**Christ Church Baptist The Nap, Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 8ET www.christchurchbaptist.co.uk**
## 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
**Christ Church Baptist is a Registered Charity (number 1178514) Minister:** Revd Matt Powell **Secretary:** Mr Roy Farrant **Treasurer:** Mr Cameron Varley T: (01923) 267035
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **CONTENTS**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Secretary’s Report|3 - 4|
|Minister’s Report|5 - 6|
|Children and Youth Ministry|7 - 12|
|Coffee Shop and Bookshop|13 - 14|
|Friendship Café|15|
|Houme Groups|16|
|Wednesday Fellowship|17|
|Christian Aid|18 - 19|
|Social Activities|20|
|Property|21|
|Treasurer’s Report|22 -23|
|Financial Statements||
|Subject to Independent Examination|24 – 31|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|32|
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## **SECRETARY’S REPORT**
## **Administrative Information**
Minister: Revd Matt Powell (from 1 October 2025) Moderator: Revd Garry Jenkins (to 30 September 2025) Bookshop and Coffee Shop Co-Ordinator: Helen Bluff Lettings Manager: Helena Johnson New members: Tania Knight James Knight Matt Powell Tash Powell Member deaths: Marion Edwards Hazel Harper Secretary: Roy Farrant (re-appointed 24 March 2024) Treasurer: Cameron Varley (appointed 30 March 2023) Other Deacons: Mark Allchorn (re-appointed 25 March 2025) Phil Carpenter (to 25 March 2025) Simon Carver (appointed 25 March 2025) Joy Cooper (re-appointed 25 March 2025) Kate Sime (appointed 24 March 2024)
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## **SECRETARY’S REPORT (continued)**
## **Church Progress**
On the weekend of 1 and 2 March we celebrated 150 years of Christ Church. A display of memorabilia and pictures over the years was shown on the Saturday. On the Sunday our anniverary service was led by Revd Andrew Cowley, formerly minister at High Street Tring, recently retired as minister at Leigh Road Baptist Church, and a good friend to the church over many years. At the time of our anniversary Andrew was chair of trustees at the Baptist Union. The church was full, with many former friends and members as well as local councillors and ministers and guests from local churches. We all enjoyed chatting with one another over a lovely buffet lunch after the service.
The undoubted highlight of the church’s year was the induction service for our new minister, Reverend Matt Powell, on Saturday 15 November, after an interregnum of three years and following an almost unanimous call at the church meeting held on 20 August. The service was led by Revd Maureen Hider, Moderator of Central Baptist Association. Once again the church was full. Matt and his wife Tash moved into the manse at the end of October and have quickly become an integral part of church life.
As always, there are so many people doing so many jobs in the church. Church life would be very different without these willing volunteers enthusiastically helping week by week: musicians; coffee servers; supply purchasers; youth work helpers; fabric maintainers; p.a. operators; home group leaders; givers of lifts; and many other things: the list goes on and on. We are very grateful for everyone’s hard work and dedication.
We know that our Lord is with us as we enter a new chapter of life at Christ Church, with a new minister at the helm. The work in Kings Langley outlasts us all: it started 150 years ago and we’re excited to see where God leads in the years ahead.
Roy Farrant Church Secretary
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**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **MINISTER’S REPORT**
It is always a privilege to join a church as a minister and become part of their journey of faith in the community in which they are called to serve and witness.
In August 2025 we began our journey towards accepting a call to become minister of CCB. As we took that journey, I could see a church that had worked hard during the interregnum to not only keep things going but to continue their call to be a positive and effective witness in the community.
One of the things that really attracted us to the church was its work in the community and just how many people come through the doors of the church throughout the week, and so felt this was a church where we did not have to ask: how do we get people into our church; but to ask the question: how do we take these people on a journey of faith and disciple them into a relationship with Jesus.
As we arrived in October, we began the process of listening and reflecting on what would be the key priorities in the early part of my ministry at the church.
Here are some of the initial things that have taken place in the early months of my arrival:
- It was important that people felt valued and appreciated for all they do in the life of the church and community. Pastoral care was the first thing that we explored together to make sure everyone connected with CCB felt welcomed, supported, encouraged and loved.
- Recognising the challenges of all local churches in fulfilling mission due to financial restraints, aging congregations and fewer volunteers; all discussions we are having recognise that whatever we do in the future needs to be sustainable and that we are a church that develops and encourages new leaders and volunteers.
One important area of sustainability is working in partnership with other churches in the village. The early part of my time here has opened up opportunities to develop these relationships in 2026.
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## **MINISTER’S REPORT (continued)**
- A key part of people seeking a church is how a church communicates with the community. An area that needed addressing was the church website, and so we have begun the journey towards creating a new website, which will be up and running in the early part of 2026.
The leaders all meet once a month where we reflect on the whole of church life and we continue to reflect upon and discuss some of the following topics:
- Prayer and worship;
- What it means to be an inclusive church;
- Pastoral needs of a changing church and community;
- How do we disciple those we have contact with – connecting them into the life of the church family (have we the right steps in place);
- Discipleship through small groups – and how we develop and grow these groups;
- Continually looking for ways into our community and building strong healthy relationships.
As a church we are grateful to all who give (both financially and also with their time). As a Baptist church we are heavily reliant on our members and those who call CCB their family, and so we are grateful to everyone who contributes to the life of CCB.
As a minister, I am thankful for the leadership team who serve with me, and together we help the church fulfil its mission and calling, all discerned by the members of CCB.
In the early part of 2026, it has been good to welcome some new people into the church life and we continue to pray that as we move through 2026, we will grow as church spiritually and numerically.
I am thankful to God for calling us to CCB and we look forward to all that is to come.
With every blessing to all who report this annual report.
Matt Powell Minister
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## **CHILDREN’S & YOUTH MINISTRY**
## **Sunday mornings**
The Sunday morning children’s group continues to be a warm, friendly space where children can feel ‘at home’ and learn about God’s love through play. We typically have one to three children each week and this little group have formed good friendships with each other. We are also sometimes joined by grandchildren of church members which is always a delight. Due to the wide variety of ages and needs of the children we adapt each session depending on which children are present. A typical session usually consists of active games (such as bouncing ‘Jeffery’ on the parachute!), a Bible story, songs, making a craft to take home and playing with the Duplo or playdough.
Ruth Clark and Joy Cooper take it in turns to lead the sessions and we are very grateful to Annette James, Gillian Spencer and Pam Boyling who help each week on a rota basis, as well as Glenda Turner who stands in when people are away. If anyone else is interested in helping, particularly when our regular helpers are on holiday, please speak to Joy.
We recently asked the families for their views on our current Sunday morning provision and we received some very positive feedback saying how much they appreciate the group and how well it meets their children’s needs.
We keep in touch with the parents via a WhatsApp group and post a reminder every week to join us on Sunday and highlight any upcoming church events. Please pray for our church children and their families, that God would strengthen and uphold them in the weeks and months ahead.
## **Midweek groups**
- **First Steps** is our pre-school group for children and their parents, and quite a lot of grandparents join us too.
We meet on a Thursday morning during term time. During the past year we have welcomed between ten and nineteen families each week, so on average twenty-five to thrity-five people in the Upper Hall. Over the year we’ve had contact with twentyfive regular families and approximately twenty other families who pop in less regularly. It’s lovely to see Dads pop in on occasions to see what fun their children get up to. We also have two Dads who come regularly as the main carer for their child.
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## **CHILDREN’S & YOUTH MINISTRY (continued)**
## **First Steps (continued)**
It’s a lively morning with lots of fun for the children, playing and learning to share with
each other. Plenty of chat for their parents/carers, making friendships and deepening relationships week by week. It’s not unusual to find a group of adults sitting at the playdough table, moulding and squishing playdough whilst chatting and their children are playing elsewhere!
We don’t just offer a fun time, we offer parents a listening ear and occasionally a shoulder to cry on and a chance to share the highs and lows of parenting small children and supporting them in this.
We see it as a part of our church’s mission outreach to our village as we welcome non church families into our sessions and offer a happy, safe space for all. We regularly pray for them and offer an opportunity for them to share their thoughts and maybe ask us for prayer. It’s great to be able to share our faith too when the opportunity arises.
Half way through the morning we stop for a chance for the children that are able to sit
round the table for refreshments, and parents are offered a cuppa and biscuit too.
We end the morning after clearing away the toys with a happy, noisy song time accompanied by musical instruments.
We are grateful for our small team of regular helpers from the church and past connections with First Steps who serve on our refreshment rota. A group this size really does rely on teamwork for it to run successfully and to give the leaders time to chat to get to know the parents and build relationships. So thank you so much for those who have helped us in this way during the past year.
Thank you also to Gillian Spencer for her supportive help and friendliness week by week when she’s available, we’re so grateful.
It’s been good to have Matt Powell come since he’s arrived to meet and chat with the families for part of the morning when he’s available. We shared the gospel message of Christmas by way of a video and hope to build on these times. Sharing the message of Easter will be a bit more challenging for three year olds and under, so we value prayers for that.
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## **CHILDREN’S & YOUTH MINISTRY (continued)**
## **First Steps (continued)**
Glenda Turner and Judith Hutchinson are now juggling their time as grandparents themselves and are giving their own children childcare support during the week. So we’d be grateful for any offers of help to join the refreshment team or help to run the group on a regular basis.
Above all we are grateful for your prayers for this group week by week as we seek to serve our Lord in His name.
Matthew 18: 5. “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”
Judith Hutchinson and Glenda Turner First Steps Leaders
- **7Up.** This group for eight to eleven year olds (school years four to six) is held every Friday from 7.00 to 8.15pm during term time and is also an important part of Christ Church’s outreach in the community. In September, ten of the children who had been with us for several years moved up to Ultim8. We miss them, but are delighted to see that most of them are still regularly attending on a Friday night.
This left us with just four children at 7Up, but we continued to meet and encouraged the children to bring friends as well as advertising on social media. We have now grown to nine children, some of whom come from as far afield as Hemel Hempstead and we thank God for His faithfulness to us in bringing new families into our church building.
Sessions are based around a weekly episode of Friends and Heroes which includes an animated Bible story. Activities include cooking, crafts, puzzles and team games.
Jan Farrant, Joy Cooper and Neil Cooper help every week and take turns to lead the Bible talk, craft or games. We have been very pleased that since November Matt Powell has also been able to help out for the first half hour (before joining Ultim8) which has taken the pressure off setting up and also enables the children to get to know him. We are also very grateful to Tania Knight and Margaret Parsons who help as an ‘extra pair of hands’ when we are cooking or one of us is away.
Joy Cooper 7Up Leader
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## **CHILDREN’S & YOUTH MINISTRY (continued)**
- **Ultim8** is a youth group for children of Secondary School age, and meets at 8pm on term-time Friday evenings. We aim to provide an informal, safe space where children can catch up with their friends, play games, do crafts or cooking, or just chat. Numbers had grown to sixteen by the end of the year, with ten children moving up from 7Up after the summer. We are pleased that some of our older children are with us for a third year.
The evening generally starts in the small hall with refreshments and table games available, and usually time upstairs later with bean-bag chairs, volleyball, dodgeball, parachute games, air hockey, table tennis, rag hockey etc.
Cookery sessions have included making garlic bread, Vietnamese Summer rolls, pancakes and trifles. Other activities have included making bird boxes, lashing small camping frames from branches, clay models, friendship bracelets, decorating vases and, around the 80th anniversary of VE Day, deciphering morse code and encrypted messages. A trip to a climbing wall was enjoyed in the Autumn, and a bowling evening is planned soon.
The evening generally includes a short period where we encourage the children to reflect on and discuss Christian values.
Joy Cooper has continued to support the group with planning, oversight, communications and advice. Mick Hayter ‘retired’ over the summer for a well-earned rest – we are grateful for the support he gave so consistently to enable the group to keep running. Ultim8 has benefited from the arrival in the Autumn of our new minister Matt Powell, and his experience and enthusiasm in engaging with the children, and helping Caroline Oxer lead the group. The regular team of helpers continues with Gill Smith & Annie Brett, Gillian Spender & Mark Allchorn, whose support is much appreciated, together with occasional help from other church members.
Caroline Oxer Ultim8 Leader
## **Schools**
Over the past year Joy Cooper has maintained our contact with ‘Youth Across Hemel’ who run two lunchtime groups at Kings Langley Secondary School and soon after he arrived Matt Powell met with them to discuss the current situation and possible
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## **CHILDREN’S & YOUTH MINISTRY (continued)**
## **Schools (continued)**
opportunities for the future. Youth Across Hemel were delighted to be chosen as one of our ‘charities of the year’ and have expressed their deep gratitude for our prayers and financial gifts for their work.
Since arriving Matt has also tried to establish contact with Kings Langley Primary School but, as of yet, there have been no openings there. Please pray that the school may be receptive to Matt going in to speak to staff and children.
## **Community Events**
- **Carnival.** Although not as many people visited our ‘Tea Tent’ at the Kings Langley Carnival this year due to a much larger contingent of professional food & drink outlets, we still served several families and were able to give out flyers about our children’s groups as well as having some good conversations.
- **Christmas Lights.** Once again the weather was in our favour and the constant rain meant we were very busy in the church! As people came in to dry off and get a warm drink, they were given a ‘candy cane’ and were encouraged to explore the story of how the candy cane came about. A large number of families with young children visited the church and many meaningful conversations were had, particularly with several people who were new to the village. We pray that these families will remember Christ Church as a place of warmth and welcome and will visit us again soon.
- **Churches Together.** Matt Powell has been having regular conversations with James McDonald (All Saints) and Andrew Brazier (Methodists) about working together to create something new, fresh and sustainable for children, youth and families work in Kings Langley. More about this in 2026!
## **Conclusion**
In conclusion, we give thanks to God for His goodness to us. There is a lot going on for children and youth at Christ Church and many new exciting plans for 2026. Please pray for wisdom as we seek God’s will; for strength as none of us are getting any younger! For safety as parents entrust their children to us and, most of all, that the children and
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## **CHILDREN’S & YOUTH MINISTRY (continued)**
## **Conclusion (continued)**
families we work with will feel Christ’s love through us and come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
Thank you to everyone who supports the Children and Youth Work either through prayer or action, it is really appreciated. Please do contact me if you have any suggestions or are able to help in any way.
Joy Cooper
Children and Youth Work Co-ordinator
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## **COFFEE SHOP AND BOOKSHOP**
Here we are again after another year and I must say I feel so proud to be involved in this wonderful outreach to our village and am humbled to work with so many dedicated and caring individuals from our church and also from the wider community. We have continued to be open on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings as well as hosting one off events such as the Christian Aid coffee morning and being open during the Festival of Lights.
Anne Armstrong and Kate Sime, despite having technically retired long ago, continue to be supportive in practical and encouraging ways and special thanks go to our brilliant Helen Bluff as our full time worker - she remains part of the family and such an important part of our offering. We have proved that last year’s increased sales were not a one-off and have maintained our healthy levels of custom, both in refreshments and books and cards, meaning that the Christian message has spread not only by our actions, but also by the written word too. Wednesdays have become a regular day to welcome our new friends from Waterside and I have personally enjoyed getting to know some of those characters and look forward to getting to know more of them this coming year.
Of course, we could not do any of this without our faithful bank of volunteers, be they servers, cashiers, bakers, visitors, administrators, preparers, cleaners, dish washers or encouragers. I would like to join the church in personally thanking every one of them and wish them God’s blessing for their sacrifice.
Now that we have our new minister, I am excited to see how Matt Powell would like to use this valuable asset to the community and to see how we might be able to use these links to further promote the Lord’s work in Kings Langley.
If you feel that you would like to be involved in this endeavour, in any capacity, please do come and have a chat with me. Given my own personal circumstances, I don’t have the time these days that I used to have and so would welcome any help.
Our coffee shop is not meant to be competition for the other businesses in the village but a place to come to enjoy good coffee and cake in a spiritual setting, this will continue. Unfortunately, Christian bookshops are few and far between these days and I’m so pleased that we are able to offer people the opportunity to purchase a greetings card with a Christian message or a bible or a book. We don’t seek to make a profit on our coffee, cakes and books,
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## **COFFEE SHOP AND BOOKSHOP (continued)**
but I know that the Kingdom of God is richer with every sale we make.
God bless, Cameron
Galatians 5:13. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Cameron Varley
Coffee Shop and Bookshop Leader
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## **FRIENDSHIP CAFÉ**
The Friendship Café has grown in popularity this year, especially among the men. We regularly receive more than twenty guests and unlike in the early days when the men were significantly outnumbered, the morning is equally welcoming to all sexes and even, under the stewardship of Lee Lewis, has seen a number of younger ladies attending – which has been a real benefit to the jigsaw corner!
Church family are encouraged to support this in any way they can and we have had a wonderful response. We meet in the Lower Hall, which is set up with tables in a communal layout, unique from the coffee shop layout, so people can chat as a large group or on individual tables and indeed have done both over the last few weeks. Our Christian bookshop is also open at the same time.
A special thanks go to Lee, a lady who had been a regular attender and had assumed the responsibility for serving drinks on the morning with help from Sam – also a regular attender. Lee has recently moved into Hemel Hempstead and I am also pleased to say has found employment as a SEN Teaching Assistant. We give her our heartfelt thanks for all she has meant to us at the Friendship Café and wish her well in her new role.
It has certainly been the case that the Lord has provided for us, and just at the same time that things were changing for Lee, Kath White has stepped forward and has taken over from Lee being responsible for the supervision of the morning.
We have been able to maintain our thought for the day slot – a two minute bible verse and message, which has been enthusiastically received. In my absence, we have set up a rota of volunteers who make a guest appearance to speak at 11am. Thank you to all who have taken part in this, Allan Humphris, Ricky Armstrong and Will Sime are regular contributors. I have been fortunate to witness all three of them, all different and all spot on – thank you for your hard work guys. If you would like to be considered for the rota do please let me know.
We look forward to seeing what Matt Powell would like to do with this group into the future.
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Cameron Varley Friendship Café Leader
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## **HOME GROUPS**
As the name suggests, **Nomads** is the home group that moves location from week to week. There are nine members who meet on Thursday evenings for worship, fellowship and study.
The **Abbots Home Group** has eleven members and began meeting at the beginning of the year at Joy and Neil Cooper’s home, on the first and third Tuesday each month. Both groups follow roughly the same pattern and programme.
After refreshments, we usually begin with watching Christian music videos, which is also a way of introducing us to new songs.
During the last year we looked at how we, as ordinary people, can have an impact on the world, as we followed one of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity’s ‘Frontline’ series. We explored our Baptist Roots when we watched a film that brought to life some of the characters from our history. The Bible Society’s Bible Course took us through the all 66 chapters from Genesis to Revelation and we learned how God’s story is told through Scripture. We also spent some time looking at the experiences of the first Christians as we studied some passages from the Acts of the Apostles.
Our evenings end with sharing news and praying for one another, for the church and for the world.
Nomads also have occasional evenings when there is no programme and we enjoy fellowship, share scripture and favourite music as well as praying together. There was also a visit to the cinema before Easter to have a meal and watch a couple of episodes of The Chosen on the ‘big screen’. The year ended with a Christmas social.
Two new home groups are being planned for 2026.
Simon Carver
on behalf of the Home Groups
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## **WEDNESDAY FELLOWSHIP**
We meet on alternate Wednesday afternoons (2.15 – 4.00pm) in the Lower Hall and start with tea & biscuits as we welcome, on average, ten to twelve neighbours and friends.
Our main purpose is to provide a social gathering place where we can introduce folk to forthcoming church events, and encourage practical activities, such as knitting items for the Shoeboxes, woollen ‘hearts’ for Watford Schools Trust, and trimming stamps to raise funds for a disability charity. We usually include a quiz and a Thought for the Day into our programme, and occasionally welcome a visiting speaker.
There is no charge, but we collect donations to sponsor a child (Afsana) in Kolkata as part of the IMMC organisation. We also keep in touch with Dr Graham Homes based in Kalimpong, India, as Louise Laws is an ex-pupil. We normally have a break in August.
## Mira Masters
on behalf of the Wednesday Fellowship Group
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## **CHRISTIAN AID**
We are very grateful for the excellent total of £11,735 (including Gift Aid) raised this year and thank everyone who has contributed to this in any way. The full report is available at: https://www.kings-langley-churches.org.uk/christian-aid.
## **Fund raising**
Our fund raising began with a quiz at the Services Club in February when 78 people across our Community came together to raise £1,061.
In May we focused on our core activity of Christian Aid Week. We had a great time together at the Coffee Morning and are very grateful for the support of everyone at the Bookshop in helping us share time together and raise £358. The ‘House-to-House’ Collection is the key part of the week and many from our churches and local community helped deliver and collect envelopes. It is not an easy task, and we are grateful for the faithfulness of our collectors in raising £4,206.
In November we returned to ‘La Banq’ restaurant in Abbots Langley when 61 people shared together some excellent food and friendship and raised £1,130 which was sent to the ‘Gaza appeal’.
Christmas is a popular time for fund raising and we enjoyed the children from Nash Mills and Divine Saviour Schools singing in the Marlowes when we raised £547 and also for ‘Carols in the Village Garden’ when about a hundred and fifty people came together and we appreciated the contributions of £338.
## **Worship and prayer**
Our United Service this year was at All Saints Parish Church, when our guest speaker was Lucy Hamilton who shared the story of Aurelia, an Indigenous woman in Guatemala who, with support from a Christian Aid partner, learned to make and sell chocolate -enabling her to support her grandchildren and contribute to the wider community.
Each week in the Church notices we include a prayer about the work of Christian Aid, and we appreciate all who use it as part of their private devotions and the intercessions in church.
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## **CHRISTIAN AID (continued)**
## **Wider Outlook**
Looking outwards throughout the year we supported Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Gaza, responding to national appeals and appreciated people donating generously through red buckets and online raising £2,874.
In February Paul Tucker met with the local MP, Gaghan Mohindra, and Paul was able to discuss with him some key issues that Christian Aid were concerned about.
## **And finally: Does it make a difference?**
Chance, featured in this year’s Christmas Appeal, lived in a small farming community in eastern DRC. She and her husband ran a shop and hoped to provide a stable future for their children. When violence reached her village, she fled on foot with her family, searching for safety. She is one of millions displaced in one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises. Christian Aid and its partners provided cash grants that help mothers buy food, medicine, and essentials for their families.
Thank you for helping make this possible.
Paul Tucker
On behalf of the ecumenical village Christian Aid team
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## **SOCIAL ACTIVITIES**
We started the year in January with ‘Breakfast with Ed’. He shared his faith as someone involved in professional football, as finance director with Charlton Athletic FC. This proved very successful and was enjoyed by over thirty people, many of whom not directly involved at Christ Church.
In February more than twenty of our ladies were entertained by the men of the Church to a delicious Valentine's dinner. They were even given a rose to go home with.
In March we held a film matinee of ‘Migration’, which was enjoyed by over fifty people of all ages, many of whom were not otherwise connected to the Church.
May Day Bank Holiday Monday saw twenty of us, young and old, have a round at Jungle Golf in Stanmore. Although slightly wet, this was very enjoyable and may be worth repeating on a day other than a Bank Holiday.
Unfortunately the Church Fun Day with bouncy castle, planned for July, had to be cancelled due to very poor weather. Plans are in place to hold the picnic in 2026 as the Chipperfield school have kindly held over our booking for a year.
Two of our three planned summer walks did manage to go ahead though, and despite low turnouts those who went had really enjoyable evenings.
In September around thirty joined in for a fun game of beetle. There was fierce competition, especially from the winning family who brushed all competition aside.
In October the anniversary celebrations continued with a production led by Joyful Noise Choir of Roger Jones’ musical ‘Two Sisters and a Funeral’. Many from the Church attended and several were part of the choir for the evening.
The year ended with a festive meal out for the men of the church. Since some of the chaps don't do spicy we changed the venue to Osteria and it proved a successful switch with around fifteen enjoying a delicious meal together.
All in all a very busy year in the social life of Christ Church.
Will Sime
On behalf of Social Committee
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## **PROPERTY**
- **Dec-24/Jan-25** Several external lights replaced by Neil Cooper, now motion activated. Minor electrical improvements made in the lounge and corridor prior to the planned redecorating.
- **Feb-25** Annual fire alarm and extinguisher checks completed.
- **Mar-25** Sloping rubber ramp provided in doorway to bookshop.
- **Apr-25** Redecorations carried out to the lounge, the back corridor, the staircase, and a small area in the vestibule.
Main doors to foyer redecorated.
New uPvc window with top hung sashes installed in the kitchen, to comply with fire regulations.
- **May-25** Dumb-waiter in kitchen and upper hall blocked off and both areas redecorated.
New kitchen area installed in the upper hall.
- **Jul-25** Glass entrance door locks to sanctuary replaced.
- **Aug-25** Toilet cistern repairs carried out.
- **Sep-25** Various joinery repairs and improvements carried out.
New hand rails fitted to gallery staircases; balustrade strengthened.
Foyer doors repaired and a new bottom lock fitted.
New doors fitted to ladies and gents toilets (these will be temporarily removed during the toilet refurbishment next year).
Kitchen to corridor swing door repaired (NB: problem still exists with door closure plate which needs replacing).
Block paving leading to the main entrance and foyer relayed.
- **Oct-25** Kitchen dishwasher replaced.
- **Nov25** Room between Sanctuary and Minnows cleared and prepared as Minister’s office.
Further repairs and improvements will continue subject to finances and the future anticipated requirements of the Church.
Hedley Edwards
Property Steward
Mark Allcorn
Deacon for Property
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **21** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **TREASURER’S REPORT**
Again this year the annual accounts have been prepared in line with the Baptist Union's suggested format for churches with an annual income under £250,000.
## **Headlines from the Accounts**
2025 was an eventful year culminating with the appointment of our new minister, Revd Matt Powell, beginning in October. The church has largely remained strong as a fellowship, continuing to care for one another and the surrounding village. We feel that we have maintained our profile in our village and are excited to see the direction which Matt will lead us into in the coming months and years.
In 2025 the total receipts reduced again by £16,387 to £113,931. This is largely due to a drop in the weekly offering of £9,579 and the corresponding drop in Gift Aid from the drop in offering last year of £3,796. It is also worth noting that the hall hire receipts also dropped this year by £1,942. This may well be due to the current difficulties we are facing as a country in general with the increased cost of living, but it would be remiss of me not to point out this possible concern for the future financial stability of the church. I appreciate that we are currently very cash rich, which may colour our attitude to giving, but would like to document this cautionary message that could become more significant in the future.
Gift Aid receipts this year were £9,800, dropping in line with the reduction in giving last year, which was also a reduction in the year before.
On a positive note, the bookshop and coffee shop, which had registered a 20% growth in the previous year (£19,781), have consolidated this performance with very little change, coming in at £19,671. This, as well as the Friendship café on Thursdays, remains a much valued resource for the village and an excellent point of contact between the church and the rest of our local community. From its inception, we took the decision not to charge for the Friendship Café and this is still the case.
Receipts from children’s groups have reduced slightly this year to £2,068 from £2,252 the year before. We remain fully committed to keep this worthwhile ministry going although help is always needed.
Without a minister for most of the year, we have continued to let out the manse which has brought in over £15,277 in rent, which is more than the previous year although this will of course not be present at all in the coming year.
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **22** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **TREASURER’S REPORT (continued)**
Turning to the expenses of the church, there has been an overall increase in payments this year of £21,791 which is in large part due to additional repairs and maintenance of the church premises (£12,766) and minister’s stipend, pension and related moving and ancillary expenses (£10,963).
Accordingly the church’s liquid assets have increased overall to £255,484.
Concerning external causes, the church has given £3,750 to CBA and £3,750 to BMS World Mission. The dual nominated ‘Charity of the Year’s for 2025 were the Waterside Project and Youth Across Hemel. A total of £1,342 was collected for these causes: £630 was paid to Youth Across Hemel in December 2025 and £630 was paid to Waterside in January 2026 with the remainder being paid after the end of the charity of the year period being March, 2026. Total giving to external causes amounted to 11.3% of our tithed receipts for the year which for clarity consists of offering, gift aid, bank interest and receipts from our bookshop and coffee shop. The percentage relating to BMS and CBA specifically totalled 9.6%. We have yet to agree who the charity of the year will be for 2026.
CCB continues to hold the majority of its reserves in a Baptist Union deposit account. Baptist Churches are encouraged to do so as this provide funds to the Baptist Union which are used to make loans to finance the purchase of new church sites and manses, fund the construction of new churches and redevelopment and improvement projects.
The deacons have considered the financial position of the Church and believe that we will be able to pay all bills, invoices, charges and other liabilities as they fall due.
The work of the treasurer is dependent on other supporting people. Particular thanks go to:
- all those who have given to the work of the church in 2025, either by way of regular monthly donations or in other ways. The weekly/monthly offering amounted to £46,530 for the full year;
- the offering counting team;
- Roy Farrant who has managed the payroll. The church currently has four individuals on payroll;
- Our lettings manager, Helena Johnson, for managing the hiring of our premises. The church has received £15,852 through hall hire in the year.
Cameron Varley Treasurer 5 July 2026
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **23** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Consolidated CCB Receipts and Payment Account**
**2025**
**2024**
**_Receipts_**|**Consolidated CCB Receipts and Payment Account**
**2025**
**2024**
**_Receipts_**|
|---|---|
|
**_Receipts_**||
|General Fund
Kings Bookshop and Coffee Shop Fund
Children's Groups
**_Payments_**
General Fund
Kings Bookshop and Coffee Shop Fund
Children's Groups
**_Surplus (deficit) for the year_**|92,192
108,285
19,671
19,781
2,068
2,252
**113,931**
**130,318**
80,040
58,713
18,761
17,166
1,591
2,722
**100,392**
**78,601**
**13,538**
**51,718**|
|**General Fund- Receipts and Payments**||
|**Note**|**2025**
**2024**|
|**_Receipts_**
Weekly Offering
Donations and other income
2
Income tax received on gifts (Gift Aid)
Investment income
3
Letting of Manse
Rents & contributions for use of premises
Raised for other causes
4
**_Payments_**
Ministry
5
Mission
6
Upkeep of Church Premises
7
Administration
8
**_Surplus (deficit) for the year_**|46,530
56,109
1,134
1,845
9,800
13,597
2,257
3,804
15,277
13,147
15,852
17,793
1,342
1,990
**92,192**
**108,285**
23,068
12,635
8,820
12,062
46,473
32,376
1,679
1,639
**80,040**
**58,713**
**12,152**
**49,573**|
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **24** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
|**Kings Bookshop and Coffee Shop (KBCS)**|**Fund- Receipts and Payments**|
|---|---|
||**2025**
**2024**|
|**Receipts**
Sale of books, cards, gifts etc
Refreshments
**Payments**
Bookshop worker gross salary
Purchase of books, cards, etc
Refreshments
Card Machine Charges
Donation to Christian Aid
**_Surplus (deficit) for the year_**|6,700
6,912
12,970
12,869
**19,671**
**19,781**
10,016
9,306
4,347
3,961
4,398
3,621
0
23
0
256
**18,761**
**17,166**
**910**
**2,614**|
|**Childrens Groups- First Steps- Receipts and Payments**||
||**2025**
**2024**|
|**Receipts**
Subscriptions
**Payments**
Related Expenses
**_Surplus (deficit) for the year_**|906
1,040
**906**
**1,040**
268
435
**268**
**435**
**638**
**605**|
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **25** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
|**Childrens Groups-7Up- Revel8- Receipts**|**and Payments**||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**Receipts**
Subscriptions
**Payments**
Related Expenses
**_(Deficit)/Surplus for the year_**|1,162
**1,162**
1,323
**1,323**
**-161**|1,212|
|||**1,212**|
|||2,286|
|||**2,286**|
||||
|||**-1,074**|
||||
|**Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December 2025**|||
|**_Assets_**
**2025**||**2024**|
|Bank and other cash balances
9
255,484
**_Representing balances on the following funds_**
General Fund
10
250,484
KBCS Fund
11
3,000
First Steps Fund
12
1,000
Revel8 and 7Up Fund
13
1,000
**TOTAL**
255,484
Non monetary assets held for the
Church's own use
14
3,490,329
**Total Assets**
**3,745,813**
**_Liabilities_**
Baptist Pension Scheme Liabilities
15
0
**Total Debt**
**0**||241,945
236,945
3,000
1,000
1,000|
|||241,945|
|||3,365,397|
|||**3,607,342**|
|||0|
|||**0**|
||||
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **26** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
1. Basis of accounts: These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and accord with Section 133 Charities Act 2011
|**2. Donations and other income**|**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
|Donations / Contribution to overheads
Legacies
Other items
**3. Investment income**
Bank interest
**4. Raised for Other Causes**
_Joint Charity of the Year:_
Waterside and Youth Across Hemel
**5. Outgoing - Ministry**
Minister's (gross) stipend
Pension Contribution
Minister's Travel and Pulpit Supplies
Church Activities / Sunday services
Anniversary Celebrations
Visiting Speakers
Subscriptions and Licences
_Manse Costs:_
Utilities (council tax, water, light & heat)
Insurance
Repairs / upkeep|372
0
762
**1,134**
2,257
**2,257**
**1,342**
6,471
1,679
2,823
2,765
1,304
3,923
1,562
114
852
1,575
**23,068**|695
0
1,150
**1,845**
3,804
**3,804**
**1,990**
0
10
0
2,241
0
5,177
1,466
1,693
1,478
570
**12,635**|
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **27** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Notes to the Accounts (continued)**
|**6. Outgoing - Mission**|**2025**
**2024**|
|---|---|
|Given to BMS
Given to CBA
Given to charity of the year
Other Donations
Outreach
World Day of Prayer|3,750
4,530
3,750
4,530
896
2,045
240
0
184
857
0
100
**8,820**
**12,062**|
|**7. Outgoing - Upkeep of Church Premises**||
|Utilities (light & heat)
Insurance
Repairs and Maintenance
Cleaner's salary
**8. Outgoing - Administration**
Administrator's salary
**9. Bank and other cash balances**
Barclays CCB CIO General Account
Baptist Union Deposit Account
Barclays KBCS CIO Account
Cash(Note 2)
Note 2: £40 KBCS £10 First Steps|11,346
9,578
2,737
3,026
25,936
13,170
6,454
6,602
**46,473**
**32,376**
1,679
1,639
**1,679**
**1,639**
24,522
14,553
222,260
220,003
8,652
7,339
50
50
**255,484**
**241,945**|
|**10. General Fund**|**2025**
**2024**|
|Opening balance
Net receipts/(payments) for the year
Transferred from KBCS Fund
Transferred from First Steps Fund
Transferred to 7Up-Revel8 Fund
Closing balance|236,945
185,227
12,152
49,573
910
2,614
638
605
-161
-1,074
**250,484**
**236,945**|
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **28** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Notes to the Accounts (continued)**
||**2025**
**2024**|**2025**
**2024**|
|---|---|---|
|**11. KBCS Fund**|||
|Opening balance
3,000
3,000
Net receipts/(payments) for the year
910
2,614
Transferred to General Fund
-910
-2,614
Closing balance
**3,000**
**3,000**
**12. First Steps Fund**
Opening balance
1,000
1,000
Net receipts/(payments) for the year
638
605
Transferred to General Fund
-638
-605
Closing balance
**1,000**
**1,000**
**13. Childrens Groups - 7Up Revel8**
Opening balance
1,000
1,000
Net receipts/(payments) for the year
-161
-1,074
Transferred from General Fund
161
1,074
Closing balance
**1,000**
**1,000**
**14. Non monetary assets held for the Church's own use**
_The church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets, the_|||
||**2025**|**2024**|
|Church premises, insured value (The
Nap, Kings Langley, Herts, WD4 8ES)
Church manse, insured value (2
Belham Road, Kings Langley, Herts,
WD4 8BY)
Church organ insured value (Note 3)
The church also owns fixtures, furniture
and equipment with an insured value of|2,712,637
626,679
151,013
**3,490,329**|2,620,942
598,547
145,908
**3,365,397**|
|Note 3: Baptist Insurance have clarified that the organ insured value is included in the total|||
|figure for Church premises insured value.|||
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **29** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Notes to the Accounts (continued)**
## **15. Baptist Pension Scheme Liabilities**
## **Pension Scheme**
The Church is a participating employer the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”), which is a separate legal entity administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited). The Scheme, previously known as the Baptist Ministers Pension Fund, started in 1925. At the beginning of the 2024 financial year, the scheme comprised of a defined benefits scheme which was closed to future accrual on 31 December 2011 and a defined contribution plan which was opened in January 2012.The assets of the Scheme are held separately from those of the Employer and the other participating employers.
For the current and previous financial year, the pension provision for members of the Scheme is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. In general, members pay 8% of their Pensionable Income and employers pay 6% of members’ Pensionable Income into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Broadstone Corporate Benefits Ltd. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of Pensionable Income to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members if they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva Limited. Furthermore, members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of Pensionable Income, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.
The Minister and some members of the church staff are eligible to join the Scheme.
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **30** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Notes to the Accounts (continued)**
## **15. Baptist Pension Scheme Liabilities (continued)**
## **Pension Scheme Liabilities**
It has been the practice of the Church in previous years' accounts to recognise agreed deficit recovery payments (arising from the deficit in the Baptist Defined Benefit Pension Scheme as a liability.
In October 2024, the insurance company Just Group completed a buy out of the liabilities of the closed defined benefit scheme. From that date any remaining liability of the participating scheme members to defined benefit scheme ceased. The £1 per month deficit contributions payable by the participating employers which were agreed in the recovery plan approved in August 2022 also ceased from that date. Administration of the closed defined benefit scheme transferred from the pension trustees to Just Group from that date. The present value of previously agreed deficit contributions were fully extinguished once buy out was completed by Just Group in October 2024.
The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 24 to 31 relating to the year ending 31 December 2025 are as approved by the deacons.
**Cameron Varley Treasurer 20 June 2026**
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **31** of **32**
**CHRIST CHURCH BAPTIST KINGS LANGLEY – ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT**
## **Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of Christ Church Baptist, Kings Langley on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2025.**
## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner**
The Church’s Trustees are responsible 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 Charities Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church 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 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 examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
- the accounts do 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 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 reached.
Tadeusz Woroniecki ACMA
1 Brickfield Cottages, St Marys Lane, Hertingfordbury, Hertford, SG14 2LF 20 June 2026
Annual Report 2025.docx / Page **32** of **32**