Docusign Envelope ID: C029B9F6-4410-8BAC-812E-53AC11DE3137
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Life Community Baptist Church
Report and Accounts
year ended 30 September 2025
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Docusign Envelope ID: C029B9F6-4410-8BAC-812E-53AC11DE3137
LIFE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 10 Willow Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 4UN GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO registration December 2014 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1159548 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Rev. Peter Dibdin MANAGING THE CHARITY Sarah Hill (Secretary) Julie Capas (Treasurer) Maureen Coleman Patrick Hill CUSTODIAN TRUSTEES The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd BANKERS CAF Bank Lloyds Bank Baptists Together Deposit Account INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8-9 Notes to the Accounts
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Docusign Envelope ID: C029B9F6-4410-8BAC-812E-53AC11DE3137
LIFE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Objects of the Charity
The charity, which is a church, is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The principal objectives, as set out in its governing document, are the advancement of the Christian faith and education at home and overseas.
Review of Activities
We continue to meet for two Sunday morning services a month, giving space on other Sundays for our monthly meal and Life in the Community Sunday. We have two Life Groups and a Discipleship Group. These small groups help us journey together and grow to become more like Christ, as we explore the Bible, 2023 has continued and our children enjoy this group very much. Branch 217 meets at the Manse on the 2nd Sunday offering a different style of church specifically focusing on helping children through encountering God, nurturing and supporting each other to grow in faith, and helping all of us to make a difference.
Following a couple of years where we were meeting at a town centre café for monthly table talk conversations, in March we have been meeting at the Manse with opportunities to engage with our community through activities such as litter picking in local streets and preparing Easter eggs with tracts for residents at Horsham YMCA. Pete, our minister, continues to hold down two jobs with his role of Development Co-Ordinator for Horsham Churches Together which enables him to maintain regular contact with the local council, churches, charities, and community organisations.
Within his church role, Pete has also led prayers at Council meetings, co-led a carol singing lantern parade through the town centre, represented the church in the Carfax on Remembrance Day and regularly attends a lunchtime meeting of local church leaders.
LIFE has good working relationships with both Brighton Road Baptist Church and Trafalgar Road Baptist Church. Under the banner of Horsham Baptists Together, we met in March 2025 for a joint service, led by ministers and musicians from each of the three churches. We were also blessed to be joined by Rev Joth Hunt, Team Leader for the South Eastern Baptist Association. Over the summer, the Horsham Baptists Together also hosted a picnic in Horsham Park.
Anna Pisani also works for Horsham Churches Together as the administrator, producing the weekly HCT Notices and heading up the contact point at HCT events.
In December 2024, LIFE led carol singing with the members of the Phoenix Stroke Club, whose building we hire on a Sunday morning. We also led an evening of carol singing at a local retirement home, which we have done for many years.
Within his HCT role, our minister has organised churches together events including prayer meetings, Carols in the Carfax with the Slinfold Concert Band, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a performance of the Funday Sunday.
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In March 2025, SEBA launched Partners in Mission - a new mission strategy for encouraging and enabling churches across the association to partner together in the mission of God. Our regional minister, Rev Andy Twilley has been working with the trustees throughout 2025, with conversations around mission and Mission Growth Grant that LIFE has received in previous years, and we are encouraged that SEBA have leading in sharing the love of Jesus with our community and on our frontlines. We are planning to refresh our mission and vision statements, organise missional training, explore new ways of reaching out into the community and updating the church website to help welcome people into our church. We are also joining a local Small Church Connexion group.
In 2022, LIFE was awarded the Bronze Eco Church Award from A Rocha UK, reflecting our commitment to caring for creation. Over the year, we have run litter picking walks, engaged in river water quality testing, enjoyed food from the Horsham Community Fridge, and collected recycling at the Phoenix. We are also members of Horsham Eco Churches, who actively take part in the monthly Sussex Green Hub run by Sussex Green Living. For the first time, the Hub included a reflective prayer service as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January. Looking ahead, we will be working towards our Silver Award using the updated Eco Church Survey from A Rocha UK.
This year, LIFE has given 5% of general income to Baptist Home Mission, which funds the national resource, regional associations, and churches like us, who receive financial support to help them bring the love of Jesus into their community. Each year, we also choose a local charity or charities to support, as a way of Roffey Place, helping people on their journey out of homelessness. We also donated £250 to the Horsham Refugee Support Group, enabling them to offer a warm welcome to refugees and asylum seekers fleeing conflict and injustice.
The number of Church members throughout the year has remained at 29 with one resignation and one new member over the last year. We also have several non-members who regularly attend our Sunday gatherings and small groups.
In planning the activities, the trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial Review
During the year, income decreased by £88 to £49,730 and expenditure decreased by £570 to £49,643. As a result, the cash held by the charity increased by £88 to £26,070.
This year, we applied for the new Partners in Mission Grant from the South Eastern Baptist Association stipend), which will be reducing to 15% for 2027 and 5% for 2028.
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Reserves Policy
The trustees determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £22,000 (which equates to about 6 months of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and/or expenditure vary adversely. At year end, the charity held unrestricted funds of £26,070 and is complying with its reserves policy.
Governance
The Church is governed by a leadership team (all trustees) who currently meet once a month to set policy and review the activities of the Church.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
____ Rev. Peter Dibdin
18/05/2026 Date:_____
Leadership Team/Trustees
Rev. Pete Dibdin (minister) Julie Capas (Treasurer) Maureen Coleman Patrick Hill Sarah Hill (Secretary)
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
LIFE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Life Community Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 30 September 2025 on pages 5 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with
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 2011 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:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Richard Smart
120 Bohemia Road St Leonards on Sea East Sussex TN37 6RP
Date: 18/05/2026
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LIFE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts SEBA Growth Grant BU Savings Acc Interest Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 37,431 0 8,372 0 3,401 0 527 0 49,730 0 47,241 0 2,402 0 49,643 0 88 0 0 0 88 0 25,982 0 26,070 0 Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Total 2025 £ 37,431 8,372 3,401 527 49,730 47,241 2,402 49,643 88 0 88 25,982 26,070 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds £ 37,431 8,372 3,401 527 49,730 47,241 2,402 49,643 88 0 88 25,982 26,070 |
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| 36,325 7,864 4,953 678 |
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| 49,819 47,622 2,590 |
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| 50,212 442 0 |
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| 442 25,540 |
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| 25,982 |
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
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Docusign Envelope ID: C029B9F6-4410-8BAC-812E-53AC11DE3137
LIFE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| A Cash funds Held at banks (CAF and Lloyds) Notice deposits B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Tenancy deposit C Liabilities Falling due within one year: Fee for Independent Examination Total D Assets retained for charity's own use Equipment |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 9,817 0 16,252 0 26,070 0 4,642 0 1,792 0 6,434 0 350 0 350 0 Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Total 2025 £ 9,817 16,252 26,070 4,642 1,792 6,434 350 350 2025 value £ 11,000 11,000 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 9,817 16,252 26,070 4,642 1,792 6,434 350 350 |
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| 10,256 15,725 |
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| 25,982 4,297 1,792 |
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| 6,088 696 |
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| 696 2024 value £ |
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| 11,000 | |||||
| 11,000 |
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by date 18/05/2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------Rev. Peter Dibdin
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
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Docusign Envelope ID: C029B9F6-4410-8BAC-812E-53AC11DE3137
LIFE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Ministry: Stipend Employer Pension Accommodation costs (Rent/Council Tax/Water) Ministerial Expenses Telephone Hire of hall Visiting Preacher Fees Catering Support and Administration: Mission, Youth, Training Office expenses (Zoom subscription) Insurance, licenses and other fees Independent examination SEBA Subscription/Training Baptist Union Subscription Other costs (gifts and bank charges) 3 Grants and gifts paid to others Organisations: SEBA Home Mission Fund Horsham Churches Together Local Charities Other organisations (less than £500) Individuals: |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Total 2025 £ 14,666 1,853 24,912 631 444 2,220 0 0 50 556 887 750 30 157 85 47,241 1,680 192 500 30 0 2,402 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 14,666 1,853 24,912 631 444 2,220 0 0 50 556 887 750 30 157 85 47,241 1,680 192 500 30 0 2,402 |
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| 15,738 2,091 23,498 423 441 2,243 80 51 275 156 1,043 696 28 160 60 |
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| 46,981 1,680 186 500 30 0 |
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| 2,396 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: C029B9F6-4410-8BAC-812E-53AC11DE3137
LIFE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
4 Transactions with related parties
Peter Dibdin served as a church leader and received gross pay of £14,666 [2024: £15,738] for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee. These payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
In addition the charity incurred expenditure totalling £24,912 [2024: £23,498] in respect of the provision of accommodation (which is customary for ministers) for Peter Dibdin, a trustee, so that they could better perform their duties.
No other trustee received any payment of expenses other than reimbursement of expenditure incurred by them on behalf of the church.
| 5 Movement of funds General funds Total funds |
Balance at 30Sep2024 £ 25,982 25,982 25,982 |
Receipts £ 49,730 49,730 49,730 |
Payments £ -49,643 -49,643 -49,643 |
Transfers £ 0 0 |
Balance at 30Sep2025 £ 26,070 26,070 26,070 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 The Baptist Pension Scheme
In July 2022 the Baptist Pension Scheme reached an agreement with an insurance company, called Just, to secure the benefits payable under the now closed funding deficit, however a nominal monthly contribution of £1 to the DB Scheme was taken from August 2022. In November 2024, the Baptist Pension Scheme announced that the defined contributions buy out was complete and the scheme had a surplus. The £1 per month contribution to the plan therefore ceased after the October 2024 contribution.
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