**Oakridge Baptist Church** ( **Charitable Incorporated Organisation)** Tel: 01494 537478 (Answerphone) www.oakridgebaptist.church Charity Registration Number: 1197400 Registered Address: 43 Oakridge Road, High Wycombe HP11 2PH 

## **Trustees** 

Mrs A Irwin (Secretary) Mr P Rackstraw (Treasurer) Mrs M Rose (Pastoral care co-ordinator) Dr J Hollman Mrs P Hollman Mr J Morgan Mrs S Rackstraw Dr D Reynold Mr J Sinclair Mrs A Sinclair Mrs S Dodson (Life Deacon) 

## **Property Trustees** 

The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd. Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT 

## **Bankers** 

Metro Bank, High Wycombe 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Mr C Hanks 

**Secretary** : Mrs Alison Irwin secretary@oakridgebaptist.church **Treasurer** : Mr Philip Rackstraw philip@dashwoods.co.uk 

**Registered Charity No: 1197400** and Office: 43, Oakridge Road, High Wycombe HP11 2PH Members of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Central Baptist Association and The Evangelical Alliance 



## **ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2025** 

The Trustees present their Annual Report for 2025 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

The Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by a constitution based on the Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the constitution which requires them to be or to have been publicly baptised on the profession of faith in Jesus Christ or following other modes of baptism to renew their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. 

The members’ meeting normally takes place six times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the constitution, the members appoint Trustees, who together with the Minister (when in post), Pastoral Care Co-ordinator, Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the members), are responsible for the day to day running of the Church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective. 

Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members in Church meetings for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible. 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

The principal purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination to include the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine. 

To achieve the principal objective, which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord. 

Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday at 10.30am with Communion being held one Sunday each month. There is a children’s programme during the morning services. 

There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised via Church notices, WhatsApp, email, or text. The Church also has a website www.oakridgebaptist.church 

The Church continued to be blessed throughout 2025 by the weekly ministry of members and many other friends during our period of interregnum. 

The Church seeks to be a friendly community, and anybody is welcome to attend any of these services. 



The Church runs a series of Bible study groups for the growth of faith and discipleship; these are held at the Church and via Zoom. Further details can be obtained from the Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship. 

The Church holds a Boys’ Brigade/Girls’ Association which meets on the Church premises on a Thursday evening during school term times. These sessions provide opportunity for young people aged between 5 – 18 to enjoy time together and to receive Christian teaching on a regular basis. 

The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

A coffee morning is held twice monthly, providing a time for the members and regular attenders of the Church to meet and share a time of fellowship. 

The Church is an approved centre for the collection and distribution of surplus food via the Fare Share charity network. The Church hosts the "Community Friendly Fridge" (CFF), which is open on Thursdays; and is operated by the Women's Cultural Arena CIC (WCA). Each week, food parcels, hot meals and hygiene products are provided to people, as well as seasonal community meals throughout the year. The WCA also runs a Saturday allotment growers breakfast club, from the Church premises. 

FoodCycle community meals are hosted at the Church on a Wednesday evening which also links into the Fare Share network. The meals bring people together for good food and conversation by serving up free, wholesome vegetarian meals made from food that would have gone to waste.  All meals are prepared by volunteers and open to everyone with no referral necessary.  FoodCycle is about more than just food and aims to create a cycle of positive change in terms of reducing food waste, tackling loneliness, supporting mental health, encouraging healthy eating and supporting sustainable living.  In 2025 one ton of food was saved from going to waste and 1,835 community meals were served. 

The need for these food services continues to increase and the Church is a well-known and familiar venue for food outreach initiatives and considered a safe space to help those most in need within the community. 

El-Bethel Tamil Ministry continue to use the building on a Sunday for their services of worship.  The Bulgarian Church use the building on an ad-hoc basis. 

On a Tuesday evening for the months of January, February and March we opened the Church for those linked with Wycombe Homeless Connection, providing a hot evening meal, shower and washing facilities, a comfortable warm bed and cooked breakfast for up to 12 people. 

The Church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and is satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public. 

## **Achievements and Performance** 

The Church does not measure the success of its programmes in numbers, including financial numbers, but in less tangible areas like fellowship, encouragement and participation. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure but believe that 2025 was a positive year in the life of the Church, and that it will be able to continue its mission purposes in 2026. 



At the beginning of the year the membership number was 34, at the end of the year the number was 32. 2 members died, 3 transferred to other Churches but we welcomed in 3 new members to the Oakridge fellowship. 

On 7th December we shared in the joy of a baptism. The gentleman concerned has been meeting with us for some months now and was keen to be baptised to mark his return to the faith of his childhood and signal his commitment to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Average attendance at worship services was good with a slight increase towards the end of the year despite several members of the fellowship suffering from health and mobility issues.  Attendance at the Bible study groups held was good.  Overall numbers for Boy’s Brigade and Girl’s Association remained the same with around 40+ young people attending. 

The Church has been encouraged by comments made by members of the community about the positive part the church plays in their lives and particularly in relation to the food provision programmes that run. The church is also seen as a reassuring beacon of light to many in the community in a very multicultural, multiethnic and multifaith area. 

## **Financial Review** 

The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its members and congregation. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year. The basic income for 2025 was £38,464. 

The Church continued its financial commitment to the life of the wider church by making gifts of £8414 to national and international organisations, societies and individuals, with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the Church’s own charitable purposes. 

The Church is heavily dependent on its members and congregation working as volunteers and providing resources in all aspects of its activities, many of which run with little or no impact on Church expenditure but, nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the objectives. 

The basic running costs of the  church continue to rise and the situation is reviewed on a regular basis at our Leadership Team meetings, held monthly. Essential repairs to the Church were carried out mindful of the proposed plans for the site. 

The full financial situation is set out in the audited annual accounts and balance sheets for the year. 

## **Future: The Church’s plans to redevelop the site - update** 

Throughout the whole of 2025, efforts were focussed on financing the funding gap of approximately £1 million which was necessary in order to make the Church redevelopment project viable. Despite many meetings, the outcome remained the same i.e. that without planning permissions in place, the project could not be considered for grant funding from the Local Authority. This also applied to the primary grant funder (Homes England) who had committed funds for the project in principal but that too could not be confirmed, or increased, until planning was in place. Alternative funders were also approached but the fact remained that there was still a shortfall unless planning consent was obtained. The Church, therefore, needed to decide whether to continue with the planning application (and associated costs) despite the shortfall. 



## **Reserves Policy** 

The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy to enable the Church to function effectively and meet its obligations in the event of a decline in our income or a major cost, however this may be set aside if the planned rebuild goes ahead. At present having considered the relevant risks of changes in income and expenditure the Trustees have determined that the appropriate level of reserves should be around £10,000. At the end of December 2025, the church had a working balance of approximately £8,500 none of which is restricted or designated. 

The Church has on deposit with the Baptist Union £700,000 (£500,000) being from the sale of the manse in 2022 held against the new build). The balance is from interest accrued and from a previous legacy. The legacy has no restrictions as to its use and some has been used to offset expenses related to the new build, mainly surveys and professional fees and to augment the income of the Church. 



OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO
CHARITY NUMBER 1197400
ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO
CHARITY NUMBER 1197400
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS ACCOUNTANTS, REPORT TO THE PROPRIETOR
ON THE UNAUDITEDACCOUNTS OF OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO
I report on the accounts of Oakridge Bapti81 Church CIO for the year endod 31 December 2025.
Res
onslbllltles of Trustee and Examiners
As the church's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. You consider that the audit
requirements of Section 43121 of the Charities Act 1993 Ilhe Acll as amended by s.28 of the Charities Act 2006
do not apply. 11 1$ my responsibility lo slate whether particular mallers have come lo my attention.
Ba$1$ of the Indo
endent Examlners Re
ort
My examinallon was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charities Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Church and a comparison of the
accounts presented with those records. 11 also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the
accounts, and seeking explanation from trustees concerning such rnatters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I
do not express an audit opinion on the view given in the accounts.
Inde
&ndent Examlners Statemen
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my allenlion.
Vvhich gives me reasonable cause to believe that any material respect the requirements lo keèp
accounting records in accordance wlh Section 41 of the Act, as amended., lo prepare accounts which
accord with the accounting records and lo comply with the accounting requirements of the Act.. have
been mel or
To which, in my opinion, attention should bg drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts lo b8 reached.
Calvln Hanks
Date .

OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO
CHARITY NUMBER 1197400
DETAILED TRADING AND PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
2025
2024
Incomo
Offertories
Donations
Hall hire
Gift Aid reclaim
21,Q93
1.370
9,581
6,560
20.875
5,840
7.965
5.712
38,604
Cost of sales
Kitchen PLEr¢hase8
40.392
274
235
274
235
1274}
12351
Gross proflt
99.29%
38,330
99.42°
40,157
Expenses
Training
Rates and water
Preaching expenses
Insurance
Lsghl and heal
Cleanlng
Repairs and maintenance
Printing, postage and stationery
Telephone
Computer running costs
Equlpmenl purchased
Website maintenance
Missionary support
Legal and prof fees - allowable
CGLI Licence
CBA donation
BMS
Sundry expenses
Other donations
Subscriptions
90
1,056
1,020
2,780
5,800
4,688
12.707
132
647
375
216
234
2,520
4,586
861
1,800
2,200
34
1,894
237
886
910
2.706
6,412
4.534
3.539
21
341
180
682
226
2.520
52.864
826
1,800
2.200
130
980
503
143.8771
182,2601
SurpluslDeflclt
(5,5471
142,103}
Other Income
Bank interest received
21,221
45,755
Net Dofl¢lVSurplus for the year
15,874
9.040
3,652

OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO
CHARITY NUMBER 1197400
BALANCE SHEET
ASAT 31 DECEMBER 2025
2025
2024
Notes
Current assèts
CurrenlAccount
Baptist Union deposit
8.631
711.313
19,625
865,550
Nfrl curr8nt assets
719,944
7D4,270
Capltal acGount
Al 1 January 2025
Surplus]Defi'¢it
704,270
15,674
700,618
3.652
719,944
704,270

OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO
CHARITY NUMBER 1197400
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Tanglble flxed assots
Flxturtrs.
rittSngs &
gqulpment
Cost
At 1 January 2025 & al 31 December 2D25
68.963
Depreclatlon
At 1 January 2025 & al 31 December2025
68,963
Net book value
Al 31 December 2L125

IHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Oakridgè Baptst Church CIO
119740
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
Forthe wiod
0110112025
31nw202b
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestrlcted
fundB
Rgsthcted
Endowmenl
Totsi lundB
Last yo•r
A1 Re¢•1
to th• nMrq*t£
R(￿ Hir
t)onaiionG
Fund Raisin
Intere51 R￿¥￿3
GIftAd re¢avn
21.Q93
7,965
1.37D
1,370
21221
5.712
141
A2 A68•t and Inve•trM*tt ul•s.
18W table}.
Sub total
86,147
A3Pa
Twnir
Rates 8nd wat
PrBadwn
Insur?r￿*
hl and Heat
Cbani
1,056
1,020
910
2.7Q6
6.412
4.534
3.539
21
341
11707
132
647
375
216
PrintiFvJ, F
TdepfLY
Cornput¥ ruTh￿ng
Equipment purthases
Mi¥*onary &k¥¥xt
Tr8V
L*2al PrOfesSK￿?1
Bad debt
CGLI
CBAknatk))
BMS dyaiion
Other (b￿)￿1￿3
12.707
132
375
218
Is¥J
152Q
2.164
826
1,800
980
503
591
82.535
237
Sun
237
Sub total
151
.151
A4 A8•et and Inve¥knent
ureha$M.
See lab
Sub total
44.151
44,151
82,535
Net of rece1p￿(p•yMentsJ
A5 TrnnBfers between fun
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds thls yearond
15,67
16.67
3,6t2
14&1
1467
3,612
CCXX R1 a¢xounts {SSI

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
rAtsgorks
Unrg5tricted
Endowment
funds
to n4mt£
fund8
tr* rwrn*t E
B1 Cash funds
tr)
7W13
714914
Endowmont
fundg
funds
fund•
Dètalls
to near**t£
Fwvj to*hkh
Co4t(OPUvMII
Currwrt val
B3 Investment assets
Detailg
FU￿ towhkh
Co•tlopt5o￿>
urrontv•luo
B4 Assgts retained for th•
harlty's own uso
C*tslts
B6 Llabllltigs
Totsl 488•ts less liabllities
944
D1 Caphal account
14674
719.
C¢XX R3 *¢wnts ISSI
2W0412026

Slgned by or ￿ trustees on
behaNof all tho tNste•s
SyrTratyre
int Namtr
Date of
Ajison Irwin
/*
291*11
Phili
Rad(str
CCXX R4 *￿￿ntI ISSI