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← Buttershaw Baptist Church

2025-12-31-accounts

Buttershaw Baptist Church

Charitable Incorporated Organisation, charity number 1168084

A member of the Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA), charity number 247173 and the Baptist Union, charity number 1125912

Annual Report for year ending 31[st] December 2025

1

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Contents

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors 4
Trustees 4
Charity number 4
Registered and principal address 4
Bankers 5
Independent examiner 5
Structure, governance and management 5
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees 5
Objectives and activities 5
The charity's objects 5
The charity's main activities 6
Principle Vision 6
Achievements and performance 6
Our church 6
Key events in 2025: 8
Holiday Club 2025 – A Major Highlight 8
Refining Our Missional Focus 8
Christmas Together 8
Church Operations 9
Baptisms 9
Mission 9
People 9
Life Groups 9
Trustee changes and activities 10
Our ministry 10
In action 10
Membership and Partners 11
Buttershaw Baptist Church Core Activities 12
Vision Objectives 13
Projects 13
Quinquennial Survey 13
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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Prioritised Actions from Quinquennial Survey completed in 2025 13
Notable Building maintenance and interventions 14
Financial summary 15
Accounts 15
Summary of outgoings and incomings 15
Reserves 15

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

Trustees

Trustees
Name Position Date of
Appointment		 First or second
3 year term
N/A Minister
Louise Innes Treasurer 7thOctober 2020 Second to 6thOctober 2026
David Bull Secretary 10thFebruary 2019 Second to 9thFebruary 2025
extended
Elizabeth Radice Trustee 15thMay 2022 Resigned 9thFebruary 2025
Helen Thomson Trustee 15thMay 2022 Resigned 9thFebruary 2025

Charity number

The charity was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 1168084, on 6[th] July 2016.

Registered and principal address

Buttershaw Baptist Church

The Crescent

Buttershaw

Bradford

BD6 3PZ

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Bankers

The Co-Operative Bank

P O Box 250

Delf House Southway

SKELMERSDALE

WN8 6WT

Independent examiner

Elisa Brown FCCA MAAT

Elisa Brown Accountancy Services

Central Place Clayton

BD14 6AZ

Structure, governance and management

The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 6[th] July 2016.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at members’ meetings.

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects

The advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination.

The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.

The Church is committed to the provision, maintenance and improvement of its building, which is a place of religious worship and is open to the public.

These objects are as amended by the draft revised constitution agreed at the Ordinary Church Members Meeting on 3[rd] December 2020.

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

The charity's main activities

The activities may include but are not restricted to:

Principle Vision

Through PRAYER communication and relationship with our FATHER and by the GOSPEL of JESUS we are EMPOWERED by the SPIRIT to see people whom God has called, to grow in the personal anointing , maturity and understanding of being a disciple of Jesus Christ and become a disciple maker through prayer, sharing the Good News with and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Achievements and performance

2025 was a year of courage, change, and fresh exploration for Buttershaw Baptist Church. At our AGM on 9 February 2025, after much prayer and discernment, we agreed to bring our ‑ traditional Sunday based church model to a close and step boldly into an exploration phase— seeking God’s vision for what a missional church on Buttershaw could become; seeking God, listening, praying, exploring, and shaping this new direction.

Our church

We launched our new pattern of church life with a Friday evening gathering, around a tea ‑ time community space. This developed into a fortnightly rhythm alternating between:

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‑ On 16 March 2025, we held an emotional and joy filled Celebration of Buttershaw Baptist Church—a time of gratitude, praise, and shared memories. This marked the official close of our Sunday services and released many cherished members into new worshipping communities. A smaller but committed group, who renewed their membership at the AGM, remained, in this new exploration phase of a community missional church.

Our first official Friday gathering of the new model took place on 28 March 2025, with Tracy Shield from South Osset Baptist, demonstrating and leading the Brick Church concept, training our people in its use.

God blessed us with incredible partners and helpers throughout the year:

The early months of the new exploration phase were marked by remarkable numbers joining us.

Our Brick Church and Film Night events regularly attracted several families—often double the number of our regular core fellowship. This created a joyful and often lively atmosphere, the large numbers sometimes limited the depth of relationship or opportunity for personal faith conversations. Still, the gospel was shared clearly through our gatherings, and confirms both:

We continue to maintain our relationship with the Family Centre. Holding our trustee to trustee meeting three times each year, once per each term. The work they do in practically delivering God’s love in action is complementary to the aims of the Church.

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Key events in 2025:

Holiday Club 2025 – A Major Highlight

We held another brilliant Holiday Club at the end of August, led by Helen Syrop with a wide and great team of volunteers. The witness of Jesus was shared with an oversubscribed week, with over 40 children joining. The week closed on the final Friday for an evangelistic celebration including children and their families for a barbecue and a message from Tom Grant of The Message Trust.

Refining Our Missional Focus

After the summer, we reviewed our approach and decided to pause Film Nights to focus fully on Brick Church, that we found to a stronger opportunity for witness, discipleship and relationship building. Attendance numbers were smaller in this later phase, but gradually stabilised, and we began forming deeper connections—particularly with a small group of families and young people. Though this has mostly been from families outside of the Buttershaw community. This helped to strengthen our gathering times:

Christmas Together

In December we joined with St Aidan’s Church to host a joint Carol Service, celebrating Jesus’ birth as a united Christian witness in Buttershaw.

We also supported the Family Centre’s popular Christmas Fair, hosting a popular nativity dress up photo booth.

Lucy Brown was also able to support the Family Centre with Christmas messages to their nursery Christmas celebrations.

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Church Operations

Baptisms

We are conscious of the absence of baptisms in the regular life of the Church and this remains a key aim.

The Partner approach to engagement of our Church Family, on an annual basis, will require asking those who worship with us to intentionally join us as a partner and to intentionally ask about their personal commitment to following Jesus witnessed by the act of baptism by full immersion.

Mission

We see mission; locally, regionally, nationally and internationally as key to the calling upon the life of Buttershaw Baptist Church.

The new exploration phase of Church has been to establish a more missionally focused church. Our Brick Church gatherings are missional in approach. Our Brew n’Bakes gatherings are established for deeper missional engagement.

We had an incredible Children’s Holiday Club again this year, it was truly a blessing to be able to share God’s word with the young people of Buttershaw over a week of spirit filled entertainment. The commitment provided through the leadership of Helen Syrop for this is immense along with the army of volunteers contributing to this heritage of blessing to our community.

People

We would again like to thank and recognise the passion, vision and commitment of our current membership through these more constrained times. There is a small strong core of people who are faithful in their service.

We are incredibly grateful to the support provided from Clayton Baptist Church, through Kenny and Lucy Brown.

The missional blessing that Helen Syrop continues to provide to the community of Buttershaw in support of our work is priceless and of immense spiritual value. We are grateful to St Aidan’s for accommodating this faithful service within the remit of her Mission Apprenticeship.

Life Groups

Our Hope nights and Fellowship evenings provide the function of a life group within the rhythm of our regular church life. These are times where we seek God’s heart and fellowship with each other.

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Trustee changes and activities

Two of our trustees resigned at the 2025 AGM on 9 February 2025, they were also approaching the end of their first 3 year term as trustees (3 year term ending in May 2025). We are grateful for the service of Helen Thomson and Elizabeth Radice in their time with us and their support. We bless them as they explore and share their faith in new churches and ventures.

We have retained our trustees in;

The limitations of this small leadership team restricts our abilities to meet the clear mission opportunity demonstrated through our community footprint with the Family Centre and the outreach events we have hosted. Graham Ensor provides strategic leadership support to the trustees. With Kenny Brown supporting and guiding as an ordained minister in helping to enable the mission on Buttershaw. This combined assistance is invaluable and has allowed us to undertake our Friday Evening gatherings and maintain an amount of strategic direction.

In 2026 we are anticipating further change as we navigate the limitations of capacity and long service of our remaining trustees. We are seeking new trustees for the ongoing continuation of the Church CIO to release current trustees from their terms of office.

Our ministry

In action

At Buttershaw Baptist Church we continue to operate with our partners approach to encourage a relational basis for commitment within the church community. Our rhythm of gathering is on a Friday Evening:

1st Friday in month 2nd Friday in
month		 3rd Friday in
month		 4th Friday in Month 5th Friday - when
occur
Brick Church
Children orientated
- Light teatime meal
- Worship
- Short scripture
based film
- Craft
- Lego Brick model
making of the story
- Adults exploration
of God’s message		 Hope Gathering
Adults orientated.
- Worship
- Prayer
- Three thirds bible
study and
discussion
- Fellowship.		 Brick Church
Children orientated
- Light teatime meal
- Worship
- Short scripture
based film
- Craft
- Lego Brick model
making of the story
- Adults exploration
of God’s message		 Fellowship
Adults orientated.
- Communion
- Prayer
- Bible reading.		 Optional special
event or joint
initiatives.

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

In this new exploration development of the church, the strategy is expressed by the following steps.

While there are tentative and encouraging signs of growth and opportunity in relationships through 2025, the church is vulnerable.

2025 was about moving from an exploratory phase into enabling mission. With a limited number of core people and trustees while complemented by valuable support from Clayton and others, there is limited physical presence within the Buttershaw community to build relationships and undertake discipleship. There is limited capability to strengthen and develop the tentative signs of growth.

In 2026 the church needs to review with its members, the YBA and supporting people its ability to continue its missional calling of making Jesus known in Buttershaw as it seeks to mature its missional calling and activity. If the church is to continue then it needs to identify the resources to support this, or if not, to prayerfully consider how best to conclude its operations and protect the people and operations that depend on its assets.

Membership and Partners

We continue to discern the mind of Christ as a church through prayerful discussion amongst those who are Partners (our name for 'Members') but decision-making within a congregational system of church government is no longer the primary 'point' of membership. Instead, being a Partner of the church reflects those who are a 'part' of the church family, vision and values of Buttershaw Baptist church and most importantly, our relationship with God, each other and those in the wider communities in which we live.

Partnership should become first and foremost about meaningful covenantal relationships. Commitment is no longer a duty so much as a desire to walk together through the ups and downs of life and to encourage each other to become more like Jesus and to fulfil the vision and calling upon us all.

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

As part of this covenantal principle, the Partnership approach is to each year invite those who worship with us to intentionally consider the vision and values of the Church and intentionally choose to partner, or not. The February AGM is a regular point at which this covenant is invited and responded to. The approach to a Partnership model of church family has been developed as a standalone document and may be read separately. This identifies the rhythm of Partnership and principles of engagement. At the February AGM, particular vision objectives are to be confirmed following consultation with the Church Family for the year ahead. The covenant and commitment to Partner with the Church is based on Partnering to support these vision objectives. The church’s core activities and the visions items are described below.

Buttershaw Baptist Church Core Activities

In our expression and practice of the commission God sets before us the main activities of the Church and CIO are described earlier. These are our core activities and the outworking of them in particular aspects are as follows:

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Vision Objectives

In 2025 the Vision Objectives were set at the 9 February 2025 AGM but recognised that the stopping of the Sunday based church gathering and moving into the new Exploration phase would bring change. In essence our current vision objectives reflect our activity. But will need to be reviewed further in 2026 as the church continues to explore its future and God’s plans and purpose for it.

Projects

There have been various requirements in response to leaks and weather to continue to undertake repairs on the building’s roof.

We carry an ambition to improve the kitchen and toilet facilities, and develop solar energy opportunities for the Church Building. These projects require resource for fundraising activity. Fund raising for kitchen improvements started in 2023 with a number of events carried out and some promising funds provided including from joint Church and Family Centre initiatives.

Various notable building maintenance activities have been undertaken in 2025.

Quinquennial Survey

A quinquennial survey was conducted.

Summary findings categorised a range of requirements to be undertaken relative to respective time frames. The Trustees identified the most pressing and agreed funding of these items with the Church Members. There is continuing action and funding required to resolve other items.

Prioritised Actions from Quinquennial Survey completed in 2025

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Notable Building maintenance and interventions

Asbestos survey identified minor signage requirements to a small number of areas that has been undertaken. The asbestos survey report has been provided to the Family Centre and the report retained on site.

The door to the rear elevation of the church hall has been blocked up rather than replaced. The Family Centre identified that the doorway had no functional purpose for them and was not required as an escape route.

The two boilers that served the main kitchen and the ‘Green Room’ and toilet facilities’ stopped functioning. The most effective and efficient solution to their replacement was to upgrade one of the two Main Hall water heater (boiler’s) to be a combined heating and water boiler. The budget for this work was agreed and undertaken. The replacement ‘combi-boiler’ now serves both heating in the main hall (complementing the retained unit) and provides heating and hot water to the main kitchen, ‘Green Room’ and toilets. The other boilers are left in-situ to be removed and their external openings closed with the respective future projects to these areas.

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Buttershaw Baptist Church 2025 Annual Report

Financial summary

Accounts

In 2025 the following bank accounts were held by the church:

For aiding simplicity of church finance management and ease of financial actions it was decided to rationalise church bank accounts into a single account, implemented in 2025.

In the budget established for 2025 and consistent with previous reviews of how finances are managed it is recognised that some budgets need to be protected, stewarded and managed over multiple years to help fund exceptional requirements. These restricted aspects are most notably for maintenance requirements of the Church building and particular projects.

Summary of outgoings and incomings

There has been reduced income from weekly giving. Comparatively outgoings are also reduced without a minister's Stipend and Housing obligation.

In addition, we increased family centre rent in 2025 to £13,000 per annum as part of a general strategy to increase rent to a more representative market rent for the space provision and inflation adjustment.

There is continued expenditure on building maintenance requirements. Specific actions being developed to help address these problems are as follows

Buttershaw Baptist Church Accounts 2025 Summary:

Reserves

The Church has a policy aim to keep £15,000 in reserve to allow for the charity to be closed down in an orderly fashion if necessary.

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Buttershaw Baptist Church Annual Financial Report 2025

Report of the Independent Examlner(s) of the Tru5tee5 of Buttershaw BaptSst Church On the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 Respertlve re5ponslbllltles of Trustees and Examlner The Church's Trustees a￿ responslble for the preparation of the accounts. The church's trustees consider that an audit Is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charltles Act To follow the procedures laid down In the general Directions glven by the Charity Commission (under section 145{51 of the Charities Act, and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basls If Independent examlner's statement My examination was carried out In accordance wlth general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accountlng records kept by the church and comparlson of the accounts present with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items of disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the 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 examlner's statement In connection with my examination, no materlal matters have come to my attentlon which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: Accounting records were not kept in accordance wlth sectlon 130 of the Charitles Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records The accounts do not comply with the applicable requlrements 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 consldered as apart of an independent examlnatlon. (If accounts prepared on accruals basis.) I 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 recorded. *delete the words in the bmckets if they do not apply Slgned by or on behalf of the Examiner: Oate: Name: Elisa Brown FCCA, MAAT of E Brown Limi Relevant Professional Qualification{s) or body lif any): ACCA, AAT Address: Central Place, Clayton, Bradford, BD14 6AZ

8utt•rshaw Baptlst Church 2024 8alanc• Shoot Opening Balance 20379.24 Tolal income 45375.11 Total Payments 36145.77 29608.58 Co op Bank Banking in tr8nslt HI Account Youth & Communlty Account 29,608.58 0.00 0.00 29,608.58

Buttershaw Bapllsl Church Annual Flnanclal Aeport 2025 Genernl Racelpts and P•ym•nts Account Total Funds 2025 Notes Unrestricled Restrlcted Funds Funds 2024 Recelpts Offerings Donations Other Income Income Tax Recovered on Glfts Interest Rent - Family Centre Received for Other Causes Horne Mission Grant and Other Mlnlsterfal Income Balance from Eden accounl Youth and Cornmunlly 25,816.09 0.00 735.03 5,399.49 40.16 13,000.00 0.00 384.34 0.00 0.00 0.00 25,816.09 27,443.51 0.00 0.00 1,693.59 0.00 735.03 1,116.17 0.00 5,399.49 4,360.08 0.00 0.00 416.59 0.00 13,000.00 11,000.00 0.00 0.00 1,953.00 384.34 260.21 0.00 1,209.41 Total Recelpts: 45,375.11 0.00 45.375.11 49.452.56 Payments Ministry Outreach Church Premises Gifts to Other Causes Other Expenditure Youth and CommunSty - Mlsslon Total Paymènts: 6,539.99 201.41 17,946.25 5,530.00 4,940.50 987,62 36.145.77 0.00 6,539.99 29,778.10 0.00 201.41 1,005.63 0.00 17,946.25 11,310.92 0.00 5.530.00 6,395.00 0.00 4,940.50 3,684.38 0.00 987.62 791.05 0.00 36.145.77 52,965.08 10 11 12 Surplu8 (D•flelt) for th• y•ar Balance Brought Forward Balanc• Carrlod Forward 9,229.34 0.00 9,229.34 .3,512.52 12,145.44 15,657.96 21,374.78 12,145.44 Dlff from cash In hand Legacy Account Unrestricted Restrlcted Funds Funds Total Funds 2025 Notes 2024 Recelpts Legacy Total Recelpis 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,024.00 Payments Equipment Book-keeping Costs Total Payments 0.00 0.00 0.00 851.76 851.76 0.00 0.00 Surplus (Deflclt) for the year Balance Brought FO￿ard Balance Carrled Forward 1,172.24 3,438.95 4,611.19 2,587.19 2.587.19

Stalement of Ass•t8 and Llabllltle8 as at 31 st December 2025 Notes 2025 2024 Tanglble Flx•d Assets Property, Fixtures and Fittings 13 290,000 290,000 Tanglble Currnnt Assets Bank and Other Cash Balances 14 15 29,608.58 20,379.24 Reprnsentlng Balanc•s on th• Followlng Account8.' Co op Bank Banking in translt HI Account Youlh & Community Account 29.608.58 12,010.63 0.00 0.00 7,507.41 861.20 Llabllllles Current Liabilities Non-current Liabilities 29,608.58 20,379.24

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