Dunstable Baptist Church 2025 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 2025 to 31st December 2025
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 2025 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 | Whole Year |
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, Revised and approved 1st August 2023
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;
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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, mid-
week 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 £25,857.
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.
Dunstable Baptist Church
Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31 December 2025
| Note Receipts Voluntary Receipts: Planned Giving & collection at services All other giving 2 Gift Aid recovered Activites for generating funds Investment income Church activities Total Receipts Payments Church activities 3 Governance costs Cost of generating funds Total Payments Excess of Receipts over Payments Transfer between funds Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward at 1 January 2025 Total funds carried forward at 31 December 2025 |
Total Total General Manse Funds Funds Fund Fund 2025 2024 69,758 0 69,758 67,118 18,451 0 18,451 14,035 14,616 0 14,616 18,352 Unrestricted Funds |
|---|---|
| 102,825 0 102,825 99,505 0 0 0 0 0 56 56 24 0 0 0 0 |
|
| 102,825 56 102,881 99,529 |
|
| 128,082 900 128,982 100,381 375 0 375 0 0 0 0 0 |
|
| 128,457 900 129,357 100,381 |
|
| -25,632 -844 -26,476 -852 -3,712 3,712 0 0 |
|
| -29,344 2,868 -26,476 -852 21,940 390 22,330 23,182 |
|
| -7,404 3,258 -4,146 22,330 |
Notes to the Financial Statements
| 1 | The Financial Statements of the Church have been prepared in accordance | The Financial Statements of the Church have been prepared in accordance | The Financial Statements of the Church have been prepared in accordance |
|---|---|---|---|
| with the Charities Act 2011 using the Receipts and Payments basis. | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| 2 | All other giving | ||
| Donations | 18,451 | 14,035 | |
| Legacy | 0 | 0 | |
| 18,451 | 14,035 | ||
| 3 | Church activities | ||
| Pastoral Ministry | 52,164 | 57,879 | |
| Mission Support | 17,519 | 22,043 | |
| Ministry Expenses | 4,150 | 3,025 | |
| Building Repairs and Renewals | 34,526 | 3,599 | |
| Utilities and Insurance | 2,452 | 2,073 | |
| Manse Expenditure | 5,404 | 3,983 | |
| Administration Expenses | 1,357 | 1,610 | |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | 11,410 | 6,169 | |
| 128,982 | 100,381 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2025
| Cash Funds Bank Current Account Deposit Account Creditors - amounts falling due within one year Creditors - amounts falling due after more than one year Total Funds |
Total Total General Manse Funds Funds Fund Fund 2025 2024 22,599 0 22,599 21,940 0 3,258 3,258 390 Unrestricted Funds |
|---|---|
| 22,599 3,258 25,857 22,330 -3,213 0 -3,213 0 -26,790 0 -26,790 0 |
|
| -7,404 0 -4,146 0 |
Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Dunstable Baptist Church for the year ended 31 December 2025 I report to the church trustees on my examination of the accounts of Dunstable Baptist Church for the year ended 31 December 2025. Responslblllties and basls of report As the church's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts I report in respect of my examinatlon of the church's Receipts and Payments Account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities.. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination 8iving me cause to believe that in any material respect accounting records were not kept in respect of the church. I have no concerns and have come across no 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. Robert Felix BA, FCA 33 Broomhill Road Woodford Green Essex IG8 9HD 11 June 2026