REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1140734
Speen Baptist Church
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
Tobutt & Co 132 Northampton Lane North Moulton Northampton NN3 7QW
Speen Baptist Church
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 6 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 | to | 13 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 14 | to | 15 |
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
Speen Baptist Church
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st December 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. The objects are set out in the governing document mentioned below. In summary they are:
-
to provide a place of worship and
-
to give financial assistance to those in need.
The managing trustees have the authority to make decisions concerning financial donations up to £500. Anything above that amount must be ratified by the members.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
We continue to offer weekly worship services, prayer meetings, home groups, home visits and other aspects of a Christian community throughout the year. The church membership and visitors continue to meet regularly on Sundays and throughout the week. We have seen some new faces arrive, two baptisms, some old friends move on, and we worship God throughout.
Tiddlers and Toddlers goes from strength to strength with growing numbers of mums, dads, grandparents and carers enjoying this weekly activity as much as the children. The Memory Café, for those affected directly or indirectly by dementia, has grown in popularity and benefit to the local community in this complex area of life. Many ad hoc events were also hosted across the year, including visits by the local school, various hospitality events for all ages, and special worship services to mark significant dates in the Church calendar.
2025 saw Speen Church resurface a section of the car park and footpaths to aid accessibility for all. This was funded by donations from church attendees and generous grants from local and national organizations (Bucks Community Association, Central Baptist Association, Garfield Weston Foundation, Lacey Green Parish Council and Shanley Foundation) for which we are grateful. The safety and attractiveness of the church grounds were also enhanced by a substantial amount of tree surgery, mainly removing trees suffering from Ash Dieback. Approximately £40,000 was spent on these two projects to keep the church environment in good condition for the future.
In less structured ways the church fellowship continued to serve the local community, especially given cost-of-living pressures, the ongoing war in Ukraine and global instability. We continue to welcome Ukrainian refugees into the fellowship, as well as building relationships with other local people including refugees from other nations, those struggling to make ends meet and dealing with the health and relationship challenges of daily life. We also sustained our support for overseas mission charities in India and Ethiopia, relieving poverty and sharing the love of Jesus with many at home and overseas.
Financially we retain reasonable reserves at the year end and at the time of signing off these accounts.
We thank God for all of these things. Praise God for a blessed year, with much to look forward to.
Page 1
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
Speen Baptist Church
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial Review
The church received income for unrestricted use of £63,255 from various sources, with the largest share being regular donations from church attendees. We received £13,225 of donations and £19,750 of grants as restricted funds used on the car park resurfacing project. Finally, a total of £9,805 in interest was received, most of which is attributable to the Ethiopia restricted fund.
Unrestricted expenditure totalled £68,963 leaving a £5,708 deficit within the church funds for the year. Note that the unrestricted expenditure included the one-off costs of tree surgery and hedge planting of around £7,000. Normal monthly income now roughly matches our normal monthly expenses excluding this one-off item, hence giving comfort that the church can meet all financial obligations as they fall due in the future.
Expenditure included donations from the Ethiopia restricted funds of £5,682 sent to Ethiopia to support a rural church building project and some pastoral work by Ethiopian nationals. The building work has been completed despite ongoing political instability and we give thanks to God for this and for the courage of the people living and working in that unsettled region.
The policy on reserves is to aim to maintain at least 3 months of average normal expenses in net current assets. This objective was met throughout the year.
The public benefit objectives have been supported by the expenditure on serving the local community, making grants to Ethiopia and other charities, maintaining the church facilities and other general expenditure of the church. All of this supports our objectives of sharing the gospel of Jesus and putting it into practice amongst the local community, and further afield for the benefit of those in poverty and need.
FUTURE PLANS
The objective remains to continue providing the public benefits as set out in the summary of activities and financial review above.
The Chapel and Church Hall are in excellent condition and offer good facilities to the church and local community. Hospitality events, the Tiddlers and Toddlers group, Memory Café and our routine church activities will continue for the foreseeable future.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
Speen Church is an unincorporated charity governed by a constitution based on the Baptist Union guidance and adopted by the members. The existing members appoint managing trustees (see below) following the provisions set out in the above governing constitution. Significant decisions concerning Speen Church are debated by the managing trustees who then make a proposal to the membership, which is decided by a vote.
Public benefit
The church acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes that are for the public benefit. The activities set out above illustrate the public benefit provided this year.
Trustees (Deacons)
Baptist Union Corporation Limited is the custodian trustee for the properties. The trustees listed below are managing trustees.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1140734
Page 2
Speen Baptist Church
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
Principal address Chapel Hill Speen Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire HP27 0SP
Trustees Ms J E Hearn (resigned 27.3.25) S J C Booth J P H Entwisle Ms A L Wright Revd T R Deller Ms L J Pearce (appointed 27.3.25) Ms S Leach (appointed 27.3.25) Independent Examiner I A Tobutt FCCA Tobutt & Co 132 Northampton Lane North Moulton Northampton NN3 7QW Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
................................................................. J P H Entwisle - Trustee
Page 3
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Speen Baptist Church
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Speen Baptist Church
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Speen Baptist Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31st December 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
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:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
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 than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
I A Tobutt FCCA
Tobutt & Co 132 Northampton Lane North Moulton Northampton NN3 7QW Date: .............................................
Page 4
Speen Baptist Church
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities Grant income Cost of charitable activities Other trading activities 3 Investment income 4 Total EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 5 Charitable activities 6 Cost of charitable activities Total NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) Transfers between funds 13 Other recognised gains/(losses) Gains on revaluation of fixed assets Net movement in funds RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted fund £ 60,449 - - 2,504 302 63,255 10,037 58,926 68,963 (5,708) (2,210) 24,845 16,927 723,176 740,103 |
Restricted funds £ 13,225 - 19,750 - 9,503 42,478 35,185 5,682 40,867 1,611 2,210 49,496 53,317 1,957,913 2,011,230 |
2025 Total funds £ 73,674 - 19,750 2,504 9,805 105,733 45,222 64,608 109,830 (4,097) - 74,341 70,244 2,681,089 2,751,333 |
2024 Total funds £ 249,730 850 - 2,795 891 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254,266 | ||||
| 3,916 65,143 |
||||
| 69,059 | ||||
| 185,207 - 190,769 |
||||
| 375,976 2,305,113 |
||||
| 2,681,089 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Speen Baptist Church
Balance Sheet 31st December 2025
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 11 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 12 Cash at bank NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 13 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Unrestricted fund £ 711,639 10,693 17,771 28,464 28,464 740,103 740,103 |
Restricted funds £ 1,818,187 - 193,043 193,043 193,043 2,011,230 2,011,230 |
2025 Total funds £ 2,529,826 10,693 210,814 221,507 221,507 2,751,333 2,751,333 740,103 2,011,230 2,751,333 |
2024 Total funds £ 2,455,485 11,194 214,410 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225,604 | ||||
| 225,604 | ||||
| 2,681,089 | ||||
| 2,681,089 | ||||
| 723,176 1,957,913 |
||||
| 2,681,089 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. J P H Entwisle - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
Speen Baptist Church Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The trustees have reviewed and considered relevant information, including the annual budget and future cash flows in making their assessment. Based on these assessments, given the measures that could be undertaken to mitigate the current adverse conditions, and the current resources available, the trustees have concluded that they can continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are recognised at cost initially but annually revalued to their insured amount as this is deemed the most appropriate basis for valuing the assets.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
Page 7
continued...
Speen Baptist Church
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
| 2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Donations Gift aid Legacies Hall hire 3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES Social events Burial fees 4. INVESTMENT INCOME Interest 5. RAISING FUNDS Investment management costs Property repairs Maintenance charges Car park and path resurfacing 6. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Grant Direct funding of Costs activities £ £ Cost of charitable activities 61,773 2,093 |
|
|---|---|
Page 8
continued...
Speen Baptist Church
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
7. SUPPORT COSTS
| SUPPORT COSTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Governance | |||
| Finance | costs | Totals | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost of charitable activities | 142 | 600 | 742 |
8. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
During the year, Rev T Deller received remuneration of £30,000 (2024 - £29,000).
Trustees' expenses
During the year, members of the board of trustees - Ms J Pearce and Mr J Entwisle received reimbursement of £570.32 (2024 - £261.28) and £Nil (2024 - £4,255.16) respectively.
9. STAFF COSTS
| Wages and salaries Other pension costs |
2025 £ 30,000 3,774 33,774 |
2024 £ 29,000 3,689 |
|---|---|---|
| 32,689 |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
| Ministry team No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted fund £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 68,858 Charitable activities Grant income 850 Other trading activities 2,795 Investment income 12 Total 72,515 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 3,662 Charitable activities Cost of charitable activities 63,643 Total 67,305 |
2025 1 Restricted funds £ 180,872 - - 879 181,751 254 1,500 1,754 |
2024 1 Total funds £ 249,730 850 2,795 891 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254,266 | ||||
| 3,916 65,143 |
||||
| 69,059 |
10. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Page 9
continued...
Speen Baptist Church
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
| 10. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued Unrestricted Restricted fund funds £ £ NET INCOME 5,210 179,997 Transfers between funds 46,053 (46,053) Other recognised gains/(losses) Gains on revaluation of fixed assets 139,250 51,519 Net movement in funds 190,513 185,463 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 532,663 1,772,450 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 723,176 1,957,913 11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Fixtures Freehold Church and property Manse fittings £ £ £ COST OR VALUATION At 1st January 2025 1,768,691 623,874 62,920 Revaluations 49,496 23,084 1,761 At 31st December 2025 1,818,187 646,958 64,681 NET BOOK VALUE At 31st December 2025 1,818,187 646,958 64,681 At 31st December 2024 1,768,691 623,874 62,920 Cost or valuation at 31st December 2025 is represented by: Fixtures Freehold Church and property Manse fittings £ £ £ Valuation in 2020 33,503 12,894 - Valuation in 2021 149,538 32,420 8,077 Valuation in 2022 153,701 76,963 5,468 Valuation in 2023 41,869 12,790 1,489 Valuation in 2024 51,519 137,417 1,833 Valuation in 2025 49,496 23,084 1,761 Cost 1,338,561 351,390 46,053 1,818,187 646,958 64,681 |
Total funds £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| 185,207 - 190,769 |
||
| 375,976 2,305,113 |
||
| 2,681,089 | ||
| Totals £ 2,455,485 74,341 2,529,826 2,529,826 2,455,485 Totals £ 46,397 190,035 236,132 56,148 190,769 74,341 1,736,004 2,529,826 |
||
Page 10
continued...
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
Speen Baptist Church
12. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Other debtors 13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 1.1.25 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 723,176 Restricted funds Baptist Union Corporation 1,768,691 Ethiopia 189,222 Car park and path resurfacing - 1,957,913 TOTAL FUNDS 2,681,089 Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming resources £ Unrestricted funds General fund 63,255 Restricted funds Baptist Union Corporation - Ethiopia 9,503 Car park and path resurfacing 32,975 42,478 TOTAL FUNDS 105,733 |
Net movement in funds £ 19,137 49,496 3,821 (2,210) 51,107 70,244 Resources expended £ (68,963) - (5,682) (35,185) (40,867) (109,830) |
2025 £ 10,693 Transfers between funds £ (2,210) - - 2,210 2,210 - Gains and losses £ 24,845 49,496 - - 49,496 74,341 |
2024 £ 11,194 At 31.12.25 £ 740,103 1,818,187 193,043 - 2,011,230 2,751,333 Movement in funds £ 19,137 49,496 3,821 (2,210) 51,107 70,244 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 11
continued...
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
Speen Baptist Church
13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Baptist Union Corporation Ethiopia TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.1.24 £ 532,663 1,763,225 9,225 1,772,450 2,305,113 |
Net movement in funds £ 144,460 51,519 179,997 231,516 375,976 |
Transfers between funds £ 46,053 (46,053) - (46,053) - |
At 31.12.24 £ 723,176 1,768,691 189,222 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,957,913 | ||||
| 2,681,089 |
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Restoration Fund Baptist Union Corporation Ethiopia TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 72,515 254 - 181,497 181,751 254,266 |
Resources expended £ (67,305) (254) - (1,500) (1,754) (69,059) |
Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ 139,250 144,460 - - 51,519 51,519 - 179,997 51,519 231,516 190,769 375,976 |
Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ 139,250 144,460 - - 51,519 51,519 - 179,997 51,519 231,516 190,769 375,976 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 231,516 | ||||
| 375,976 |
14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable by the charity amounted to £3,774 (2024 - £3,689).
Page 12
continued...
Speen Baptist Church
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
15. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31st December 2025.
Page 13
Speen Baptist Church
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations Gift aid Legacies Hall hire Other trading activities Social events Burial fees Investment income Interest Charitable activities Grants Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Investment management costs Property repairs Maintenance charges Car park and path resurfacing Charitable activities Wages Pensions Rates and water Insurance Light and heat Telephone Postage and stationery Sundries Other costs Ethiopia donations Grants to individuals |
2025 £ 62,447 10,773 - 454 73,674 2,124 380 2,504 9,805 19,750 105,733 9,722 315 35,185 45,222 30,000 3,774 4,049 2,768 4,506 1,209 1,129 - 8,656 5,682 2,093 63,866 |
2024 £ 56,933 11,194 180,618 985 |
|---|---|---|
| 249,730 2,695 100 |
||
| 2,795 891 850 |
||
| 254,266 1,857 2,059 - |
||
| 3,916 29,000 3,689 2,951 2,789 4,799 1,216 908 424 16,585 500 1,500 |
||
| 64,361 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14
Speen Baptist Church
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31st December 2025
| Support costs Finance Bank charges Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees Total resources expended Net (expenditure)/income |
2025 £ 142 600 109,830 (4,097) |
2024 £ 222 560 |
|---|---|---|
| 69,059 | ||
| 185,207 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 15