
49,076
5,102
20,844
3,784
45,056
6.319
17,017
2,001
Worship (Note 5)
Giving To Others (Note 61
Disaster Fund {Notes l & 10)
Fellowship Fund (Notes l & 11)
Buildings Fund {Notes l & 12)
No. l Roof Fund (Notes 1 &12)
Ukrainian Refugee Fund (Notes I
&14)
Equipment Fund (Notes 1&14)
Agency Fund (Notes 1 & 15)
Total expendlture
9,048
10,438
9,048
10.438
I,￿0
1,593
8,695
7,801
9,107
1,250
2,400
5,540
28,332
3,735
1,593
8,695
299
299
8,345
2.350
22.282
8,345
2,350
120.573
98.292
128,558
Net income / expenditure
{2.701)
(15,361}
(18.061)
{15,311)
Transfers between funds
General fund (note 14)
Disasters Fund
Ukraine Fund
Equipment Fund
Net Movement in Funds
I9.0￿}
19,0001
4,589
14,589)
4.589
14,589)
(9,000)
Net Income After Transfer
Total funds brought forward
(11,701)
685.067
16.361)
20,036
{18,061)
705,104
(15,3111
720,415
Total funds carried forward
673.336
13,676
687.042
705,104.

Balance Sheet
2024
2023
Fixed Assets
Notes
7 Wentworth Drive
I St Osyth's Lane
Total Fixed Assets
340.000 340,￿0
280,000 280,000
620,000 620,000
Current Assets
Santander current a/c
Santander savings alc
BU Deposit a/c I
BU Oeposit a/c 2
BU Deposit 3mth
Cash
Total Current assets
2,340
42,287
30,055
33,832
10,547
10,548
22,367
48
122
85104
Net Current Assets
67.042
85,104
TOTAL ASSETS
687.042 705.104
Represented by
Unrestricted
General Fund
Designated
Building
Disasters
Equipment Fund
Fellowship Fund
Restricted
Ukrainian Refugees
Agency Fund
TOTAL
These accounts have been approved by the Trustees
673,366 685,067
2,392
6,001
1,655
3.371
11,087
654
3,408
4,888
257
687,042
705104
Rev. Martin Hills
Minister and Trustee
Date:
Ms Juliet Lamar
Treasurer and Trustee

Fund Balances
Opening
Incoming Outgoing Transfers Gains/losses
Closlng
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund
Sub-totsl for Unrestricted Funds
685.067
685.067
95,591
95.591
98,292
98.292
(9,0001
(9,(100)
(11,701)
(11,701)
673,366
673,366
Designated and Restricted funds
Bui Iding
Oisasters Fund
Fellowship Fund
Ukrainian Refugees
Equipment Fund
Agency Fund
Sub-total designated and restrirted
funds
11,087
654
3,408
4,888
8,695
1,000
1,593
299
8345
2,350
22,282
(8,6951
5,348
(371
(4,888)
1,655
256
(6.361)
2,392
6,001
3,371
1,758
1,556
4,589
(4,589)
1655
256
13,676
2,606
6,920
20,037
TOTAL ALL
705,104
102,512
120.574
(18.062)
687,042

Report and notes to the Accounts
l. Accounting Policie5
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charity SORP (FRS102) and the Charities Acts of
1993 and 2011. They have been based on a historic cost convention.
Incoming and outgoing resources have been recorded on a receipts and payments basis as at 31, December
2024.
The general fund operates to receive the general donations to the church and to meet the normal running
expenses.
There are a number of designated funds as follows:
Dlsaster Fund- this fund enables the church to make a rapid response to provide financial support
in cases of national and international emergencies.
Fellowship Fund- this fund has been available for a number of years to allow the Minister to
provide funds to individuals for urgent needs within the wider church familv.
Building Fund- This fund is available to meet the costs of work on the two buildings owned by the
church
Ukrainian Refugee Fund-Thi5 fund was established to help finance support work for Ukrainian
refugees who had settled in the area. That work has now been concluded and the church members
agreed at a meeting on 17 November 2024 that the balance of funds should be transferred to the
Disaster Fund to enable the church to respond to other situations.
Equipment Fund- it was agreed that fund5 should be made available to fund the purchase of new
sound equipment to enhance the worship at Oundle Primary School and the trustees therefore set
aside £9,000 from the surplus accruing in 2023 for that purpose. In addition to the purchase of
sound equipment the fund has also been used to purchase a new printer for the church office.
Agency Fund- from time to time members make donations to the church which are to be passed
on to other charities. These pass into a re5trirted fund in accordance with HMRC guidance on Gift
Aid. Where appropriate Gift Aid or GASDS is claimed on the donation and this is also passed on to
the recipient charity.
2. Property
The church owns two properties- the manse at 7 Wentworth Drive and the community building at No I St
Osyths Lane. These are both shown in the accounts at historical cost.
3. Donations
The church is entirely dependent on voluntary giving to fund its activities. It receives no funding from any
external source. A number of members make regular payments by standing order and the Trustees are
grateful to them for enabling a core of funding to be available. Many of the regular donors are taxpayers
and the church is able to recover tax under the Gift Aid scheme.
Additional funds come from ad hoc donations from members arid friends of the church and congregation
and from the cash offering that is taken up as a part of weekly worship. A card machine was purchased in
this year and this enables contactless payments to be made at Sunday seriice5 and other gatherings. The

Government's Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme IGASDS) has enabled a further sum to be received in respect
of both the cash offerings and contactless payments of £30 or less.
The trustees are aware that many of the regular donors are aged over 70 and future income is by no means
certain. The trustees are aware that new younger givers will be required by the church to secure financial
security.
4. Ministry
Rev Martin Hills who was appointed to the ministry of the church in 2016 has continued to lead the church.
and the trustees are grateful for his leadership and for the development of the vision of the church during
the year. The Trustees also wish to express their thanks to his wife. Carita, for her support of Martin.
The employerfs NIC payments have been covered by the government's Employment Allowance.
The church continues to pay pension contributions into the defined contributions scheme with The Baptist
Union Pension Fund in respect of Martin, and he also makes contributions each month.
The church provides the Minister with funds to make payments to those who may be in need from the
Fellowship Fund.
The church is responsible for the council tax, water rates and building insurance on the manse. During the
work further work was done at the manse and this has been dealt with through the Buildings Fund (see note
12)
The expenditure under this head comprised the following:
Ministry Expenditure
2024
2023
Employment Costs comprising:
Salary
Employer's pension cost
Expenses
Manse expenditure
Training and conferences
Other expenses
MINISTER COST
37.182
4,479
1,349
4,434
1,032
600
34,364
3,991
4,424
425
1,851
45,055
49.076
5. Worship and teaching
Being able to meet together for regular worship is an essential part of being a church and is a key part of our
mission statement in enabling us to connect to each other and to Jesus. We meet each week at Oundle
Primary School and we are grateful to the Head Teacher for making this facility available. Services are mainly
conducted by our minister, but other members have been encouraged to take serlices. The services are
usually aimed at all ages but separate activities are held for children on a regular basis.
Sunday worship is in person and also available online through Zoom.
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Times of prayer are held before the service each Sunday. With few exceptions, we have been able to have a
social time over coffee/tea, usually before the service. Once a month we also have 'soup Sunday, whereby
we share some home-made soups and bread to fellowship together.
It is necessary to set up the hall before the service and set down aftenKards. We are very grateful for the
people who do this.
For some time we have encountered problems in making the PA and av system in the hall work
satisfactorily. A decision was taken at the start of the year to make funds available to purchase the
equipment necessary to resolve the problems and this has now been done (Note 14). We are grateful to the
Small team that has put this equipment together and to those who run it each week.
Most members of the church family also meet in 'connect groups. during the week for study, prayer and
social times
The main areas of expenditure under this heading were as follows:
Worship and Teaching Expenditure
2024
2023
Premises hire
6,449
687
4964
Events
821
Equipment
Licences
180
424
840
874
Refreshments
467
450
Resources
425
268
TOTAL
7801
6. Giving to Others
The church is part of the Baptist family and provide5 SUPPOrt to the two main mi55ion works of UK Baptists
at home and overseas.
The church is helping to support The Souster Trust who reach out to young people locally and at school.
The church has continued to provide regular financial support to Bethany Children's Trust for its work in
Africa.
The church continues to support the work of the Leprosy Mission of which one of our members is the UK
director.
Support was also given to a charity in Myanmar.
In addition to the sums budgeted for giving in 2024 the church made additional payments to the charities to
make up for the shortfall in payments in 2023.
li

Giving to Others
2024
2023
Baptist World Mission
Baptist Home Mission
The Souster Trust
2,530
2.630
740
1500
3600
601
Bethany Childrens, Trust
Myanmar
Leprosy Mission
TOTAL
1,484
1,570
1,484
10,438
1023
1360
1023
9107
7. Other Ministries lincluding children and young people)
Mr5 Carita Hills, our unpaid families and childrens, worker, has been building up contacts with children and
families connected with the church and has started a number of initiatives. A thriving Tots group has
expanded on Tuesday mornings. Carita is now engaged with two after-schools clubs each week.
During the year, a monthly event called Explore was held on Sunday mornings in the school gim. This has
now been discontinued. A family Nativity ser4ice was well attended and over 40 Ad vent calendar5 were
distributed to families in December.
A youth group called 'Equip' meets regularly at No l on a Tuesday evening for study and discussion.ln
addition a fortnightly youth club-'Engage' runs at the Methodist Church premises. Attendances at this
event aimed at those in secondary school have been encouraging.
Under the heading of other ministries, we have included pastoral care which is offered to the attendees and
their families of the church as well as to the wider community when needed.
Other Ministries
2024
2023
Youth expenses
Families and Childrens, work
1,194
2,300
290
276
1,458
168
Pastoral ministry
TOTAL
3.784
1,902
8. Church adrninistration
Mrs Judith Brashaw has continued to act as church administrator and manager of No I during the year. The
Trustees are very grateful to her for all her work and in particular for the assistance she has given to Rev
Martin Hills.
A number of members are involved in producing a range of communications though our website, social
media and two publications. The Trustees are grateful for all their labours.
During the year the contract for our photocopier was terminated with some additional termination costs
and a new printer was purchased (see note 14)
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The church continued to rent a storage container during the year but notice has now been given to
terminate this rental.
Administration
2024
2023
Administration and finance software
1,278
8,950
3,275
921
Administrator's S313ry
Computer support
Equipment
Insurance
6,208
3,174
21
1,534
414
1,451
1,032
615
Subscriptions
Telephone
Professional Fees
661
582
558
Printing & Stationery
Rent
2.695
1.354
1,870
948
Training
TOTAL
219
20,843
16,895
9. No l Building
No.1 St Osyths Lane provides accommodation for a nurnber of activities of the church and for the
community projects as well as providing counselling and office accornmodation.
No.1 Building expenses
2024
2023
Utilities
2,830
870
3,103
867
Cleaning
Repairs
Sundries
1,145
2,349
TOTAL
5.029
6,319
10. Disaster Fund
Thi5 fund exists to enable a rapid response to be made by the church to financial needs arising from major
disasters. Members are then encouraged to top up the fund with donations. Wherever possible donations
are routed via recognised aid agencies. During the year donations were made in reaction to worldwide
disasters through the following agencies.
Recipient
For the One
Cause
2024
Myanmar disater
Nepal landslide
£500
Leprosy Mission
TOTAL
£500
£1,000
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At a church members, meeting on 17 November 2024 it was agreed that the funds remaining in the Ukraine
Wraparound project should be transferred to the Disasters Fund.
11. Fellowship Fund
The fellowship Fund has been in existence for many years to provide funds for the minister to help those in
the fellowship, or further afield, when in need. Payments are made at the discretion of the Minister and
Trustees.
12. Buildings Fund
The Buildings Fund exists to provide funds for SiEnificant building work at the two properties owned by the
church. During 2024 the boiler at the manse was replaced at a cost of £3,640 and substantial decking work
costing £4,572 was done to improve access to the property for the Ministerfs disabled son. Electrical work at
No I cost £482
13. Ukraine Wraparound Support Fund
Immediately after the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the church began a project to provide support for
Ukrainian refugees who had come to the town and surrounding villages. This has proved to be very
successful and a number of families have been helped. Weekly gatherings of the refugees and their hosts
were held but these stopped in 2023. During 2024 help has been provided in one situation and those
involved in the project felt that the time had come for the project to be closed down. The project still had
funds of £4,589.50 and the church agreed at a member5, Meeting on 17 November 2024 that these funds
should be transferred into the Disasters Fund so that they could continue to be available to meet urgent
situations where relied was needed.
14. Equipment Fund
For some time the worship experience at Oundle Primary School has been hampered by a lack of adequate
sound and AV equipment. Early in 2024 it was decided to use some of the surplus obtained in 2023 to fund
the purchase of equipment that would remove the problems that had been encountered. The sum of
£9,0(￿ was set aside for this purpose. A small team has researched and resourced the acquisition of the
equipment and we are grateful to them for their patient work. The new system is now running and the
congregation has noticed the improvement. In total, £7,250 has been spent on this equipment.
Also during the year, it became clear that the deal the church had with DEOS Group for the supply of a
photocopier was no longer economic. Following advice from OC5 {UK) Ltd our computer advisers, a high
quality printer was purchased at a cost of £1,094.34 and this has also been charged to this fund.
15. Agenry Fund
For many years the church has operated a restricted fund, known as the Agency Fund through which
members can make donations to other charities. This is a restricted fund and operates in accordance with
the guidance produced by HMRC and so gift aid can be claimed where appropriate and that gift aid is also
passed on to the relevant charity. At the end of the year there was an item which had still to be paid over
and so this fund appear5 in the accounts.
14

16. Reserves
At 31 December 2024 the total current assets of the church amounted to £67,042 of which £13,676
represents designated and restricted funds. The balance available for the general fund is £53,366 which is
higher than would be nece55ary to meet the reserves policy. The trustees consider it prudent to hold this
level of reserves as there is continued con￿rn as to future levels of income give the age profile of the
church.
15