**Clarence Park Baptist Church Walliscote Road Weston-super-Mare BS23 1ED** **Charity Number 1200257** **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** **Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston-super-Mare – Charity No. 1200257 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** ## **CHARITY INFORMATION** ## **LEGAL STATUS** Clarence Park Baptist Church was formed in June 1900 and established at the present site in Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare by a Deed of Trust dated 25 July 1904. The Church is registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation under reference number 1200257. ## **CHURCH ADDRESS** Clarence Park Baptist Church Walliscote Road Weston-super-Mare BS23 1ED ## **CHARITY TRUSTEES** The governance of the Church is in accordance with the Church Constitution dated 03 July 2022 which is based on the Approved Governing Document agreed between the Charity Commission and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The Church is administered by the Minister and Deacons who are the Charity Trustees. During 2024 these were: Secretary and Chair of Trustees Julie Dawkins Treasurer Ruth Fuller Deacons Jonathan Brownett Elisabeth Speakman (until April 27[th] 2025) Kaye Cooke John Dawkins Keith Newport David Sewell Susannah Weeks (until April 27[th] 2025) Tori Harper Jacky Arnold Katherine (Sian) Roberts (from April 27[th] 2025) The Secretary and Treasurer are elected annually with no limit to the number of terms they may serve. Deacons are elected for a term of three years and may offer themselves for re-election at the end of the term with no limitation on the number of terms they may serve. No Deacon receives payment other than the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. ## **PROPERTY TRUSTEES** The West of England Baptist Trust Company (West) Limited, Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Bristol BS34 6JW are the holding Trustees of the following properties - 1. Church and Hall at Walliscote Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1ED 2. Manse at 137 Totterdown Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 4LW No professional valuation of these properties has been made in recent years and the values shown in the Accounts are the current insured values. ## **BANKERS** CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ. ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Clive Bennett, 14 High Street, Banwell, Somerset BS29 6AE. ## **CONNECTED CHARITIES** The Church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the West of England Baptist Association (Webnet) both of which are registered charities. The Church receives no grant funding from either of these bodies. **2** ## **Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston-super-Mare – Charity No. 1200257 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** ## **OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES** The principal object 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. The Church vision is: ‘We seek to bring people to Jesus and together grow in our relationship with God and each other as we serve the community.’ We do this under the strap line **WORSHIP God, GROW Together, SERVE Others** . During 2025, the church has still been without a Minister so the Trustees have continued to ensure the work of the Church has been able to continue, including the holding of regular Sunday services and the provision of pastoral care. In consultation with the West of England Baptist Network (Webnet) Regional Ministers, the process was continued to discern the way forward for the Church and to consider the appointment of a new Minister. To achieve its objective the Church provides a variety of activities both to its members and to the community generally aiming 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 each Sunday, normally at 10.30am. The services are live-streamed on YouTube for those who are unable to attend in person or wish to watch on demand later in the week. There are occasional services at other times which are advertised at the services, in the weekly bulletins, on Facebook groups and on the Church website www.cpbc.co.uk There is a Sunday club programme, usually on the first and third Sunday of the month, for children; the services on the other weeks of the month are aimed for an all age congregation. The Church seeks to be a friendly and welcoming community, and anybody is free to attend any of these services. The Church runs a series of **House Groups** for the growth of faith and discipleship in the homes of some members. Details of these can be obtained from the Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship. The Church is responsible for a **Toddler Group** which meets on the Church premises on Thursdays, with the purpose of assisting the community and demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ. Also, on a Thursday, the Church holds a **Community Coffee Morning** open for anyone to attend where free tea and coffee is served, and people are welcome to come and chat and find help if needed. There are also groups open for the community to attend which are both social but also Christian in nature. **Time Out** and **The Ladies Friendship Group** for women; a **Men's Group** ; a **Craft Group** ; a **Community Choir (Caprione)** ; and a **Hand Chimes Group (the Clangers)** . A **Meet and Mix Group** arrange various activities for all but with a particular focus for those having special needs. Our building is used regularly by a **Narcotics Support Group** and **The Mount Church** , an Indian speaking congregation who are part of a church in Bristol. The latter group shares with us in our Christmas community event, **Carols around the Tree** , and have used our baptistry for services of believers’ baptism. The Deacons have continued to meet with the Church leaderships from Milton Baptist, Worle Baptist, and Bristol Road Baptist Churches to explore how we can better work together for mission within our town and build on the projects that are already being held. A Charitable Incorporated Organisation has been set up to enable this. One combined activity has been providing a safe space for the community to experience ‘peace’ in the form of a **Renew Centre** . **3** ## **Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston-super-Mare – Charity No. 1200257 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** The Church does not measure the success of its programmes only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship, encouragement and influence in people’s lives. 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 pursue its mission purposes in 2026. The Church is very fortunate in having people who are willing to give their time and talents to support its life and work. Whether it be leading study groups, setting up and packing away for services and meetings, staffing the office, providing refreshments, making music, supplying flowers, welcoming people into the premises, cleaning or many of the other tasks done quietly day by day. This is truly appreciated, and the Church wishes to record its thanks to all our members and friends for their support. ## **MEMBERSHIP** |Members at|01 January 2025|||96| |---|---|---|---|---| |Additions||||3| |||||99| |Deletions||Death|5|| |||Transfer/resignation|15|20| |Members at|31 December 2024|||79| ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The Church continues to raise the funds needed to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation. No wider public appeal for funds was made during the year. Until 31 August 2024 the most significant expense of the Church had been our responsibility for the stipend and housing costs of our Minister, Revd Steve Christian. Following his resignation the manse was not needed for a Minister and he and his family have been renting the premises whilst they look for suitable alternative accommodation and have assumed responsibility for all other expenses relating to the manse. Financially the Church offerings have been below our expected income but the balance in our reserves has enabled us to continue to operate all our activities. The Trustees are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves, together with ongoing anticipated income, to enable the Church to function effectively in the coming year. In terms of building maintenance, the necessary repairs and maintenance have been undertaken to keep the buildings in good condition. The Church has continued to maintain its membership with the wider Baptist family through the Baptist Union, the West of England Baptist Association (Webnet); representatives of the Church have attended their meetings. During 2025 the Church supported Baptist mission work through donations to Baptist Union Home Mission and BMS World Mission. In addition, the Church has supported work in the local community such as Foodbank, Christians Against Poverty and elsewhere by responding to requests from national mission partners to help with disaster and poverty relief. 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. All meetings are open to the community at large. ## **DESCRIPTION OF FUNDS** ## **UNRESTRICTED FUND** General Fund Working fund to meet general running expenses. ## **DESIGNATED FUNDS** Agape Fund Confidential fund for meeting needs within the fellowship and the community. Legacy Fund Holding fund for legacies pending final disbursement. Fabric Fund General maintenance and repair to the Church premises. **4** ## **Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston-super-Mare – Charity No. 1200257 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** Manse Fund General maintenance and repair to the manse. Equipment Fund Upkeep, upgrade and replacement of audio, visual and office equipment. Youth Fund For youth work. **RESTRICTED FUNDS** Training Fund Income from the invested capital may only be used for training purposes. Agency Funds The Church receives and distributes money for other registered charities, including Baptist Union Home Mission, BMS World Mission, Baptist World Aid, Operation Agri and Spurgeons Childcare. Individual funds are maintained for each charity to ensure that these amounts are separated from normal Church funds. By this means the Church can claim and pass on to those charities any tax rebates received under Gift Aid. ## **CHURCH GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS** The various groups and organisations associated with the Church are listed with details of money they have received and paid. All money received and paid out by the groups and organisations has been included in the Statement of Receipts and Payments. ## **RISK ASSESSMENT AND SAFEGUARDING** The Deacons, as Charity Trustees, are engaged in an on-going programme of risk assessment, including health and safety issues, relating to the Church buildings and the Church activities. The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and adults at risk are appropriately vetted through the Disclosure and Barring Service and receive Baptist Union of Great Britain Excellence in Safeguarding training relevant to their role. ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practices. The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income, resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; - Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2023 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **AUTHORISATION** The Annual Report and the accompanying Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 were approved by the Deacons on 1 April 2026 and we are authorised to sign the Report on their behalf. Julie Dawkins Ruth Fuller Church Secretary/Trustee Church Treasurer/Trustee 1 April 2026 1 April 2026 **5** Independent examlner's rnport to the trustees of ClAreDce P•rk Baptlst Church report ts) the tr￿le¢S on my examination ofthe accounts of Ihe claren￿ Park Baplist Church r()T year endcd 31. December 21n5. Responqlbllltles and haslq of rnport As the Chanty tr￿lEe3 of Ihc Chority, you arc reS[K)￿SIble for thc preparatson of the accounts In accordance wrth thc requirrments of Ihe Chanlies Acl 2011 ('thc Acl). I report in respcd of my exam1r￿(lOn of the Chanty's ￿ounts carried out under seclion 145 orthc 2011 Acl and in carryin8 oul my C￿1mM￿lI0n I have folloiyed all the applicable Dwedions given by the Chunty Commission under scction 145(5)(b) of thc ACL Indepcndent exAmlDer's slAtcment I have LX)mplelcd my cxaminalion l ￿)nf￿rn that no malcrial m1lters have come to my attents.on In connection Ivith the cxaminalion giving me cause to bclicve thal in any matenal r￿PeCI. accounling records wcre not kepl in rc.stKcI of thc Charity u required by scclion 130 of the Act: or the accounts do nol accord wilh those records: of the accounts do nol comply with the applicable requirLThents conccrning thc forni and contcnL of accounts sel out m the Charities (Accounts and Rctx)rts) Regulalions 2(X)8 other than any requirement that the accounts gil'e a 'truc and vicw which is nol a matler consldcred as part of an indcpendcnt examinatson. I have DO concerns and have come ocros.s no othcr multcrs In connecljon M'ith Ilie CL￿ninall0n to. Ivhicb 8nenlion should bc In this rcport In ordcr to cnablc o prO￿r undcr5landing of the accounts lo bc reachcd Clive Bennctt 3 March 2026 Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston Super Mare **Annual Report and Financial Statements - Year Ended 31 December 2025** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2025
2025 2024
Monetary Assets
CAF Bank Cheque Account 6,726 54,938
CAF Income Bond 0 0
Baptist Union - 6 Month Deposit A/C 127,741 0
Baptist Union - 3 Months Deposit A/C 106,644 103,481
Baptist Union - 7 Day Deposit Account 13,032 12,899
CAF new CIO Account 47,416 29,799
Petty Cash 41 30
Total 301,600 201,147
Represented by
Unrestricted General Funds 59,144 21,898
Designed Funds 230,637 166,446
Restricted Funds 7,953 7,953
Agency Restricted Funds 3,866 4,850
Total 301,600 201,147
Other Items
Gift Aid Tax Rebates Due 2,367 1,954
Funds held by Church Organisations (18) 5,301 5,273
TOTAL MONETARY ASSETS 309,268 208,374
Fixed Assets (Insured Values)
Church Building & Organ 9,592,301 9,049,340
Furniture & Fittings, Instruments Etc 268,161 201,675
Manse 427,939 403,716
Total Fixed Assets 10,288,401 9,654,731
**----- End of picture text -----**
Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston Super Mare **Annual Report and Financial Statements - Year Ended 31 December 2025** ## **RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS for Year ended 31 December 2025** |Notes
Unrestricted
General Designated
Restricted
Agency
Restricted
**Total**
Funds
Funds (13)
Funds (14) Funds (15)
**Funds**
£
£
£
£
**2025**
**Income**
Donations & Legacies
_2_
65,233
56,419
-
2,561
**124,213**
Investment
_3_
9,582
5,036
-
-
**14,618**
_4_
5,685
-
-
-
**5,685**
Total Income
80,500
61,455
-
2,561
**144,516**
**Expenditure**
Ministry
_5_
(681)
0
0
0
**(681)**
Mission
_6_
6,853
1,818
-
3,545
**12,216**
Community
_7_
2,500
-
-
-
**2,500**
Church Premises
_8_
15,495
2,874
-
-
**18,369**
Manse
_9_
560
292
-
-
**852**
Fellowship
_10_
5,543
-
-
-
**5,543**
Worship
_11_
4,574
-
-
-
**4,574**
Leadership
_12_
690
-
-
-
**690**
Total Expenditure
35,534
4,984
-
3,545
**44,063**
44,966
56,471
0
(984)
**100,453**
(7,720)
7,720
**0**
**Total Funds Brought Forward**
21,898
166,446
7,953
4,850
**201,147**
**Total Funds Carried Forward**
59,144
230,637
7,953
3,866
**301,600**
Charitable activities
**Net income / (Expenditure)**
**Funds Transfer**|Total
Funds
2024
144,180
8,801
4,251
157,232
**34,854**
**10,945**
**2,682**
**19,321**
**3,127**
**5,440**
**3,848**
**202**
80,419
76,813
0
124,334
201,147| |---|---| Page 2 Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston Super Mare **Annual Report and Financial Statements - Year Ended 31 December 2025 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for Year ended 31 December 2025** ## 1 **Basis of Accounts - General Fund** These Accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and accord with Section 132 of the Charities Act 2011 ## 2 **Donations & Legacies** |Offerings
Gift Aid Tax reclaimed
Donations - General
Donation Fabric fund
Donation Stone repairs
Other Receipts (Legacy)|Unrestricted
General Designated
Restricted
Agency
Restricted
**Total**
Funds
Funds (13)
Funds (14) Funds (15)
**Funds**
£
£
£
£
**2025**
52,946
2,374
**55,320**
11,617
171
**11,788**
670
2,561
**3,231**
150
**150**
**-**
-
53,724
**53,724**
65,233
56,419
-
2,561
**124,213**|Total
Funds
2024
58,644
16,484
6,490
-
7,062
55,500
144,180| |---|---|---| During 2024 income was split as follows: Unrestrcited £72,521, Designated £62,420, Restricted £3,000 and £6,239 Agency Restricted |3 **Investment Income**
Interest Received
182
5,036
**5,218**
Dividend Distribution
**-**
Capital Revaluation
**0**
Manse Rent
9,400
**9,400**
9,582
5,036
0
-
**14,618**
During 2024 all investment income was Unrestricted except £5,566 Designated
4 **Charitable Activities**
Lettings / Fees - Wedding etc
5,685
**5,685**
5,685
-
-
-
**5,685**
During 2024 all income from Charitable Activities was Unrestricted
5 **Ministry Costs**
Stipend
-
**-**
Employers National Insurance
681
-
**681**
**-**
Employers Pension
-
**-**
Staff Travel Expenses
-
**-**
Other expenses
-
**-**
Baptist Together - MIT
-
**-**
Payroll charges
-
**-**
681
-
-
-
-
**681**
**-**
During 2024 all Ministry Costs were Unrestricted
6 **Mission**
BMS
2,976
**2,976**
Home Mission
2,976
**2,976**
Baptist Unions Subscription
556
**556**
Churches Together
**-**
Other
345
**345**
Agape Gifts
1,818
**1,818**
Agency Gifts
3,545
**3,545**
6,853
1,818
-
3,545
**12,216**|5,601
-
-
3,200
8,801
4,251
4,251
28,360
-
2,996
870
496
2,000
132
34,854
3,010
3,010
638
-
480
787
3,020
10,945| |---|---| During 2024 all Mission Costs were Unrestricted except £787 Designated Funds and £3,020 Agency Restricted Page 3 ## Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston Super Mare ## **Annual Report and Financial Statements - Year Ended 31 December 2025** |Unrestricted
General Designated
Restricted
Agency
Restricted
**Total**
Funds
Funds (13)
Funds (14) Funds (15)
**Funds**
£
£
£
£
**2025**
7 **Community**
Sunday Club
-
**-**
Messy Church
-
**-**
Girls Brigade
**-**
New Initiatives
2,500
**2,500**
2,500
-
-
-
**2,500**
During 2024 all Community Costs were Unrestricted
8 **Church Premises**
Insurance
7,322
**7,322**
Heating & Lighting
6,637
**6,637**
Appliance Maintenance
508
**508**
Water and Sewage
262
**262**
Equipment Fund
**-**
Fabric Fund
2,874
**2,874**
Church Telephone
766
**766**
Charitable Inc Org Fees
-
**-**
Stone work repairs
-
**-**
15,495
2,874
-
-
**18,369**
9 **Manse**
Council Tax
-
**-**
Insurance
560
**560**
Heating and Lighting
-
**-**
Manse Repair Fund
292
**292**
Manse Repair (non-Fund)
-
**-**
Water and Sewage
-
**-**
Manse Telephone
-
**-**
Other Expenses
-
**-**
560
292
-
-
**852**
During 2024 all Manse Costs were Unrestricted except £70 Designated Funds (Manse Repair)
10 **Fellowship / Admin**
Advertising and Publicity
-
**-**
Photocopier
2,266
**2,266**
Postage and Stationery
352
**352**
Website
-
**-**
Catering
603
**603**
House Keeping
1,983
**1,983**
Bank Charges
120
**120**
Sundry Expenses
219
**219**
5,543
-
-
-
**5,543**
During 2024 all Fellowship / Admin Costs were Unrestricted
11 **Worship**
Preaching Fees
3,224
**3,224**
Books and Preaching Material
126
**126**
Organ and Pianos
-
**-**
Music
70
**70**
Copyright Licences
1,154
**1,154**
Sabbatical Preaching Fees
-
**-**
4,574
-
-
-
**4,574**
During 2024 all Worship Costs were Unrestricted
12 **Leadership**
Baptist Assembly
**-**
Ministers Conference
**-**
Training
690
**690**
Deacons training
-
**-**
690
-
-
-
**690**
During 2024 all Leadership Costs were Unrestricted
**Total Charitable Activities**
35,534
4,984
-
3,545
**44,063**
During 2024 all Church Premises Costs were Unrestricted except Designated Funds (Equipment £13, Fabric
£711 and £3,180 Stone Repairs)|Total
Funds
2024
-
-
-
2,682
2,682
6,908
6,715
924
225
13
711
645
-
3,180
19,321
1,127
481
550
70
120
384
395
-
3,127
-
2,150
563
465
563
1,555
121
23
5,440
2,095
132
504
144
973
-
3,848
-
-
105
97
202
80,419
Page 4| |---|---| ## **Clarence Park Baptist Church, Weston Super Mare Annual Report and Financial Statements - Year Ended 31 December 2025** |13 Designated Funds
Agape Fund
Legacy
Fabric
Manse
Equipment
CIO
Youth
Stone work
Total
14 Restricted Funds
Training Fund Capital
Training Fund Interest
Youth
Total
15 Agency Funds
BMS World Mission
BMS Birthday
Home Mission
Baptist World Aid
Build / Meet & Mix
Clangers Group
Mens Group
Christians Against
Poverty
Flower Fund
Operation Agri
Weston Food Bank
Pickleball
Ladies Fellowship
Boys Brigade
Girls Brigade
Community Café
Steve C Leaving gifts
Total
16 BMS Donations
Birthday Scheme
Envelopes, Boxes Etc
Christmas Post Box
BMS Relief Fund
Total Gifts
Budget Giving
Total Giving to BMS
17 Home Mission
Envelopes, Boxes Etc
Christmas Post Box
Other Receipts
Total Gifts
Budget Giving
Total Giving to BMS
18 Church Organisations
Boys Brigade
Pickle ball
Build Social Club
Clangers
Community Coffee
Morning
CPBC Men's Group
(Donation Record)
Flower Fund
Girls Brigade
Ladies Friendship
Group
Ladies "Time Out"
Group
So Crafty Group
Tots and Toddlers
Caprione Choir|Opening
Balance
Income
Expenditure
Fund
Transfer
closing
Balance
3,171
2,545
(1,818)
3,898
131,188
58,760
189,948
11,487
150
(2,874)
3,308
12,071
6,824
(292)
2,208
8,740
6,791
0
2,204
8,995
1,109
1,109
839
839
5,037
5,037
166,446
61,455
(4,984)
7,720
230,637
3,654
3,654
1,299
1,299
3,000
3,000
7,953
0
0
0
7,953
0
445
(400)
45
126
210
(301)
35
0
0
0
0
0
0
95
72
(79)
88
251
245
(324)
172
378
440
(390)
428
0
0
307
307
2
198
(194)
6
0
17
17
144
144
580
800
(747)
633
1,111
1,111
856
856
134
(110)
24
1,000
(1,000)
0
4,850
2,561
(3,545)
0
3,866
301
400
701
2,976
3,677
0
0
2,976
2,976
1,111
1,111
144
144
376
376
274
245
(269)
250
31
225
(227)
29
342
500
(340)
502
323
50
(37)
336
856
856
571
741
(656)
656
359
359
96
305
(261)
140
395
766
(686)
475
4
1,193
(1,130)
67
4,882
4,025
(3,606)
0
5,301|Last Year
468
7
475
3,010
3,485
0
0
0
3,010
3,010| |---|---|---|