# **Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 December 2024**
35 Ock Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 5AG Registered Charity 1201269
www.abingdonbaptist.org.uk
## Abingdon Baptist Church
**Abingdon Baptist Church** (the Church) was founded in 1650 and is registered with the Charity Commission and its Registration number is 1201269.
|**Principal Office**|Abingdon Baptist Church||
|---|---|---|
||35 Ock Street||
||Abingdon||
||Oxfordshire||
||OX14 5AG||
|**Trustees**|Rev Rachel Hughes (Minister) (to September 2025)||
||Rev Ian Millgate (Church Secretary) (to May 2025)||
||Mrs Linda King (Treasurer to May 2025)||
||Mr Brian Collins (Treasurer from May 2025)||
||Dr Chris Cairns (Church Secretary to July 2025)||
||Mrs Dorothy Field (to May 2024)||
||Mrs Christine Hutt||
||Mrs Rosalie Lorrison||
||Mr Rodney Pollock (to May 2024)||
||Mrs Pamela Pratt||
||Mr Cyril Saunders (from May 2024)||
||Mr Victor Bayag (from May 2025)||
|**Other Posts**|Mrs Jill Millgate (Membership Secretary)||
||Mr Alan Fisher (Assistant Treasurer)||
||Mrs Linda King (Bookkeeper)||
|**Property Trustees**|The Baptist Union Corporation Limited||
||Baptist House||
||129 Broadway||
||Didcot||
||Oxfordshire||
||OX11 8RT||
|**Bankers**|HSBC Bank plc
|Baptist Union Corporation Limited|
||6 High Street|Baptist House,|
||Abingdon|PO Box 44, 129 Boadway|
||Oxfordshire|Didcot, Oxfordshire|
||OX14 5AZ
|OX11 8RT|
|**Solicitors**|Franklins Solicitors||
||15 Ock Street||
||Abingdon||
||Oxfordshire||
||OX14 5AN||
|**Surveyors**|Thomas Merrifield||
||51 Stert Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3JF||
|**Independent Examiner**|Mr Stuart Bates FCA||
||Wenn Townsend||
||Victoria House||
||10 Broad Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3LH||
1
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Annual Report for 2024**
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed.
## **Charitable Object**
The Charity was governed by its Constitution (approved 16 November 2021) which states that 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. (At midnight on 31 December 2023 the Church transitioned to being a Charitable Incorporated Organisation under the new Constitution which had been approved for this purpose on 16 November 2021. This incorporates the same objectives.)
The Church occupies premises which are held by the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd, on trusts which are entirely compatible with the above object.
## **Organisational structure and Decision making processes**
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 if they have been accepted into full membership following other modes of induction into the Christian faith to renew their commitment by their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The members met on six occasions in the year. Members have responsibility for the overall policy of the Church. In accordance with the Constitution, the maximum number of trustees is twelve.This number includes the church secretary and treasurer, but any minister/ministers are in addition to this number.. They 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 are normally submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance, or could be raised by members in Church meeting 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.
## **Organisational Management**
The Trustees are legally responsible for the overall management and control of Abingdon Baptist Church, and met on twelve occasions, all in person. The other principal committees are the Church Property Committee, the Safeguarding team, 35 Ock Street Management/Operations Group, and the Finance Group. Each of these committees would normally meet regularly and report to the Trustees through link Trustees assigned to each group. The day to day running of departments of the Church is delegated to the respective activity leaders supported by their teams and committees, together with the Church Minister.
## **Group Structure and Relationships**
Abingdon Baptist Church actively participates in the local ecumenical vehicle, the Church in Abingdon (CiA) and the regional and national Baptist bodies, the Southern Counties Baptist Association (SCBA) and the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB). The Charity also supports the worldwide Baptist community through the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS World Mission). We also co-operate with many local charities and community activities in our ongoing endeavours to further the work of God’s Kingdom by serving those in need.
2
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Risk Management**
The Trustees are responsible for the management of the risks faced by Abingdon Baptist Church. Considerations of risk are delegated to the responsible committees, who are assisted by the Trustees.
The key controls used by the charity include:
- Comprehensive insurance of all Church properties and equipment including employer’s liability.
- Formal agendas for all Committee and Trustees activity.
- Detailed terms of reference for Committees.
- Comprehensive financial planning, budgeting and management accounting.
- Established organisation structure and lines of reporting.
- Formal written policies.
- Clear authorisation and approval levels.
- Assessment procedures for suitability of volunteers are carried out as required by law for the protection of the vulnerable.
The Trustees are satisfied that the major risks identified have been adequately mitigated where necessary. It is acknowledged that systems can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance that major risks have been adequately managed.
## **Objectives and Activities**
In order 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. These activities are:- regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching; Baptism, as defined in the Union’s Declaration of Principle; the Communion of the Lord’s Supper which shall normally be observed at least once each month; evangelism and mission, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally; the teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people; nurture and growth of Christian disciples; education, and training for Christian and community service; giving and encouraging pastoral care; supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad; encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptist and other Christians.
The Church also supports evangelical missions and missionary work both in the United Kingdom and worldwide. The Church accepts its responsibility to speak clearly, giving the Christian perspective on issues where possible.
Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These regular services take place each Sunday at 10.30 am. We have continued to stream online for those unable to attend. There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised in the church magazine ABC Life and on the Church Notice Board and/or the website at www.abingdonbaptist.org.uk. There is a children’s and young person’s programme during most morning services, the exception being that normally once a month the children and young people stay in for an ‘all-age’ service. 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 in the homes of some members to encourage growth of faith and discipleship together. A regular daytime Bible Study meeting on site took place during 2024. Further details of these can be obtained from the Trustees on request, in the church magazine or at the Sunday services of worship.
The Church also organises the 35 Ock Street Project. The redeveloped old Church manse now operates as a drop in centre, café and meeting rooms for the use of the local community and is supported by the CiA.
Normally other activities for the benefit of the public and Church congregation include:
- ABC Tots - A toddler group to help families in the community and to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ.
- Men’s Activities – To promote mission among men, mainly a monthly lunchtime fellowship meeting.
- ‘Ladies who Lunch’– A group to encourage fellowship among women, organised in parallel with the men’s monthly meeting.
- ‘Back to 35’ - To provide a meeting place for the over 50’s.
- Lunchtime Music Hour – open to anyone.
3
## Abingdon Baptist Church
- Uniformed Organisations - To provide facilities for Cubs, Brownies, Beavers, Rainbows and Scouts to meet, a connection to Church through parade services and other activities, and leadership of some groups through individual members.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and adults at risk are appropriately vetted with regard to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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 only in numbers, including financial numbers, but also in less tangible areas like fellowship and encouragement. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure. We believe that 2024 was a satisfactory year in the life of the Church as we continued to foster relationships with one another. The Church was led in its mission and ministry by the Revd Rachel Hughes as minister.
Five new members were received during 2024. Two members died and six transferred their membership or resigned their membership. As at 31 December 2024 the membership stood at 66, a net decrease of three.
## **Financial Review**
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its own membership and congregation.
The most significant expenses relate to the Minister in leading and co-ordinating the Church’s activities including the Sunday Services, providing pastoral care for the congregation and other people in the community, and to equipping and encouraging the membership in their life, Christian witness and service. Furthermore, the Church continues to make substantial investments in the care and maintenance of its various properties.
The Church expresses its part in the life of the wider Church by making grants to national and international Christian organisations and societies with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the Church’s own charitable purpose.
The financial results for the year, together with a summary of the accounting policies adopted, are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
## **Reserves policy**
The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy, and are satisfied that they have sufficient reserves at the Balance Sheet date, together with ongoing income anticipated, to enable the Church to function effectively in the coming year. The policy is as follows:
The General Reserve is for the purpose of supporting the Church’s activities and costs during times when income is lower than planned and our target is to maintain at least six months of full year Church expenditure.
Fabric Reserve. The Church needs to make ongoing and sizeable improvements to its buildings and grounds, especially of the Church itself.
35 Ock Street Reserve. The purpose of this reserve is to fund any annual operating losses and to pay for planned improvements and refurbishments to the internal and external fabric and environs of 35 Ock Street.
Restricted Reserves. The policy of the Church is to maintain restricted reserves only when specifically wished by the donor.
## **Investment policy and objectives**
4
## Abingdon Baptist Church
The Charity aims to prudently maximise the total investment return within the objectives of maintaining income, while continuing to preserve the real value of any endowed investments and to safeguard income on temporarily invested restricted funds.
## **Future Plans**
The Trustees’ current key objectives are:
- 1 To continue developing the work of the Church locally through the 35 Ock Street Project; the support of Uniformed Organisations and various ministries to the more vulnerable in our community; and the life and witness of its members.
- 2 To continue to review the needs in the local community and develop ways that the Charity can help especially in the light of continuing pressure upon local authority funding of social projects.
- 3 To continue to support the wider Baptist community through participation in the BUGB and BMS World Mission.
- 4 To continue to explore new and ongoing ways in which flexibility provided by the redeveloped building can facilitate Christian mission, witness, and service.
- 5 To adopt a Compliants procedure, the Bullying and Harrassment Policy and develop a Trustees team charter as well as a church meeting charter to encourage a better culture.
## **Accounting and Reporting Responsibilities**
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming 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 judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable 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 charity will continue in operation.
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 2008 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.
Approved by the Trustees of Abingdon Baptist Church on 18[th] August 2025 and signed on their behalf by
……………………………..
Christine Hutt Trustee
5
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 December 2024**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS:**
**Voluntary Income**
Regular Giving
Tax Refunds
Donations & Grants
Legacies
Appeals
Church Groups
**Activities for generating fund**
Lettings
35 Ock Street
**Investment Income**
Interest Receivable
Rental Income
**Total Income**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable Activities**
Ministry & Mission
Property, Fabric & Equipment
Administration & Misc. Expenses
Depreciation
Church Organisations
Donations to Charitable Orgs
3
Loan Interest
Legal Fees
Independent Examiner’s
Fee/Accountancy
4
**Total Expenditure**
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**
**before transfers**
**Gross transfers between funds**
Between Designated and Restricted
Between General and Designated
**Net movements in funds**
Opening balances brought forward
**Total Funds carried forward**|Un-restricted
Total
Total
General
Designated
Restricted
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
67,234
-
-
67,234
63,746
15,496
-
158
15,654
19,988
2,242
-
510
2,752
130,464
-
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
1,772
1,772
3,153
-
603
-
603
547|
|---|---|
||84,972
603
2,440
88,015
227,898|
||738
6,307
-
7,045
6,737
-
29,008
-
29,008
23,326|
||738
35,315
-
36,053
30,063|
||3,841
-
3,841
4,123
13,042
-
-
13,042
11,580|
||16,883
-
-
16,883
15,703|
|||
||**102,593**
**35,918**
**2,440**
**140,951**
**273,664**|
||42,403
11,927
-
54,330
45,117
16,494
21,787
-
38,281
44,298
10,263
5,067
-
15,330
11,633
6,148
608
-
6,756
7,841
-
248
445
693
927
12,000
-
1,930
13,930
15,888
-
-
-
-
12,136
291
291
1,462
4,551
-
-
4,551
2,400|
||**92,150**
**39,637**
**2,375**
**134,162**
**141,702**|
||**10,443**
**(3,719)**
**65**
**6,789**
**131,962**
-
-
-
-
-
9,376
(9,376)
-
-
-|
||**19,819**
**(13,095)**
**65**
**6,789**
**131,962**
**108,831**
**2,651,594**
**463**
**2,760,888**
**2,628,926**|
||**128,650**
**2,638,499**
**528**
**2,767,677**
**2,760,888**|
6
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 December 2023 (Comparative figures)**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS:**
**Voluntary Income**
Regular Giving
Tax Refunds
Donations & Grants
Legacies
Appeals
Church Groups
**Activities for generating fund**
Lettings
35 Ock Street
**Investment Income**
Interest Receivable
Rental Income
**Total Income**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable Activities**
Ministry & Mission
Property, Fabric & Equipment
Administration & Misc. Expenses
Depreciation
Church Organisations
Donations to Charitable Orgs
Loan Interest
Legal Fees
Independent Examiner’s Fee
**Total Expenditure**
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**
**before transfers**
**Gross transfers between funds**
Between Designated and Restricted
Between General and Designated
**Net movements in funds**
Opening balances brought forward
**Total Funds carried forward**|Unrestricted
Total
General
Designated
Restricted
2023
£
£
£
£
63,746
-
-
63,746
16,624
2,879
485
19,988
5,180
124,855
429
130,464
10,000
-
-
10,000
-
-
3,153
3,153
-
547
-
547|
|---|---|
||95,550
128,281
4,067
227,898|
||1,608
5,129
-
6,737
-
23,326
-
23,326|
||1,608
28,455
-
30,063|
||3,589
534
-
4,123
11,580
-
-
11,580|
||15,169
534
-
15,703|
|||
||**112,327**
**157,270**
**4,067**
**273,664**|
||37,483
7,634
-
45,117
28,551
15,747
-
44,298
7,533
4,100
-
11,633
7,841
-
-
7,841
-
364
563
927
12,250
-
3,638
15,888
-
12,136
-
12,136
1,462
1,462
2,400
-
-
2,400|
||**97,520**
**39,981**
**4,201**
**141,702**|
||**14,807**
**117,289**
**(134)**
**131,962**|
||-
-
-
-
(23,587)
23,587
-
-|
||**(8,780)**
**140,876**
**(134)**
**131,962**|
|||
||**117,611**
**2,510,718**
**597**
**2,628,926**|
||**108,831**
**2,651,594**
**463**
**2,760,888**|
7
## Abingdon Baptist Church
|**Balance Sheet**
**31 December 2024**
Notes
2024
£
£
**Fixed Assets**
5
2,603,807
**Current Assets**
Stocks
-
Debtors
6
23,523
Cash in bank and in hand
7
154,896
**Total Current Assets**
178,419
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due within one year
6
14,549
**Net Current Assets**
163,870
Total Assets less current liabilities
2,767,677
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due after one year
-
**Net Assets**
2,767,677
**Charitable Funds**
**Unrestricted Reserves**
9
General Reserves
128,650
Designated Reserves
2,638,499
2,767,149
**Restricted Reserves**
10
528
**2,767,677**|**Balance Sheet**
**31 December 2024**
Notes
2024
£
£
**Fixed Assets**
5
2,603,807
**Current Assets**
Stocks
-
Debtors
6
23,523
Cash in bank and in hand
7
154,896
**Total Current Assets**
178,419
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due within one year
6
14,549
**Net Current Assets**
163,870
Total Assets less current liabilities
2,767,677
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due after one year
-
**Net Assets**
2,767,677
**Charitable Funds**
**Unrestricted Reserves**
9
General Reserves
128,650
Designated Reserves
2,638,499
2,767,149
**Restricted Reserves**
10
528
**2,767,677**|**Balance Sheet**
**31 December 2024**
Notes
2024
£
£
**Fixed Assets**
5
2,603,807
**Current Assets**
Stocks
-
Debtors
6
23,523
Cash in bank and in hand
7
154,896
**Total Current Assets**
178,419
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due within one year
6
14,549
**Net Current Assets**
163,870
Total Assets less current liabilities
2,767,677
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due after one year
-
**Net Assets**
2,767,677
**Charitable Funds**
**Unrestricted Reserves**
9
General Reserves
128,650
Designated Reserves
2,638,499
2,767,149
**Restricted Reserves**
10
528
**2,767,677**|2023
£
£
2,608,739
-
11,431
158,540
169,971
17,822
152,149
2,760,888
-
**2,760,888**
108,831
2,651,594
2,760,425
463
**2,760,888**|2023
£
£
2,608,739
-
11,431
158,540
169,971
17,822
152,149
2,760,888
-
**2,760,888**
108,831
2,651,594
2,760,425
463
**2,760,888**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||178,419
14,549||169,971
17,822||
||128,650
2,638,499||108,831
2,651,594||
|||2,767,677
-||2,760,888
-|
|||2,767,677||**2,760,888**|
|||2,767,149
528
**2,767,677**||2,760,425
463
**2,760,888**|
||||||
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on 18[th] August 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
…………………………………… …………………………..
Trustee and Treasurer: Brian Michael Collins FCCA Trustee: Christine Hutt
8
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **1 Accounting Policies**
a) Basis of Preparation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and applicable regulations. The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention with the exception of fixed assets included at revalued amounts.
The charity’s main purpose is that of a public benefit entity.
The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £.
The Abingdon Baptist Church a charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is 35 Ock Street Abingdon OX14 5AG.
b) Fixed Assets and Depreciation Buildings: The Church, 35 Ock Street and the Manse, 16 Thesiger Road, Abingdon, were revalued during 2009 using the insurance values at 24 June 2009. Since that date the value of the church has increased by the costs of development made in 2019.
Depreciation on other fixed assets over £500 is calculated to write off the cost on a straight-line basis over their expected useful life at the following rates:
|Equipment|33%|
|---|---|
|Manse Boiler|20%|
|Furniture|20%|
|Kitchen Equipment|20%|
|Sound/AVA|10%|
|Organ/Table|7%|
All purchases of assets under £500 are written off to revenue.
## c) Stock
The stock is no longer valued at year end.
d) Income All incoming resources, including any legacies, are included in the year in which they are receivable, which is when the charity becomes entitled to the resource.
e) Expenditure Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and gross of any related income. The only governance cost incurred was for the examination of the Church accounts. All other costs form part of the costs of the charitable activity.
f) Volunteer Costs The Church is heavily dependent on voluntary labour but, whilst very much valued and appreciated by the Church, is not quantified in the accounts.
9
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (** continued)
## g) Fund Accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds represent unrestricted funds which have been set aside by the Church for specific purposes as set out in Note 9. They may be returned to general funds at the discretion of the Church.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Church for particular purposes. The aims and uses of these funds are set out in Note 10.
## **2 Staff costs**
Included in Ministry and Mission is the following staff cost:
|Stipend/Salary
Employers NI
Pension Contributions
Relocation and other expenses|2024
£
29,340
-
3,579
1,307
**34,226**|2023
£
27,000
-
4,249
1,722
**32,971**|
|---|---|---|
The Church had one employee during the year (2023 - 1) and no employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
No remuneration or expenses was paid to any Trustee for their duties as Trustee; the Minister was a Trustee and received their stipend for their role as Minister.
## **3 Donations to Charitable Organisations**
|Home Mission
BMS World Mission
BMS Relief Fund/Harvest Appeal
Regents Park College – General
BMS Appeal
Others – Overseas
Others – UK
Others – Local
35 Ock Street
**Total**|Appeals
2024
£
-
-
-
-
939
-
744
-
247|Grants
Appeals
2024
2023
£
£
4,360
-
4,360
2,843
500
-
500
-
-
-
-
360
1,212
110
1,068
-
-
325|Grants
2023
£
4,360
4,360
500
500
-
-
1,780
750
-|
|---|---|---|---|
||**1,930**|**12,000**
**3,638**|**12,250**|
|||**13,930**|**15,888**|
10
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## N **otes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (** continued)
**4** Independent Examiner’s Fee/Accountancy
## **5**
||||2024|2024||||2023||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||£||||£||
|Independent Examiner’s Fee|||3,000|||||2,400||
|Accountancy|||1,551|||||-||
||||**4,551**|||||**2,400**||
|**Fixed Assets**||||||||||
||Valuation/Cost
01/01/2024|Net
Additions
2024|in|Accumulated
Depreciation
01/01/2024||Net
Depreciation
2024||Net Book
Value
31/12/2024||
||£|£|||£|£|||£|
|**Freehold Property**||||||||||
|Church|1,674,748||-||-||-|1,674,748||
|Manse|217,010||-||-||-|217,010||
|35 Ock Street|658,725||-||-||-|658,725||
||2,550,483||-||-||-|2,550,483||
|**Equipment**||||||||||
|Church|151,403||-||(93,147)|(6,148)|||52,108|
|Manse|3,984||-||(3,984)||-||-|
|35 Ock Street|44,260|1,824|||(44,260)||(608)||1,216|
||199,647|1,824|||(141,391)|(6,756)|||53,324|
|||||||||||
|**Total**|**2,750,130**|1,824|||**(**141,391**)**|(6,756)||2,603,807||
## **6 Sundry Debtors and Creditors**
|**Debtors**
Gift Aid Tax
Church other
35 Ock Street
**Creditors**
Church other
35 Ock Street|2024
£
15,782
3,575
4,166
**23,523**
2024
£
9,512
5,037
**14,549**|2023
£
5,928
3,303
2,201|
|---|---|---|
|||**11,431**|
|||2023
£
16,544
1,278
**17,822**|
11
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (** continued)
**7 Cash at Bank and In Hand**
|Bank Accounts – Church
Bank Accounts – Baptist Union 1
Bank Accounts – Baptist Union 2
Bank Accounts – Development Fund
Cash in hand – 35 Ock Street
Cash in hand – Church Organisations
**8**
**Analysis of net assets between funds**
**Fund balances at 31st December 2024 are**
**represented by:**
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Long term liabilities
**Fund balances at 31st December 2023 are**
**represented by:**
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Long term liabilities|2024
£
49,909
51,653
52,008
-
300
1,026
**154,896**
General
Reserves
Designated
Reserves
£
£
-
2,603,807
128,650
34,692
-
-|2023
£
153,097
-
-
4,598
300
545
**158,540**
Restricted
Reserves
Total
£
£
-
2,603,807
528
163,870
-
-
528
2,767,677|
|---|---|---|
||128,650
2,638,499||
||General
Reserves
Designated
Reserves
£
£
-
2,608,739
108,831
42,855
-
-|Restricted
Reserves
Total
£
£
-
2,608,739
463
152,149
-
-
463
2,760,888|
||108,831
2,651,594||
12
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (** continued)
## **9 Unrestricted Reserves**
|Note
**General Reserves**
**Designated Reserves**
Fixed Assets
a
Fabric
b
35 Ock Street
c
Church Organisations
e
Development Fund
f
**Total**
Note
**General Reserves**
**Designated Reserves**
Fixed Assets
a
Fabric
b
35 Ock Street
c
Legacy
d
Church Organisations
e
Development Fund
f
**Total**|01/01/2024
Incoming
resources
Outgoing
resources
Transfers
31/12/2024
£
£
£
£
£
108,831
102,593
(92,150)
9,376
128,650|
|---|---|
||2,608,739
-
-
(4,932)
2,603,807
12,006
-
-
-
12,006
25,989
35,315
(39,389)
-
21,915
262
603
(248)
154
771
4,598
-
-
(4,598)
-|
||2,651,594
35,918
(39,637)
(9,376)
2,638,499|
|||
||**2,760,425**
**138,511**
**(131,787)**
**-**
**2,767,149**|
||01/01/2023
Incoming
resources
Outgoing
resources
Transfers
31/12/2023
£
£
£
£
£
117,611
112,327
(97,520)
(23,587)
108,831|
||2,416,083
-
-
192,656
2,608,739
12,006
-
-
-
12,006
24,925
28,455
(27,391)
-
25,989
15,000
-
-
(15,000)
-
79
547
(364)
-
262
42,625
128,268
(12,226)
(154,069)
4,598|
||2,510,718
157,270
(39,981)
23,587
2,651,594|
||**2,628,329**
**269,597**
**(137,501)**
**-**
**2,760,425**|
13
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (** continued)
## **10 Restricted Reserves**
|Note
Charitable Appeals
g
Back to 35
h
Note
Charitable Appeals
g
Back to 35
h|01/01/2024
Incoming
Resources
Outgoing
Resources
Transfers
31/12/2024
£
£
£
£
£
-
1,930
(1,930)
-
-
463
510
(445)
-
528
463
2,440
(2,375)
**-**
**528**|
|---|---|
||01/01/2023
Incoming
Resources
Outgoing
Resources
Transfers
31/12/2023
£
£
£
£
£
-
3,638
(3,638)
-
-
597
429
(563)
-
463
597
4,067
(4,201)
**-**
**463**|
## Notes on Restricted and Unrestricted Reserves (notes 9 and 10)
## Designated Funds:
- a) The Fixed Asset Fund is to balance the Fixed Assets (note 6) after taking into account the movements in Fixed Assets over the year.
- b) The Fabric Reserve is used to provide a sum of money for repairs to the Church, which is a Grade II Listed Building.
- c) The 35 Ock Street Fund is used to fund the Mission work in the Church’s former manse. The details of the income, expenditure and transfers impacting on this designated fund can be found in note 11.
- d) The Legacy Fund was being held to repay loans due to members of the church congregation.
- e) The Church Organisations Fund supports the work of Family Church and ABC Tots.
- f) The Development Fund (Designated) is to provide finance towards the repayment of loans for the development of the Church property.
## Restricted Funds:
- g) The Charitable Appeals Fund is used to account for receipts and payments of appeal for other charities. h) The Back to 35 Fund is used to provide speakers and for other expenses for this project which provides a meeting place for the over 50’s.
14
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (** continued)
|**11**
**35 Ock Street**
**Income**
Fund Generating
Lettings
Other:
Grants
Interest Receivable
Other Income
**Expenditure**
Mission
Property
Administration
Depreciation
**Surplus/(Deficit)**
Transfer(to) from General Reserve
Transfer (to) from Fixed Asset Reserve
**Net Surplus/(Deficit)**
**Opening Balance**
**Closing Balance carried forward**|£
11,927
21,787
5,067
608|2024
£
29,008
6,307
-
-
-|£
7,634
15,747
4,010
-|2023
£
22,376
5,129
950
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||35,315
39,389||28,455
27,391|
||||||
|||(4,074)
-
-||1,064
-
-|
|||(4,074)
**25,989**||1,064
24,925|
|||**21,915**||**25,989**|
Note: Excluded from this designated fund income and expenditure note is £247 (£325 in 2023) received and donated charity appeals through 35 Ock Street.
15
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)**
## **12 Pensions**
The Church is an employer participating in a pension scheme known as the Baptist Pension Scheme (“the Scheme”). The Scheme is a separate legal entity which is administered by the Pension Trustee (Baptist Pension Trust Limited).
The Minister(s) are eligible to join the Scheme, which is not contracted out of the State Second Pension.
Since January 2012 Pension Provision is being made through the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan within the Scheme. The Minister is paid 8% of their Pensionable Income and the employer paid 6% of Ministers’ Pensionable Income (PI) into individual pension accounts, which are operated and managed on behalf of the Pension Trustee by Legal and General Life Assurance Society Limited. In addition, the employer pays a further 4% of PI to cover Death in Service Benefits, administration costs, and an associated insurance policy which provides income protection for Scheme members in the event that they are unable to work due to long-term incapacity. This income protection policy has been insured by the Baptist Union of Great Britain with Aviva. Members of the Basic Section pay reduced contributions of 5% of PI, and their employers also pay a total of 5%.
## **13. Related Parties**
Donations received from the trustees totalled £16,823 (2023 £11,089) during the reporting period of which an additional £4,206 (2023 £2,772) was recoverable through gift aid.
Total donations of £1,760 (2023 £6,689) were received from close family members of trustees, of which an additional £440 (2023 £1,672) was recoverable through gift aid.
Some cash donations made through the offerings are anonymous so cannot be analysed as to whether they have been donated by a trustee or other related parties.
16
## Abingdon Baptist Church
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Abingdon Baptist Church**
I report on the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 16.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Stuart Bates FCA Wenn Townsend Victoria House 10 Broad Street Abingdon OX14 3LH
29[th] August 2025
17