L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s ## Trustees' Annual Report For the period: 01 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 **Section A Reference and administration details Charity name** Ackhill Baptist Church **Registered charity number** 1195592 (Date of registration: 23 August 2021) **Principal address** Ackhill Manse, Dolley Green, Presteigne, LD8 2EE **Charity Trustees** (appointed by voting members of Ackhill Baptist Church) **Name Office Held Dates Acting** Richard John Mansell Pastor and Chairman For the full financial year Philip Pain Elder For the full financial year Benjamin Peter Thornton For the full financial year Cherry Tooley For the full financial year **Section B Structure, governance and management Type of charity** Ackhill Baptist Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) **Governing document** Ackhill Baptist Church is governed by its constitution, Revision 1 dated: 24 April 2023 **Trustee selection** All Charity Trustees must subscribe and adhere to, in belief and lifestyle, the Statement of Faith as set out in the constitution. New trustees are proposed by the existing trustees or the leadership team at a members’ meeting. A two-thirds majority of voting members is required for the proposed new trustee(s) to be appointed. **Policies and procedures** Although Ackhill Baptist Church is a small fellowship (typ. 35 people attend Sunday worship each week), we nevertheless have put in place a number of policies and procedures to ensure the safety of our attendees and the proper management of our affairs. These include: - Health & Safety Policy (including a series of risk assessments for activities where hazards could lead to injury or harm) - Safeguarding Policy - Data Protection Policy - Conflict of Interest Policy (to ensure trustees’ outside interests or loyalties do not compromise their ability to make decisions in the best interests of Ackhill Baptist Church) - Financial Controls Policy - Reserves Policy Page 1 of 4 L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s ## **Section C** ## **Objectives and activities** ## **Charitable objects as set out in our constitution** **Main activities undertaken for the public benefit** The Object of the CIO is, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian faith according to Baptist principles and in accordance with the Statement of Faith. We exist to glorify God and to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ as His disciples. We do this in a variety of ways. We: - Gather for corporate worship, prayer and praise, welcoming all who would join us - Proclaim the salvation available by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone - Teach children the Word of God in Sunday School - Run a mother-and-toddler group - Encourage our members to live godly lives, understanding what God expects of them - Stand ready to disciple new converts - Observe the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Table - Reach out to those we meet with the compassion which Christ affords us, hoping to be the fragrance of Christ - Hold faithfully to the whole counsel of God in our teaching and practice - Cooperate with other evangelical fellowships - Support missionary work at home and overseas **Grants and investments** Ackhill Baptist Church does not dispense grants, neither does it invest, other than at the bank in savings accounts. Total funds in our current and savings accounts do not exceed the FSCS compensation limit of £85,000 in any one institution. **Section D Achievements and performance Main achievements during the** Attendance at Sunday worship has remained steady, averaging around 35 **year** people of all ages. (The previous period average was 36.) We continue to receive visitors throughout the year. These include people on holiday who have looked us up via our website and visiting family members. Those who come among us in this way are a blessing to the regular attendees and often comment that they themselves have been blessed as they have come under the sound Bible preaching and teaching that marks Ackhill Baptist Church. As a Congregational church, where members govern our affairs, we welcomed one new person into membership, although we had to say farewell to another elderly member as she went to be with the Lord. Total membership stands at 22. At November’s AGM the members approved the appointment of an elder to support the pastor and at the April Members’ Meeting, the church treasurer was formally appointed as a deacon. Sunday School and the Dolley Tots mother-and-toddler group meetings are both running regularly, with all leaders and helpers being trained and DBS checked. Dolley Tots numbers continue to grow steadily. Sunday School Page 2 of 4 L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s ## **Section D, cont** ## **Achievements and performance** **Main achievements during the** numbers have fluctuated as families with Sunday School-age children have both **year, cont.** joined and moved away from the area. Our mid-week on-line prayer meetings continue as they have been found to suit those living further away from the Chapel and not wishing to drive, especially during winter months. Homegroup meetings continue for those wishing to meet face-to-face for fellowship, prayer and study during the week. Meetings are held twice a month, and numbers attending have typically been around 8 to 10. Ackhill Baptist Church has continued to reach out to its congregation and the local community. In November, we began taking short services once a month at the Prestemede Residential Care Home in Presteigne, where our most elderly member now resides. We have held three fellowship meals in the period – one in the Autumn after our harvest service, one at Christmas and a celebration meal in the summer. As well as regular chapelgoers, friends, family and neighbours were invited, all free-of-charge. The meal in the summer followed a service of thanksgiving to mark the 10[th] anniversary of our pastor’s tenure. We continue to support the local Knighton & Presteigne Foodbank with donations in kind, as well as by providing the services of the chairperson, treasurer and designated safeguarding officer free of charge. Both chairperson and safeguarding officer are also trustees of the foodbank. The church has long been a supporter of the Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Appeal by making up boxes and acting as a local collection point for the area. This work continues under the oversight and direction of one of our trustees. Several in the congregation are elderly and struggle with health problems of various kinds. As well as long term health troubles there are a number who have been waiting on operations. As we continue to remember one another in prayer and seek to encourage and support one another, there is a strong spirit of unity and love in the fellowship. A new computer, video camera and sound system was installed towards the end or the period and after testing and fine tuning we will soon be in a position to record and/or livestream services. Our Health and Safety policy has undergone a significant review towards the end of this reporting period and will be presented for approval at the next trustees meeting in September. The PAT testing, mentioned in last year’s annual report, will be brought in-house in the coming year and beyond as one of our congregation has suitable qualifications to undertake this work. Although Ackhill Baptist Church continues to be well-resourced financially, we have limited human resources for outreach activities. To gear our efforts to help achieve our stated aim of advancing the Christian faith for the public benefit, members agreed that we should make regular financial contributions to three Christian charities that have purposes in line with our own charitable objects. The three charities selected were CheckPoint Christian Youth Project (a local charity), the Soldiers and Aviators Scripture Reading Association (SASRA) and the Slavic Gospel Association (SGA). Each charity began receiving £150 per month from May, with a commitment to continue for a minimum of 2 years unless there is cause to reconsider. Page 3 of 4 L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s |**Section E**|**Financial review**| |---|---| |**Reserves policy**|The level of reserves (i.e. total cash assets) at the end of the 2024/25 financial| ||year was £99,196. Approximately £40k is required for 12 months of running costs| ||assuming no exceptional items of expenditure. Therefore, at present there is| ||approximately £59k available for major maintenance/repairs etc to the Chapel,| ||Manse and Schoolroom and any significant ministry initiatives which accord with| ||our charitable objects.| ||Although this latter sum provides a reasonable level of resilience, particularly| ||bearing in mind the option of making a specific appeal for funds for any| ||individual one-off project, there would be greater protection for the long-term| ||viability of the Church if this amount could be increased. These considerations| ||will be borne in mind by the Trustees when reviewing the reserves year-on-year.| |**Funds in deficit**|There are no areas where funds are in deficit.| |**Sources of funds**|Income arises from weekly giving, monthly giving via standing order direct to the| ||Ackhill Baptist Church bank account, one-off gifts and gift aid. One regular gift| ||aided donation is still administered by Stewardship and paid by grant to the| ||church each month.| |**Main areas of expenditure**|Staff costs, electricity and water totalled £24,991, accounting for 64% of total| ||expenditure in the period. Other significant items were: donations to other| ||ministries (£3,617), purchase of equipment (£3,641), and Council tax (£2,586).| |**Payment to Trustee**|As allowed within the Constitution, a salary and pension amounting to £23,030| ||for the year to 31 August 2025 was paid to the Pastor who is also a trustee of the| ||church. Our independently reviewed financial statements are set out in the| ||Appendix.| ## **Section F** **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above (at the trustees’ meeting on 11[th] September 2025). Signed on behalf of the trustees: |**Signature(s)**|| |---|---| |**Full Name(s)**|Richard John Mansell| |**Position**|Chairman| |**Date**|11thSeptember 2025| Page 4 of 4 L i v i n g a s d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s M a k i n g d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s ## Appendix **Ackhill Baptist Church financial statements for the year to 31 August 2025** |Receipts and Payments|A1| |---|---| |Statement of Assets and Liabilities|A2| |Independent Examiners Report|A3&A4| Ackhill CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALES Ackhill Baptist Church Receipts and pa ments accounts CC16a For th• p•dod To 011C4Q024 3110612025 Section A Receipts and payments Unre8lri¢ted fund* Endowment lutld toth• n••r••t¢ A1 Rec•1 25.302 i.¥oi 11JlJ St•waidiThiP fyftAI¢ OWMr Gifi AIOPJyrn•nlskn HMRC 2.501 21.X 0.413 7.40$ l.M9 Pa RMok•of Teacni tfrp51 Prepayrnep15 ia5h nol o•nk•¢l Sub toi*l(Gross irKome lor ARI 140 isj •22 240 t40 eo,719 62,224 SD.7T l$w iabl•l. Sub toi•l eo,719 1,505 50.778 A3 Pi m•nts Salary Pen51￿ & Ta¥ vI￿ts￿ PieachÉr8 VanDU5 Mis51L￿ ?0 3.2Jt J.117 Insuran¢• èank Ch¥4ES CWKII Tax arf Wa Lighi Heal Re￿rs￿rd Por￿811￿ PUT¢￿¥¥￿ ol EWPTh & Safety GroundsMaillténarL 2.661 17 3M41 618 2.É41 120 47B Post Stali(¥Wy We0¥* et¢ Genoral 754 7S4 316 372 PTQfe55I￿￿I FeE5 J71 37,449 Sub total 1.SOS 36.741 A4 A4•et and investm•nt u¥¢h•*o8. table Sub lot•1 37,48• 1.505 30.741 Net ofr8C8lpW{paym•rttsl AS TTrn$f•rs befv4een fund* A6 C8$h funds last year end Cash lunds thls y00r •nd 2J,230 23.230 14.037 75.966 99,196 7S.KG 99.1 61.928 75.966 CCXX R1 aCtounL%ISSI Al Ackhill Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unreslflcted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds B1 Cash funds SBC C￿T￿lAc￿￿ 7,285 SBQUTe &vin9$p￿￿fft C96h b>nked 240 roo1 ¢o$h lyrtds 99,196 r*thpts poymnN Unrejtrlcted lund to ￿•BrO￿t£ Re*trlcted funds tonwDres1£ Endowment funds O¢tails Fu￿￿ to whl¢h et*i18 eoBtloplonall Curr•Mv4lu 83 Inv8Stm8nt a888ts Fund lo which Oetai16 B4 Assets r8talned for the charity's own use Fuhd t& which rolat•s Amounldu• Whwn duo Detail B5 Liabiliti•$ S￿￿80 tyy one or NYDtrU51ees cn beh8K of all the trustee5 Signature Print Name Date of i¥loglzs- IOS rA, CCXX R2 JccoutlL4 ISSI N1091202S A2 Ackhill CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts So￿10n A Independmt Examiner'j Roport Report to th• trusteesl m•mb•r• of | ACKHILL BAPTIST CHURCH On Kcounts for th• year 131 AUGUST 2025 •ndod , Charlty no Ilf any) 1195592 S•t out on p*g•s ' A1 AND A2 I report lo lh& tru8t885 on my exwnlnallon of Iht ¥ecounls of the above charrtyllhe Trusfi for th8 y•ar ended 31108 12025. R•sponslbl1￿•s and As the chartty Irus188s of Ihe TnJst. you are r•sponsibl? lor the prepar8tion basls of report ol the awounls in aC￿rd￿n￿ with the requiromenis ol thé Charities A 2011 rthe Act"). I report in reSp￿t of rny examination glth¢ Tru$t's accoun¢8 carrie(l oul under 6ection 145 01 the 2011 Act and in Carrying out my examinaiion, I have followed Ihe appliGable Directions given by the Charity Commission under s8etKJn 145ISXbl ol th8 Act. I have completed my examinalion. I confimi that no mat&ri81 matters have come to my allention I '} in connection with the examin8tson which gNes me cause ￿ L*l￿ve Ihat In, any material r•5P8Ct.' accthintin9 records We￿ nol kept In aceordance wlh section 130 01 the Act or th• accounts do not accord with the acwunting rgcord$ Indtpendent •xamSn•r's stat•ment I hav8 no concerns and have come across M other matters in ￿nnect￿)ft with the examTn81ion to which attenlion shousd be drawn in order to enab proper underslandip)g of the account5 to be reached. ' Reas& d•18te the word$ in the Ixa¢kels ifthey do rK•t apply. Sioned.. Dat9= 2011012025 Nam•: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS NATHANIEL DAVIS R•hvant profesaional qual1f1￿1lort<•I or body Ilf •nyl'. ACA IICAEW MEMBERSHIP # 295fj1471 Addr•$s'. HOUSEGO ACCOUNTANCY & TAXATION LIMITED OFFICE 10 8ROAOK¥E BUSINESS PARK PRESTEIGNE POWYS LD8 2UH. IER October 2018 A3 Ackhill Sectlon 8 Di$¢losure Only coFDpleie If tho exaffjiner needs lo highlight mattefs of concem (see CC32, Indapendenl examin81ion of charily aG¢oun¢s'. dirgclions and guidonce for examiners). NOTHING FURTHER TO REPORT. Glv• h•r• brl•f dotall8 of any It•rn8 that tho •xamln•r wlshes io dl•clo••. IER October 2018 A4