2024-12-31-accounts - Dunstable Baptist Church

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Dunstable Baptist Church

2024 Trustees’ Annual Report

Section A Reference and Administrative Details

Full Name and Principle Address

Dunstable Baptist Church, St Mary’s Gate, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 3SW

Registered Charity Number

1164112

Financial Year

1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024

Trustees

The managing trustees are the elders and deacons of Dunstable Baptist Church who are responsible for Church funds and the running of the Church.

The trustees who served during 2024 were:

Steve Burton	Pastor & Elder	Whole Year
Jef Hewitt	Elder & Chairman	Whole Year
Nigel Browne	Deacon	Whole Year
Robert Davies	Deacon	Whole Year
Graham Starkey	Deacon	Whole Year
Matt Gudgeon	Deacon	Since April 2024

Professional Advisers

Grace Baptist Trust Corporation, 19 Croydon Road, Caterham, Surry, CR3 6PA

Section B Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

Dunstable Baptist Church Constitution, Version 1 dated 28th January 2015

Appointments of Trustees/Church Leaders

The Trustees/Church Leaders were appointed by resolutions of the Church and every new appointment will be made in the same way and are recorded in the Church minutes.

Associated Charities

Dunstable Baptist Chapel (Charity Commission registered no. 233323) which is in the trust of the Grace Baptist Trust Corporation.

Christian Books, Dunstable (Charity Commission registered no. 801449)

Section C Objectives and Activities

Objects of the Charity

The principal object of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to Baptist principles and in accordance with the Basis of Faith as stated in Schedule 1 of the Constitution. The charity may also carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.

Main Activities in Relation to Public Benefit

The Trustees/Church Leaders are aware of, and have taken regard to, the Charity Commission’s guidance to public benefit in “The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit” and believe that the Main Activities detailed in Section D below, that are an outworking of the Objects above, provide a benefit to the public by:

providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual and moral development, both for our members and for members of the public who want to benefit;
promoting Christian values (based on the Bible), and service by members of the Church to the local community, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.

Grant Making Policy

Grants (donations) from the Church for Mission/Relief and pastoral gifts for individuals are decided by the Trustees/Church Leaders at the time that they are required and endorsed as necessary at the next Church members’ meeting.

Investment Selection Policy

Current and future policies are decided by the Trustees/Church Leaders, with professional advice being sought when necessary.

Section D Achievements and Performance

The church employs one pastor, Steve Burton. He is responsible for the pastoral care of the members of the Church and any others who come to the Church for spiritual help. In addition, the pastor and elders are responsible for overseeing the teaching given at all meetings of the Church. All involved in the work of the Church are volunteers except for the pastor. Discretionary payments have been made to those inside and outside the church undertaking individual preaching engagements that have been required. The church has a Safeguarding Policy (Protection of Christian and Vulnerable Adults) and volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults are DBS checked and trained.

Regular services and meetings have continued through the year including: Sunday worship, midweek Bible study and prayer meetings, Early Learning Time, DBC Kids, Tots and Co, Men’s Prayer Meetings and Ladies’ Bible Studies.

During the year donations were made to our four main missions: Grace Baptist Mission, European Missionary Fellowship, Grace Baptist Partnership, and Caring For Life.

Section E Financial Review

Reserved Funds

At the end of the year the money held in the Barclay’s Business Premium Account for the Church was £21,940.

Source of Funds

The principle source of funds is the voluntary giving by the members of the church and congregation, making use of the Gift Aid Scheme and the Small Donations Scheme where appropriate.

Section F Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

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Independent Examinerfs Report to the Tnt5tees of Dunstable Baptist Church Reoipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31 Deornber 2024 I report to the charity trustees on my examlnation of the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responsibilities and basls of report As the charitvs trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.the ACV). I report in SpeCt of my examination of the charitys financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sertion 145151{bl of the Att. Independent examinee5 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 We not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act,. or The financial statements do not accord with those records: or The financial statements do not comply wtth the applicable requirements conteming the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Financial statements and Reports) Regulations 2(KJ8 other than any requirement that the financial statements gNe a 'true and fair viev/ 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 understsnding of the financial statements to be reached. Robert Felix FCA 33 Broomhill Road Woodford Green Essex IG8 9HD Date . 9 September 2025

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