Charity Registration numbw: 1160436
ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

STTHOMAS BAvnsT CHURCH
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
CONTENTS
Page
Legal and Administrative Infomation
Trustees. Annual fteport
Independent Ex8minAWs Report
Receipt) and Payments Accounts
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
10
Notes to the Accounts
11-1d

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTrATIVE INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
CHARITY NAME
St Thomas Baptist Church
CONSTrruTION
The Church is part of the Baptist Union and its
constitution follows their guidelines as laid down
in the Baptist Trusts for Churches 2003.
PASTOR
Mr Stephen Cousley
TRUSTEES
E Bailey
P Evans- Secretsry
R Turner- Treasurer
G Curran
W Mckenna
A Daniel
J Bennett
S Shortman
T Darby-clark
Iresigned 25 June 2024)
(appointed 1 October 2024)
(appolnted 1 October 2024)
lappointed a March 202d and
reslgned MarGh 20251
ADDRESS
St Thomas Bapiist ChurGh
Dorsot Avenue
Exeter
EX41LZ
GHARrrY NUMBER
1160436
BANKERS
CAF Bank Limited
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
MEl9￿a
INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER Mrs S Truran FCCA FCA
Streets Bush Limited
Chartered Accountants
2 Bamfield Crescent
Exeier
EX1 1QT

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES. REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Trustees. present their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31
December 2024.
The flnancial statements have been PrePa￿d in accordance with the accounting policies set out
on page 11 and complywith the Church constitution.the Charities Act 2011 and the requirements
of the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charit18s" Financlal
Reporting Standard 102 {FRS 1021.
Objectiv85 and Activity
St Thomas Baptist Church is a charity whose Principal purpose is the advancement of the
Chrislian faith. This can be done in a number of ways including the church demonstrating love
and concern for our members and friends, but also for the community around us. We provide
public benefit to the local community in this way through our local outreach activities, allowing
the community to interact with us. We also provide support for those who gather with us and
who are included in our fellowship.
As a church. we are thankful to the Lord for hls faithfulness and providence as we continue to
grow in number and sustain a fellowship. We hold close to our mission statement to -know
Christ and make him known" in and around our local community.
We are incredibly blp.q.qed to have our pastor Stephen Cousley leading the church and formally
give him all our thanks for his dedicatlon and humble service. He is ably supported by Joanna
and tlie family and we are thankful for the whole family for everything they do. Stephen has
continued as our sole pastor. working tirelessly in his preaching. pastoral care for ourfellowship
and outreach to members of the community. We hope to find an assistant pastorto help support
and share the physical and emotional workload that being a paator brings.
2024 has been a year of new lifc, growth and chango. We waro dglighted that Hannah and Caleb
went through the waters of baptism as we celebrated this new birth and declaration of failh. We
now have a number of new families, parents and babies in our congregation. This has truly made
St Thomas Baptist a multi-generational church as we discover the meaning of being a church
family who unconditionally love and care for one another.
We are grateful to all the deacons within the leadership team for their support and taithful
attendance during the year. Gary Curran and Tom Darby-clark were elected at ourAGM in March
and later in the year we welcomed the appointmerrts of Samuel Shortman and John Bennett.
With Alan Collins stepping down atthe end of 2023. we were incredibly grateful to Richard Turner
for taking on the role of church treasurer despite busy family Circumstances and the arrival of
their second child. Richard's appointment as treasurer was intended to be on a short-term basis
as we aim to appoint a new treasurer in 2025. He is well supported by a fantastic treasury team
who all volunteer their time and work diligently to ensure our accounts remain complete and
transparent. We want to place on record our thanks to all our leadership team who give their
time and energy to keep the church running.
As well as changes to our leadership. we have increased the number of employed staff to five.
At the beginning of the year we welcomed Anntrmarie Immanuel to share the Families. Children

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES" REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
and Youth Coordinator IFCYC) job role with Becty Shotter. Later in the year, Matthew Blaylock
was appointed as fixed maternity cover for the Church Operations Manager. Hannah Torpey
Blaylock and Becky Shotter went on maternity leave from their respective roles. We pray for
them and their new children and look fO￿ard to welcoming them both back later in 2025. We
are immensely grateful to all our employed staff and for everything they do in supporting the
church.
We are delighted to send out people from St Thomas Baptist Church to seNe elsewhere in the
world. Most recently. Alan Collins started at Moor College in Sydney, Australia at the beginning
of 2024 as he started his pastoral studies. Amy Cousley completed her intern role at Grace Church
in Bath in August. We continueto supportthem in prayer as a congregation and thankthose who
voluntarily give financially.
During 2024 we had two baptisms and one wedding. At the end of 2024, we had 77 members
and we expect to see further new members next year as more people start to attend the church.
We continue to prayerfully consider the possibility of a saarch for an AssistantlAssociate Pastor
to work alongside Stephen. We look fonp4ard to this progressing in 2025, if it is God's will.
We eontiniie a.q a church to offer a variety of regular weekday events. as well as our services on
a Sunday, which provlde support to members of the surrounding community. The8e include thc
Toddler group which meets on Wednesday, the Thursday Drop-in group and the Friday Youth
group. Once a month wè hold a 'Soup and Sweet, as well as the Thursday Drop-in group which
provides an opportunity for members and frlends to have fooij prepared for them.
Likewise, we continue 10 supporr members of our congregation through OUT Six home groups
that meet in members, homes every fortnight. alternating with our weekly prayer m8eting in the
church. We continue to support our members who have been bereaved in the Bereavement
Support Group, as well as our studenis from the Unive151ty who join us each year and who are
supported through their own dcdicated weekly m88ting.
We continue to preach through various topics and books of the Bible on Sundays and various
themes are addressed, from a biblical perspective, in our home groups. We continue to live
stream our serrfices lif appropriate) on YouTube to allow those unable to attend in person for
various reasons to access our ser￿iCeS.
We regularlyfinancially support a number of missions across the world. Specifically during 2024
we gave money to BMS World Mission. Initiatives in ChTiStian Education IICEI, South West
Baptist Assoc¥ation Home Mission. University of Exeter Evangelical Christian Union IECUI, St
George's Morden, Love into Action, Mission Aviation Fellowship {MAF). Rwanda Hope. Trans
World Radio. Emmanuel Church Lapusna and Alan Collins towards his college fees and
maintenance.
The Trustees have noted the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in Producing this
report and consider that the activities undertaken bythe church during the year. provide benefit
both to those who worship atour church, the local community and those places in theworld that
the church continues to support.

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES. REpoirr
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Contribution made by volunteers
Apart from our five paid employees, much of our activtty of the church is undertaken by
volunteers and without them it would not be possible for the church to provide many of its
do various jobs around the church. many of them unseen. We are, as ever. immensely grateful
to all our volunteers, especially those who have gone above and beyond to keep people
connected during the lockdowns.
A¢hlevements and Performan¢e
The main achievements of the charity are identified above, as w811 as our benefit to the wider
society particularly in our local community and St Thomas.
We do however continue to support church missionaries elsewhere both in the UK and beyond
and during the year a sum of £12,780 was given to Mission and other charitable causes.
Financial Review
The church made a deficit in the year of £1.95212023: deficit £10.529). Total income Increased by
6.4°h compared lo 2023 wilh a 3.￿ increase in donation3. Total expenditure was very much in
linc with the previous year.
Total cash funds amountèd to £82.630 at 31¥1 Decémber 2024. of which £16.867 is held in
restricted funds - £11.253 of this being held for building improvements.
God continues to be very faithful to this Church and glvlng has remained at a level thdt more
than Gover6 the expenditure of the church. The truatees eontinuc to bc very conscious of th8
need to ensure this money is spent on the charitable activities of the church and are actively
looking for ways to make best use of this income for Ihe e￿ensIOn of God's klngdom on earth.
Reserves Pollcy
The reserves policy is to retain between 3 and 4 months unrestricted expenditure which is
approximately between £23,000 and £32.000. At the year end. the church's f ree reser4es totalled
£65.763 (cash less r8Stricted funds).
Structure. Govern•n¢o and Management
The charity is governed by its Constitution. whlch was revised in 2023.
The church is an unincorporated association.
Trustees (the elected leadership team) are elected at the churctt AGM to stand for three years.
before needing to stand for re-election. Office holders (sec￿tary & Treasurerl are appointed or
re-appointed each year at the AGM. Church elders (apart from the Minister) are also elected by
th8 AGM. with a three year term. according to the constitution.
Philip Evans. and Stephen Cousley continued to be elders of St Thomas Baptist Church during
this year, in accordance with the constitution. Philip Evans and Richard Turner were ele¢ted as
Church Secretary and Treasurer respectively at the 2024 AGM and continued to serve during this
year. Both were supported by various members of the Fellowshipwho assisted them, particularly

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
TRUSTEES. REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
in the Treasury team working with Richard. and Hannah. the Church Operations Manager.
working with the ChurGh Secretary• who is also her line manager.
In the AGM March 2024 Gary Curran and Tom-Darby Clark were proposed and accepted for a
further term on the leadership team as deacons. In the Church Members Meeting in October
2024, Samuel Shortman and John Bennett were proposed and a¢¢epted on to the leadership
team as deacons.
The following individuals have been elected by the church membership to stand as trustees for
the church during the last twelve months.
Trusts• nam•
Office (il anv)
Datss acted rf not for
whole year
Retired as deacon in
June 2024
Elizabeth Bailey
Deacon
Ann Daniel
Deacon
Tom Darby-clark
Deacon
Elected as Deacon in
March 2024
Re-elected as deacon
in March 2024
Re-elected as elder in
March 2024
Gary Curran
Deacon
Philip Evans
Church Secretary &
Eldei
Dcacon
Deacon and Treasurer
Deacon
Wendy Mckenna
Richard Turner
Samuel Shortman
E'lected in October
2024
Elactod in Octobgr
2024
John Bennett
Deacon
The trustees declare that they h
charity's trustees
approv
e trustees. report a
ove
igned on behalf of the
Signature
Full name
hilip Evans
Richard Turner
Position
Church Secretary
Church Treasurer
Date
38Lr

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Si Thomas Baptist Church (the
Church) forthe year ended 31 December 2024. which are set out on pages 7 to 14.
R8sponsibiliti•s and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Church you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l.
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Trust are not required to be audited and are eligible
for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charl￿$ accounts as
carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 1.the 2011 Act"). In carrying out my
examination I have followed the directions givens by the Charity Commission under section
145(511bl of the 2011 Act.
Independent Examinerfs Stat•mont
I have completed my examination. I confimi 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 Church as required by section 130 of the
Act: or
the aGcounts do not aGcord with those reGord8; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable reouirements concerning the form and
content of accounts Set oul in Ilie Charities (AGGounts and Report51 Regulations 2008 other
than any requirement that the accounts give a 'tru8 and fair viev/ which is not a matter
considered part of an independent examination.
I have no concern3 and have come across no other matters in connoction with th? examination to
which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts to be reached.
Mrs S Truran FCCA FCA
Streets Bush Limited
Chartered Accountants
2 Barnfield Crescent
Exeter
EX11QT
Date: a I
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ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
ACCOUNTING POUCIES
The receipts and payments accounts have been prepaTed under the Charities Act 2011
using a receipts and payments basis.
In¢om•
Offerings and donations are recognised when received by or on behalf of the Church.
Gift aid tax refunds and the gift aid small donations scheme are recognised on a cash
basis.
Expenditure
Expenditure is included when paid and includes any VAT which is not recoverable.
Ass•ts Retsined for Charity's Use
Assets retained for chari￿s use are valued on the following basis:
Land and buildings
Fixtur8s & fittfngs
Computer equipment
The church and manse aTe now reported at their site market value (previously in 2023, it
had been the insurance rebuild value).
Stte value
Market value
Market value
Investment Assets
Investments are valued at market value at 31 December.
All investments are held within the UL The invesiment holder 15 currently in liquidation
however. this is yet to be finalised. Once the liquidation is complete the investments
value will be updated depending on the outcome of th¥ liquidation.
Other Monetsry Assets
A8sets are rccognised at the amounts due to the charity which will pmvide a benefrt.
Liabilities
Liabilities are recognised at the amounts obligatod to be paid by the charity.
Unrestricted and Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds represent the funds of the Church that are not subject to any
restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes
of the Church.
Designated Funds are fijnds that are not subject to any restrictions but have been set
aside by the trustees for future expenditure or commitrnent. By earmarking funds in this
way, the trustees set up a designated fund that remains part of the unrestricted funds of
the charity.
Restricted Funds are where the income has been raised for specific purposes. for
individuals or for specific events.
Going con¢ern
The trustees consider there are no material uncertainties about the charity's abiSity to
continue as a going concern.

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Balance
BIForward Receipts Payments
Balance
Clforward
Transfers
Mission fund
Camp fund
Church plant fund
Building project fund
Student WA
Food Bank
Church WA
Moor College
1710)
23
398
682
11,253
398
11,253
297
385
4.329
1,485
11,186)
889
20
405
4.129
1200)
11,750)
265
Total Funds
12,333
7.183
(3,846
1.197
16,867
The Mission Fund continues to support various mission projects both at home and abroad.
The Camp Fund was set up to fund young people, particularly those from families on low
incomes to go on evangelistic summer camps. Due to the Covld 19 pandemic. no camps took
place in the current year.
The Church plant fund ie monies given for a potential new congregation to be planted in the
future. There was no movement In thls fund during the year.
The Building project fund was sel up to en**ble the construction and equipping of a functional
church office and additional church building improvp.ments.
There wgre 4 new rostrieted funds during 20?a which were set up as specific areas of ministry or
giving identlfled by ihe trustees. These were the student weekend away, thc Excter Food Bank,
the church weekend away and Alan Collins pastoral study at Moor College in Sydney. Australia.
Previous Year
Balan¢89
CiFoMard
BIForward Receipts Payments Transfers
Mission Fund
Camp Fund
Church Plant Fund
Building Project Fund
Local Outreach Fund
(585)
25
11.253
11,253
Total Funds
12.333
25
12,333
12

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
INCOME
Donations received during the year are broken down as follow3:
2024
2023
Offerings and donations
Gift aid tax refunds and GASDS
103,180
19.224
99,316
18.606
122.404
117.922
Income from charitable activities recelved during the year are broken down as follows:
2024
2023
Coffee morningsl Soup & Sweet
Youth group subscriptions & Other income
Junior Church
Church Weekendl Student Weekendl Away Day
Funeral service
1,285
2,539
839
2,401
225
3,337
4,926
238
8,988
6.802
EMPLOYMENT COSTS
Total employee'8 remuneration fortho year amounted to £77.52712023: £61.5331 for five
employees12023: three employees). Gross salarles amounied to £71,70712023: £54,002).
Employer5, NIC amounted to a refund of 1£343) after a backdated claim of the
employment allowance12023: £1,270). In addlilon. pension coiilributions of £6.163 were
paid12023: £8.261).
There were no 8mployees with rèmuneration above £60,000.
13

ST THOMAS BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
MISSION GIVING
Grants were made to the following organisations in the year
2024
2023
Baptist Missionary Soc?ety
ICE Trust (Schools Mission)
Baptist Union Home Mission
Exeter University Evangelical Christian Union
Spurgeons
St George's Morden
Love into action
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Rwanda Hope Mission
Trans World Radio Limited
Moldova
Other giving18ible College)
1.650
1.900
1.980
1,800
2.040
1,980
500
710
830
830
850
850
830
1,175
1,175
1.175
1,175
1,175
8,880
950
1,750
12,180
22.025
RELATED PARTY THANSACTIONsrrRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
No trustee, nor any person connected with them, received any ramuneration or other
contributions from the charity during the year. No reimbursemeni of expenses In respect
of services provtded by the trustees haa becn made or is due to be made to any of them
in respect of the year.
14