**To**
## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date 1[st] April 2024 31[st] March 2025
**From**
## Section A Reference and administration details
**Charity name Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1176927**
Abbey Baptist Church
**Charity's principal address** Abbey Baptist Church
Checker Walk Abingdon **Postcode OX14 3JB**
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Graeme Stonell|Chair of trustees|||
||Chris Hawthorne||||
||John Lipp||||
||Elizabeth Rolfe||||
||Peter Akrill||||
||Stephen Mayo||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
## **Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**
**Name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of adviser Name Address**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
1
**Section B Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) CIO How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Elected by membership Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
- relationship with any related parties;
In addition to our constitution, we make use of our church handbook to guide our practice in the everyday running of our affairs. Elders direct the day-to-day operations of the church. All work conducted by the church is done under their leadership. The elders are also trustees of the charity and are joined by additional trustees. All elders and trustees are selected by the members in accordance with our church handbook.
We are affiliated to two external organisations (The Association of Grace Baptist Churches (Southeast) and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC)). The nature of these affiliations is mutually supporting and both bodies are non-governing of our church’s affairs.
- trustees’ consideration of As a long standing, stable church there are few operational risks. By major risks and the system offering services to vulnerable people there are risks associated to and procedures to manage appointing volunteers/workers. These are managed through our them. Safeguarding Policy.
## **Section C Objectives and activities**
The purposes of the Church are:
- the advancement of the Christian faith (in accordance with the Basis
- of Faith) primarily, but not exclusively, within Abingdon and the surrounding neighbourhood; and
**Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document**
- such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the members of the Church in general meeting, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life;
provided that the advancement of such purposes is undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the Ethical Statements as may be adopted and amended by the Church from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Church Handbook.
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
2
We seek to set up and respond to opportunities which allow us to fulfil our stated purposes, examples being as follows: `o` Our main weekly meetings including Sunday worship, midweek small groups and prayer opportunities have continued, with inperson and on-line attendance options at most meetings. `o` Our work amongst older people/seniors continues through regular events (Time Out For Seniors (TOFS) and coffee mornings), and support to local care homes, one of which regularly brings a group of residents to Sunday services.
`o` Work amongst young people, with specific weekly activities for primary aged children and older secondary children. One-off events **Summary of the main** have made some limited provision for those who do not fall into **activities undertaken for the** these age categories. **public benefit in relation to** `o` English language classes for non-native English speakers prove to **these objects (include within** be a useful service to attendees, but also an avenue which enables **this section the statutory** some attendees to explore the Christian faith for themselves. **declaration that trustees have** `o` The work of an outreach team to advance the Christian faith through **had regard to the guidance** events aimed at providing benefit to those who are outside of the **issued by the Charity** church. **Commission on public benefit)** The Trustees are satisfied that these activities are conducted in line with the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)**
We are not involved in awarding grants or in investing (except for holding reserves in an interest paying bank account).
All of our work is supported and enabled by volunteers from within our membership. The Trustees thank the members of the church who conduct all of these activities on a voluntary basis.
You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about:
- policy on grantmaking;
- policy programme related investment;
- contribution made by volunteers.
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
3
Section D Achievements and performance
**Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
During this year, we have continued to respond to opportunities which allow us to fulfil our stated purposes, as set out in the previous Section C. The continuance of these ministries is regarded as a worthy outcome for which we are glad and thankful each year. In particular, we note the following highlights from the year under report. The continual healthy level of interest in our in-person meetings and activities by a mixture of members, families of members and nonmembers is regarded as an essential achievement. The ongoing regular ministry and Bible teaching from our Minister has helped many in the understanding of the Christian faith. We have supported one person from the membership to attend a theological training course with a view to eventual entry into Church ministry for the advancement of the Christian faith. During the year, preaching opportunities have been extended to the individual to develop these strengths. We have also been running a preachers’ workshop to help develop the gifts and skills of members in the Church to take meetings and bring Bible teaching both to our Church and other Churches. The outreach team has continued to organise events aimed at providing benefit to those who are outside of the church, including quiz nights and meal evenings with thought-provoking epilogues, all with the aim of advancing understanding of the Christian faith. During February, we hosted a Bible Weekend to which we invited some local churches, where we spent time in depth looking at the Bible teaching on the resurrection and the end times and the difference this makes to our daily lives. The online provision of our main worship activities has continued to benefit our local supporters/beneficiaries, especially those for whom it is not possible or not wise to gather with the church. Although not fully measurable, we are also aware of a more geographically dispersed group of beneficiaries who have been able to continue to receive benefit through remote ministry. We believe that this also enables people to sample the ministry of the Church from a distance with a view to coming to attend in person in due course. The ‘additional needs’ team has continued to ensure we are doing everything reasonable to welcome people regardless of any additional needs they may have. This team has focussed on including those with additional needs within our existing programme of activities, and has influenced the way we present materials on screen so as to be readily accessible to people joining in.
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
4
## **Section E Financial review**
We seek to maintain reserves of around 3-6 months of operating **Brief statement of the** costs. These are held in order to cushion the effect of any unplanned **charity’s policy on reserves** short-term reduction in income or increase in expenditure.
**Details of any funds materially in deficit**
## **Further financial review details (Optional information)**
Our principal sources of funding are donations, supported in previous You **may choose** to include years by some modest income from the renting of property owned by additional information, where the Church. Donations have continued to be generously gifted by relevant about: members and supporters without any explicit fundraising initiatives. A • the charity’s principal £2000 grant was received from an external charity towards training for sources of funds (including an individual in the Church (see table in Section F). any fundraising);
• how expenditure has During the course of the year, it was necessary to sell the rentable property owned by the Church in order to raise money towards supported the key objectives purchase of the manse used by the Church, but which is owned by a of the charity; separate Charitable Trust. The property was marketed in May 2024, • investment policy and and the sale proceeded to completion in January 2025. This is objectives including any reflected in the accounts. Steps are in hand to purchase the manse in ethical investment policy the FY 2025/26. adopted. Our largest item of expenditure has been for the ministry of the church. This has funded the various activities and provided a salary for the staff who support and prepare every volunteer for their work. A summary of our examined accounts is provided in Section F.
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
5
**Section F Other optional information**
## **Financial Report for the year ending 31[st] March 2025**
|**Income and Expenditure**|**Notes**|**2024/25**|**2023/24**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**||||
|Donations to the church||108408|94809|
|Income fromproperties||3000|6000|
|Bank interest and other income||2960|3251|
|Donations for specificpurposes||2680|11601|
|Grants for support of trainee||2000||
|**Total income**||119048|**115661**|
|||||
|Designatedgiving paid out|2|2680|11601|
|Surplus on sale of Fixed Asset||12168||
|**Income for Church use**||**128536**|**104060**|
|||||
|**Expenditure**||||
|Ministryof the Church|3|63017|68342|
|Gifts made bythe Church|2|18036|18996|
|Church maintenance||21249|26388|
|Properties maintenance||4686|4031|
|||||
|**Total Expenditure**||**106988**|**117757**|
|||||
|**Net income(expenditure)**||**21548**|**-13697**|
|||||
|**Balance Sheet**|**Notes**|**2024/25**|**2023/24**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Fixed Assets**||||
|Church buildings andproperties|4|400000|860000|
|**Current Assets**||||
|Debtors||8663|5673|
|Cash at bank and in hand||553865|76119|
|**Total current assets**||**562528**|**81792**|
|Creditors||170|983|
|**Total Assets less liabilities**||**962358**|**940809**|
|||||
|**Represented by**||||
|Unrestricted funds||562358|80809|
|Restricted funds||||
|Capital funds||400000|860000|
|||||
|**Funds at end ofyear**||**962358**|**940809**|
|||||
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
6
||**Notes to the Accounts**
**1. Accounting policies**
_Basis of preparation and audit of accounts_
These accounts have been prepared on a historical cost and accruals basis and in accordance with the Charities
Commission SORP. The church is a small entity and therefore no cash flow statement is included and a full audit
report is not required.
_Church properties_
Church properties are held for the use of the church or for let to church members where possible.
The properties are held in the accounts at market value and are independently revalued every five years.
**2. Church Giving**
The church made gifts for the support of missionary work and other Christian work during the course of the year as
detailed below. These figures include gifts from members for specific missionary work and for other compassionate
purposes.
**2024/25**
Grace Baptist Mission
10060
Pilgrim Homes
2800
AGBC(SE)Home Mission
480
Mission work in Poland
1740
Mission work in Italy
1525
Open Doors
1000
Gifts to members
431
**Total Giving**
**18036**
**Designated Giving**
Grace Baptist Mission
620
Abingdon Food Bank
288
Special Appeal for Church in Rome
1500
Other compassion ministry
272
**Total**
**2680**
**3. The Ministry of the Church**
**2024/25**
**2023/24**
Elders and visitingspeakers
53114
52654
Outreach and Church Activities
2416
3746
Other
7487
11942
**63017**
**68342**
**4. Church Buildings and Properties**
During the year the church disposed of the property at 18 Radley Road, Abingdon. The proceeds are currently
invested in the Charities Official Investment Fund pending purchase of another property for occupation by our
Minister.
**2024/25**
**2023/24**
Brought forward
860000
860000
Revaluation in theyear
-460000
0
**Balance carried forward**
**400000**
**860000**|**Notes to the Accounts**
**1. Accounting policies**
_Basis of preparation and audit of accounts_
These accounts have been prepared on a historical cost and accruals basis and in accordance with the Charities
Commission SORP. The church is a small entity and therefore no cash flow statement is included and a full audit
report is not required.
_Church properties_
Church properties are held for the use of the church or for let to church members where possible.
The properties are held in the accounts at market value and are independently revalued every five years.
**2. Church Giving**
The church made gifts for the support of missionary work and other Christian work during the course of the year as
detailed below. These figures include gifts from members for specific missionary work and for other compassionate
purposes.
**2024/25**
Grace Baptist Mission
10060
Pilgrim Homes
2800
AGBC(SE)Home Mission
480
Mission work in Poland
1740
Mission work in Italy
1525
Open Doors
1000
Gifts to members
431
**Total Giving**
**18036**
**Designated Giving**
Grace Baptist Mission
620
Abingdon Food Bank
288
Special Appeal for Church in Rome
1500
Other compassion ministry
272
**Total**
**2680**
**3. The Ministry of the Church**
**2024/25**
**2023/24**
Elders and visitingspeakers
53114
52654
Outreach and Church Activities
2416
3746
Other
7487
11942
**63017**
**68342**
**4. Church Buildings and Properties**
During the year the church disposed of the property at 18 Radley Road, Abingdon. The proceeds are currently
invested in the Charities Official Investment Fund pending purchase of another property for occupation by our
Minister.
**2024/25**
**2023/24**
Brought forward
860000
860000
Revaluation in theyear
-460000
0
**Balance carried forward**
**400000**
**860000**|**Notes to the Accounts**
**1. Accounting policies**
_Basis of preparation and audit of accounts_
These accounts have been prepared on a historical cost and accruals basis and in accordance with the Charities
Commission SORP. The church is a small entity and therefore no cash flow statement is included and a full audit
report is not required.
_Church properties_
Church properties are held for the use of the church or for let to church members where possible.
The properties are held in the accounts at market value and are independently revalued every five years.
**2. Church Giving**
The church made gifts for the support of missionary work and other Christian work during the course of the year as
detailed below. These figures include gifts from members for specific missionary work and for other compassionate
purposes.
**2024/25**
Grace Baptist Mission
10060
Pilgrim Homes
2800
AGBC(SE)Home Mission
480
Mission work in Poland
1740
Mission work in Italy
1525
Open Doors
1000
Gifts to members
431
**Total Giving**
**18036**
**Designated Giving**
Grace Baptist Mission
620
Abingdon Food Bank
288
Special Appeal for Church in Rome
1500
Other compassion ministry
272
**Total**
**2680**
**3. The Ministry of the Church**
**2024/25**
**2023/24**
Elders and visitingspeakers
53114
52654
Outreach and Church Activities
2416
3746
Other
7487
11942
**63017**
**68342**
**4. Church Buildings and Properties**
During the year the church disposed of the property at 18 Radley Road, Abingdon. The proceeds are currently
invested in the Charities Official Investment Fund pending purchase of another property for occupation by our
Minister.
**2024/25**
**2023/24**
Brought forward
860000
860000
Revaluation in theyear
-460000
0
**Balance carried forward**
**400000**
**860000**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2024/25**|**2023/24**|
||Brought forward|860000|860000|
||Revaluation in theyear|-460000|0|
||**Balance carried forward**|**400000**|**860000**|
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
7
## **Section G Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
|**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary, Chair,**
**etc)**
**Date**|
Recoverable Signature
X
Graeme Stonell
Chair of Trustees
Signed by: 2c567fc3-44c2-4b60-a4eb-d73782f78dec|Recoverable Signature
X
John Lipp
Trustee
Signed by: 9B2DA16C838A4E3B91CB7AC0A91BBAE3|
|---|---|---|
||Graeme Paul Stonell|John David Lipp|
||
Chair|Trustee|
||||
||22-Sep-2025||
**Trustees’ Annual Report**
Sep 2025
8
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trustees
Abbey Baptist Church
On accounts for the year
ended
31 March 2025
Charity no
lif any)
1176927
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ('the Trust'l for the year ended 3111212025.
Responsibilities and
basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparalion of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charrties Act 2011
(°the Act")
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent
examiner's statement I have compleled my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come lo my attention in connection with the examination (other than that
disclosed below ') which gives 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 account5 did not accord with the acwunting records., or
the accounts did not comply wilh the applicable requirements
concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
thal 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.
Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do nol apply.
Signed:
Date:
Name:
Andrew Woods
Relevant professlonal
qualification{s} or body
(if any):
None
Address:
23 Blénheim Gardens
IER
Oct 2018
Grove
OX12 ONP
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and
guidance for examiners).
Glve here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
None
IER
Oct 2018