EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH SCARBOROUGH
2025 Annual Report
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Columbus Ravine, Scarborough YO12 7QZ Website: https://www.rockofhelp.org.uk Email: ebenezer@rockofhelp.org.uk
Trustees’ annual report (including Directors’ report) for the period
From: Period start date 1[st] January 2025 To: Period end date 31[st] December 2025 Charity name: Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough
Charity registration number: 1202746 Company number: CE032015
Objectives and activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The principal purposes of the Church are:- The advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. 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 main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The charity provides and maintains Ebenezer Baptist Church and its church hall for the purposes of holding regular public acts of worship, including religious instruction for children, young people, people with learning difficulties and adults of all ages in the main services. General pastoral support, discipleship, teaching and encouragement are through our home groups and fellowship groups and we offer prayer support through our Prayer Chain and Prayer Ministry Team. Through our Missionary Support programme, we help finance those training for and working in evangelism both at home and abroad, and local charities working to support those in need. Our church hall is made available to local residents and community groups at a modest rent. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough Annual Report 2025
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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Mission Support Policy Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough will give 20% of voluntary income (offerings plus gift aid) to Mission outside our own church setting and ministry. Our aim is to advance the Kingdom of God, as envisioned by Christians, locally, in the UK and worldwide. We will do this by giving to organisations and individuals that: a) Preach the Christian gospel and bring people to Christ b) Support people practically where they are in need |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | None of our activities could run without the dedicated volunteers who give generously of their time, talents and money to carry on the ministry of the church. We are so grateful for those doing practical jobs like making tea, cleaning and maintaining the buildings, operating audio/video and streaming services, maintaining the website and FaceBook pages, producing the newsletter, accountancy, banking and other administration work; also those preaching, leading services and leading worship; those teaching and leading groups, those welcoming, pastoring, discipling others and all of us supporting one another in our Christian journey. |
| Other | . |
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Achievements and performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | We believe that this has been a successful year for Ebenezer Baptist Church because there have been several significant achievements: 1. Increase in membership: The number of members has declined in recent years due to several factors including the COVID pandemic. However, in 2025 we reversed this trend by increasing the numbers from 76 to 85, an increase of 9 (12%) which is very pleasing. Having more members means of course that we can reach out to our community with greater effect. 2. Our members have always been most generous in their giving and this has enabled us to increase our financial support for Christian outreach/mission both at home and abroad. It is particularly pleasing that we can give strong financial backing to The Rainbow Centre in Scarborough which offers help to the most deprived residents of Scarborough. 3. A great deal of work has been carried out to the Church building, the Church Hall and the Manse to ensure that the premises are safe, attractive and fit for our members and guests to use. 4. The Leadership Team consisting of Elders and Deacons has grown so that we now have three Elders and six Deacons. The number of planned Leadership meetings that support the running of the church and the important quarterly Members’ Meetings has increased. 5. There has been an increase in the use of the Church Hall for social activities supporting mission. These activities include: • Friday Supper Club • Faith on Friday lectures • Men’s breakfasts • Barn Dance • Crazy Golf |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough Annual Report 2025
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| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | 6. Junior Church, (often called Sunday School) offered during our Sunday worship service (10.30 to 12.00 ) to younger people in the congregation, has three age groups. There is a 0 to 5 group and a 5 to 11 group that both meet in the refurbished hall. The 11 to 17 group has returned to The Underground. We are praying for an increase in the number of children/youth to regularly attend. There is also a newly formed youth group meeting from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm in the Church. 7. Members meet during the week in house groups to further sustain their mission. The number of groups increased in 2025 which is very pleasing. |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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Financial review
| Financial review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Our reserves are comfortably above the minimum reserve, and voluntary income increased by 12.7% this year. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Because the church relies on donations, its income cannot be guaranteed, so it is important to have some working capital to meet its regular expenditure. As employers of staff, the church needs to be able to guarantee that they can be paid, even if income dips temporarily. It is unlikely that the church’s income would cease completely within a short space of time. There may however be various circumstances under which it could be reduced. In the event of the church having to make staff redundant, the church should have sufficient funds to pay any office holders and/or employees made redundant their salaries and associated costs for the full term of their notice. The reserve is currently set at £25,000 |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | The reserve at 31.12.2025 was £36,437 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | We are an independent church, dependent on our congregation for finance. £121,225, which represents 93% of our income, came from individual donations and Gift Aid. Additional income comes from the letting of church premises to local groups & individuals. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | Our investment policy is to invest any surplus funds in deposit accounts which provide benefits to support the Baptist Church, the wider Church family, or the local community. |
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| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | We believe that our Safeguarding & Data Protection policies, employment contracts, volunteer agreements and risk assessments for activities are sufficiently robust to protect employees and volunteers and the people to whom we are ministering. We also have Health & Safety and Counter-Terrorism Policies min operation. We have Trustee Indemnity Insurance cover to protect personal liability for actions carried out in accordance with their constitutional responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Other | None |
Structure, governance and management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document: | Para 1.25 | Trust Deed and Constitution last amended on 22nd January 2025 |
| How is the charity constituted? |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The Trustees of the church are elected by the Church Members, as set out in the Church Constitution. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | New trustees are trained according to the guidelines issued by the Baptist Union and the Charity Commission. Training for Trustees, paid staff and volunteers continues through attending suitable courses and events arranged by the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Yorkshire Baptist Association and others. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | We are an independent church. The Trustees of the church are the Minister (ex officio), Church Secretary, Treasurer, the Elders and the Deacons, all of whom are elected by the Church Members. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | We are members of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the Yorkshire Baptist Association, and are affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance. EBC is a member of Churches Together in Scarborough and we join with the local and regional networks of New Wine for prayer, training and equipping events. |
| Other | None |
Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough Annual Report 2025
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Reference and administrative details
| Charity name | Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1202746 |
| Charity’s principal address | Ebenezer Baptist Church, Columbus Ravine, Scarborough YO12 7QZ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rev. John Gleghorn |
Minister | |||
| John Games | Elder | |||
| Joanne Baker | Elder | 23.04 to 31.12.2025 | ||
| William Holmes | Secretary (Chair) | |||
| PhillipGott | Treasurer | |||
| Jane Taylor | Deacon | |||
| Anna Welford | Deacon | |||
| Billa Duggal | Deacon | 23.04 to 31.12.2025 | ||
| PhilipNixon | Deacon | 23.04 to 31.12.2025 | ||
| Janet Wilson | Deacon | 01.01 to 23.04.2025 |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name None
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|
| Yorkshire Baptist Association Incorporated. |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets None held in this capacity
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Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Accountant | Anna Wiffen FCCA FMAAT |
Ashby Berry Coulsons Chartered Accountants, 2 Belgrave Crescent, Scarborough YO11 1UB |
| Legal Property & Trust Officer |
Ann Chesworth | Yorkshire Baptist Association Incorporated 17-19 York Place, Leeds LS1 2EX |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
Other optional information
None
Declarations
The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including directors’ report) above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors
| gned on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors | e charity’s trustees/directors | e charity’s trustees/directors | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature(s)W.Holmes Phillip R Gott Full name(s)William Paul Holmes Phillip Raymond Gott Position (for example Secretary, Chair, etc) Chair & Church Secretary Treasurer Date25thMarch 2026 |
W.Holmes | Phillip R Gott | |||
| Phillip Raymond Gott | |||||
| Chair & Church Secretary | Treasurer | ||||
| 25thMarch 2026 | |||||
| 25thMarch 2026 |
Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough Annual Report 2025
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| Charity Name | Charity Name | Charity Name | Charity Name | Charity Name | No (if any) | No (if any) | CC16a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebenezer Baptist Church |
1202746 |
||||||||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||||||
| For the period from |
Period start date | To | Period end date | ||||||
| 1st January2025 | 31st December 2025 | ||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||
| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||
| Donations | 100,187 | - | - | 100,187 | 94,968 | ||||
| Gift Aid | 21,038 | - | - | 21,038 | 21,627 | ||||
| Grants Received | - | - | - | - | 7,899 | ||||
| Income from Charitable Activities | 2,418 | - | - | 2,418 | 638 | ||||
| Other TradingActivities | 5,406 | - | - | 5,406 | 4,986 | ||||
| Investment Income | 182 | - | - | 182 | 2,948 | ||||
| Other Income | 1,190 | 161 | - | 1,351 | 1,094 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
130,421 |
161 | - | 130,582 | 134,160 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| **Total receipts ** | 130,421 | 161 | - | 130,582 | 134,160 | ||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||
| RaisingFunds | 417 | - | - | 417 | 205 | ||||
| Paid Staff and Volunteers | 47,291 | - | - | 47,291 | 82,826 | ||||
| Other MinistryExpenses | 4,559 | - | - | 4,559 | 8,194 | ||||
| Mission Support | 23,890 | - | - | 23,890 | 21,000 | ||||
| Premises and Equipment | 42,760 | - | - | 42,760 | 88,335 | ||||
| Administration | 6,465 | - | - | 6,465 | 6,563 | ||||
| Governance | 874 | - | - | 874 | 2,016 | ||||
| Other expenditure | - | 260 | - | 260 | 475 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 126,256 | 260 | - | 126,516 | 209,614 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| **Totalpayments ** | 126,256 | 260 | - | 126,516 | 209,614 | ||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 4,165 | - 99 | - | 4,066 | - 75,454 | ||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - 99 | 99 | - | - | - | ||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 32,371 | - | - | 32,371 | 248,826 | ||||
| Manse Sale and Purchase | - | - 118,572 | |||||||
| Transfer to Hope Whitby CIC | - | - | - | - | - 22,429 | ||||
| Cash funds thisyear end | 36,437 | - | - | 36,437 | 32,371 |
Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough Annual Report 2025
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Categories Details funds funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds CAF Bank Current Account 3,336 - -
CAF Bank Gold Deposit Account 12,994
Community First Credit Union 20,036 - -
Petty Cash 71 - -
Total cash funds 36,437 - -
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s)) OK OK OK
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets None - - -
Fund to which Current value
Cost (optional)
Details asset belongs (optional)
B3 Investment assets None - -
Fund to which Current value
Cost (optional)
Details asset belongs (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Columbus General Fund - -
charity’s own use Ravine, Scarborough
Ebenezer Baptist Church Hall, General Fund - -
Columbus Ravine, Scarborough
Manse at 25 Scardale Crescent, General Fund - -
Scarborough
Note: The above properties are held in - -
trust by Yorkshire Baotist Assocation
Furniture, Fixtures & fittings in Church General Fund - -
& Hall buildings
Computers, audio/visual, musical and General Fund - -
other equipment in church premises
Fund to which Amount due When due
Details liability relates (optional) (optional)
B5 Liabilities None -
Signed by one or two trustees on Date of
Signature Print Name
behalf of all the trustees approval
Phillip R Gott Phillip Raymond Gott
----- End of picture text -----
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Fund Reports
----- Start of picture text -----
Income & Expenditure by Fund
Year ended 31st December 2025 General Fund Church Lights Mustard S Others TOTAL 2024
Income and Endowments
Donations and Legacies 99,532 300 355 100,187 94,968
Gift Aid 21,038 21,038 21,627
Grants 0 7,900
Income from Charitable activities 2,164 253 2,417 638
Other trading activities 5,407 5,407 4,986
Investments 182 182 2,947
Other Income 1,190 161 1,351 1,094
Total Income and Endowments 129,513 300 608 161 £130,582 134,160
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities
Fundraising Trading costs 417 417 205
Ministry: Paid staff & volunteers 47,291 47,291 82,826
Ministry: other expenses 4,141 419 4,560 8,194
Mission Support 23,890 23,890 21,000
Premises & Equipment 42,593 135 32 42,760 88,334
Administration 6,431 34 6,465 6,564
Governance 873 873 2,016
Other Expenditure 260 260 475
Total expenditure 125,636 135 485 260 £126,516 209,614
Surplus/Deficit for the year 3,877 165 123 -99 4,066 -75,454
Brought forward balance 29,704 2,667 0 32,371 248,826
Transfers to/from -99 99 0 0
Manse Sale/Purchase 0 -118,572
Transfer to Hope Whitby CIC 0 -22,429
Carried forward balance 33,581 165 2,691 0 £36,437 32,371
----- End of picture text -----
General Fund
Our total income was £20,513 more than was budgeted. Donations increased by an amazing 12.7%, giving us an extra £15,290 this year. Receipts from events were £1,964. Letting of premises earned £5122. We received a £1,190 insurance claim for storm damage.
Our total expenditure was £16,636 more than was budgeted, mainly due to the roof replacement and refurbishment of the church hall upper floor, which cost £15,948. We also had storm damage to the guttering, which cost £1,290 (£1,190 received from Baptist Insurance).
The work to upgrade the manse was completed with UVPC Fascia, Soffit & Gutter costing £660 and a new Electrical Consumer Unit £527.
Fellowship events cost £1,460 and Outreach Events £769 (ticket sales of £1,964 received).
Thanks to the increased giving, we were able to increase our Mission Support from £21,000 to £23,890, giving an extra £770 each to Baptist Mission Society and Home Mission, £200 each to The Rainbow Centre and Westway Open Arms, and £1,000 to the fund to support Baptist ministry students displaced from Spurgeons College when it closed suddenly.
Equipment purchases included a mobile scaffolding tower £880 and an additional coffee machine £252. The cost of lighting and heating was £9,754.
Administration costs included Church broadband £1,058, Software £762, Licences £2,111, printing costs £1,308 and subscriptions £666.
Governance costs included auditors’ fees £828 and Trustees’ expenses £50.
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Church Lighting Fund
This fund was created to provide illumination for the church at night at an estimated cost of £610. This is being achieved through internal floodlights.
Donations of £300 were received, and the floodlights cost £135.
Wiring and installation costs are yet to be invoiced; any deficit will be met from the General Fund.
Mustard Seed
We were grateful for legacy of £350 from the late Janet Gordon, a former member and Mustard Seed leader. Members’ subscriptions for the Saturday meetings were £253.
Ministry expenses were: meals & refreshments £362 and resources £57. Equipment purchases were £32. Administration costs were: Stationery £6 and Postages £28.
Collections for Other Causes
Mustard Seed support a child at the Stepping Stones Orphanage in India, a charity based in Scarborough, giving £20 per month (plus an additional £20 this year). Members are invited to make a contribution to the cost, and any shortfall is made up from Mustard Seed funds.
This year, £161 was collected and £260 was donated to Stepping Stones. The difference of £99 was transferred from Mustard Seed to balance the fund.
Budget for 2026, as approved by the Church Members’ Meeting on 21[st] January 2026
| Overall Charity | Overall Charity | General | Church | Mustard | Charity | Budgeted | Actual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget for 2026 | Fund | Lighting | Seed | TOTAL | 2025 | 2025 | |
| Income | |||||||
| Donations andLegacies | 95,640 | 0 | 95,640 | 85,200 | 100,187 | ||
| Gift Aid | 21,360 | 0 | 21,360 | 19,800 | 21,038 | ||
| Grants | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Income from Charitable activities | 0 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 2,417 | ||
| Other trading activities | 4,300 | 4,300 | 3,900 | 5,407 | |||
| Investments | 100 | 100 | 100 | 182 | |||
| Other Income | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,351 | |||
| Total Income | 121,400 | 0 | 150 | 121,550 | 109,150 | 130,582 | |
| Expenditure | |||||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | |||||||
| Raising funds | 0 | 0 | 417 | ||||
| Ministry: Paid staff & volunteers | 50,500 | 50 | 50,550 | 47,550 | 47,291 | ||
| Ministry: other costs | 4,400 | 600 | 5,000 | 6,100 | 4,559 | ||
| Mission Support | 23,400 | 23,400 | 21,000 | 23,890 | |||
| Premises & Equipment | 43,000 | 315 | 43,315 | 26,700 | 42,728 | ||
| Administration | 7,000 | 100 | 7,100 | 7,100 | 6,463 | ||
| Governance | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 907 | |||
| Other Expenditure | 0 | 0 | 260 | ||||
| Total Expenditure | 129,600 | 315 | 750 | 130,665 | 109,750 | 126,515 | |
| Surplus/Deficit for the year | -8,200 | -315 | -600 | -9,115 | -600 | 4,067 | |
| Transfers to/from | -150 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Brought forward balance 1 January | 33,581 | 165 | 2,692 | 36,438 | 32,371 | 32,371 | |
| Carried forward balance at 31 December | 25,231 | 0 | 2,092 | 27,323 | 31,771 | 36,438 |
As our reserve carried forward from 2025 is £11,438 above our minimum reserve, the Trustees have authorised the go-ahead for the refurbishment of the church toilets in 2026, at an estimated cost of £20,000. We also need to replace the large screens in church, which have served us well for nearly 10 years and lay new flooring in the upstairs rooms and steps in the hall.
To pay for these projects and to cover the general running costs of the church, I estimate we will need to see an increase in regular donations of around 2.5% this year to maintain our reserve at £25,000.
Phillip Gott, Treasurer
Ebenezer Baptist Church Scarborough Annual Report 2025
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Ebenezer Baptist Church Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘the CIO’)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 December 2025
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the CIO 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 CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the
Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Signed: Wiffen
Name: Anna Wiffen
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): FCCA, FMAAT
Address: Ashby Berry Coulsons Chartered Accountants, 2 Belgrave Crescent, Scarborough YO11 1UB
Date 26/03/2026
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