HISTON BApthsT CHURCH Annual Report 2025
Pastor’s Report
David encourages us to “ Praise the Lord and forget not all his benefits ” (Ps. 103:2), and there are many things to give thanks for over this past year.
Inreach:
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We have continued to see new people joining us on Sundays and becoming part of the family, including people coming into Membership. This has recently been aided by our ‘Welcome Teas,’ as we create space for people to connect and find out more about HBC.
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We continue to see more of an openness to the work of the Spirit as we have engaged in times of silence, reflection, open praise/prayer, healing prayer, extended sung worship and times of testimony.
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After much discussion and prayer through the Elders, Deacons and Membership we agreed a new Vison & Values for our church, as we seek to move forward into all that God has for us.
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We have seen the appointment of Helen Warren as our part-time Children’s Worker, who will be officially starting in September. This is a new and exciting role for the church and one that has huge potential in reaching out to children and their families, both in and outside the church community.
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In Autumn we had a series on ‘Creation Care’ and then a time reflecting on the characteristics of God through the Psalms.
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In Advent we considered the promise of the Messiah and the fulfilment of this in Jesus – the promised one.
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In the New Year we reflected on our new Vision and Values as a church. These sermons were accompanied by reflective questions for individuals and Life Groups to further engage in. This was then followed by a series exploring people’s encounters with Jesus through the gospels, which led us up to Easter.
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Since Easter we have been thinking about the person and work of the Holy Spirit, which included a powerful time of prayer ministry. We then looked at how the Spirit birthed the church and continues to sustain us today.
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Alongside this we have had a number of special services including some “All-In’s”, Pop-Up Nativity, Taize Advent Communion and Maundy Thursday services, as well as a number of guest speakers (notably from BMS, Christian Aid, Compassion, Open Doors) and times of ministry.
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Prayer meetings have continued to increase in number, reaching nearly 30 on some months, as we gather together to worship God and bring him our needs and the needs of this world.
Outreach:
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Friday Night Youth Club has now been running for a year and we have seen approx. 100 young people on our books! Thankfully, our weekly attendance is now between 30-40. Our team has grown to meet this demand and has also included parent helpers. The majority of the young people coming are not churched but have been welcomed in by our church young people. There have been wonderful opportunities to have fun with them and build relationship.
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The Alpha course ran from Jan-May and attracted about 20 people. Some of these were older teens from HBC, some were new attendees of HBC, some were those we had connected with through Ark and Welcome Café, and others came simply through seeing the adverts. All those that came were consistent for the whole course and we saw the Spirit move in their lives, with all of them giving their lives to Jesus and being open to receiving the Holy Spirit. The sessions consisted of soup together before watching an Alpha video and then chatting in small groups. Everyone who attended has now been to HBC at least once on a Sunday and we will be looking to further integrate
them into the church family through the Welcome Teas and discipleship or Life Groups. We are hoping that a number of them will be getting baptised before too long!
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We have continued to see great community engagement through the Ark each Thursday, Welcome Café during the winter months, Remembrance Sunday Café, Christmas (including the Pudding event and Carol Service), Easter (including the art installation).
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Continued unity and outreach amongst the churches through the Light Party, Carols on the Green and the Good Friday event, all of which were well received by the community.
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The list could go on!
We also acknowledge, that along with the highs, there have been some low times to navigate for many in our church family. We’ve seen several deaths this year, as well as serious health issues, life-challenges and some members moving on. However, I have seen God very much at work in these times as you have continued to love one another through prayer and practical help. Though the funeral services were hard they were also a time of thanksgiving and witness as we remembered loved ones and celebrated their faith in our God, with whom they now abide.
As I write this, we are advertising for a Youth Worker for the third time. Despite not having a Youth Worker we have seen the work amongst our young people grow and develop as the church continues to own this important ministry. We’ve also had to navigate some complex issues through the membership meetings, which has brought awareness and direction in different ways.
Within all that is shared above and, in the reports given here, I continue to sense the work of the Holy Spirit, drawing us ever closer to God and to one another, both as a fellowship and with the wider community, and making us fruitful for Jesus.
As we move forward into another year (with whatever it brings) we remember that we are encouraged by Jesus to remain in him (the true vine) if we are to be fruitful, for apart from him we can do nothing; but in him we can do all things (John 15)!
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.” (Zech 4:6)
Rev’d Chris Farmer
Elders’ Report
As Elders we aim to meet with Pastor Chris every three weeks or so to: pray for God’s wisdom in all matters; review the spiritual health of the church; consider the future direction of the church; help Chris discern relevant sermon series and courses; review Life Groups; discuss members and non-members struggling with physical, spiritual, or other life issues and how we can support and encourage them. We do share sensitive and confidential information within the Eldership team which ensures that, as a team, we are able to support one another with prayer and guidance, and maintain appropriate accountability. It has been a joy to welcome Hilary to our team this year.
We meet or have contact with the Life Group Leaders each term to encourage and support them and it has been so encouraging to see these groups flourishing. We have ensured that annual appraisals take place for the HBC staff team and agreed goals for the coming year.
Most of the items we have discussed are covered in the Pastor’s Report but of particular note this year for us as Elders has been seeing the Vision and Values Statement come to fruition with the related preaching series and many Life Groups engaging with related study questions. We were really encouraged by the attendance at the Alpha course and the involvement of so many in running the course. We look forward to hosting some Welcome Teas shortly when we will be seeking to welcome both those who have attended Alpha and other newcomers.
We continue to seek God’s guidance and wisdom as we look to the future. Please continue to pray for Pastor Chris, as well as the Elders and Deacons as we seek to faithfully serve God.
As Bart comes to the end of his term as an Elder and stands down at the AGM we want to thank him so much for the years he has served as an Elder. Bart’s pastoral heart and experience of different cultures, the energy and enthusiasm he has for life, and all the time and energy he has given to HBC are so appreciated. We thank God for him and all his gifts and pray that God will bless and guide him in all that the future holds. Thank you, Bart!
Jane Magowan, Bart Goncalves, Hilary Allen
Administrator’s Report
I feel that after a few years in this role that I now have a good handle on the regular weekly activities, but often things happen that it is difficult to anticipate, like the problems that we experienced with the heating systems over the winter, and there are always one-off events, and emails and phone calls to respond to.
Timesheet Analysis
I keep a record each week of where my time is spent by breaking my time booking down into various categories. An analysis of the data from last September to this June shows that the following are where I spend most of my time:
General Admin – approx. 27% Emails/Phone Calls/Meetings – approx. 27% Bookings/Invoicing – approx. 20% Premises/Heating – approx. 15%
Church Membership
We currently have 121 Church Members at Histon Baptist Church. In the last 12 months, 8 people have joined the membership and 7 people have left (2 of these have died).
We also have a number of new church associates who have joined our email mailing list.
Communications
The display screen in the coffee area continues to work well for general information about the church, advertising what is happening on a weekly basis, and for special events which occur. If you would like something added to the screen it can be emailed to me at admin@histonbaptist.org.uk
Bookings
Our extensive premises continue to be used regularly, not only for church events, but also by local groups and by other groups from further afield. There have also been many one-off events.
The following is a list of groups that currently use our buildings regularly:
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Church-based Groups – The Ark, Ten Sing, Youth Groups, Motivators, Explorers, Welcome Cafe
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External Groups - Rainbows, Brownies, Pilates (2 groups), Choir 2000, Slimming World, Histon Country Market, Quartet Club of Cambridge, Moonlight Mandolins, Spurgeon’s EtM Course, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, IVC Baby-Sitting Course
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Office Accommodation – Connections Bus Project, GenR8, John Hardwick
Keith Willingham
HISTON BAPTIST CHURCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] March 2025
Charitable status: The accounts presented refer to the financial activities of Histon Baptist Church, a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), charity no. 1195343.
GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT
| Receipts | Note | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday offerings | £ 4,993.00 | £ 10,278.74 | |
| Standing Orders | £ 122,149.90 | £ 137,256.00 | |
| Gift Aid Refunds | £ 27,561.21 | £ 41,711.44 | |
| Ark Donations | £ 1,481.44 | £ 1,647.32 | |
| Donations for use of premises | £ 25,043.62 | £ 21,303.98 | |
| Sundry Income | £ 1,951.07 | £ 1,603.08 | |
| Solar Panel Income | £ 867.50 | £ 873.25 | |
| Legacy | £ 10,000.00 | ||
| Investment Income (Bank Interest) | £ 2,434.05 | £ 2,249.80 |
|
| Raised for Other Causes | £ 4,461.15 | £ 12,476.09 | |
| Utilities Refunds | £ 9,763.00 | ||
| Total Receipts | £ 200,705.94 | £ 239,399.70 | |
| Payments | |||
| Ministry | 2 | £ 74,773.48 | £ 69,953.00 |
| Mission | 3 | £ 27,023.85 | £ 29,820.99 |
| Administration | 4 | £ 5,567.48 | £ 9,362.60 |
| Premises | 5 | £ 48,363.82 | £ 41,432.00 |
| Amounts Passed on to Other Causes | 6 | £ 4,461.15 | £ 12,476.09 |
| Total Payments | £ 160,189.78 | £ 163,044.68 | |
| Net receipts for the year | £ 40.516.16 | £ 76,355.02 | |
| Cash balance at previous year end | £ 175,902.63 | £ 99,547.61 | |
| Cash balance at current year end | £ 216,418.79 | £ 175,902.63 |
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ALLOCATED FUNDS (within GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT)
| Carried Forward (last yr) |
Income | Transfers In |
Transfers Out |
Expenditure | Balance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organ Fund (R) | £655.66 | £100.00 | £ 555.66 | |||||
| Albania (R) | £10.00 | £10.00 | ||||||
| The Ark (R) | £290.52 | £1,481.44 | £5.73 | £1,552.77 | £224.92 | |||
| Youth Worker (R) | £466.43 | £466.43 | ||||||
| Church Weekend Away (R) |
£514.50 | £514.50 | ||||||
| Infrastructure (D) | £11,719.12 | £20,000.00 | £10,699.06 | £21,020.06 | ||||
| Histon Feast (D) | £00.00 | £265.00 | £265.00 | |||||
| A~~V~~(D) | £3,496.16 | £36.350.76 | £300.00 | £39,536.92 | ||||
| Insurance and Music Licenses (D) |
£2,703.37 | £7,210.45 | £6,534.50 | £2,867.23 | ||||
| Total | £19,845.76 | £65,450.72 |
(D) = Designated Fund. (R) = Restricted Fund
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31st MARCH 2025
| Assets | Note | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks and other cash balances | |||
| Barclays – General Account | £ 17,220.31 | £ 43,376.55 | |
| Barclays – Specific Purp (Closed) | £ 0.00 | £ 32,128.21 | |
| Barclays – Savings Account | £ 117,031.78 | £ 19,845.76 | |
| BU Deposit Account | £ 82,166.70 | £ 80,552.11 | |
| Total in Bank | 7 | £ 216,418.79 | £ 175,902.63 |
| Assets Held for Church’s own use | 8 | £1,861,000,00 | £1,830,000,00 |
| Total Assets | £2,077,418.79 | £2,005,902.63 | |
| Liabilities | |||
| Pension Scheme Liability | 9 | £ 0.00 | £ 0.00 |
| Other Current Liabilities | £ - | £ - | |
| Total Liabilities | £ 0.00 | £ 0.00 |
The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities relating to the year ending 31[st] March 2025 are as approved on behalf of the Trustees.
Signed: 8[th] May 2025 Date
Print Name: Tony Russell
Signed: 8[th] May 2025 Date
Print Name: John Newman
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
1. Basis of accounts
These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.
| 2. Ministry |
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|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Salaries/PAYE | £ 54,702.42 | £ 51,409.99 |
| Employer Pension Contributions | £ 4,787.28 | £ 4,527.62 |
| National Insurance | £ 2,126.43 | £ 3,092.60 |
| BU Pension Deficit Plan | £ 7.00 | £ 13.00 |
| Minister Travel and Expenses | £ 2,288.37 | £ 3,367.21 |
| Visiting Speakers, Pulpit & Communion | £ 767.29 | £ 456.90 |
| Manse Upkeep | £ 10,094.69 | £ 7,085.68 |
| Total Ministry | £ 74,773.48 | £ 69,953.00 |
The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation.
The Treasurer and Office Administrator are also church trustees and receive remuneration for their services.
3. Mission
| 3. Mission | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Fellowship | £ 1,098.00 | £ 1,939.58 |
| Children & Youth | £ 1,891.67 | £ 1,693.67 |
| Home Mission (UK-wide) | £ 6,792.00 | £ 6,792.00 |
| BMS (International Mission & Humanitarian Support) | £ 6,792.00 | £ 6,792.00 |
| GenR8, John Hardwick, Cambs YFC & Anne Wiles Support | £ 8,157.50 | £ 7,350.00 |
| BU, Evangelical Alliance and Subscriptions & Donations | £ 932.82 | £ 4,028.00 |
| Alpha, Welcome Café, Christmas, Easter & Sundries | £ 1,359.86 | £ 1,225.74 |
| Total Mission | £ 27,023.85 | £ 29,820.99 |
4. Administration
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Printing, Photocopying, Stationery and Postage | £ 1,061.57 | £ 1,309.32 |
| Accounting Services | £ 198.00 | £ 414.00 |
| Music Licenses | £ 1,705.08 | £ 1,792.65 |
| AV Equipment & Maintenance & Support | £ 683.46 | |
| Telephone, Broadband, Mobile, Website & IT | £ 1,758.33 | |
| Bank Charges and Sundries | £ 844.50 | £ 5,163.17 |
| Total Administration | £ 5,567.48 | £ 9,362.60 |
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5. Premises
| 5. Premises | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Lighting and Heating | £ 9,734.97 | £ 8,373.53 |
| Water | £ 2,102.71 | £ 965.33 |
| Insurance | £ 4,829.42 | £ 4,682.38 |
| AV System | £ 300.00 | |
| Defibultor and Fire Alarm Maintenance | £ 1,263.15 | |
| Infrastructure (Incl Repairs & Maintenance) | £ 10,699.06 | £ 7,684.44 |
| Cleaning, Catering, Gardening & Sundries | £ 19.434.51 | £ 19,726.32 |
| Total Premises | £ 48,363.82 | £ 41,432.00 |
| 6. Amounts passed on to Other Causes | ||
| 2025 | ||
| Addenbrookes Charitable Trust (Funeral/Birthday Donations) | £ 326.64 | |
| Christian Aid – Harvest Offering | £ 1,030.00 | |
| Tearfund Offering, Quiz Night, Donations , Funeral Donation | £ 2,018.40 | |
| BMS World Mission – Sock Sunday - Justice for Children | £ 917.75 | |
| Bible Society – Specified Offering | £ 168.36 | |
| Total Amounts Distributed | £ 4,461.15 |
7. Reserves Policy Statement
The reserves in all accounts amounts to £216,418.79. The reserves policy of Histon Baptist Church is to hold six months of all expenditure in reserve (i.e. 6 months expenditure on Ministry, Premises and Administration as defined on Page 1). 6 months of all expenditure in this financial year = £60,000.
8. Assets Held for the Church’s own use
The church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts dated 1902 and 1948) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held by the church’s custodian trustee [the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd]:
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Church premises at Station Road, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9LQ valued in the accounts at £1,000,000 based on our own estimates
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Church manse at 2 Poplar Road, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9LN valued in the accounts at £830,000 based on our own estimates of resale values of similar properties in the locality
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The church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment with an insured value of approximately £31,000
9 Pension Scheme Liability
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 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 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 longterm 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%.
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 and 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.
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The Minister is eligible to join the Scheme.
Section 28.11A of FRS 102 requires agreed deficit recovery payments to be recognised as a liability. The present value of the agreed deficit contributions were immaterial at the beginning of the financial year and were fully extinguished once buy out was completed by Just Group in October 2024
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Histon Baptist Church
I report on the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity 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 you as 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 matter has come to my attention:
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1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Tom Swan
8[th] May 2025
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