Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 July 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Upton upon Severn Baptist Church Old Street Upton upon Severn WR8 0HN GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated 01 August 2023 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1200234 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Anthony Michael Goddard MANAGING THE CHARITY Amy Wearing Clare Talboys (appointed 29 April 2025) Kathryn Barber Rachel Louise Paton Rachel Mary Stockwell Sarah Ward
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Hannah Clack Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Pages 2-4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Pages 8-9
Legal & Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
This report presents the activities, achievements, and financial performance of Upton upon Severn Baptist Church for the period from August 2024 to July 2025. The Church is committed to serving the spiritual, social, and community needs of Upton upon Severn and surrounding areas.
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:
a) The advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. b)The Church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
The primary objective of Upton upon Severn Baptist Church is to promote the Christian faith and demonstrate love and service to the local community. During this reporting period, we have engaged in a variety of activities, including:
Worship Services: Regular Sunday morning worship services have been held, averaging an attendance of 50-70 individuals. Special services, including Christmas, Easter and Festival celebrations, attracted increased participation. We celebrated Believer Baptisms in October and again in June.
Bible Study and Prayer Meetings: Bible study sessions/courses and prayer meetings were held, encouraging spiritual growth among attendees. A new Book Club was launched and continues to thrive.
In Memory: We gave thanks for the life and service of Samuel Magovern who died whilst serving as a trustee. Sam was a treasured member of the church and leadership team over many years offering practical skills, wisdom and support. He gave of his time generously and is greatly missed and was a passionate advocate and supporter of the ongoing chapel restoration project.
Pilgrimage: In May a number of people undertook the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way, a 60-mile circular walking route starting and ending at Hereford Cathedral, a 7 day journey through Herefordshire and the Welsh border. It connects the Wye Valley, Golden Valley, and Black Mountains, featuring ancient churches, ruined castles, and holy wells.
Community Outreach: Initiatives such as the Shared Front Room, Community Fridge, Community Shed, food bank, community meals, and support groups for vulnerable members of the community were organised, fostering inclusivity and support for those in need.
Youth and Children’s Programmes: Weekly Sunday Forest School group, weekly toddler group, monthly Messy Church, and annual holiday clubs provided engaging opportunities for children and young people to learn about faith in a fun and interactive way. Often healthy food was provided for parents, children and carers. The Minister serves as a School Governor and leads Collective Worship at the school fortnightly.
Page 2
Holiday Club: We welcomed Gemma Hunt from CBeebies Swashbuckle for the finale of our Holiday Club with a family Pirate Praise Party. This was very well attended and engaged a large number of local families.
African Children’s Choir: In April we welcomed Ubuntu, an alumni choir from the African Children’s Choir. The young adults came predominately from Uganda and were hosted locally with host families for two nights. A sell out concert raised significant funds for the ongoing work of Music for Life.
Community Engagement: The Shared Front Room and donation box cafe is open daily serving warm drinks, soup and cakes. Fortnightly community breakfasts for men and regular meals with entertainment for Older Persons have helped strengthen relationships within the church and the wider community. Festivals Angels from the church supported the four main music festivals held in Upton - Blues, Jazz, Folk and Sunshine, offering a wellbeing space, a donation box cafe, and a venue for open mic and ‘Rising Stars’ young performers. ‘Barrels of Carols’ in three local pubs was very well received and brought a lot of joy at Christmastime.
Achievements
Increased Membership: The Church again experienced a modest increase in membership, with several new members joining during this period.
Community Engagement: The outreach programmes reached over 200 individuals, providing essential services and support to the community.
Partnerships: Collaborations with local charities and organisations enhanced our outreach efforts, allowing us to serve a broader demographic. These included Malvern Foodbank, Age UK, Platform Housing, Citizen’s Advice, and the local policing team. A new partnership with YMCA established a weekly Youth Group in the Church Hall for local young people.
Sustainability Initiatives: We continue to implement eco-friendly practices within our operations, promoting sustainability within the church community. The Community Fridge enabled local people and businesses to donate fresh, good-quality surplus food that would otherwise be wasted. The donated food is then made freely available for local people to come and collect at no cost. Lighting was replaced throughout the church hall with LED lights resulting in substantial cost savings and a reduced environmental impact. We introduced compost bits and new vegetable plots. Our 5 year EICR was completed successfully.
Future Plans
For the upcoming year, we aim to:
Enhance our outreach to address emerging community needs.
Increase our fundraising efforts and grant applications to support ongoing and new initiatives and significantly, the restoration of our Grade II chapel. The anticipated cost will be around £1,300,000.
Continue to foster partnerships with other organisations to maximise our impact in the community.
Conclusion
The Trustees are grateful for the continued support from our congregation and the local community, which enables us to fulfill our mission. We remain committed to serving God and our community, and we look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Page 3
Acknowledgments
The Trustees would like to thank all volunteers, members, and supporters for their dedication and contributions during this reporting period. Your efforts have made a significant difference in the lives of many.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
The financial health of Upton upon Severn Baptist Church remains stable. The income for the period totalled £88,165, derived from donations, fundraising events, and rental income. Expenditure was £88,327, covering operational costs, community programmes, and maintenance of church facilities. The Church’s reserves are maintained in line with our reserves policy, ensuring we can continue our work in the future.
Reserves policy
To ensure that UBC has enough financial reserves for the foreseeable shortfall in income and allows for the most likely unforeseen expenditure, it has been decided by the Trustees to hold a minimum financial reserve of £12,000. It is therefore agreed to hold a minimum of £12,000 in our General Funds in readiness for any unforeseen expenditures &/or to cover any shortfalls in income. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £70,610 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
Governance
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointedby the existing trustees, by a majority vote.
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:
KJBarber
_________KJBarber (May 2, 2026 15:58:34 GMT+1) KATHRYN BARBER
May 2, 2026 Date:_____
Page 4
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Upton upon Severn Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 July 2025 on pages 6 to 9 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:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
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 (May 5, 2026 08:38:26 GMT+1)
Hannah Clack Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: May 5, 2026
Page 5
Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
| Unrestricted | Funds | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | ||||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Income receipts | ||||||||||
| Donations | 34,742 | - | 8,030 | 42,772 | 56,423 | |||||
| Gift aid receipts | 7,174 | - | 4,820 | 11,994 | - | |||||
| Other grants | - | - | 8,740 | 8,740 | 21,229 | |||||
| Income from courses and events | 7,240 | - | - | 7,240 | 6,868 | |||||
| Income from letting of facilities | 6,740 | - | - | 6,740 | 4,375 | |||||
| Bank interest | 5,759 | - | - | 5,759 | 5,956 | |||||
| Transferred from | Trust | - | - | - | - | 142,970 | ||||
| Transferred from | Upton Youth | Forum | - | - | - | - | 11,785 | |||
| Other | 4,920 | - | - | 4,920 | 150 | |||||
| Total receipts | 66,575 | - | 21,590 | 88,165 | 249,755 | |||||
| Payments | ||||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 64,134 | 6,061 | 15,172 | 85,367 | 63,714 | |||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 2,600 | - | 360 | 2,960 | 6,222 | |||
| Total payments | 66,734 | 6,061 | 15,532 | 88,327 | 69,936 | |||||
| Net of receipts / (payments) before | (159) | (6,061) | 6,059 | (161) | 179,819 | |||||
| Transfers between funds | 5 | (13,929) | - | 13,929 | - |
- |
||||
| Net movement in funds | (14,088) | (6,061) | 19,987 | (161) | 179,819 | |||||
| Cash funds as at | last year | end | 84,687 | 6,072 | 89,060 | 179,819 | - | |||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 70,599 | 11 | 109,047 | 179,658 | 179,819 |
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted Funds|
|General|Designated|Restricted|
|funds|funds|funds|2025|2024|
|Notes|£|£|£|£|£|
|A|Cash funds|
|Cash at bank with immediate access|11,781|-|-|11,781|36,751|
|Notice deposits|58,819|11|109,047|167,877|143,068|
|70,600|11|109,047|179,658|179,819|
|B|Other monetary assets|
|Gift aid due to charity|6,115|-|-|6,115|10,992|
|Security Deposit|1,600|-|-|1,600|-|
|Other debtors|150|-|-|150|-|
|7,865|-|-|7,865|10,992|
|C|Liabilities|
|Falling due within one year|
|Fee for Independent Examination|1,476|-|-|1,476|1,440|
|Accrued expenses|500|-|-|500|-|
|1,976|-|-|1,976|1,440|
|D|Assets retained for charity's own use|
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
||||
|---|---|---|
|Fund to|Current|
|which asset|value|
|belongs|£|
|Land and buildings - church|General|2,482,269|
|Land and buildings - manse, No. 45|General|570,345|
|Land and buildings - No. 47|General|323,284|
|Furniture and equipment|General|37,043|
|3,412,941|
----- End of picture text -----
Land and buildings are included at insurance value.
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
KJBarber _____KATHRYN BARBERKJBarber (May 2, 2026 15:58:34 GMT+1) May 2, 2026 Date:_____
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 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 Employment costs (see note 4) Ministry expenses Youth and children's work Outreach activities Events Rent Maintenance of buildings & equipment Utilities Insurance Admin costs Building Project 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Grants for: Mission Giving: BMS Mission Giving: Home Mission Mission Giving: Mission Giving General |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - - - - 6,061 - - - - 6,061 - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - 9,513 - - - - - - 5,658 15,172 - - 360 360 |
Total 2025 £ 32,301 709 446 9,513 10,263 - 11,097 7,665 3,220 4,494 5,658 85,367 800 1,200 960 2,960 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 32,301 709 446 - 10,263 - 5,036 7,665 3,220 4,494 - 64,134 800 1,200 600 2,600 |
||||||
| 30,397 517 767 4,696 5,375 - 4,520 6,272 3,260 3,413 4,497 |
||||||
| 63,713 |
||||||
| 1,920 2,535 1,767 |
||||||
| 6,222 |
4 Transactions with related parties
Amy Wearing served as the church leader and was paid £30,397 for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; this payment is permitted by the charity's governing document.
Page 8
Upton upon Severn Baptist Church
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
5 Movement of funds
| vement of funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds Designated funds Fabric Fund Restricted funds Building Fund Ukraine Household Support UBC Mission - Place of Grace UBC Mission - Teams 4U Shared Front Room Other restricted grants Total funds |
Opening balance £ 84,688 6,072 6,072 43,883 566 15,108 200 - 28,034 1,269 89,060 179,819 |
Receipts £ 66,575 - - 12,490 - 8,500 - 360 240 - 21,590 88,165 |
Payments £ (66,734) (6,061) (6,061) (5,658) (300) (7,447) - (360) (554) (1,213) (15,532) (88,326) |
Transfers £ (13,929) - - 19,550 - (1,124) - - (4,497) - 13,929 - |
Closing balance £ 70,599 11 |
| 11 | |||||
| 70,265 266 15,037 200 - 23,223 56 |
|||||
| 109,047 | |||||
| 179,658 |
BUILDING FUND - Monies donated for our Building Restoration and Development Project
UKRAINE - to support Ukrainian refugees fleeing war and hosted locally in our area
HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT - for the running costs of the foodbank and other household support initiatives at Upton Baptist Church UBC MISSION - Place of Grace funds are for a project in Thailand.
UBC Mission - Teams 4U funds are for a Christmas shoebox appeal.
SHARED FRONT ROOM - funds relate to the community space open daily without charge offering support and free refreshments. OTHER RESTRICTED GRANTS - other small grants for specific items or activities
Transfers from the Shared Front Room and Household Support funds to General Funds reflects shared costs such as utilities, insurance and building maintenance which have been allocated to these activities.
The transfer from the Building Fund to General, UBC Mission and Maggs Centre relates to money raised at the 2024 Gift Day. This money was raised for the Building Project but with an agreed proportion to be given away to other causes.
Page 9
Upton Baptist Church 2025 accounts - FINAL FOR SIGNING
Final Audit Report
2026-05-05
Created: 2026-05-01 By: Hannah Clack (hannah.clack@stewardship.org.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAATETi5GHhnkw84Dmk30Lez3_tv4Ytlwqw
"Upton Baptist Church 2025 accounts - FINAL FOR SIGNING" H istory
Document created by Hannah Clack (hannah.clack@stewardship.org.uk)
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Document emailed to uptontreasurer@gmail.com for signature
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Agreement completed.
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