**BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 31 December 2025** **Charity Number: 1140327** **BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL** ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** |**Contents**|**Pages**| |---|---| |Reference and Administrative Information|1| |Trustees
Annual Report|2 to 5| |Report of the Independent Examiner|6| |Receipts and Payment Account|7| |Statement of Assets and Liabilities|8| |Notes to the Financial Statements|9| **BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL** ## **REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** ## **Status** The Church was created by Trust Deed on 18 December 1847, as an Independent Baptist Church. Previously an excepted charity, the Church was first registered with the Charity Commission in 2011 under the Charity number 1140327. Its constitution was adopted on 26 November 2010 and was most recently amended on 22 April 2016. ## **Trustees** During the reporting year, there were 5 Trustees: Pastor O Gross Mr J Norris Dr S Benham (Treasurer) Mr A Collins Mr J Martin (Secretary) Mr J Lamprecht (Appointed 23[rd] February 2026) **Principal Address** Buckingham Chapel, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1LQ ## **Web Address** https://buckinghamchapel.org.uk ## **Independent Examiner** Joshua Kingston, BSc (Hons) FCA Burton Sweet Limited The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR ## **Bankers** Charities Aid Foundation CAF Bank Ltd Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ 1 **BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL** **TRUSTEES** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Organisation** Trustees meetings are normally held monthly and Church members meetings are normally held quarterly. The church members meeting is the decision-making body for all aspects of financial expenditure and all appointments to positions of office in the Church. All organisational leaders are subject to the approval of a Church meeting. Anyone dealing with children is vetted to conform to our Safeguarding Policy. The Church and its safeguarding policy are registered with the DBS (disclosure and barring service). We recruit trustees from suitably qualified men within the membership of Buckingham Chapel, and submit these for approval by the membership. ## **Ministry Team** Rev. Oliver Gross is our Pastor and is our missionary POC until a missionary secretary is appointed. Mr John Norris is a fellow elder and the Sunday School Superintendent. Rev Adrian Carey-Jones works with Romanian Ministries and in Bristol leads our Romanian Gypsy Mrs Christine Lewis is leader of the Ladies meeting. Mrs Sandra Benham and Mrs Naomi Gross lead the Tiger Tots Ministry. Mr Julian and Mrs Alison Royle lead the outreach table ministry. Mr James Martin leads the Home Groups. ## **Church Membership** baptised by immersion professing repentance towards God and their life must bear evidence of the new birth. The membership at 31 December 2025 was 40 (41 in 2024), this included 5 associate members. These included 4 missionaries who were active on the mission field; 2 in Peru, 1 in South Wales and the other in Bristol. ## **Risk Assessment** The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to manage those risks. The review of the risk register is undertaken by the Trustees at appropriate times. This work is recognised as an on-going responsibility by the office bearers as managing Trustees. ## **Objectives and Activities** the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to Baptist principles and in accordance with the basis of faith as stated in our Statement of Faith. The charity may also carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world. ## **Mission** Buckingham Chapel exists for three purposes: 2 ## **BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL** ## **TRUSTEES** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** 1. To worship our Almighty Redeemer God: to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9) 2. To take the Good News of Salvation in and through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who do not believe both locally and worldcommand: - (Mark 16:15) 3. discipline, pastoral care, exercise of the ordinances of Baptism and Communion, prayer ons, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have ## **Public Benefit** The trustees have complied with their legal duty of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. The Church is satisfied that it has met the public benefit test through: 1. The availability of the church to any member of the public to attend worship services on each and every Sunday during 2025 as well as other services each week. 2. The preaching of the word of God each week to the saving of souls. 3. The distribution of evangelistic literature in the neighbourhood during the year. 4. The provision of a number of community activities during term time including: - a. Sunday School - b. Tiger Tots: carers and children playgroup - c. Lighthouse: Teens group - d. Ladies meetings - e. - f. Romanian Gypsy children outreach programme. This has involved the church in providing transport to bring around 15 children to the weekly Sunday School meeting; the provision of lunch following the Sunday School meeting and some social activities during the week. - g. Supporting Open Air Mission in the local city centre. 5. The maintenance of the church building as a Grade II listed building during the year. 6. The distribution of aid to Christians worldwide. 7. A free Christian literature table for passers-by and within the church. ## **Worship at Buckingham** The preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the exposition of the Word of God is central to all the preaching both at our Sunday services and Wednesday night meeting. The New King James Bible version is used and hymns are taken mainly from Christian Hymns and our internally produced Supplement. ## **Young People** Our Sunday School meets on a morning sharing the first part of the service with the Church before going to their classes. The young people meet regularly for both spiritual and social activities. 3 **BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL** ## **TRUSTEES** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** ## **Church Life** There are regular meetings of the Ladies on Tuesdays, Bible study and prayer meetings on Wednesdays breakfast meetings on occasional Saturdays. A prayer meeting/Home Group is also held on the first Friday of each month. The church continues to provide a childcare service to the local community: Tiger Tots. It meets on Friday morning from 10.00am till 11.30am during term time and provides a playgroup facility for children from birth to school age. In addition to play and craft activities the children also sing choruses, nursery rhymes and hear stories from the Bible. For teens, the church provides . Lighthouse meets every Friday at 5:45pm to 7:15pm during term-time. The activities include play and craft activities as well as Bible teaching. We have again had the privilege of having a number of students worshipping with us who have made Buckingham their spiritual home from home as well as an increasing number of international regular attendees. At Christmas we undertook a range of evangelistic activities including distribution of Christmas tracts and advertising of Christmas services. During the year we continued to provide prayer and financial support to missionary work in Peru, European Missionary Fellowship, Equipping Pastors Worldwide, Blythswood Trust, Open Air Mission, WEC work amongst Asians, Missionaries to the Philippines, Romanian Ministries, Middle East Reformed Fellowship and Evangelical Press Missionary Trust. ## **Reserves Policy** The Trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds ("the free reserves") held by the charity should be between 3 and 6 months of the annual payments, which equates to £29,429 to £58,859 in general funds. At this level, the Trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the organisation in the event of a significant drop in funding. It would obviously be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced or activities changed accordingly. At 31 December 2025, free reserves amounted to **£254,531,** which exceeded the target level. The excess funds will be used on future building projects which will be decided on in due course. ## **Grateful thanks and praise** have proved faithful both in their attendance and in their giving. We gave 12.5% of our weekly offerings and gifts not otherwise designated to the support of our missionaries and the European Missionary Fellowship _._ 4 ## **BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL** ## **T** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Board of Trustees on and signed on its behalf by: Mr. James Martin Secretary Dr. Simon Benham Treasurer 5 ## **BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** ## **Buckingham Baptist Chapel** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Buckingham Baptist Chapel (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2025. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Joshua Kingston, BSc (Hons) FCA Burton Sweet Limited The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton Bristol BS48 1UR 6 BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Unrestricted Restricted Totsl Funds Total Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024 RECEIPTS Voluntary Incom8 to further charitys obj8Ctives Offerings Legaci&s Donations and grfts Car Parking Church holiday Credits Income tax refunds 85.638 11.874 97.512 85.470 1,002 7,970 5,831 6,833 7,970 546 5,699 8.057 5.751 124 18.372 123.473 111.870 20,077 131.947 Inveslment income Bank interest Ltsan Inte￿$t Loan repayment 4,200 1,127 1,873 4,200 1,127 1,873 5,234 803 2.1 TOTAL RECEIPTS 119,070 20.077 139,147 131.7 PAYMENTS Costs of ¢harltable a¢tlvltle$ Peru gifts Rornanian mini511ie5 Missionaries Olh&r Grfls Churth pastor salary Visiting P￿a¢her$ Bank fees Property repairs Books. Bibles and Stationery Healing 2nd lighting Insurance Water and sewage Replatsmenl equipment New Equipment Servi￿5 Church Ref￿shMents Roma Refreshments Rorna Swimming Fknwers Advertssing L8gal, Architects, Engine8r8 fe&s and consulting Minibus Fuel Minibus &xp8n8es Manse repairs Churth Holiday Child￿n Work A¢livitie$ Music licence 13A04 13,404 12,757 625 14.124 1,708 30.707 3.290 60 14.892 712 31,554 4.025 60 1,947 346 6,151 7,953 620 3.852 268 12,094 472 337 135 186 387 S,S31 335 200 1,400 2,000 15.092 2,112 33,554 4.025 60 1,947 432 6,151 7,953 620 3.963 268 12,094 472 590 242 306 387 S,S31 984 86 2.785 8.787 7,675 647 4.148 522 12,037 625 554 314 354 330 825 1.133 3.746 253 107 120 1,611 240 1,046 1,851 1,046 3.093 387 116,S64 4.818 3.343 328 118,788 3.093 387 96,948 19,616 Governan¢e ¢osts Accountancy 1,152 1.152 1.074 TOTAL PAYMENTS 98,100 19.616 117,716 119.882 Transfers beiween funds NET RECEIPTSIIPAYMENTSI 20,970 461 21,431 11.844 BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 2025 2024 Fixed Assets Property, Improv8rnents & Fittings 275,381 275,381 275,381 275.381 Current Assets Current account Gold Account Deposit Iprepaymentl Church Holiday Loan 39.S74 218,078 22.282 213,939 500 34.793 271,514 32,923 290.57S Total Assets 565,956 546,395 Liabilities Othèr Creditors Accruals- Accountsncy Total Liabilities 1,266 1.266 1,152 1.152 CASH RESERVES Unre$trlctÈd fund$ Brought forward Nel receiplsllpaymentsl for the yesr 233,561 20,970 254,531 222.582 10,979 233.561 Re8tricted fund8 Brought fotward Net re¢eiplsllpaymentsl for the year 2,660 461 3.121 1.795 2.880 Totsl reserv 257.652 236.221 Signed on b8half of the trustses on .l5.June 2026 Mr J Martin Secretary Dr S P Benham TreaSu￿r BUCKINGHAM CHAPEL BRISTOL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS R01ated party transactions Oliver Gross, trustse received payments of £34,34412024.. £30,907) in respect of pastoral services. These payments a￿ permitted under the Charitys ¢onstilution. During the year five12024'. six) Irusle8s were reimbursed expenses amounting lo £4,93912024.. £5,129) in res￿Cl of Ir8v81 and meeting expenses and other charitable eXP8nses. There are no other related paty Irans8clions apart from those already disdo8ed.