Hay Hill Baptist Church
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 August 2025
1. Reference and Administrative Details
Charity name: Hay Hill Baptist Church
Charity number: 1202319
Charity structure: Charitable Incorporated Organisation Principal office: Hay Hill Baptist Church, Fountain Buildings, Bath, BA1 5DU
Governing document: CIO Constitution, last amended 3 July 2022 Financial year: 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025
Charity Trustees
The charity trustees who served during the year were:
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Dave Vernalls
-
Jo Rich
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Lyndon Hughes
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Rob Trickey
Church Treasurer: Dave Vernalls
Church Secretary: Rob Trickey
2. Structure, Governance and Management
Hay Hill Baptist Church is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The charity is governed by its CIO Constitution.
The Church Members’ Meeting appoints charity trustees, including the Church Secretary and Church Treasurer, who are responsible for the governance of the Church. Where a Minister is appointed, that person is also a charity trustee by virtue of their role and responsibilities.
The trustees are responsible for the control, management and administration of the Church, subject to the constitution and any directions of the Church Members’ Meeting. Trustees are expected to act in good faith, in accordance with the purposes and beliefs of the Church, and in ways most likely to further the Church’s charitable purposes.
Trustees are generally chosen from among the Church Members. The appointment process is intended to be public, clear and open, allowing Church Members to consider prayerfully who should serve as charity trustees. New trustees are provided with the
Church constitution, the latest trustees’ annual report and accounts, and relevant background information to help them understand the work of the Church and their responsibilities.
The Church Members’ Meeting is an important part of the governance of the Church. Ordinary Church Members’ Meetings are held regularly, and one meeting each year includes the Annual General Meeting, at which members receive the annual accounts, trustees’ report and other appropriate reports.
The trustees may delegate particular responsibilities to committees or groups, but retain overall responsibility for the charity.
3. Charitable Purposes
The principal purposes of Hay Hill Baptist Church are:
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The advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination.
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The advancement of education and the carrying out of other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.
The Church is a member of the Baptist Union and subscribes to the Baptist Union’s Declaration of Principle.
4. Objectives and Activities
In fulfilling its purposes, the Church may undertake a range of activities, either on its own or in partnership with others. These include, but are not limited to:
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regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching;
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baptism and the Communion of the Lord’s Supper;
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teaching, encouraging, welcoming and including young people;
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nurturing and encouraging Christian discipleship;
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education and training for Christian and community service;
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pastoral care;
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charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad;
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building relationships with, and supporting, Baptists and other Christians.
During the year, the trustees continued to oversee the Church’s life and activities in accordance with these charitable purposes.
During the year, the Church continued to hold regular Sunday services, normally meeting in the church building on two or three Sundays each month. These services covered a wide range of topics connected to Christian faith, discipleship, worship and community life. In addition, one Sunday each month usually followed a more conversational or interview-based format, allowing members of the church community to hear from others, reflect on lived experience, and engage with faith in a different way.
The Church also maintained a rhythm of setting aside one Sunday each month for rest, informal gatherings, or activities outside the church building. This pattern was intended to support the wellbeing of the church community, encourage deeper relationships, and recognise the value of rest alongside regular gathered worship.
Youth and children’s work was provided every Sunday when a service was held in the church building, helping children and young people to engage with Christian teaching and church community in an age-appropriate way.
The church building was also used weekly for a community pantry, serving members of the wider Bath community. The pantry helps improve food security by providing access to food and other support. It also provides opportunities for people to be referred or signposted to other helpful services, including support relating to financial wellbeing.
5. Public Benefit
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning and reviewing the Church’s activities.
The Church provides public benefit through the advancement of the Christian faith, the provision of worship and pastoral care, the encouragement of Christian discipleship, the use of its premises, and its wider contribution to community and charitable activity.
The Church’s activities are intended to be open and accessible, subject to the practical limitations of available resources, safeguarding requirements and the appropriate use of the Church’s premises. The trustees seek to ensure that the Church’s resources are used to further its charitable purposes and to serve the wider community.
6. Achievements and Performance
During the year, the Church continued to support its charitable purposes through worship, prayer, pastoral care, Christian teaching, community engagement and the stewardship of its premises and resources.
The Church also continued to maintain its property and make it available for appropriate use.
The trustees recognise the importance of maintaining the Church’s buildings and financial resources in order to support the Church’s charitable purposes over the long term.
7. Financial Review
The accounts for the year have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
Total receipts for the year were £14,105 . This consisted of:
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Gifts and donations: £3,000
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Rental income: £9,213
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Interest income: £502
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Sundry income: £1,390
Total payments for the year were £23,224 . This consisted of:
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Building repairs and maintenance: £2,154
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Insurance: £3,850
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Subscriptions and memberships: £563
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Audit fees: £905
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Management charges: £15,690
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Bank charges: £62
The charity therefore recorded net payments over receipts of £9,119 for the year.
Cash funds at the start of the year were £56,888 . Cash funds at the end of the year were £47,769 .
All funds reported in the accounts were unrestricted funds. No restricted or endowment funds were reported in the accounts for the year.
The accounts also record the manse as an investment asset belonging to unrestricted funds, with no cost or current value stated in the accounts.
8. Reserves Policy
At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash funds of £47,769 .
The trustees consider reserves necessary to support the continuing operation of the Church, meet routine expenditure, cover unexpected costs, and provide for building repairs and maintenance. The Church’s main ongoing costs include building management, insurance, maintenance and other administrative expenditure.
The trustees will continue to monitor the level of reserves in light of the Church’s commitments, property responsibilities, and future plans.
9. Risk Management
The trustees are responsible for identifying and managing the major risks faced by the charity.
Key areas of risk include:
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financial sustainability;
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maintenance and repair of Church property;
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appropriate governance and trustee oversight;
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safeguarding and safe use of the building;
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compliance with charity law and other legal requirements;
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dependence on rental and donation income.
The trustees seek to manage these risks through regular trustee meetings, financial monitoring, review of budgets and accounts, appropriate insurance, and oversight of the Church’s property and activities.
10. Trustee Benefits and Conflicts of Interest
The constitution provides that the income and property of the Church must be applied solely towards the promotion of its purposes. Trustees may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses properly incurred when acting on behalf of the Church.
The constitution also contains provisions relating to trustee benefits, connected persons, and conflicts of interest. Trustees are required to declare relevant interests and withdraw from discussions where a conflict of interest arises.
No trustee received any benefit from the charity during the year other than reimbursement of properly incurred expenses, if applicable.
11. Plans for the Future
The trustees intend to continue supporting the Church’s charitable purposes through worship, pastoral care, Christian teaching, community engagement and the responsible stewardship of the Church’s property and financial resources.
Future priorities include:
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continuing to maintain and steward the Church building;
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reviewing income and expenditure to support long-term sustainability;
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considering future property and building needs;
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supporting the Church’s mission and charitable activities;
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ensuring good governance and compliance with Charity Commission requirements.
12. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and Charity Commission requirements.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, safeguarding the charity’s assets, and taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising their duties.
13. Approval
This report was approved by the trustees of Hay Hill Baptist Church and signed on their behalf.
Signed:
Name: Massimiliano Savenije
Position: Secretary
Date: 24/06/2026
Hay Hill Baptist Church No (if any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 01/09/2024 31/08/2025 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 3,000 9,213 502 1,390 - - - - 14,105 - - - 14,105 2,154 3,850 563 905 15,690 62 - - - 23,224 - - - 23,224 - 9,119 - 56,888 47,769 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 3,000 9,213 502 1,390 - - - - 14,105 - - - 14,105 2,154 3,850 563 905 15,690 62 - - - 23,224 - - - 23,224 - 9,119 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 3,000 9,213 502 1,390 - - - - 14,105 - - - 14,105 2,154 3,850 563 905 15,690 62 - - - 23,224 - - - 23,224 - 9,119 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gifts & Donations UR | 3,000 | - | ||||
| Rental Income | 9,213 | - | ||||
| Interest Income | 502 | - | ||||
| SundryIncome | 1,390 | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
14,105 | - | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| BuildingRepairs & Maintenance | 2,154 | - | ||||
| Insurance(Buildings,Contents) | 3,850 | - | ||||
| Subscriptions/Memberships | 563 | - | ||||
| Audit Fees | 905 | - | ||||
| Management Charges | 15,690 | - | ||||
| Bank Charges | 62 | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 23,224 | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - 9,119 | - | - | - 9,119 | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 56,888 | - | - | 56,888 | - | ||
| 47,769 | - | - | 47,769 | - |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
26/06/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Manse Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Balance carried forward Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 47,769 - - - - - 47,769 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Unrestricted funds - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Massimiliano Savenije |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Massimiliano Savenije | 24/06/2026 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
26/06/2026
2