Page 1 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2024 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Wantage Baptist Church** ## **Annual Trustees’ Report and Accounts for the Year Ending 31[st] December 2024** The Charity Trustees of Wantage Baptist Church have pleasure in submitting their report and the financial statements of the Church for the year ending 31[st] December 2024 ## **Objectives and Activities** The principal objective of the Church is the advancement of the Christian faith, especially by means of and in accordance with the principles of the Baptist denomination. In particular, the Church seeks to do this through meetings to provide occasions for worship, proclamation of the gospel and instruction in the Christian faith as well as outreach events and evangelism to the local Wantage community. The Church may also carry out other charitable purposes. ## **Achievements and Performance** In 2024, we have been able to continue to share the love of Christ with the community. We have continued our regular weekly Sunday services, including Sunday School. We have continued to see growth in regular attendance, not just on Sundays but in our other activities. We have also continued to stream services online, for the benefit of those who are unable to attend for any reason. We have continued with weekly small group meetings (“life groups”) for fellowship, prayer and bible study. There are also special groups for carers and for those who live alone to meet and share. Events for children have been held. For younger children, this included an alternative “halloween” event which was well attended, including by children not otherwise connected to the church. There is also a regular program of events for older children, including popular social events. A summer outing to the beach provided an opportunity for people of all ages to meet and interact over a longer period. The weekly Parents and Toddlers sessions continue to attract a large number of people from outside the church. We have continued to operate the King's Centre shop. This provides an opportunity to reach out to the wider community, or for people to make contact with us in a friendly environment, as well as providing Christian resources for sale. It is common for vulnerable people, and their support workers, to pop in regularly for a chat. A weekly needlecraft group brings together a number of people, including from outside the church. A new mens chat group was started this year and has been appreciated by a number of people. The shop also acts as a collection point and storage facility for the local Food Bank. We have continued our support for the local Street Pastors, who use our buildings as an operating base. We also continue to make our buildings available to other local independent churches, in particular for baptisms and marriages. We also support the local community by making our building available to a local community choir, and for use by the local secondary school for examinations. Page 2 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2024 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts The church has made financial gifts to other organisations involved in advancing the Christian faith, as detailed in the accounts. We also hold occasional meetings to keep in touch with the activities of these organisations. In carrying out its activities in the year under review, the trustees have had regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission, and are satisfied that the activities mentioned above have all been for the public benefit. ## **Financial Review** The Leadership views the underlying financial position of the Church as being satisfactory. It is the Church’s policy to maintain unrestricted cash reserves of £10,000, corresponding to approximately two months normal expenditure. At the end of 2024 the Church held such reserves of £78,339, so there is a surplus of funds available. The main Church building is a historic asset but no valuation has been included in the accounts because of the cost of such a valuation compared to the benefit it would deliver to advancing the Church’s objectives. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Wantage Baptist Church is an independent church constituted as an unincorporated association governed by a constitution adopted on 19th September 2013. The church is also subject to the terms of the trust deeds under which its premises are held. Leadership within the Church is provided by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons who are the Charity Trustees and have control and oversight of the Church. All are elected by the Church Members Meeting. The Pastor, Elders and Deacons during 2024 and at the date of this report were as follows: _Pastor:_ Jeremy Fernandez ## _Elders:_ Peter Smillie (to 27 November) ## _Deacons:_ David Hillsdon Gillian Hutchinson Matthew Shewring Barrie Steers (to 27 November) Martin Torbet The Elders meet monthly to consider the spiritual direction and pastoral concerns of the Church while the Elders and Deacons together meet monthly to discuss and decide upon practical aspects of the Church’s day to day functioning. A Church member’s meeting occurs on at least four occasions during the year. The leadership has overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence Page 3 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2024 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that: - the charity is operating efficiently and effectively; - its assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition; - proper records are maintained and financial information used in the charity or for publication is reliable; and - the charity complies with relevant laws and regulations. The internal controls are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include: - regular consideration by the Deacons of the financial results; - delegation of authority and segregation of duties; and - identification and management of risks. The major risks as identified by the Leadership have been reviewed and systems set up to mitigate them. ## **Other Administrative Details** - _Registered Name_ Wantage Baptist Church - _Alternative name_ Wantage Baptist - _Registered Charity No_ 1163191 - _Church address_ 6 Mill Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9AQ - _Property Trustees_ The Fellowship Property Trust Ltd. - _Bankers_ Barclays Bank plc - _Independent Examiner_ David Cooke and Co., Chartered Accountants 5 Briar Close, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 9DS. Signed on behalf of the Charity Trustees: Date: 27[th] September 2025 Page 4 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2024 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Charity Trustees of Wantage Baptist Church on the Financial Statements for the year ending 31[st] December 2024** I report on the accounts of the Church for the year ending 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 5 to 12. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner** The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 44(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and - To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner's report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 examiner's statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that, in any material respect - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did 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. David Cooke MA(Oxon), FCA, FCIE David Cooke and Co. Chartered Accountants 5 Briar Close Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 9DS Date: 14 October 2025 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page5of12 Year Ending 31st December 2024 Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Endin 31st December 2024 Notes UDrestricled Funds (£1 The ￿ng'S Centre (£1 Restricted Funds Tolal Funds 20241£> Totsi Funds 20231£) 1£> Inc(rfne A1 Incoming Rosoufces from Generated Funds Ala - Voluntary Income lGrft￿dQd1 - Grtt Ajd Recovered - Voluntary Income (Not GIft￿ded1 Alb - D￿ld￿n￿$ A1¢ Interest Ald - Irwestrnents Ale Rent ol Prernise5 A11 Sales A2 Incomino Resources from Chantsble ActM"be: A3 Olher Incoming Resources rolal Incoming R&wurc 65762 13859 18681 65762 14289 18681 57003 13463 16927 430 2631 2631 2225 19548 19548 16319 15438 23023 16319 577 121058 $77 137807 421 128499 16319 430 Expendrturè B1 Costs of Generating Funds Bla - Costs of Generab'ng Voluntary Income B1b Cost ol Goods Sold B1c - Investrnent Management Costs 82 Chantable AdM"les B2a Ministy B2b Mission B2c - Community Support B2d - Fellowship & Outreach B2e 8uildings & Ub"libes B2f Equipment 820 - Administratson 82h Depreaalion B3 Govemance Costs B4 Olher Resources Expended T¢Xo1 Resources Expended 10266 10266 12129 44619 8997 44619 8997 44397 10730 6363 25103 379 1725 1346 5036 6363 30474 379 5038 11129 5083 3337 38644 1534 5904 11030 7174 5371 3313 10 11 9783 47 93569 18997 9783 122349 134877 Nel Incoming Resources Befofe Transfers 27489 -2678 -9353 15458 -6378 Tr4n$f¢rs Gross Transfeis 8¢￿een Funds ctherRecoqnJ8ed Gains and 27489 .2678 -9353 15458 -6378 Other Recoonl$ed Galns and Los$e$ D1 GainslLosses on Revaluabon of Fixed kssets D2 GainsiLosses on InvestmentAssets Aduarial GainsLosses on Oefined Benefits Pension Schemes Netlknvefftenl In Funds 931 931 931 D3 27489 -2678 -8422 16389 .5447 Re¢oncrfiatton of Fund$ E1 Funds eroughl Forward E2 Net Movement in Funds Total Funds CaniedForward 61167 27489 88656 21612 -2678 18933 431565 -8422 423143 514343 16389 530732 510988 -5447 505540 Page 6 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2024 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **GILLIAN AMANDA STEEDS HUTCHINSON (DEACON/TREASURER)** Date: 27[th] September 2025 Page 7 of 12 Year Ending 31[st] December 2024 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts ## **Notes to the accounts for the year 31 December, 2024 (continued)** Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page8of12 Year Ending 31st December 2024 Charitable Activitle$: Mission Unrestricted The King's Fund• 1£) Cenlfe 1£) Restricted Fund• IÉ) Note• Totsl Fundg 2024 {£1 Totsl Funds 201J (£1 1200 1200 1220 460 Be Space Bbk Soe*ty JTh Ha￿￿$ London Cty Miysx+Th Mi5C Open Doors Pthjm Hor ROPE Spurgeons Street Pasiors TearI￿nd- General Support Ukrane Chrr*t41Th General SuDDort 1200 250 97 97 300 1100 940 1200 1200 1200 1200 260 5400 Totsl 10730 Charitable Activities: Community Support Unre•tricted The King. Funda {Él Centre (Él Restricted Fund¥ Mote* Totsl Fund• 2024 {É1 Tot•1 Fund• 202J (£1 IÉ) Feknwshp Gifts Total Charitable Acilvltles: Fellowship & Outreach Unrestricled The King'* Funds 1£) Centre (Él Re*trieted Fund¥ Notes Totsl Fund• 20241£) Totsl Fund* 20231£) C8tem9 1218 Church Weekend cfeche￿oddkrs en¥wn Evenng En989efvouth Evan9etsm Fek)wshp Gifts Hippy Aeoms HO￿¥Y Cbb Hot Toprs Lad*s' Group Lb)ht Party Men's Group Mi5celaneous Expense Pastoral Care Sandbanks Schoob. Evan9ek5m Soc4ql Events Sunday School Trainiig 2355 23SS 51 104 104 223 so 109 139 62 -23 146 12 204 204 20 891 1192 757 757 494 T¢tsl 6363 3337 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page9of12 Year Ending 31st December 2024 Charitable Activities: Buildings & Utilitig$ Unrestricted ￿"n￿'S Funds (Él Centre 1£) Re*trided Totsl Funds Funds 20241£) Totsl Fund* 20231É1 Note¥ Church Bu•Jmgs 4712 4712 6YS FN*sres, fltmgs & Equyr*nt Gas knsurance Mantenonce Mis¢¢1gneou$ len Te*phone Water church Totsl 33 3930 11232 2633 3930 11232 $92 27677 23188 23188 Man•e coun￿ T Ftdures. Fthigs & Equyn*nt knsurance Mantenanc¢ Man•e Total 363 1997 3251 1434 1915 1915 Cemetery Manlenance Cemetery T¢)tsl The Kino'$ Cenire Bu￿￿9$ E*ctr Ga$ hsurance Mèi)lenJnc¢ Rent (Servti charge) Te*phone W8ter King'• Centre Totsl 137 2214 2214 871 871 80 1246 512 79S 1246 512 448 5371 1244 454 348 5371 Total 25103 5371 30474 Charitable Activities: Equipment Unre*tricted The King. Funds (Él Centre ¢£1 Re8tricted Totsl Fund¥ Funds Mote¥ Totsl Fund$ 2023 (Él 20241É1 Corrpuler5 Fre ExtthguBher Purchase EqUV￿ent Jbk Address IPA) Equpn*tht IA6cel8neous Projeclor. DWMY Screen 265 Totsl 379 379 1534 Charitable Adivitie$: Administration Vnre•tri¢ted The Kinu'• Fund• 1£> C¢ntr¢ (£1 ReBlricied Tot•1 Fund• Fund• 20241£) Mot¢• Totthl Fund• 2Q231£1 Bonk Charges Fee$ Offte Expens¢s Postage 8 Packmg 258 4048 134 18 417 382 4436 1048 3000 104 16 $99 31 stst￿nery 164 Total 1725 3313 5038 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page 10of12 Year Ending 31st December 2024 10 Flxed Assets Ilot¢• Unreslricled The ￿Trg. Fund• 1£) Cenir¢ (£1 Restricted Totsi Funds Fund• 20241£> Total Funds 20231£) A••ei• efoughl Forward knvesth*nts Fr￿gUreS. Fthi9s S Equprr*nl 10768 2159 78971 489127 78971 489127 489127 S￿175 Ttstsi A¥set$ Brouohl Forword 10768 2155 Depreciation Brought Forward knveslff*nls Futures. Flkngs & EquiJrrEnl Bu*Jnos Toial Depreciatw Brought Forward 4036 2159 66048 68479 72239 W79 72735 68479 36 215S 134527 140718 111214 Toial Nei Flxed A••et• eroughl. Forward 6732 420648 427380 In-Ye4r Co•1• knveslrr*nts F￿tures. Fltm9s & Equprrtnl ButhJhig5 Toial Co$t• In Ye8r 3133 3133 3133 3133 In-year Depreciation knve51rrents Frrttures. Fltm9$ & Equprr¢nl Buth1￿95 Total Depreciath￿ In Year 1247 9783 11030 9783 9783 9783 11129 Net In-year Movement in Fund• 1786 -9783 -11030 Oepre¢KAiic*n CIr￿￿ Fc*rw•rd hivesfftnts FLdures, Fltmgs & Equw*nt BuOJmg5 Total DepreC￿tIOn Carried Forw¥rd 5382 21SS 66048 78262 73S85 78262 73982 78262 5382 2155 114310 151847 152244 Net As8et* Carried Forward knYestfr*nts Fr4tures. Fttmgs 8 Equyff*nt 8518 8518 410865 419383 4989 410865 410865 410 Totsl Net Fixed A8•et¥ Carried Forward 8518 Yotsl Net Fixed A•aet* Carried Fotw•rd 8518 410￿5 419383 415854 10b F¢xed Assets Inveslments Note8 Unre*tricted Fund8 IÉ) The King's Centre ¢£1 Restricted Total fund* Funds 20241£1 Totsl Funds 231£1 A•*et* 8rought Forward veslff*nts 10248 10248 9317 In-Ye•r Movemenet knve$lnRnts 931 Net A*•et• Carried Fonward knves¢ments 10529 10529 10248 Totsi Nei Fixeil A••et• Carried For¥vard 10529 10529 10248 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page11 of12 Year Ending 31st December 2024 11 Governance Costs Not•• Unrestricted The ￿.￿0.3 (£1 Centre 1£) Re#lricted Totsl Fund# Fund• 20241£) Totsl Funds 20231£) 6usmess L¢￿9*9 & Pefwts CCPAS Fees Copyr¥Jht LKences FEC FEC Ud kndependenl F￿an￿) Exame¢s Fees Land RegL%try Fee Leg81 Fees Surveyorfs Fees 47 47 419 44 170 825 5600 419 5216 3216 535 S35 Total 5036 47 5083 7174 12 Gross Trtsnsfers Betsveen Fui ￿￿e* Unrestricted The King. Funds 1£) Centre 1£) Re•tricted Totsl Fund8 Funds 20241£) Totsl Fund8 20231£1 GTossTrttnslers Between Funds L•bkns Dschar9e Totsl 13 The King s Centre Note8 Unre•tri¢ted The King's Funds 1£) Centre lÉl Re$iri¢ted Total Fund• Funds 20241£) Total Fund$ Petty Cash Prepay￿nts Stock Tl Fbat 20 20 481 7676 20 7676 100 8101 Totsl 8278 8278 8704 14 Debiors & Prepayments Ilote* Unrestricted The ￿ng'S Funds 1£) Centre ¢£1 Restricted Totsl Funda Fundg 20241£) Total Funds 20231<1 HMRC Gift￿ Due Accounts ReceNab AccThed knlerest 279S Totsi rJ34 2795 Wantage Baptist Church Annual Report and Accounts Page 12of12 Year Ending 31st December 2024 15 Cash in the Banklln Hand Note• Unre•tri¢ted The King, Fund81£1 Centre 1£) Re•tri¢ted Totsl Fund• Fund8 )241£) Totsl Funds 20231£) BJrckn￿ Current Accourbt CCLA Oeposl Account TKC Barthys Account and Cash kn Hand 18339 2030 10801 11539 11539 13350 Total 11539 2030 91907 69151 16 Current Liabilities Note• Unr¢$tri¢t¢d Th¢ King'• Funds 1£) Centre 1£) Re•trict¢(l Totsl Fund• Funds 1241£} Totsl Fund$ 20231£) TKC Accounts Payab AccnJalJ 443 53S Totsl 1419 Unrestricted The King's Fund8 Cenire 17 Movements in Funds Note• Restricted Fundg Total Funds Fund• at l•t Janu•ry 3024 kncorr Expendknre L*btht*s Discharged 61167 121058 93S69 21612 16319 18997 422762 1361 9783 505541 138738 122348 Fund• at 31•t l)ecember 2024 18933 423143 530732