Woodstock Road Baptist Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
WOODSTOCK ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS Woodstock Road Baptist Church 198 Woodstock Road Oxford OX2 7NQ GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution dated 27 July 2021 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1195315 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR David Shaw (Pastor and Elder) MANAGING THE CHARITY Thomas Finerty (Elder) Benjamin Goldenberg (Pastor, Elder and Chair of Trustees) John Severn (Elder) James Wilkinson (Elder) Jenny Reid (Deacon and Joint Treasurer) Anna Coles (Deacon) Johnathan Davys (Deacon and Joint Treasurer) Richard Dorey (Deacon) Jonathan Rabbitt (Deacon)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Hannah Clack Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Pages 2-3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Pages 7-8
Legal & Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
WOODSTOCK ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are to advance the Christian faith by building up Christians and to seeking to bring others to know Jesus Christ.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
2025 was a year of gentle but encouraging growth. Our focus for the year was around growing in prayerfulness which the Lord graciously enabled us to do. We pray that these things would not drift from our mind in a new year.
The main activity of the church will always be the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. Sunday-by-Sunday, that good news is proclaimed and celebrated as we gather for corporate worship. The good news of Jesus forms communities of people who worship Him and as a church, we have sought to intentionally foster that community as we gather together, whether on a Sunday, in midweek homegroups, or at other times. That community is called to be a community that cares for one another and we have continued to do that, albeit imperfectly, in both structured and unstructured ways. Finally, we have sought to continue to see this good news advance amongst those who would not call themselves Christians, We have done this through our regular Sundys ministry, along with midweek events like a toddler group and a community coffee shop. Individuals within the church have also been equipped to make Jesus known in their workplaces, households and neighbourhoods.
Overall, the year was filled with great blessings as we were able to continue our part in God’s great plan for the world. Over the year, the church grew both in number (while saying goodbye to a number of cherished people over the year) and in maturity with a notable increase in ethnic diversity amongst us.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
During the year income increased notably but not dramatically from the previous year. This is despite Gift Aid relating to 2025 being held back from 2 quarters due to some due diligence work which has since been completed and so the money transferred in 2026. The overall income from general giving, our major income stream was £193,236 (up from £162,571 in 2024). Some of this extra income was used to refurbish the back hall of the church to make it a more usable space, both for the church and the wider community. At the year end, the church held cash of £59,631 (2024: £61,810), of which £31,768 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Page 2
Reserves policy
In line with the requirements of our mortgage covenant, the charity must always hold reserves of at least 20% of committed annual expenditure in our unrestricted general fund (i.e. amounts held in designated and restricted funds are excluded). This calculation is made annually using the following year’s budgeted figures. So that we do not breach this covenant if there are unexpected costs, the trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £5,000 above the minimum required by the covenant. For 2026, that is £29,520 (being £24,520 plus £5,000). At the end of the year, we held unrestricted cash of £31,768 – above covenant requirement set.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Ben Goldenberg
_____Ben Goldenberg (Jun 2, 2026 14:05:19 GMT+1) Ben Goldenberg - Chair of trustees Jun 2, 2026 Date:___
Page 3
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
WOODSTOCK ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Woodstock Road Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 5 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and 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.
Hannah Clack
Hannah Clack (Jun 3, 2026 15:46:13 GMT+1)
Hannah Clack Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jun 3, 2026
Page 4
WOODSTOCK ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Unrestricted | Funds | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | |||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Income receipts | |||||||||
| Donations | 164,661 | - | 28,575 | 193,236 | 162,571 | ||||
| Gift aid receipts | 14,978 | - | 648 | 15,625 | 29,183 | ||||
| Legacies | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Charitable activities (including weekend away) | 646 | 10,207 | - | 10,853 | 5,540 | ||||
| Letting premises | (including | flat) | 7,014 | 14,400 | - | 21,414 | 19,628 | ||
| Bank interest | 1,491 | - | - | 1,491 | 2,280 | ||||
| 188,790 | 24,607 | 29,222 | 242,619 | 219,202 | |||||
| Total receipts | 188,790 | 24,607 | 29,222 | 242,619 | 219,202 | ||||
| Payments | |||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 149,018 | 12,294 | 1,834 | 163,146 | 147,202 | ||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 38,893 | - | 27,635 | 66,528 | 58,496 | ||
| Mortgage payments | 3,125 | 12,000 | - | 15,125 | 15,740 | ||||
| 191,036 | 24,294 | 29,469 | 244,798 | 221,438 | |||||
| Total payments | 191,036 | 24,294 | 29,469 | 244,798 | 221,438 | ||||
| Net of receipts / (payments) before | (2,246) | 313 | (247) | (2,179) | (2,236) | ||||
| Transfers between funds | 5 | (3,886) | 3,886 | - | - | - | |||
| Net movement in funds | (6,132) | 4,199 | (247) | (2,179) | (2,236) | ||||
| Cash funds as at | last year end | 35,534 | - | 26,276 | 61,810 | 64,046 | |||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 29,402 | 4,199 | 26,030 | 59,631 | 61,810 |
The notes on pages 7 to 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
WOODSTOCK ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Notes A Cash funds Cash in bank current accounts Cash in bank deposit accounts Petty cash and payment processing accounts B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Deposit paid for 2025 church weekend Premises letting fees owed Deposit account interest due C Liabilities Falling due within one year Expense claims Gas and electricity Payroll taxes and pension contributions Examiner's fee Money received for 2025 church weekend Mortgage repayments Falling due after one year: Equity linked loan from a church member Mortgage repayments Total |
Unrestricte | Designated funds £ 4,199 - - 4,199 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Funds |
Restricted funds £ (2,334) 28,364 - 26,030 3,775 - - - 3,775 - - - - - - - - - - - |
2025 £ 31,267 28,364 - 59,631 23,367 - 708 92 24,166 137 829 1,352 2,400 - 12,000 16,718 105,000 136,691 241,691 258,409 |
2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,695 46,111 4 |
||||||
| 61,810 | ||||||
| 7,278 2,471 448 180 |
||||||
| 10,377 | ||||||
| 68 1,216 1,626 2,400 3,912 12,000 |
||||||
| 21,222 | ||||||
| 105,000 143,143 |
||||||
| 248,143 | ||||||
| 269,365 |
One of the church's pastors (who is a trustee) and his wife have lent the charity £105,000 to help the charity purchase a house that he lives in. The loan represents 19.81% of the purchase price (excluding acquisition costs) and the amount repayable is 19.81% of the value of the property when any one of the events described in the loan agreement takes place or, if later, in 2053. The value of the property is not believed to have changed significantly since it was purchased and, at the balance sheet date, the fair value of the amount repayable is believed to be £105,000 (being the amount that was borrowed).
The mortgage is being repaid in monthly instalments and must be repaid in full by 2053. Interest is payable at a variable rate, which at the year end was 5.65%
D Assets retained for charity's own use
| Church building and a related flat Residential property used as a manse Fixtures, fitting and equipment |
Fund to which asset belongs Endowment Unrestricted Unrestricted |
Cost £ 1,993,087 538,000 - 2,531,087 |
Current value £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| not known 538,000 8,973 |
|||
| 546,973 |
The trustees are not able to reliably estimate the current value of the church building and a related manse. The trustees do not believe that the value of the charity's other residential property has changed significantly since it was purchased in the previous year. Many of the charity's fixtures, fittings and equipment are quite old and the trustees have used a method to discount the cost of these assets to help assess their current value.
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees
The outstanding balance on the charity's mortgage (which, in total, amounts to £148,691) is secured by way of a first charge on a residential property that cost £538,000 (see note D above). The equity link loan referred to in note C is secured by way of a second charge on the same property.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Ben Goldenberg Jun 2, 2026 …......................................................Ben Goldenberg (Jun 2, 2026 14:05:19 GMT+1) …...................................................... Benjamin Goldenberg - Chair of Trustees Date:
The notes on pages 7 to 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
WOODSTOCK ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Ministry costs Employment costs Pastoral ministries Local ministries Retreats and camps Equipment Property costs Property expenses (including utilities, routine maintenance, insurance and cleaning) Flat refurbishment Property letting expenses Support costs Professional fees Independent examiner's fee for preparing and examining the accounts Administration 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Grants to other charities Wycliffe Bible Translators for mission Release International for mission OMF for mission Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches for mission Friends International for mission Oxford Schools Chaplaincy for mission Christians Against Poverty (Oxford) relieve poverty South Central Gospel Partnership for mission Grants to institutions for less than £500 each for mission Grants to individuals For serving in mission for mission To help relieve poverty relieve poverty |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - 2,472 8,734 - - - 1,088 - - - 12,294 - - - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - 1,834 - - - - - - - 1,834 - - - - 10,111 10,111 - - - 2,978 4,435 27,635 |
Total 2025 £ 89,421 2,200 12,345 10,568 4,015 36,974 - 1,088 - 2,400 4,135 163,146 14,553 - 5,181 3,230 10,111 12,115 1,000 750 1,596 10,556 7,435 66,528 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84,335 2,365 8,060 3,147 3,735 38,214 - 415 222 4,200 2,508 |
||||||
| 147,202 | ||||||
| 15,839 14,902 4,934 2,401 - 1,896 1,000 750 621 7,623 8,530 |
||||||
| 58,496 |
Page 7
WOODSTOCK ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
4 Transactions with related parties
The trustees listed below received the following employment benefits (namely gross pay and employer's pension contributions) for serving as church leaders, not for serving as trustees, as permitted by the charity's governing document:
for serving as trustees, as permitted by the charity's governing document: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Goldenberg David Shaw |
2025 £ 39,732 31,353 71,085 |
2024 £ 38,431 30,362 |
| 68,793 |
In addition David Shaw was provided with a manse, which is customary for ministers, to help him better perform his duties.
The trustees, or those closely connected to them, also benefited from the following payments:
a) to Wycliffe Bible Translators to support John and Lois Severn who serve with them; John Severn is a trustee of the charity.
b) to Kathleen Callow, who is a retired missionary and John Severn's mother-in-law.
Except for the reimbursement of expenses incurred as agent, or incurred whilst undertaking employment duties, no other payments were made to the trustees or those closely connected to them.
5 Movement in funds
| vement in funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds Designated funds Church Weekend Coffee Shop Flat Fund Restricted funds Mission support fund Christmas Appeal fund Church Weekend fund Church Fellowship fund Total funds |
Opening balance £ 35,534 - - - - - 18,637 1,266 6,373 26,276 61,810 |
Receipts £ 188,790 4,848 5,359 14,400 24,607 2,978 25,677 568 - 29,222 242,619 |
Payments £ (191,036) (8,734) (2,472) (13,088) (24,294) (2,978) (20,223) (1,834) (4,435) (29,469) (244,797) |
Transfers £ (3,886) 3,886 - - 3,886 - - - - - - |
Closing balance £ 29,402 |
| - 2,887 1,312 |
|||||
| 4,199 | |||||
| - 24,092 - 1,938 |
|||||
| 26,030 | |||||
| 59,631 |
The designated Church Retreat fund was created from donations received to help individuals attend a church retreat.
The designated Coffee Shop Fund represents resources related to the community coffee run by the church
The designated Flat Fund represents resources related to the flat owned by the church, which is currently let
The restricted Mission Support fund was created from donations received to help support mission both in the UK and overseas, principally through grant making.
The restricted Christmas Appeal fund was created from the proceeds of special appeals made each Christmas, normally to support mission both in the UK and overseas usually through grant making.
The restricted Church Fellowship fund was created from the proceeds of a Christmas appeal to help individuals and families in the church family facing hardship.
Page 8